Legislator
Legislator > Shanique Speight
State Assemblymember
Shanique Speight
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 29
In Office - Started: 01/09/2018
contact info
Newark Ofice
50 Park Place
Lobby 5
Newark, NJ 07102
Lobby 5
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 862-237-9752
General Capitol Building Address
P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | This bill exempts certain contracts awarded for preschool education services from public advertising and bidding and permits the contracts to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education. The bill also extends the maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. Under current law, certain contracts under the Public School Contracts Law may be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The Public School Contracts Law also limits awarded contracts to no more than 24 consecutive months unless otherwise authorized for a longer term. This bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded for a period not to exceed three years. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4113 | Prohibits sports wagering partnerships at public institutions of higher education. | Prohibits sports wagering partnerships at public institutions of higher education. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | 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. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Passed |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Passed |
| A4878 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | This bill extends certain options in regard to grades to dependents of service members enrolled in public institutions of higher education who cannot complete a course due to an unplanned military obligation of the service member. The bill also clarifies the scope of existing grade options and establishes additional grade options. Under current law, a student enrolled in public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course due to a deployment, mobilization, reassignment, or other military obligation as a service member has four options in regard to the grade for the course. If the student has completed at least eight weeks of the course, the student may choose to receive a (1) letter grade; (2) pass or fail grade; (3) grade of incomplete; or (4) withdrawal. If the student has completed fewer than eight weeks of the course, the student's options are limited to choosing between receiving an incomplete grade and withdrawing from the course. Current law also specifies that a student who accepts a grade of pass or fail may, within a year of returning to the institution, complete the course work to receive a letter grade. Under the bill, these grade options are to also be made available to the dependents of the service member. The bill defines a "dependent" as a dependent child or spouse of the service member. The bill clarifies that the deployment, mobilization, reassignment or other military obligation preventing the service member or dependent from completing the course be unplanned. The bill also changes the demarcating line of course completion from eight weeks to 55 percent of the duration of the course. If the service member or dependent has completed 55 percent of the duration of the course, receipt of a letter grade would only be granted if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the service member or dependent has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. A grade of pass or fail would also be based on whether the faculty member determines the member or dependent completed sufficient work and there is sufficient evidence of meeting the course requirements. The bill also adds the options of receiving a temporary grade or transferring into an equivalent online section of the course when available and with appropriate approval. The options are to be subject to the approval of the teacher, department, registrar, or appropriate office at the institution, If the service member or dependent has completed less than 55 percent of the duration of the course, the service member or dependent may receive an incomplete for the grade only if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the student or dependent has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. The service member or dependent also has an added option of transferring into an equivalent online section of the course when available and with appropriate approval. The options shall be subject to the approval of the teacher, department, the registrar, or the appropriate office at the institution, Finally, the bill specifies that the service member or dependent who initially chose to accept a pass or fail grade, but subsequently returns to the institution within a year to complete course work to receive a letter grade, may contact the faculty member who taught the course, the academic chair of the department offering the course, the registrar, or the appropriate office at the institution to establish a plan for completing the course work to receive the grade. | In Committee |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Requires State departments and Office of Information Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Crossed Over |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Passed |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Crossed Over |
| A5408 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | In Committee |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Passed |
| A4334 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | In Committee |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Crossed Over |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill codifies the current policy of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report summarizing compensation awards granted to eligible victims. Under the bill, the report is to summarize compensation awarded to victims during the previous fiscal year. The report is also to include the number of applications for compensation, the number of applications granted and denied and the reasons for the dispositions, the amount of awards, demographics concerning awards, services for which awards were provided, funding received by the office, and any other information deemed relevant by the Attorney General and the Executive Director of the VCCO. The bill requires the report to be completed within six months following the last day of the previous fiscal year. The report is to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature, as well as made available on the official website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. | Passed |
| A5153 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | In Committee |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5595 | Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. | Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. | Crossed Over |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Passed |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation (division) to develop, and update as necessary to reflect current law, an online training program for the purpose of providing instruction on the process of filing and remitting State taxes, including, but not limited to, the corporation business tax, gross income tax, and sales and use tax. The training program is required to be designed specifically for use by small businesses and micro-businesses and to be made available, free of charge, on the Internet website of the division. | Crossed Over |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | This bill provides businesses with the option of receiving notifications from the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and, as applicable, from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on new statutory and regulatory requirements and economic incentives related to their industry. Current processes require that all businesses registered in the State receive these updates via traditional paper communication. The bill allows any business with the option of providing a registered email address to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, which will coordinate the dissemination of these statutory, regulatory and economic incentive-related communications through the provided email. The bill also provides a method for businesses to revert to the traditional means of paper communication. | Crossed Over |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Passed |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Crossed Over |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2025 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5712 | Establishes Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program; supports partnership between public institution of higher education and federal Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and establishment of Center for Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; appropriates $3.5 million. | Establishes Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program; supports partnership between public institution of higher education and federal Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and establishment of Center for Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; appropriates $3.5 million. | Crossed Over |
| A5780 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | This bill exempts certain contracts awarded for preschool education services from public advertising and bidding and permits the contracts to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education. The bill also extends the maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. Under current law, certain contracts under the Public School Contracts Law may be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The Public School Contracts Law also limits awarded contracts to no more than 24 consecutive months unless otherwise authorized for a longer term. This bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded for a period not to exceed three years. | In Committee |
| A5848 | Modifies child endangerment statute to include AI technology; establishes criminal penalties. | This bill amends the child endangerment statute, N.J.S.A.2C:24-4, to create a fourth degree crime of knowingly or recklessly causing or allowing a child to be subjected to sexual conduct through the use of automated interactive computer technology. Under current law, endangering the welfare of a child occurs when a person engages in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child. Endangering is a second degree crime when committed by a person with a legal duty to care for the child, and is a third degree crime when committed by other persons. Although the statute does not specify what types of acts constitute sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, it has been well-settled by the courts of this State that the conduct can occur online or over the telephone without actual physical contact, and can include conversations with children that describe sexual activity. See, e.g., State v. Maxwell, 361 N.J. Super. 502 (Law Div. 2001); State v. Johnson, 460 N.J. Super. 481 (Law Div. 2019); State v. McInerney, 428 N.J. Super. 432 (App. Div. 2012). Under the bill, any person who knowingly or recklessly causes, or allows, a child to be subjected to sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, through the person's creation, control, possession, manipulation, use, dissemination, sale, or promotion of any automated interactive computer technology that is capable of performing or simulating sexual conduct, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The bill provides an exception for AI technology that has safety features designed to stop a chatbot from simulating sexual conduct when it detects that a user is a child. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would impose criminal penalties in situations where the creator of an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot knowingly or recklessly programs the chatbot to engage in simulated sexual chats with users who are children. Such deliberate creation or misuse of AI chatbots, without regard to the safety of children, and their proliferation across social media platforms and the Internet, was reported in an April 26, 2025 article in the Wall Street Journal, entitled "Meta's 'Digital Companions' Will Talk Sex with Users - Even Children." | Crossed Over |
| ACR170 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2025 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | In Committee |
| A5905 | Requires Judiciary and law enforcement to notify State Parole Board when parolee violates domestic violence restraining order. | This bill requires the Judiciary and law enforcement to notify the State Parole Board when a parolee violates a domestic violence restraining order. Current law does not establish procedures for notifying the State Parole Board (SPB) when a parolee is charged with violating a domestic violence restraining order. This bill establishes procedures for reflecting a person's status as a parolee in the domestic violence central registry, and requires the Judiciary and law enforcement agency to notify the SPB when a parolee is charged with a violation. Under current law, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is required to maintain a domestic violence central registry of any person who has had a domestic violence restraining order entered against them, who has been charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence, and who has been charged with a violation of a court order involving domestic violence. Under the bill, the registry is required to also reflect if a person in the registry is a person who is currently serving a sentence of parole supervision. The bill further authorizes the SPB to access the registry to determine if a parolee is the subject of a domestic violence restraining order or has been charged with a violation of a court order involving domestic violence. In addition, the bill requires the SPB to notify the AOC so that the AOC may update the registry to reflect that a person in the registry is currently serving a term of parole supervision. The SPB is required to notify the AOC when the term of parole supervision has terminated. To facilitate this notification process, the SPB also is required to indicate in the report, which is required to be filed with the board panel prior to an inmate's parole eligibility date, whether the person is the subject of a domestic violence restraining order. Under the bill, when a person is charged with violating a domestic violence restraining order, the law enforcement agency or prosecutor, and the Judiciary are required to notify the SPB that a parolee has violated an order. | In Committee |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Passed |
| A4029 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | In Committee |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Passed |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Crossed Over |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Passed |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | Passed |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Passed |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Passed |
| A4194 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | In Committee |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Passed |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Passed |
| 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 |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Passed |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| 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. | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Crossed Over |
| 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. | 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. | Crossed Over |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Passed |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Passed |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Passed |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Passed |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | This bill would strengthen the legal protections provided to farmers under the "Right to Farm Act." Specifically, the bill would allow farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the defense of bad faith complaints against commercial agricultural operations, activities or structures when a county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), as applicable: 1) finds the farmer is entitled to the irrebuttable presumption established under the "Right to Farm Act"; and 2) determines, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the complaint was brought in bad faith and all or a portion of the costs and attorney fees are reasonable. Under the "Right to Farm Act," the established irrebuttable presumption is that a commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice does not constitute a public or private nuisance, or does not otherwise invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property, if: 1) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure conforms to agricultural management practices recommended and adopted by the SADC, or the specific operation or practice of the commercial agricultural operation has been determined to constitute a generally accepted agricultural operation or practice, either by the appropriate county agriculture development board or the SADC, as applicable; and 2) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice complies with all relevant federal and State statutes and regulations, and does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety. Under the bill, a farmer seeking an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees would submit an application therefor to the county agriculture development board or the SADC as applicable, after being found entitled to the irrebuttable presumption. The county agriculture development board or the SADC would then determine, whether a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | Passed |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Passed |
| A4915 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | In Committee |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Passed |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | This bill establishes a historic preservation planning course to be completed by members and prospective members of historic preservation commissions. The bill requires that all regular and alternate members of historic preservation commissions complete a historic preservation planning course to retain their membership on the commission. The course will be prepared and offered by the Department of Community Affairs. The course will be no more than five hours of instruction and will be structured so that a member is able to complete it within one day. The commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs will work in conjunction with the New Jersey Historic Trust and the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office to establish standards for the curriculum and administration of the course. Under the bill, certain persons who are certified as professional planners or who have completed a more extensive course will be exempt from the course required in the bill. Historic preservation commissions established by law play a vital role in preserving the unique character of New Jersey's small towns and municipalities. New Jersey has over 300 years of history and the loss of the tangible remains of the past would diminish New Jersey's quality of life. This bill provides the tools to those who oversee the preservation of our built environment so that the vestiges of New Jersey's past will be carefully and thoughtfully woven into the future. | Passed |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Crossed Over |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Crossed Over |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A4124 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | In Committee |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5806 | Eliminates sales tax on baby necessities and sunscreen. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of certain baby products and sunscreen. The exemption provided for baby products would include baby wash or soap, baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powders; child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. A "child restraint system" is defined under the bill to mean any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant or young child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or sleeping enclosure designed to accommodate an infant or young child including bassinets and toddler beds. In addition, the bill further defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant or young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sales of sunscreen. "Sunscreen" is defined under the bill to mean a lotion, cream, spray, or gel regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration that is primarily used for purposes of absorbing, reflecting, or scattering ultraviolet radiation and preventing sunburn or any sun-related skin damage. The definition of sunscreen would not, however, include products marketed or intended for use as cosmetics or otherwise intended to be applied for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. | In Committee |
| A3781 | Requires BPU to develop program to promote certain energy businesses in State. | Requires BPU to develop program to promote certain energy businesses in State. | Crossed Over |
| A2163 | Requires DMVA notify certain veteran organizations and county officers and municipal registers of names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide a monthly report to veteran organizations, county officers, and municipal registers of the names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries the previous month. The bill also requires that a representative of the person buried or cremated in a State veteran cemetery sign a waiver before the information may be released. The department may transmit and receive the reports and waivers electronically. The monthly reports and waivers will be confidential and not subject to the law commonly referred to as the open public records act. Veteran organization means a veteran organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. | Crossed Over |
| A4688 | Requires MVC to utilize legal name including roman numerals on certain documents issued by MVC. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to permit an individual whose legal name includes a roman numeral to have the individual's legal name, including the roman numeral, displayed on the individual's standard basic driver's license; standard motorcycle license; standard special learner's permit; standard examination permit; standard probationary driver's license; standard identification card; REAL ID basic driver's license; REAL ID motorcycle license; REAL ID probationary driver's license; REAL ID identification card; or commercial driver license, provided that the individual has provided the commission with the required documentation to obtain such documents. As defined in the bill, "legal name" means the name recorded on a birth certificate unless otherwise changed by marriage, divorce, or order of court. | In Committee |
| A5830 | Provides certain employment protections for certified doulas. | This bill provides certain employment protections for an employee who fails to report for work because of the employee's duty as a certified doula to attend a birth for a client who is in active labor. Under the bill, an employer would be prohibited from discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating or retaliating or threatening the same against an employee with respect to the hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on the basis that the employee fails to report for work as a result of the employee's duty as a certified doula to attend a birth for a client who is in active labor. This protection is available, however, only if theemployee provides the employer with advance notice at least one hour before the need to attend a birth in the employee's capacity as a certified doula. If advance notice is not feasible, the employee will provide notice as soon as practicable. The provisions of the bill do not require an employer to pay an employee who misses work because that employee is rendering certified doula services. However, the bill permits an employee to charge the absence as a vacation or a sick day and in that way be paid for the day. The bill provides that if an employer violates its provisions, an employee or former employee would be authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief. All remedies available in common law tort actions would be available to a prevailing plaintiff. Additionally, the bill provides that a court would be authorized to order any or all of the following relief: (1) an assessment of a civil fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,000 for the first violation of any of the provisions of this section and not more than $5,000 for each subsequent violation; (2) an injunction to restrain the continued violation of any of the provisions of this section; (3) reinstatement of the employee to the same position or to a position equivalent to that which the employee held prior to unlawful discharge or retaliatory action; (4) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights; (5) compensation for any lost wages, benefits and other remuneration; and (6) payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees. The bill defines a "certified doula" as a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant woman before, during, and shortly after childbirth and who has received and maintains certification to perform doula services from a doula training program approved by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. | In Committee |
| A5828 | Removes requirements for surgical practices to be licensed as ambulatory care facilities and requires surgical practices to register with DOH. | This bill removes the requirements under current law for surgical practices to become licensed by the Department of Health (department) as ambulatory care facilities licensed to provide surgical and related services. Instead, surgical practices will be required to register with the department, with such registration having a fee of $1,000 and the registration being effective for 5 years. Current law defines a "surgical practice" to mean a structure or suite of rooms that has the following characteristics: has no more than one room dedicated for use as an operating room which is specifically equipped to perform surgery, and is designed and constructed to accommodate invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures; has one or more post-anesthesia care units or a dedicated recovery area where the patient may be closely monitored and observed until discharged; and is established by a physician, physician professional association surgical practice, or other professional practice form specified by the State Board of Medical Examiners pursuant to regulation solely for the physician's, association's, or other professional entity's private medical practice. Pursuant to the enactment of P.L.2017, c.283, all surgical practices were required to become licensed as ambulatory care facilities specifically authorized to provide surgical and related services. This bill removes those requirements and instead only requires surgical practices to register with the department. This bill further defines the accreditation entities for surgical practices, and makes clear the relief from certain regulatory obligations based upon such accreditation. The bill removes the various restrictions and limited circumstances surrounding new licensing of ambulatory care facilities. The bill retains the exemption from the ambulatory care facility assessment for any registered surgical practice. The bill removes the current moratorium that prohibits the department from issuing a new registration to any surgical practice. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill will promote the development of new surgical practices and ambulatory care facilities licensed and registered to provide surgical and related services in the State. Hospital operating rooms in the State are working at capacity, which often times results in understaffing, employee burnout, delays in critical surgeries, and scheduling challenges for elective and non-emergent surgeries. It is the sponsor's belief that loosening the restrictions for the establishment of new surgical practices and ambulatory care facilities licensed and registered to provide surgical services will help lower healthcare costs, increase patient options for surgical procedures, and increase efficiency and quality of care within the State's healthcare system. The restrictions established under the current law originated out of a concern of physician "self-dealing" or referring patients to a practice, in which the physician had a financial interest. Today, these concerns are less significant as many physicians are required to regularly disclose ownership interests in other health care practices and the increased access to different surgical options for patients would provide a greater benefit in terms of patient access, timeliness, and healthcare cost savings. | In Committee |
| A5829 | Prohibits imposition of costs of certain realtor services on residential tenants. | This bill prohibits the imposition of certain costs for brokerage services, including realtor fees, on residential tenants or prospective residential tenants (tenants). Specifically, the bill prohibits a landlord and a brokerage firm from: (1) imposing upon, passing through to, or accepting from, a tenant, any fees, commissions, or charges, for or related to brokerage services, as defined in the bill; (2) requiring or conditioning the leasing of residential real property on a tenant engaging a brokerage firm or agent thereof; or (3) posting a listing for the rental of residential real property that represents that fees, charges, or commissions for brokerage services are required in violation of the bill. The bill requires that every listing related to the rental of residential real property is to disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner any fee to be paid by the tenant for the rental of such property. The bill requires that the landlord or landlord's agent provide to the tenant, prior to the execution of an agreement for the rental of residential real property, an itemized written disclosure of any fees that the tenant is required to pay to the landlord or to any other person at the direction of the landlord in connection with such rental, as described in the bill. The bill requires that a landlord provide an attestation, as set forth in the bill, in a conspicuous manner in the landlord's application for the residential rental unit, and with the Truth-in-Renting Statement, required under existing law, in which the landlord affirms, under the penalty of perjury, compliance with certain provisions of the bill and penalties for noncompliance. A violation of the bill is to constitute an unlawful practice pursuant to the New Jersey consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and subjects a landlord or brokerage firm to a penalty, for each offense, equal to the greater of $5,000, or three times the amount of all fees, commissions, or charges imposed upon, passed through to, or accepted from, a tenant. The penalty would be collected and enforced by the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the Attorney General. Notwithstanding the civil penalty described above, the bill also provides a private cause of action for a tenant, who, for a landlord or brokerage firm's violation of the bill, would be permitted to recover a penalty for each offense equal to the greater of $5,000, or three times the amount of all fees, commissions, or charges imposed upon, passed through to, or accepted from, a tenant, in addition to reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, expenses for expert witnesses, and other related fees and expenses incurred in proving a violation of the bill. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| A5831 | Establishes consumer-facing portal for elevator maintenance for owners of certain buildings to provide information on elevator servicer; requires certain signage; requires DCA to establish senior housing elevator maintenance loan program. | This bill would require the Department of Community Affairs to establish and maintain a database of elevators and elevator inspections, including elevator identification numbers. It would also require owners of R-2 occupancies, including apartment buildings, to post signage at each door to and inside of an elevator with the information of the elevator servicer. An R-2 occupancy building owner who fails to post such signage would be subject to a fine of $100 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to establish and maintain a loan program for owners of senior housing to perform maintenance on elevators. The bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| A2414 | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | In Committee |
| A4083 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | In Committee |
| A5713 | Requires automatic issuance of credential to provide services in carrier provider network for physicians in good standing in New Jersey. | This bill requires approval of an application submitted for credentialing so a physician can participate in a carrier's provider network if the application demonstrates that the license of the physician issued by the State Board of Medical Examiners in New Jersey is in good standing. This also includes applications for the renewal of a credential. This is intended to streamline the credentialing process for physicians licensed in the State. | In Committee |
| A5739 | Requires Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes. | This bill requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to maintain minutes of all meetings and public hearings of the commissioners and to submit these minutes to the Governor for approval. No action may be taken unless the action is taken at a meeting or public hearing for which minutes are provided. The bill further authorizes the Governor to review the minutes and approve or veto them within 15 days of receiving the minutes. No action taken at any meeting or public hearing may take effect until the 15-day period has elapsed, unless the Governor approves the minutes in less than 15 days. Finally, the bill provides that after the required period has elapsed, if the Governor has not notified the commissioners of a veto of the minutes, the minutes and any action taken at that meeting or public hearing to which the minutes correspond are to take effect. | In Committee |
| A575 | Directs DEP to develop guidelines concerning State and local government purchase of goods made from recycled material. | Directs DEP to develop guidelines concerning State and local government purchase of goods made from recycled material. | Crossed Over |
| A2279 | Requires State Real Estate Appraiser Board to adopt alternative program to acquire experiential requirements for prospective real estate appraisers attempting to qualify for licensure or certification. | This bill requires the State Real Estate Appraiser Board to adopt an alternative program to acquire experiential requirements for prospective real estate appraisers attempting to qualify for licensure or certification. Under the bill, the board will be required to adopt the Appraisal Qualification Board's practical application of real estate appraisal (PAREA) program as an alternative means of acquiring experiential requirements for a prospective real estate appraiser looking to become a licensed or certified appraiser. Presently, a prospective real estate appraiser must locate a licensed or certified appraiser who is willing to supervise the prospective appraiser as they attain their experiential requirement. The process to find a supervisor is difficult, with no formal process to help aspiring appraisers find a supervisor that can oversee them. Under PAREA, prospective real estate appraisers can fulfill up to 100% of their experience requirements virtually by creating real-world simulations that combine appraisal theory and methodology. PAREA also provides prospective real estate appraisers with mentors to supervise them. | Crossed Over |
| A4986 | Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DOH. | Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DOH. | Crossed Over |
| A1997 | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Crossed Over |
| A3765 | Requires contract between certain governmental units and online parking payment service providers stipulate service provider not charge user during certain times. | Requires contract between certain governmental units and online parking payment service providers stipulate service provider not charge user during certain times. | Crossed Over |
| S1277 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Passed |
| A5572 | Establishes quorum standards for professional licensing entities under certain circumstances. | Establishes quorum standards for professional licensing entities under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A913 | Authorizes medical cannabis for treatment of sickle cell anemia. | This bill expands the list of medical conditions that qualify a patient for the medical use of cannabis to include sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. The medical use of cannabis can treat or alleviate the pain or other symptoms associated with certain medical conditions. | Crossed Over |
| A3008 | Requires certain health care facilities to offer lactation counseling and consultations to persons who have given birth. | Requires certain health care facilities to offer lactation counseling and consultations to persons who have given birth. | Crossed Over |
| A4276 | Requires DOH to use Basic Screening Survey to access oral health in children. | This bill requires the Department of Health (department) to use the Basic Screening Survey to assess oral health in children. Under the bill, the Department of Health, in conjunction with one or more licensed dentists and related staff, is to collect a sufficient number of random data samples from each county in the State on a biannual basis using the Basic Screening Survey produced by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors in order to formulate a general assessment of the oral health of pre-school and school aged children in this State. No data is to be collected without the informed, written consent of a child's parent or guardian. Any data that is collected is to be collected and used in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws. The bill requires the department to submit a report biennially to the Governor, and to the Legislature, which report is to contain any findings and recommendations based on the data collected pursuant to the bill's provisions. The Basic Screening Survey is used by states to assess oral health status. Developed by the American Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, this survey can be performed in dental clinics, at health fairs, at other screening opportunities, and through a retrospective chart review. The Basic Screening Survey is not a thorough clinical examination and does not involve making a clinical diagnosis resulting in a treatment plan. The Basic Screening Survey is intended to identify gross dental or oral lesions. | Crossed Over |
| A5733 | Provides for State agency reviews and increases of income thresholds for residential customers to participate in certain utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program to, within one year of the bill's effective date, complete a review of the program, as provided for in the bill, and increase the income threshold if the department, board, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. The bill requires that a State agency request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. The bill further specifies that if an increase in income thresholds for the State's low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the BPU is required to assess if further guidance is necessary to change income thresholds in the utilities' triennium energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers are eligible for only one energy efficiency assistance program and to expand access to moderate-income programs, if appropriate. | Crossed Over |
| A5435 | Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs. | Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs. | Crossed Over |
| A4763 | Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires DOE to maintain list of locations providing swim lessons. | Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires DOE to maintain list of locations providing swim lessons. | Crossed Over |
| A5211 | Establishes New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act, which codifies the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development's New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative. Under the bill, the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development is required to operate a New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative, the purpose of which is to provide students, workers, and job seekers with career pathways they need to pursue promising new careers and opportunities; to strengthen career pathways partnerships between county colleges and employers, primary and secondary schools, vocational technical high schools, four-year institutions of higher education, unions, and community based organizations; and to ensure that employers have access to a highly skilled workforce to meet critical labor market needs. The bill permits the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to establish Centers of Workforce Innovation that offer career pathways in various areas. The bill directs the Centers of Workforce Innovation to develop curriculum specific to each career pathway that is to be made publicly available, provide students with instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in a career pathway, promote the use of the Community College Opportunity Grants, promote the expansion of apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities for students, and to collaborate with business leaders and educational partners across the State. | Crossed Over |
| AJR62 | Designates first week of May of each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week." | This joint resolution designates the first week of May as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of mental health and mental illness in children. Mental illness can adversely affect children in many ways, including increasing the likelihood of a child of being suspended from school, abusing drugs or alcohol, or ending up in the juvenile justice system. Many children with mental health disorders do not receive treatment for their illnesses, due to poor understanding of mental illness and treatment options, stigma or lack of access to treatment. The resolution intends to promote awareness in hopes of improving the lives of children who have emotional disturbances and other mental health disorders. | Crossed Over |
| A4899 | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | Crossed Over |
| A4562 | Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans. | Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans. | Crossed Over |
| A4913 | Establishes certain State funding preferences for municipalities that enhance opportunities to develop housing. | Establishes certain State funding preferences for municipalities that enhance opportunities to develop housing. | Crossed Over |
| A1996 | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | Crossed Over |
| AJR56 | Designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey to increase the public's awareness and understanding of the numerous contributions of New Jersey's older Americans and to rededicate our efforts to better serve the older Americans of New Jersey. The contributions and sacrifices that older Americans have made to this State and country are immeasurable. It is fitting for younger generations to show immense respect and gratitude to their elders, especially now, as society exits a pandemic that has posed unique challenges for older Americans. Whether older Americans retire in their fifties and sixties or continue working into their seventies and eighties, it is important to revere their experience, wisdom, and accomplishments in the workplace and in society. Ensuring the State's continued commitment to causes that help older Americans in New Jersey enjoy active, productive, and healthy lives safely and with dignity is paramount. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to designate the month of May as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A5707 | Imposes 10 percent electric public utility windfall surtax on taxpayers with allocated taxable net income in excess of $10 million under CBT. | This bill imposes a 10 percent surtax, to be called the electric public utility windfall surtax, on electric public utilities with allocated taxable net income in excess of $10 million to fund vital utility assistance programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in this State. The bill defines "allocated taxable net income" to mean the same as the term "taxable net income" is defined in the "Corporation Business Tax Act," N.J.S.A.54:10A-1 et seq. for purposes of calculating a taxpayer's corporation business tax liability. The electric public utility windfall surtax is to be imposed in addition to the taxpayer's regular corporation business tax liability. No credits are to be allowed against the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for credits for installment payments, estimated payments made with a request for an extension of time for filing a return, or overpayments from prior privilege periods. All revenues collected from the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for amounts constitutionally dedicated for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, are to be annually appropriated to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for the funding of utility assistance programs. The bill prohibits the board from approving any rate increase or charge to ratepayers that includes the cost of compliance with its provisions. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. This bill is designed to ensure that excessive profits of electric public utilities are taxed and that the resulting revenues benefit utility assistance programs, without passing through the costs of compliance with the bill to ratepayers. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| A5706 | Prohibits electric generation service and gas supply service rates from exceeding basic generation service and basic gas supply service rates. | This bill requires electric power suppliers and gas suppliers to charge residential customers no more than the price of basic generation service or basic gas supply service. The Board of Public Utilities (board) approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. It is the sponsor's intent to prevent excessive rate hikes and unfair or deceptive practices by electric power suppliers and gas suppliers by capping rates charged to residential consumers at the price of basic generation service. This measure is intended to address economic hardships and promote fair electric generation service and gas supply service pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| A5702 | Revises oversight of "Community Wealth Preservation Program" and requirements for nonprofit community development corporations. | This bill revises oversight of the "Community Wealth Preservation Program" and requirements for nonprofit community development corporations. Under the bill, a nonprofit community development corporation with a written agreement to purchase a foreclosed upon residential property for the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of that foreclosed upon property will be subject to a 30-year renewable deed restriction requiring the nonprofit and any future owners to sell the property to a household earning no more than 120 percent of area median income and spending no more than 35 percent of gross monthly income on the mortgage, property taxes, interest, and home insurance of the property or, if the nonprofit or future owners decide to rent the property, rent the property to a household earning no more than 80 percent of area median income and spending no more than 35 percent of gross monthly income on rent. The bill also provides a formula for future owners that are still subject to the deed restriction to determine the future sales price of the property. Nonprofits and future owners subject to the deed restriction will additionally be subject to State affordable housing laws and regulations. Despite the deed restriction above, a nonprofit with a written agreement to purchase the property for a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant will not be subject to the deed restriction language if the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant decide to purchase the property back from the nonprofit. The bill provides that a sheriff's office will now be required to, within 90 days of the date of a sheriff's sale, deliver a fully executed deed to the successful bidder at the sale. Current law requires a sheriff's office to deliver a fully executed deed to the successful bidder of a sheriff's sale within two weeks of the date of sale. The bill additionally extends the statutory right of redemption for foreclosed upon defendants to within 90 days of the date of the sheriff's sale, instead of 10 days after the date of sale as currently provided. The bill additionally removes the right of first of refusal for tenants of the foreclosed upon property to purchase the property and removes the right of second refusal for nonprofit community development corporations that do not have a written agreement to purchase the property for the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property. The bill also requires successful individual bidders who will occupy the foreclosed upon residential property for 84 months to be subject to a deed restriction that outlines the requirements that successful individual bidders must follow. The bill provides new requirements for nonprofit community development corporations that agree in writing to purchase a foreclosed upon residential property for a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property. Nonprofits will now be required to negotiate with the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant on a lease agreement that must include the following: (1) an affordability benchmark that will require lease payments to be set within a reasonable percentage of the occupant's verified monthly income, not to exceed 39 percent of total household income; (2) lease payments that are set at a fixed-rate or indexed to inflation, with a maximum increase of no more than two percent per year; (3) a lease schedule of a minimum of 12 months, with renewal options and clear conditions for termination; (4) eviction protection clauses for occupants who comply with lease obligations; and (5) an option to purchase the property from the corporation, which must include: (a) the purchase price, including the total sales price broken down into the monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. The total monthly housing cost must be comprised of the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, and must not exceed 39 percent of the household's total monthly income. If the offered sales price would cause monthly housing costs to exceed 39 percent, the sales price will be reduced to align with the monthly housing cost limit; (b) a timeframe, which must be no less than one year from the date in which the occupant signs the lease agreement, in which the occupant may exercise the option to purchase the property; and (c) an ownership transition process, with defined requirements for title transfer, including compliance with escrow, inspections, and financial readiness. Under the bill, a nonprofit community development corporation that decides to independently bid for a foreclosed upon residential property or purchase a foreclosed upon property on behalf of a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property will be required to be included within a list of nonprofit community development corporations established by the Department of Community Affairs before it can purchase a foreclosed upon property. To be included within the department's list, the nonprofit must be in existence for 48 months, meet the provided definition of a State community housing development organization, and submit the following materials to the department: (1) the most recent form 990 that the nonprofit community development corporation provided to the United States Internal Revenue Service; (2) letters of reference from at least three other nonprofit community development corporations; (3) a signed statement from the chief executive officer of the nonprofit community development corporation confirming that none of board members of the corporation have been found liable of a housing violation or violation pursuant to the "Consumer Fraud Act" within the past 10 years; (4) an affidavit signed by the executive director and president of the board of directors, or equivalent, of the nonprofit community development corporation that names any representatives that are authorized to bid on behalf of the corporation during the sheriff's sale. The authorized representatives may be an employee or a board member of the corporation; and (5) any other information that the department deems necessary.A nonprofit community development corporation that is not included in the department's list pursuant to this paragraph will be prohibited from entering a bid in a sheriff's sale. A corporation that is included within the list pursuant to this bill will be required to provide the materials required pursuant to this bill once each year to the department to maintain eligibility within the list. A corporation must inform the department if there are material changes to the items provided to the department. The department will be required to publish and maintain the list of eligible nonprofit community development organizations on its Internet website. The bill further provides that a nonprofit community development corporation intending to bid in a sheriff's sale for a foreclosed upon residential property will be required to provide to the sheriff on the date of sale with a watermarked certificate from the Department Community Affairs confirming that the nonprofit is on the department's list of eligible nonprofit community development corporations. Each sheriff's office will be required to consult the list of eligible nonprofit community development corporations established by the department before permitting a nonprofit to bid. The bill provides that a nonprofit community development corporation that is included on the department's list of eligible nonprofit community development corporations will be limited to purchasing one foreclosed residential property in any given county per month, with a maximum of two properties purchased within the State per month. The aforementioned limits will not apply to a nonprofit that purchased a foreclosed residential property on behalf of a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property. The bill also revises requirements for nonprofits that independently bid on foreclosed upon residential properties and revises fines and enforcement provisions for nonprofits and successful individual bidders that fail to meet the requirements of the "Community Wealth Preservation Program." The bill additionally includes new reporting requirements for sheriff's offices, revises the definition of "nonprofit community development corporation," and includes a new definition for the term "next of kin." | In Committee |
| A5709 | Requires BPU to prohibit electric and gas public utilities from charging residential customers certain types of payments based on certain billing practices. | Certain electric and gas public utilities offer equal payment plans that average a customer's estimated energy usage over 12 months to provide consistent billing. Customers may face lump-sum payments if actual usage exceeds the estimate. This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to require each electric public utility and gas public utility to offer an equal payment plan for residential customers. This bill prohibits electric and gas public utilities from: (1) charging lump-sum payments under equal payment plans; (2) recovering any outstanding balance due based on the difference between a residential customer's actual yearly usage and any forecasted yearly utility usage; and (3) increasing a residential customer's monthly bill under an equal payment plan except annually, based only on that customer's utility usage data. Further, separate from equal payment plans, at certain times electric and gas public utilities may charge customers using estimated meter bills, which are based on prior usage information or predictive modeling instead of the customers' actual usage. When a customer's estimated meter bill is lower than a later-obtained meter reading, the electric and gas public utility may bill the customer for the difference in a utility billing procedure known as underbilling. This bill also prohibits electric and gas public utilities from underbilling and further prohibits electric public utilities and gas public utilities from incorporating any outstanding balance due based on the difference between a customer's estimated meter bill and a later-obtained actual meter reading into that customer's future utility bills. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill provides a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill will safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. | In Committee |
| A3363 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | In Committee |
| A5704 | Requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to implement or maintain public utility warranty programs that cover full cost to repair or replace covered appliances. | This bill requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to implement or maintain public utility warranty programs that cover the full cost to repair or replace covered appliances. Under the bill, a "covered appliance" includes, but is not limited to: furnaces, water heaters, HVAC systems, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, grills, gas fireplaces, and space heaters. The bill also requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to advertise their public utility warranty program in a bill insert to its customers every billing cycle for one year following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5703 | Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. | This bill requires certified midwives and physicians who practice obstetrics to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. Under the bill, a certified midwife or physician is to provide a pregnant patient, in writing in English and in at least the seven most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited-English proficiency in this State based on the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey data, during the initial consultation, and prior to the onset of labor as determined by the Department of Health in consultation with midwives and physicians, with evidence-based information on all birthing options that are available to the patient, including, but not limited to, planned hospital birth induced with Pitocin or an epidural, hospital water births, home water births, hospital non-Medicaid births, home non-Medicaid births, scheduled births and scheduled C-sections, and emergency C-sections, health risks associated with each birthing option, health risks to the mother and infant associated with an epidural, Pitocin, and other medications. The certified midwife or physician is also required to provide on an annual basis, in a language that a pregnant patient understands, evidence-based education on all birthing options available to the patient in accordance with the provisions of the bill. Under the bill's provisions, the Commissioner of Health is to promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR226 | Designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day." | This joint resolution designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day" in New Jersey to coincide with Global Black Doula Day. Doulas are professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. Doula care is expanding field found across all 50 states and 50 countries globally. Doula care can improve birth-related outcomes including lowering the rate of cesarean sections, low birth weights and premature labor, and decrease epidural use. New Jersey was the 3rd state to cover doula care under Medicaid, however ranks 25th in maternal mortality with Black mothers being more than seven times more likely to die from maternity-related complications than white mothers. | In Committee |
| A5710 | Resets electric and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for five-year period. | This bill resets electric public utility and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for a five-year period. Specifically, the bill requires an electric public utility or gas public utility that does business in the State to file with the Board of Public Utilities (board) an updated schedule of rates for approval, which schedule is to reflect utility rates equal to or less than the electric public utility's or gas public utility's rates at any point during the calendar year 2020. The bill then requires the board to approve an updated schedule of rates within 30 days of its receipt of the updated schedule. Upon the board's approval, an updated schedule of rates is to remain in effect for a period of five years. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. The bill is designed to prevent excessive rate hikes and ensure that essential energy services remain affordable and accessible. By temporarily resetting electric public utility and gas public utility rates, the bill seeks to: (1) provide financial relief for households experiencing rising expenses; (2) prevent unwarranted profit inflation by electric public utilities and gas public utilities; and (3) establish regulatory oversight to ensure fair rate adjustments that align with consumer needs. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| A5705 | Requires electric and gas public utilities de-privatization study; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Division of the Rate Counsel (division) to engage a third party to conduct a feasibility and cost savings study on the de-privatization of electric public utilities and gas public utilities in the State. The third party is authorized to request information and reasonable assistance from any electric public utility, gas public utility, or public entity in order to conduct the study, which is to examine the feasibility of and cost savings associated with de-privatization options, including, but not limited to: (1) acquisition or operation of existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities, in part or in whole, by a public entity; and (2) joint ownership or operation of existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities, in part or in whole, between a public entity and existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities. The study is to include: (1) the short- and long-term challenges and benefits of each option examined, including, but not limited to, any anticipated environmental effect, impact on service, and cost to ratepayers; (2) the strengths and weaknesses of selecting each public entity considered for potential acquisition, ownership, or operation, in whole or in part, of electric public utilities and gas public utilities, as well as potential organizational structures; (3) an estimation of costs, including, but not limited to, financial costs, as well as the long-term financial impact on the State and any public entity involved in each option; (4) an estimation of the cost savings associated with each option examined; (5) an estimation of the amount of revenue generated by clean energy programs; and (6) any other analysis as the division directs. Any electric public utility, gas public utility, or public entity is required to promptly respond to, cooperate fully with, and provide any requested information to the third party. Within a year of the bill's effective date, the division is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing the findings from the study and providing recommendations as to the feasibility of, need for, cost savings associated with, and plan for the de-privatization of electric public utilities and gas public utilities in this State. The report is to include recommendations for legislative, executive, and other actions. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the division to implement the provisions of the bill. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. With this bill, the sponsor intends to encourage the State to explore opportunities to provide electric public utility and gas public utility services as a public good for electric public utility and gas public utility customers across New Jersey. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| S2332 | Allows complaint for guardianship of minor to be filed six months before minor reaches age 18 under certain circumstances; establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints. | This bill allows a complaint for guardianship of a minor who is anticipated to require a guardian upon attaining the age of 18 to be filed six months before the minor attains the age of 18. The bill also establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints in general. Under current law, once a child reaches age 18, a parent or other appropriate person may file a complaint for guardianship. However, if proceedings are delayed and a guardian is not yet appointed, the young person is left without the legal protection of a parent, other appropriate person, or appointed guardian, until such time as the guardian is actually appointed. Allowing guardianship proceedings to be initiated in advance will help avoid potential administrative or procedural delays and ensure a seamless transition as the minor turns age 18. Under the bill, an order of guardianship entered before a minor is 18 would not take effect until the day the minor turns 18. The bill additionally specifies that a complaint for adjudication of incapacity and appointment of a guardian shall not be withdrawn absent a showing that the alleged incapacitated person is deceased or has capacity. The showing of capacity does not require medical evidence but may, in the court's discretion, be satisfied by testimony of a witness with knowledge of the alleged incapacitated person's condition and circumstances. | Passed |
| A3893 | Allows complaint for guardianship of minor to be filed six months before minor reaches age 18 under certain circumstances; establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints. | This bill allows a complaint for guardianship of a minor who is anticipated to require a guardian upon attaining the age of 18 to be filed six months before the minor attains the age of 18. The bill also establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints in general. Under current law, once a child reaches age 18, a parent or other appropriate person may file a complaint for guardianship. However, if proceedings are delayed and a guardian is not yet appointed, the young person is left without the legal protection of a parent, other appropriate person, or appointed guardian, until such time as the guardian is actually appointed. Allowing guardianship proceedings to be initiated in advance will help avoid potential administrative or procedural delays and ensure a seamless transition as the minor turns age 18. Under the bill, an order of guardianship entered before a minor is 18 would not take effect until the day the minor turns 18. The bill additionally specifies that a complaint for adjudication of incapacity and appointment of a guardian shall not be withdrawn absent a showing that the alleged incapacitated person is deceased or has capacity. The showing of capacity does not require medical evidence but may, in the court's discretion, be satisfied by testimony of a witness with knowledge of the alleged incapacitated person's condition and circumstances. | In Committee |
| A4328 | Enters New Jersey into Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. | Enters New Jersey into Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. | Crossed Over |
| A375 | Establishes three-year pilot program in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union counties for electronic monitoring of certain offenders; appropriates $15 million. | Establishes three-year pilot program in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union counties for electronic monitoring of certain offenders; appropriates $15 million. | In Committee |
| A5682 | Expands responsibilities of Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and establishes "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program"; appropriates $8.5 million. | This bill expands the responsibilities of the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board (the board) established in P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.107 et seq.) and establishes the Problematic Sexual Behavior Program (the program). Specifically, the bill amends various sections of P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.108 et seq.) to: (1) include definitions relating to the establishment of the program; (2) stipulate that the board is to establish an annual progress review, instead of a certification process, as originally required by law, for the State's child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams; (3) establish a Problematic Sexual Behavior Subcommittee; and (4) administer, in coordination with the DCF, the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund" established in the bill. The bill also amends P.L.2017, c.90 to increase the number of members of the board from 10, as originally provide by the law, to 13, update the guidelines of practice for child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams must adopt to receive satisfactory annual progress reviews, and clarify how the grants distributed by the DCF to centers and teams, through the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Fund, are to be spent. The bill establishes the Problematic Sexual Behavior Program administered by the New Jersey Children's Alliance and funded by the DCF. The purpose of the program is to institute a Statewide, coordinated response to, and address the medical and mental health care services needs of those impacted by, problematic sexual behavior. The bill also establishes the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund" in the DCF. The fund is to be the repository of monies appropriated to cover the cost of the medical and mental health care services provided through the program. As defined in the bill, "problematic sexual behavior" means behavior, initiated by youth under the age of 18, involving the use sexual body parts in a manner that is developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful to the person or persons impacted by the behavior, and also includes technology facilitated adverse sexualized behaviors that can be considered problematic and harmful. The bill appropriates $8,500,000 from the General Fund to the DCF to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5440 | Requires State agencies that administer utility bill payment assistance or energy efficiency programs to review, and potentially increase, income thresholds for residential customers to participate in programs. | This bill requires, within one year of the effective date of the bill, the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities, and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program active upon the effective date of the bill to review and increase the income threshold for residential customers to participate in those programs. A State agency may request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. | In Committee |
| A1841 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | In Committee |
| A5670 | Repeals law that requires funds for legislative agents to be assessed on student tuition bills in certain manner. | This bill repeals P.L.1995, c.63 (C.18A:62-22), which requires funds for legislative agents to be assessed on student tuition bills in a certain manner. It is the sponsor's belief that this law restricts the rights of students who participate in certain student organizations at public institutions of higher education from engaging in State legislative activity, effectively silencing these students. Under P.L.1995, c.63, the governing body of a public institution of higher education is prohibited from allowing funds for legislative agents or organizations which attempt to influence legislation to be assessed on student tuition bills. However, optional fees may be assessed for nonpartisan organizations that employ legislative agents or attempt to influence legislation provided that the fee has been authorized by a majority vote in a student referendum. An optional fee is an amount payable on a student tuition bill, appearing as a separately assessed item, but not a mandatory charge or a waivable fee. Optional fees that appear on student tuition bills are currently required to be accompanied by a statement as to the nature of the item along with an explanation that the item is not a charge required to be paid by the student, the student may add the charge to the total amount due, and that the item has appeared on the bill at the request of the student body and does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the governing body of the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| A1700 | Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of perinatal anxiety. | Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of perinatal anxiety. | Crossed Over |
| A3025 | Exempts poll workers wages from affecting unemployment compensation. | Exempts poll workers wages from affecting unemployment compensation. | Crossed Over |
| A5459 | Extends time period in which to enroll newborn infant in health benefits coverage. | This bill extends the time period in which newly born children are covered under their parents' health benefits coverage to 90 days after birth. Current law limits the coverage of newly born children to 60 days from their birth. At the conclusion of the 60 days, the child will be without coverage, unless the parents enroll the child in a private health benefits coverage policy or in a State or federal program, such as FamilyCare. The bill will provide a longer period of time for children to be covered under their parents' health benefits coverage, which will assist new parents and ensure that children have access to adequate health care during the critical first few months of life. | Crossed Over |
| A3541 | Establishes legislative internship program. | Establishes legislative internship program. | Crossed Over |
| AJR67 | Designates last week of April of each year as "Reentry Week." | Designates last week of April of each year as "Reentry Week." | Crossed Over |
| A1973 | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for endometriosis. | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for endometriosis. | Crossed Over |
| A2115 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Crossed Over |
| S3199 | Establishes New Jersey-Haiti Commission. | An Act establishing the New Jersey-Haiti Commission and supplementing chapter 18A of Title 52. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3353 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | An Act concerning housing for resident farm employees on commercial farms, and amending and supplementing P.L.1983, c.31. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR121 | Designating May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. Tuberous Sclerosis is a rare genetic complex that affects multiple organ systems. Tuberous Sclerosis leads to irregularities in one of two protein-encoding genes which regulate cell division and growth (TSC1 or TSC2), causing non-cancerous tumors to develop in different organs, primarily the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. The benign tumors and abnormal brain structures that are characteristic of Tuberous Sclerosis block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the brain and result in epilepsy, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and various mood complexes. Tuberous Sclerosis is a leading cause of epileptic seizures. Sixty percent of those with Tuberous Sclerosis experience autism. Tuberous Sclerosis affects one million individuals around the world and 50,000 individuals in the United States. At least two children born each day in the United States have Tuberous Sclerosis. Currently, there is no medical cure for the condition. Strategic research will prioritize earlier diagnosis, therapies, and mechanisms for prevention. Organizations such as the TSC Alliance, Matthew's Friends, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex International, and Tuberous Sclerosis Association convene to fund such research and support families influenced by Tuberous Sclerosis. The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance designates the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group's Comprehensive Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center as a network clinic and referral center. May 15 is recognized as global Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day, designed to increase public awareness for this rare condition. By amplifying the voices of individuals in the Tuberous Sclerosis community, the State may benefit from innovative treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. Designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR211 | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A588 | Regulates provision of pharmaceutical services in nursing homes. | Regulates provision of pharmaceutical services in nursing homes. | In Committee |
| A5638 | Establishes "Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee" in DHS; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a temporary "Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee" (advisory committee) in the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The purpose of the advisory committee will be to: (1) critically review select cases of adults over the age of 18 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who were survivors of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have passed away; (2) evaluate government systems' responses to cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who resided in a variety of settings including private homes, congregate settings, and State-funded placement; (3) identify areas for improvement in preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation against adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; explore methods to enhance accountability concerning cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation among State-funded disability services providers; and (4) suggest measures to fortify the reporting and investigatory process concerning cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to improve the investigatory experience for disability services clients and their families. The advisory committee will be composed of 13 members to be appointed by the Commissioner of Human Services, as follows: a licensed physician with experience providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; a representative from the Bureau of Guardianship Services; a representative from Adult Protective Services; an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability; two family members of an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability; a representative from the Division of Developmental Disabilities; a representative from the Department of Children and Families; a professional with experience in child abuse investigations in New Jersey; a representative from the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability; a representative from a Department of Children and Families-contracted or funded residential provider agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who 18 years of age or older; a representative from a Division of Developmental Disabilities-licensed residential provider agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are 21 years of age or older; and a representative from Disability Rights New Jersey. The advisory committee will have the duty and responsibility to: (1) develop and implement protocols and procedures that allow the advisory committee to operate in accordance with applicable State and federal laws; (2) identify, and conduct a thorough review of, select cases of deceased adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are survivors of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; (3) collect, analyze, and interpret data and information obtained from the selected cases reviewed under the bill; (4) assess the effectiveness of government systems in responding to, and identifying, instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities while receiving services from State-funded or State-licensed agencies, and identify practices that help maintain the health and safety of individuals with disabilities; (5) assess the effectiveness of government systems in responding to and assessing instances of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and (6) submit the advisory committee's findings and recommendations to the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families. The Department of Human Services may contract with a consultant to support the committee with project management, research, and technical expertise to assist the advisory committee in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities under the bill. The bill authorizes the DHS and the Department of Children and Families to provide confidential client information and records to the advisory committee. The bill establishes certain recordkeeping and confidentiality requirements and protections for the advisory committee, its members, and its activities. No later than 27 months after the effective date of this bill, the Commissioner of Human Services will review the advisory committee's findings and recommendations and prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. This report is required to: summarize the advisory committee's findings and recommendations; detail the strengths of current procedures concerning the provision of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the State; and compare the State's current process for providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with other states in the country. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums as are necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. The provisions of the bill will take effect 90 days after the date of enactment, except that the Commissioners of Human Services and Children and Families may take any necessary anticipatory administrative action in advance. This provisions of the bill will expire upon submission of the report required under the bill. | In Committee |
| A4374 | Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." | Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." | In Committee |
| A1825 | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | An Act concerning step therapy protocols and supplementing Titles 30 and 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5472 | Increases income threshold limit for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. | This bill increases income threshold limits for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. Specifically, the bill increases the income eligibility for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) eligibility group from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which, in 2025, would increase the income threshold from $15,650 per year to $21,597 per year for an individual. In doing so, the bill provides for an identical income threshold under Medicaid for the ABD population as is currently used for individuals under 65 years of age without disabilities. The Medicaid ABD pathway provides medical coverage to individuals who are age 65 years or older as well as individuals determined blind or disabled by the federal Social Security Administration or by the State. The bill also increases the medically needy income limit, which allows an income ineligible applicant for ABD benefits to deduct certain medical expenses from the applicant's income in order to become eligible for Medicaid. Under the bill, this threshold would also be 138 percent of the federal poverty level. In 2025, the State's medically needy Income Limit is $367 per month for an individual, which would increase to $1,800 under the bill. Finally, the bill increases the income limit for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Generally, QMB is a Medicare savings program. These programs are federal programs administered by each individual state Medicaid agency that provide people with limited income and resources assistance in paying their Medicare cost sharing obligations. The QMB program is the most generous program and pays for eligible individuals Medicare Part A and B premiums, copayments, coinsurances, and deductibles. The other Medicare Savings Programs, which currently have income thresholds higher than QMB but that do not exceed 135 percent of the federal poverty level, are the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program and the Qualifying Individual (QI) Program. The SLMB and QI programs only pay for eligible individuals Medicare Part B premiums. In raising the income threshold for QMB and not the other two programs, the bill in effect is eliminating the least generous Medicare Savings Programs and funneling all eligible individuals to the program that provides the most comprehensive support. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary: to implement the provisions of this act; to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program; and to reduce the administrative burden on, and simplify the redetermination process implemented by, the department regarding the Medicaid eligibility groups affected by this act. | In Committee |
| A4751 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of service credit in the State Police Retirement System for certain military and police service and amending P.L.1965, c.89 and P.L.2013, c.87. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2813 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | An Act concerning the Social Work Licensure Compact and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4613 | Requires several State agencies to review and increase, if authorized, income eligibility standards for certain public assistance, school nutrition, and higher education student financial assistance programs; makes an appropriation. | This bill requires certain State departments, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to determine whether the State has the authority, under State and federal law, to increase the income eligibility standards for various public assistance, school nutrition, and higher education student financial assistance programs, and to raise the income eligibility standards for each program for which such State authority exists. The bill directs the Executive Directors of the HESAA and the NJHMFA, the President of the BPU, and the Commissioners of Agriculture, Community Affairs, and Human Services, to consider, as part of this programmatic review, whether any assistance program, funded in whole or in part by a federal block grant, will have sufficient federal resources to support additional participants who become newly-eligible subsequent to an increase in the program's income eligibility standards. Among the programs that will be included in the review are: the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs, the State Rental Assistance Program, the federal School Breakfast program, the tuition aid grant program, and the payment assistance for gas and electric initiative. If a department, the HESAA, the NJHMFA, or the BPU determines that the State has the authority to raise income eligibility standards for an assistance program and, for programs funded by federal resources, sufficient funding is available to support additional program participants, the department, the HESAA, the NJHMFA, or the BPU will increase the program's income eligibility standards by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the State minimum wage between January 1, 2019 and the bill's effective date, plus a cost of living adjustment in an amount equal to the cost of living adjustment for federal Social Security benefits for the calendar year in which the bill becomes effective. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the HESAA, the NJHMFA, the BPU, and each of the Departments of Agriculture, Community Affairs, and Human Services, such sums as are necessary to implement the requirements under the bill. It is the sponsor's intent to ensure that the State's minimum wage earners retain eligibility for important public assistance and higher education student financial assistance programs subsequent to the statutory increases in the State minimum wage. Although minimum wage earners are now compensated at a higher rate than in 2019, recent inflationary pressures have made it increasingly difficult for these workers to afford such essentials as food, clothing, and rent. The sponsor believes that the State must raise the income eligibility standards for essential public assistance, school nutrition, and higher education student financial assistance programs so that hard-working minimum wage earners can provide for their families. | In Committee |
| A4586 | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | In Committee |
| A4486 | Establishes State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. | This bill establishes a State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. The bill establishes a goal that contracting agencies award at least 30 percent of their contracts to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. Socially disadvantaged businesses are defined as businesses owned by individuals who can demonstrate membership in a racial minority group or show personal disadvantage due to color, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical disability, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or location in an area of high unemployment. Economically disadvantaged businesses are defined as businesses owned by individuals who can demonstrate their ability to compete for State contracts has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities compared to others in the same line of business who are not socially disadvantaged and a personal net worth below a certain level. | In Committee |
| A5609 | Requires health insurance carriers and Medicaid to provide coverage for planned home childbirth. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and insurance companies), the State Health Benefits Program, the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the State Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs to provide coverage for expenses incurred in planned home childbirth. The required coverage is to include, but not be limited to, costs associated with services provided by a health care provider, services provided by a doula, and equipment and medical supplies. Under the bill, a "health care provider" is defined to mean an individual or entity which, acting within the scope of its licensure or certification, provides health care services. The term includes a family practice physician, obstetrician, advanced practice nurse, registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified professional midwife, certified nurse midwife, or certified midwife. | In Committee |
| A4723 | Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Development and Business Opportunities. | Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Development and Business Opportunities. | In Committee |
| A4844 | Requires BPU to establish beneficial building electrification and decarbonization program and requires certain entities to submit plans to implement individual beneficial building electrification and decarbonization programs. | This bill would direct the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a beneficial building electrification program, and would require electric public utilities to prepare and implement beneficial building electrification plans. As used in the bill, "beneficial electrification" means a change in end-use equipment from a nonelectric type to an efficient electric type for any building end use, including water heating, space heating, industrial process, or transportation, provided that the change: reduces cost from a societal perspective; reduces greenhouse gas emission, or promotes the increased use of the electric grid in off-peak hours. The bill directs the BPU to adopt, no later than one year after the bill becomes law, rules and regulations establishing a beneficial building electrification program. As part of the program, the BPU would develop greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for beneficial building electrification programs implemented by each electric public utility in the State and require electric public utilities to prepare and implement beneficial building electrification plans. The BPU would: (1) establish beneficial electrification program targets expressed in the amount of on-site greenhouse gas emission reductions; (2) establish program design elements and minimum filing requirements to achieve the goals of the energy master plan; (3) establish a cost recovery and performance incentive mechanism for programs established under the bill; (4) determine whether the electric public utilities or the board would be responsible for the implementation of building electrification programs for new construction; and (5) develop and provide direct incentives for the installation of electric heat pumps. The bill would require each electric public utility to prepare a multi-year beneficial electrification plan to achieve the targets established by the BPU. To be approved by the BPU, an electricity public utility plan would be required to meet or exceed on-site greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set by the board and be cost effective from a societal perspective utilizing a cost-effectiveness test that includes consideration of the environmental benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and methane emissions. Under the bill, a beneficial building electrification plan may meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set pursuant to the bill through the following: (1) conversion of fossil fuel-based space and water heating systems, including natural gas and propane systems as well as other unregulated fuels, to systems that employ high-efficiency electric heat pumps; (2) replacement of fossil fuel based appliances with high-efficiency electric appliances such as induction cooking ranges and heat-pump clothes dryers; (3) conversion of fossil fuel-based industrial equipment or processes to energy-efficient electric-powered equipment or processes; or (4) market transformation programs aimed at educating and training contractors to use appliances, equipment, and systems that are high-efficiency. | 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 |
| S3562 | Provides for designation and establishment of Public Health Institute in New Jersey. | An Act concerning public health and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3388 | Allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | An Act concerning transference of prescriptions and amending P.L.2003, c.280. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2236 | Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. | An Act concerning exemption from jury service and amending N.J.S.2B:20-10. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR166 | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5527 | Creates Midwifery Licensing Act; modifies regulation of midwifery. | This bill modifies current law regulating midwives. Specifically, the bill repeals the current law requiring approval for licensure of midwives by the State Board of Medical Examiners and establishes a State Board of Midwifery. Under the bill, a board of 11 members, seven of whom are to be midwives, is created to oversee the licensure of certified midwives (CMs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and certified professional midwives (CPMs). The bill: 1) delineates the responsibilities of the board, which include the approval of licensure applications, and recognition of entities accrediting midwifery certification programs and national entities issuing the certifications; 2) reviews, as deemed appropriate, the continuing education hours completed by licensees based on levels of certification; 3) requires applicants to meet certain standards to qualify for a license; and 4) authorizes the State Board of Midwifery to grant individuals currently licensed as a CM, CNM, or CPM by the State Board of Medical Examiners a license at that same level. Under the bill, the Department of Banking and Insurance is to require medical malpractice insurance providers authorized to provide insurance in New Jersey to cover certified professional midwives. Additionally, health insurance carriers authorized to provide coverage in the State are to cover home births if an individual is approved to have a home birth. The bill stipulates that licensees are to complete continuing education credits in accordance with the respective credentialing body for each level of certification, which is to include at least one hour on implicit and explicit bias, and if a licensee is authorized to prescribe drugs. The board may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing education for a licensee if the licensee can demonstrate a hardship, including, but not limited to, a disability, military service or deployment, or other good cause. Moreover, the bill reinstates a licensed midwife as a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners. | In Committee |
| A4838 | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | In Committee |
| A4658 | Requires affirmative written consent for certain entities to disclose individual's medical information regarding reproductive health care services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services. | This bill requires health care providers, business associates of a covered entity, and carriers to receive affirmative written consent in order to disclose a patient's or covered person's medical information regarding reproductive health care services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services. Under the bill: "health care provider" means an individual or entity which, acting within the scope of its licensure or certification, provides a health care service; a "business associate of a covered entity" means the same as those terms are defined under federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" rules, or a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or provides services to, health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers; "carrier" means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State; and "reproductive health care services" means all medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system including, but not limited to, services relating to pregnancy, contraception, or termination of a pregnancy. Specifically, this bill prohibits a health care provider, a business associate of a covered entity, or carrier from intentionally sharing, selling, using for marketing, or otherwise disclosing any personally identifiable medical information regarding reproductive health care services for any purpose not necessary to provide, or pay benefits for, those services, without the affirmative written consent of the patient or the covered person, or an authorized legal representative. Under the bill, "Medical information" includes information that is acquired using in-person or telephone communication, submitted documentation, a mobile application, an Internet website, or a wearable device. Further, "affirmative written consent" means a freely given, specific agreement collected on a standalone form, which clearly states to the patient how records containing medical information could be used and to whom the contents of the records could be disclosed, and allows the patient to refuse consent for specific disclosures. The bill further mandates that a health care provider, a business associate of a covered entity, or carrier are required to inform a patient or a covered person, or authorized legal representative, of the right to withhold such affirmative written consent at or before the time reproductive health care services are rendered or at such time as the covered person discloses any information relating to reproductive health care services that have been previously rendered. The bill allows for disclosure without affirmative written consent under certain circumstances. These exceptions include when disclosure is: 1) to medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency; 2) to the extent that the health care provider or carrier is a covered entity and the disclosure is made to a business associate under a valid business associate agreement; 3) as required to comply with the laws of this State, federal law, or the Rules of Court; 4) pursuant to a court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State upon a showing of good cause; 5) by a health care provider or carrier against whom a claim has been made, for use in the defense of the action or proceeding; 6) to certain State entities or licensing boards for records of a patient or covered person in connection with an investigation of a complaint, if the records are related to the complaint; 7) to a federal or State agency charged with investigating known or, in good faith, suspected child abuse, abuse of an elderly individual, abuse of an individual who is incapacitated, or abuse of an individual with a physical or mental disability, if such disclosure is requested in connection with an investigation of abuse that would constitute a crime under the laws of this State and such records are related to such investigation; and 8) pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commissioners of Health and Banking and Insurance. Under the bill, if a court of competent jurisdiction finds that a health care provider or carrier has violated the provisions of this bill, the court may award damages, computed at a rate of $1,000 per violation, reasonable attorney's fees, and the costs incurred in maintaining that civil action. Finally, nothing contained in the bill is to be construed to limit, diminish, or abrogate the rights of a person under the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191 or the obligations of a health care provider or carrier under that law. | In Committee |
| A3540 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | An Act establishing civil and criminal penalties for the production and dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR217 | Designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in State of New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in New Jersey. Paul Leroy Robeson was born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey. As a gifted debater, scholar, linguist, athlete, actor, singer, author, and political activist, Robeson was the quintessential 20th-century renaissance man. Robeson attended Rutgers University on a four-year scholarship, becoming the third African-American student to attend the institution. As a standout student and athlete, Robeson earned his place as class valedictorian and a spot on the All-American football team. Robeson would later attend Columbia University Law School, continuing his success as a professional football player while pursuing a legal education. However, racial tensions and discrimination greatly limited his career as a lawyer, and he instead rose to fame as a widely acclaimed actor and singer in the late 1920s and 1930s. As Robeson's popularity grew, he broke barriers as one of the first African-American men to play significant roles in the predominantly white American theater. Robeson strongly believed in the responsibility of influential figures to advocate for justice and peace. This sense of responsibility led Robeson to advocate for the rights of African-Americans, workers, and colonized peoples around the world. Unfortunately, his political activism led to his blacklisting and the revocation of his passport, significantly hindering his career and obscuring his accomplishments and role in the history of civil rights. Despite these hardships and his death in 1976, Robeson remains a source of inspiration, and his remarkable life and legacy should be remembered and celebrated by the State of New Jersey. Designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in State of New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4501 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | In Committee |
| A1203 | "Pet Insurance Act." | "Pet Insurance Act." | Crossed Over |
| A4362 | Provides for designation and establishment of Public Health Institute in New Jersey. | Provides for designation and establishment of Public Health Institute in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A5510 | Requires appointment of State Dementia Services Coordinator; appropriates $150,000. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The State coordinator is to be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the position. The duties of the State coordinator is to include: 1) developing and coordinating the implementation of a master plan to address the impact of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 2) coordinating with existing State programs, services, facilities, and agencies that provide services and other assistance to persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 3) developing procedures to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between, and prevent the duplication of dementia care services provided by, State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; 4) identifying service gaps in the provision of appropriate dementia care services and other assistance by State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; and 5) increasing awareness of, and facilitating access to quality, coordinated treatment and dementia care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia. The appointed State Dementia Services Coordinator: is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the State to supply the coordinator with data and any other information necessary to discharge the coordinator's duties; and may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of the coordinator's mission. The provisions of the bill also require each department, office, division, or agency to cooperate fully with, and provide assistance to, the coordinator to perform the coordinator's duties. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4343 | Establishes New Jersey-Haiti Commission. | Establishes New Jersey-Haiti Commission. | In Committee |
| AJR181 | Designating May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. Tuberous Sclerosis is a rare genetic complex that affects multiple organ systems. Tuberous Sclerosis leads to irregularities in one of two protein-encoding genes which regulate cell division and growth (TSC1 or TSC2), causing non-cancerous tumors to develop in different organs, primarily the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. The benign tumors and abnormal brain structures that are characteristic of Tuberous Sclerosis block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the brain and result in epilepsy, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and various mood complexes. Tuberous Sclerosis is a leading cause of epileptic seizures. Sixty percent of those with Tuberous Sclerosis experience autism. Tuberous Sclerosis affects one million individuals around the world and 50,000 individuals in the United States. At least two children born each day in the United States have Tuberous Sclerosis. Currently, there is no medical cure for the condition. Strategic research will prioritize earlier diagnosis, therapies, and mechanisms for prevention. Organizations such as the TSC Alliance, Matthew's Friends, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex International, and Tuberous Sclerosis Association convene to fund such research and support families influenced by Tuberous Sclerosis. The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance designates the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group's Comprehensive Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center as a network clinic and referral center. May 15 is recognized as global Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day, designed to increase public awareness for this rare condition. By amplifying the voices of individuals in the Tuberous Sclerosis community, the State may benefit from innovative treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. | In Committee |
| A4390 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | In Committee |
| A5118 | Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS. | Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS. | Crossed Over |
| A1992 | Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. | This bill exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. Under current law, nursing mothers are not explicitly exempted from jury duty, which can present a hardship to mothers who are nursing or expressing milk for their babies. Currently, exemptions from jury duty are statutorily authorized for persons: 75 years of age or older; who have served on a jury within the previous three years; or who will suffer severe hardship due to circumstances that are unlikely to change within a year (e.g. medical conditions, care of another or financial hardship). Members of volunteer fire departments and first aid or rescue squads and, under certain circumstances, teachers are exempted. Medical professionals state breastfeeding provides health benefits to infants. Breastfeeding has been associated with reduced risk of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal tract infections, sudden infant death syndrome, allergic disease, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, childhood leukemia and lymphoma, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Breastfeeding has also been associated with health benefits to mothers such as reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. In 2011, the United States Surgeon General issued a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding." The State of New Jersey Department of Health has recognized the benefits associated with breastfeeding and has issued proposed guidelines for New Jersey hospitals which are designed to encourage more mothers to breastfeed in order to improve health outcomes of both mothers and infants It is the view of the sponsor that nursing mothers should be supported in their efforts to breastfeed their babies. This bill provides assistance to mothers who are nursing or expressing milk by enabling them to claim an exemption from jury duty during the first year of their child's life. | In Committee |
| A1799 | Requires DOH to develop shared decision-making tool and establish maternal health care pilot program. | Requires DOH to develop shared decision-making tool and establish maternal health care pilot program. | In Committee |
| A567 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| A3636 | Requires State agencies to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities and on mobile devices. | This bill requires that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA, or the most up-to-date version of the guidelines, be the accessibility standard for the websites of all State agencies, and requires that each website be configured in such a way that it can be navigated, viewed, and accessed on a smartphone, tablet computer, or similar mobile device. The WCAG guidelines are published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium, and make content accessible for people with disabilities. Under the bill, the Chief Technology Officer is required to establish the protocol by which a State agency can determine that its websites comply with the requirements. The Chief Technology Officer is required to certify each website's compliance two years after the bill's effective date and recertify compliance once every two years thereafter. As used in this bill, "State agency" means the Executive and Legislative Branch of the State, including, but not limited to, any department, board, bureau, commission, division, office, council, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or independent agency, public authority, or public benefit corporation. | In Committee |
| A4944 | Requires DHS to conduct public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services, and educate women on NJ FamilyCare coverage of these services. | The bill requires the Department of Human Services (the DHS) to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform women and birthing persons about the benefits of health care services provided by certified doulas and licensed midwives, and the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services. The public awareness campaign will encompass both print and electronic media. The public awareness campaign will include information concerning: (1) the person-centered care and supportive services that doulas and midwives provide for both birthing persons and infants over the prenatal, birthing, and postpartum periods; (2) the culturally competent nature of the care and services available from doulas and midwives; (3) the continuum of well-woman care delivered by midwives; (4) the health benefits and improved maternal and infant health outcomes resulting from doula and midwife care; and (5) the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum enrollees, and coverage for midwife care and services across the lifespan of women enrolled in NJ FamilyCare. Under the bill, the DHS will provide, in an easily accessible location on its website, information concerning the types of care and services furnished by doulas and midwives, the health benefits associated with the doula and midwife care, and the availability of NJ FamilyCare coverage for doula and midwife services. The DHS website will also include a directory of doulas and midwives who are approved NJ FamilyCare providers, and information on the NJ FamilyCare managed care plans in which each doula and midwife participates. The DHS, at a minimum, will update the information in the directory annually. | In Committee |
| A4222 | Requires New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services. | Requires New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services. | In Committee |
| A4543 | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| A5471 | "Healthy Smiles Act"; increases NJ FamilyCare fee-for-service reimbursement rates for pediatric dental services; requires NJ FamilyCare managed care rates for identical services be no less than fee-for-service rates. | This bill makes certain adjustments to the NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates for oral health services and supplies. The bill requires that, commencing upon July 1, 2025 or 60 days following the enactment of this bill, whichever is later, the NJ FamilyCare fee-for-service reimbursement rates for covered pediatric oral health services and supplies will be increased by 20 percent from the reimbursement rates in use for identical services at the time of the bill's adoption. Commencing one year after the implementation of the increased reimbursement rates, and annually thereafter, the bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to adjust the existing fee-for-service reimbursement rates according to changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor for the Northeast region of the country in the previous January over the immediately preceding 12-month period. For reference, in November 2024, the most recent time this data was assessed over a 12-month period, the CPI increased by 3.5 percent. Finally, the commissioner is required to ensure that every contract entered into on and after the effective date of this bill between the State and a managed care organization (MCO) for the provision of NJ FamilyCare services provides that the reimbursement rates for pediatric oral health services and supplies are equal to or greater than the NJ FamilyCare fee-for-service reimbursement rates for the identical services and supplies. Under the bill, an MCO in violation of this provision would be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day that the non-compliant reimbursement rate was issued. Any penalties assessed are to be collected by the commissioner in the name of the State in a summary proceeding in accordance with State law. The commissioner's determination regarding violations is the final agency decision, subject to review by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. | In Committee |
| A5449 | Exempts oral healthcare products from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts oral healthcare products from the New Jersey sales and use tax. These products are defined to include powered and manual toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, dental floss picks, dental picks, interdental brushes, tooth powders, and oral irrigators, which items are designed to maintain oral health, regardless of whether the items meet the definition of an over-the-counter drug. This definition follows a recently adopted Streamline Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) amendment that adds a definition for oral healthcare products that member states can use if they wish to exempt those products from their respective sales and use taxes. The SSUTA is a multistate agreement that allows businesses operating in various states to more easily comply with the sales and use taxes imposed by member states. One of the ways in which the SSUTA simplifies the administration of sales and use tax laws is by requiring member states to adopt common definitions for the products that are subject to tax, thereby providing greater uniformity among member states' tax bases. Also, member states are permitted to exempt products from their respective sales and use tax provided that those exemptions are made in accordance with the product definitions contained within the SSUTA. New Jersey has been a member of the SSUTA since 2005. | In Committee |
| A4761 | Requires Division of Children's System of Care to make changes to certain polices regarding the provision of family support and respite care services for certain eligible individuals. | This bill requires the Division of Children's System of Care (DCSOC) in the Department of Children and Families to: (1) establish an authorization period of 12 months for the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend respite, and self-hired respite care, to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability; (2) once an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability has been authorized to receive family support services from an agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), ensure that the individual's family or guardian be provided with a bank of respite care service hours, in addition to, and separate from, any other family support service hours the individual, the individual's family or guardian, or both are eligible to receive, that can be used during each authorization period, including, but not limited to, agency-hired, agency-weekend respite, or self-hired respite care, based on the specific needs of the individual, the individual's family or guardian, or both; and (3) establish a process by which the family or guardian of an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability who has been authorized to receive family support services undergoes an annual reevaluation of the need for the family support services received during the authorization period. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to allow the DCSOC to reduce the amount of respite care service hours an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability, the individual's family or guardian, or both have been authorized to receive during a 12 month authorization period. As defined in the bill: "agency-hired respite care" means respite care, including social and recreational experiences, provided by a trained respite care worker employed by an agency contracted with the DCF to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability in, or outside of, the individual's home; "agency-weekend respite care" means social and recreational experiences provided during the weekend by a trained respite care worker employed by an agency contracted with the DCF to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability outside of the individual's home; and "self-hired respite care" means an arrangement that allows the family or guardian of an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability to recruit and hire a trained respite care worker, paid directly by individual's family or guardian, to provide social and recreational experiences to the individual in, or outside of, the individual's home. Currently, DCSOC policy reauthorizes the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend, and self-hired respite care every 90 days, stipulates that certain respite care services are limited to a set number of service hours (60 hours for agency-hired and self-hired respite care and 75 hours for agency-weekend respite care), and requires the families of individuals under the age of 21 with a developmental disability receiving family support services to undergo an annual reapplication process to continue to receive such services. This bill would require the DCSOC to expand the authorization period for the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend, and self-hired respite care from the current 90 days to 12 months, ensure that certain respite care services are not limited to a set number of service hours during each authorization period, and replaces the annual reapplication process with an annual reevaluation process of the family supports services provided by DCSOC to eligible individuals to afford families the flexibility to access respite care based on their specific needs. | In Committee |
| AR168 | Urges US Congress to enact legislation allowing individuals with disabilities to retain federal disability benefits upon marriage. | This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact legislation allowing individuals with disabilities to retain federal disability benefits upon marriage. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability related programs known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI is a need-based program that provides financial assistance to disabled individuals, as well as seniors, with limited income and resources, regardless of their work history. SSDI is based on an individual's work history and the Social Security taxes they have paid. It provides benefits to those who have worked and paid into Social Security for a sufficient number of years but have become disabled and are unable to work. The SSA recently recognized Patrice Jetter and Garry Wickham, subjects of "Patrice: The Movie", a documentary that focuses on the couple's concerns about losing their disability benefits if they were to get married. The film highlights how changes to the asset limit and related marriage rules can only be made by Congress because those have been set by statute. On September 30, 2024 the Social Security Administration issued a public statement acknowledging that some of the policies enforced by the administration are antiquated and should be updated to reflect the modern day needs of individuals living with disabilities and receiving disability benefits. Along with the public statement issued by the SSA on September 30, the SSA enacted three SSI enhancements that is estimated to lead to new or increased SSI payments for hundreds of thousands of Americans with disabilities. In New Jersey, approximately 10.2 percent of the population has a disability. The majority of recipients are disabled workers. In order to implement effective changes to the SSA's policies concerning SSI and SSDI, Congress should take action to enact legislation concerning these two programs that would allow individuals with disabilities to retain their federal disability benefits upon marriage. | In Committee |
| A5321 | Codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for 365-day period beginning on last day of pregnancy. | This bill codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365-day period beginning on the last day of a woman's pregnancy. The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services has been mandated to provide this benefit, via budget language included in the State's Annual Appropriations Act, since FY 2022. Moreover, the division has included this policy in the NJ FamilyCare 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration, which governs the operations of significant components of New Jersey' s Medicaid program. The current demonstration is effective through June 30, 2028. The State's efforts regarding Medicaid coverage for pregnant individuals are aligned with changes at the federal level. For example, a provision in the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" gave states a new option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months, instead of 60 days, via a state plan amendment for the purposes of improving maternal health and coverage stability, and addressing racial disparities in maternal health. This new option took effect on April 1, 2022 and was originally available for five years; however, the option was made permanent by the "Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023." This bill also clarifies that the State's existing coverage of Medicaid services for pregnant individuals is extended to those individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under the State Medicaid plan. | In Committee |
| AJR159 | Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | This joint resolution designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of New Jersey. Ruby Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana by parents Lucille and Abon Bridges. In the same year, the United States Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ending racial segregation in public schools. However, states across the South, including Louisiana, failed to integrate their public schools. This led to a federal court order for Louisiana to desegregate their public schools beginning on November 14, 1960. On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals to the William Frantz Elementary School where Ruby faced violent protesters. The violence of the protestors, blatant racism from parents, and forced isolation plagued Ruby Bridges' first year of attendance at William Frantz Elementary. Despite these hardships, Ruby Bridges never missed a day of school and by the end of her first year, the school decided to admit more African American children the following year. Ruby Bridges' act of bravery inspired America and led to a commemorative piece by famous artist Norman Rockwell titled "The Problem We Must All Live With." Ruby Bridges became a lifelong activist for racial equality by establishing The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, which uses educational initiatives to promote tolerance and unity among schoolchildren. Ruby Bridges has also gained numerous accolades for her life's work, including the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and the honorary title of deputy federal marshal. By setting aside November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, we can celebrate the courage of young Ruby Bridges and the impact her actions had on African American children across America. Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3667 | Permits dental service corporations to be subsidiaries of nonprofit parent companies. | This bill amends the current law to permit dental service corporations to be or become subsidiaries of nonprofit parents. Under the current law, a dental service corporation is prohibited from spending more than 10 percent of its assets or more than 50 percent of its surplus, whichever is less, on investments. This puts dental service corporations at a disadvantage compared to other health insurance companies, despite the fact that dental service corporations have more predictable risks of loss and thus have less need for limiting the use of company funds. Allowing dental service corporations to be or become subsidiaries of nonprofit parent companies, while still imposing all statutory requirements on the dental service corporations themselves, would give a nonprofit parent freedom to invest funds and be better able to help its dental service corporation subsidiary compete with larger health insurance companies that offer dental services. At the same time, the dental service corporation subsidiary would still have to comply with the "Dental Service Corporation Act of 1968," including the limitation on investing company funds. By amending the current law, this bill promotes competition in the dental service market and ensures that patients are still adequately protected. | Vetoed |
| A5185 | Provides for annual fellowship stipends for Direct Support Professional Career Development Program participants. | This bill provides for annual fellowship stipends for Direct Support Professional Career Development Program participants. Direct support professionals provide services and support to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Current law governing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program provided for a one time appropriation of $1,000,000 to establish the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program as part of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development's Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative. The appropriation also covers living expenses for participating individuals and establishes a fund for existing direct support professionals to cover costs associated with furthering their education. This bill requires an annual appropriation from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education in such amounts as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of law governing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program, including to provide an annual distribution of fellowship funding to cover living expenses for participating individuals and to support existing direct support professionals to cover costs associated with furthering their education. | In Committee |
| A4365 | Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success; appropriates $4.0 million. | This bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs, which will develop strategies to promote the well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and encourage family success. The council will consist of 25 members, including the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees, who will serve ex officio, and 17 public members, who will be representatives of certain entities that provide services to children and families, or have certain experience with receiving family services in New Jersey. The council will manage the development and implementation of a Statewide initiative concerning the social and economic well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and the provision of holistic, age and developmentally appropriate services that support a child's development from birth to young adulthood. In order to implement the Statewide initiative, the council will: (1) advocate for a State Bill of Rights for Infants, Children, Youth, and Families, which will provide a framework for the initiative; (2) identify and develop policies, strategies, and financial priorities that promote family success; (3) recommend policies to improve the efficacy of existing State and community-based services and programs; (4) explore strategies to leverage public and private funding to provide preventive services; and (5) establish community recovery and family success councils in each county. The goal of the Statewide initiative will be to: promote positive family relationships, community connections, and preventive services to ensure financial security, quality education, health, safety, and permanency for infants, children, youth, and families through an integrated service planning and delivery system. The bill defines "distress services" to mean services to remediate circumstances that endanger the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of infants, children, and youth; and "preventative services" as those services that promote the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of the target populations and divert the need for distress services. The council will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that will include recommendations for legislative and administrative actions on the use of public and private resources to support family success initiatives and preventive services for all families. The bill appropriates $4.0 million from the General Fund to the council to implement the provisions of the bill, and provides that the council may use any unexpended appropriations in the succeeding fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A2291 | Provides categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to certain child care workers. | Provides categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to certain child care workers. | In Committee |
| A4696 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| A3865 | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five. | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five. | In Committee |
| S1445 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | An Act concerning military service members at public institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3904 | Requires geotechnical testing and certain monitoring of transportation projects. | An Act concerning certain testing and monitoring of transportation capital projects and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4091 | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | An Act concerning audiologists and hearing aid dispensers and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3700 | Establishes pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage of remote maternal health services for eligible beneficiaries. | This bill establishes a voluntary, three-year pilot program to provide certain pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries with remote maternal health services, upon referral by the beneficiaries' health care provider. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to expand access to obstetric care for pregnant patients who live in the State's rural communities or in medically underserved communities. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Human Services, based upon clinical evidence and the recommendations of experts in the fields of obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine, will determine the remote services to be provided through the pilot program. At minimum, the program will provide remote patient monitoring, remote non-stress tests, and tele-ultrasound services for pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries. The bill defines "remote maternal health services" as the use of digital technology to collect medical and health data from a pregnant patient and securely transmit this information to a health care provider at a distant site for interpretation and use as part of a diagnosis or a treatment plan. "Remote patient monitoring" is defined as the use of digital technology to collect and transmit patient health data to a healthcare provider at a distant site for review and treatment management. The bill stipulates that the devices and digital technologies used to provide remote maternal health services must comply with the requirements of the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," and be used in an FDA-approved capacity. The bill provides that State licensed physicians, certified nurse midwives, professional midwives, or midwives may refer a pregnant Medicaid beneficiary to the pilot program if the health care provider determines that remote maternal health services are in the beneficiary's best interests; or that the beneficiary has an increased likelihood of a high-risk pregnancy due to: pre-existing medical conditions; age; lifestyle factors; or a diagnosed pregnancy-related condition, such as preeclampsia. The bill also provides that remote maternal health services will be available to a pregnant Medicaid beneficiary whose pregnancy is not high-risk, but who resides in a community that lacks a sufficient number of health care providers who offer obstetric care and participate in the Medicaid program. Eligibility for the pilot program will also be extended to a pregnant Medicaid beneficiary who is unable to access consistent obstetric care due to socioeconomic factors, such as the beneficiary's work schedule, a lack of reliable transportation, or a lack of reliable child care. Pursuant to the bill, the establishment of the remote maternal health services pilot program is contingent upon federal approval of the State's Medicaid waiver application or State plan amendment, in order to ensure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| A4684 | Removes certain limitations on recovery for victims of certain sexual offenses. | An Act concerning judgments against public entities and amending P.L.2019, c.120 and N.J.S.59:9-2. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4707 | Authorizes State Treasurer to sell as surplus certain real property and improvements in City of Camden in Camden County. | An Act authorizing the State Treasurer to sell certain surplus real property and improvements owned by the State in the City of Camden, Camden County, and repealing P.L.2013, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5116 | Revises design of primary election ballots and certain primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; removes State committee members from primary process; requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections. | An Act concerning the design and use of primary election ballots and primary election procedures, supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, amending various parts of the statutory law, and repealing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1672 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | An Act concerning eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement and amending P.L.1997, c.348. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5039 | Requires Division of Pensions and Benefits to provide report on available funds in local government part of SHBP prior to transferring funds from State part of SHBP; requires monthly reporting on certain assets in SHBP. | Requires Division of Pensions and Benefits to provide report on available funds in local government part of SHBP prior to transferring funds from State part of SHBP; requires monthly reporting on certain assets in SHBP. | Vetoed |
| A4848 | Requires health care professionals to perform lead screening on pregnant persons under certain circumstances. | Requires health care professionals to perform lead screening on pregnant persons under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A4101 | Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions. | Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions. | Crossed Over |
| A4089 | The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents. | The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents. | Crossed Over |
| A5043 | Requires DOH to create and disseminate materials and resources related to cardiomyopathy. | This bill requires the State Department of Health (DOH) to create and disseminate materials and resources related to cardiomyopathy, including a cardiomyopathy risk assessment. The DOH, in consultation with the Department of Education, would be required to develop public education materials and resources on the signs, symptoms, and risk-factors associated with high-risk cardiac conditions and genetic heart rhythm abnormalities. These materials and resources would then be disseminated to school administrators, educators, school health professionals, coaches, families, guardians, caregivers, and other appropriate individuals. The cardiomyopathy risk assessment would be disseminated to the public. With this bill, the DOH would submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing existing activities already conducted by the department on the prevalence and epidemiology of cardiomyopathy across the lifespan of an individual, from birth to adulthood, focusing on the natural history of an individual with cardiomyopathy and the estimated number of cardiomyopathy-related emergency department visits in the pediatric and adult population. The submitted reports would also be made available to the public. This bill would require the DOH apply to any available federal grants to expand and coordinate research and research-related activities associated with cardiomyopathy. The DOH would be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the department's research efforts and future plans and needs for cardiomyopathy research. Additionally, this bill sets up a grants program. Under the program, the commissioner would award grants to eligible public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools for the following purposes: 1. Developing and providing comprehensive materials to establish AED and CPR programs in public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools; 2. Providing support for CPR and AED training programs in public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools for students, staff, and related sports volunteers; 3. Providing support for developing a cardiac emergency response plan within public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools; 4. Purchasing AEDs, AED batteries, and performing necessary AED maintenance; or 5. Replacing old and outdated AED and CPR equipment, machinery, and educational materials. To receive grant funds, a local educational agency, in consultation with a qualified health care entity, would submit an application to the Commissioner of Health. If a local educational agency has applied and been awarded federal funds for the same or similar purposes as listed above, the educational agency would need to first utilize the federal funds before applying to the State for any additional funds. Lastly, this bill appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health to implement the provisions of this bill. | Crossed Over |
| A4391 | Allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | This bill allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II controlled dangerous substance prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to other pharmacists. Specifically, the bill provides that a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance that is prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be transferred from a pharmacist to another pharmacist, provided the prescription transfer is in compliance with federal regulations. Federal rules recently changed to allow the transfer of Schedule II-V controlled dangerous substance prescriptions between licensed pharmacies for the initial filling on a one-time basis only, upon request from the patient. New Jersey currently allows for transfers of Schedule III-V controlled dangerous substance prescriptions; this bill would expand allowable transfers to also include Schedule II controlled dangerous substance prescriptions. The bill will allow for greater flexibility for people attempting to fill attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. The ability to easily transfer prescriptions between pharmacies is especially valuable to patients who are attempting to fill prescriptions for medicine that is less available due to a shortage. Currently, when a patient is unable to fill a prescription at a particular pharmacy, the patient must ask their health care provider to send a new prescription to a different pharmacy. The bill will allow for a more efficient transfer process, by allowing pharmacies to directly transfer attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | 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 |
| A4556 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| A2145 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | This bill establishes employment protections for paid first responders who are diagnosed with certain cases of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the bill, an employer would be prohibited from discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee, or threatening to do so, with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, duties, or privileges of employment on the basis that the employee took or requested any leave related to a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD. The bill provides that if an employer violates its provisions, an employee or former employee would be authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief. All remedies available in common law tort actions would be available to a prevailing plaintiff. Additionally, the bill provides that a court would be authorized to order any or all of the following relief: (1) an assessment of a civil fine of $5,000 and $10,000 for each subsequent violation; (2) an injunction to restrain the continued violation of any of the provisions of the bill; (3) reinstatement of the employee to the same position or to a position equivalent to that which the employee held prior to unlawful discharge or retaliatory action; (4) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights; (5) compensation for any lost wages, benefits and other remuneration; (6) payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees. | In Committee |
| A4810 | Requires NJ FamilyCare reimbursement for comprehensive medication management services provided for certain children by licensed pharmacist. | This bill requires the NJ FamilyCare program to provide reimbursement for comprehensive medication management (CMM) services when provided by a licensed clinical pharmacist for a medically complex pediatric patient. "CMM services" is defined as a standard of care by which a clinical pharmacist assesses each of a patient's medications, including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements, to determine that each is appropriate, effective, and safe, given the patient's medical conditions, comorbidities, and other medications. Comprehensive medication management services are provided by a clinical pharmacist as part of a patient's health care team. The bill defines a "clinical pharmacist" as a licensed pharmacist who has completed a clinical residency to acquire expertise in the therapeutic use of medications to ensure optimal patient health outcomes. Clinical pharmacists work as part of a patient's team of healthcare professionals to provide medication therapy evaluations and recommendations to patients and healthcare providers. CMM services for which a clinical pharmacist would receive NJ FamilyCare reimbursement will include:1. comprehensive reviews of a pediatric patient's prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements;2. development and implementation of patient-specific medication action plans;3. ongoing monitoring of patient adherence to the patient-specific medication action plan;4. follow-up consultations and services necessary to ensure the efficacy and safety of the patient-specific medication action plan; and5. any other CMM services deemed necessary by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (the division) in the Department of Human Services and the Board of Pharmacy for the appropriate care of a medically complex pediatric patient. The bill directs the division to enter into value-based contracts with licensed clinical pharmacists in order to reimburse for CMM services provided for medically complex pediatric patients. The division also will establish a quality assurance program in order to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and efficacy of the CMM services provided, and ensure that these services align with the division's value-based payment strategies. The division and the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy in the Division of Consumer Affairs will designate the educational, training, and credentialing requirements for licensed clinical pharmacists to provide CMM services. The bill also amends "The New Jersey Pharmacy Practice Act," P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-40 et seq.), to specify that a licensed clinical pharmacist who satisfies the credentialing requirements for the provision of CMM services will not be required to enter into a written agreement with a licensed physician in order to provide CMM services. The bill further amends section 25 of P.L.2003, c.280 to provide that the statutory provisions regulating collaborative drug therapy management will not apply to the provision of CMM services, as provided by a licensed clinical pharmacist. | In Committee |
| A5135 | Establishes central registry for, and provides for informational outreach to, senior citizens living in New Jersey. | This bill requires the Division of Aging Services (division) in the Department of Human Services to establish and maintain a voluntary central registry of senior citizens residing in this State. The information in the central registry will be used for the purposes of compiling statistical information on the number of senior citizens living in the State and providing wellness check calls during emergencies and information on services and programs for senior citizens. The division will be authorized to receive death record notifications from the New Jersey Electronic Death Registration System concerning the death any of individual registered with the division pursuant to this bill for the purposes of updating the central registry. A person who is 65 years or older may apply to the division for inclusion in the registry and will provide the division with the following information: the person's name, date of birth, address, income level, and contact information. A person who registers pursuant to this bill may subsequently request through the registry to have the person's information removed from the registry. The Commissioner of Human Services will not remove the information until 21 days following the person's request. The commissioner will subsequently destroy all records associated with that person's registration and remove that person's name from the registry. Information on senior citizens compiled pursuant to this bill may be used by the division and agencies designated by the commissioner for the purposes of carrying out this bill, but otherwise the information will be confidential and not divulged or made public so as to disclose the identity of any person to whom it relates, except as provided by law. Information regarding a person's inclusion in the registry will not be deemed a public record. The division will conduct a Statewide multi-media public awareness campaign in English and Spanish to raise awareness among individuals, who are age 64 years or older, regarding the central registry established pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| A4612 | Increases resource threshold limit for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. | Increases resource threshold limit for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. | In Committee |
| A2196 | Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. | Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. | Crossed Over |
| A2801 | Renames, extends eligibility, and makes various other changes to Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program. | Renames, extends eligibility, and makes various other changes to Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program. | Crossed Over |
| A4254 | Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions. | Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions. | Crossed Over |
| A2803 | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A3879 | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Crossed Over |
| A2804 | Provides DHS and State Board of Medical Examiners to develop and implement process to improve efficiency of reviewing NJ FamilyCare provider applications. | Requires DHS and State Board of Medical Examiners to develop and implement process to improve efficiency of reviewing NJ FamilyCare provider applications. | Crossed Over |
| A2437 | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Crossed Over |
| A3894 | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | An Act concerning fire safety by making changes to certain licensure requirements, equipment requirements, advisory committee memberships, penalties, and fees and amending P.L.1991, c.92, P.L.2001, c.289, and P.L.1983, c.383. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3414 | Modifies regulation of student permits by NJ State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling and establishes oversight of individuals seeking employment as shampoo technicians. | An Act concerning student permits for certain cosmetology and hairstyling students and amending and supplementing P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1899 | Expands authority of pharmacy technician in administering drugs and vaccines and permits certain pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccine. | An Act concerning pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians, COVID-19 vaccines, and amending P.L.2003, c.280. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4841 | Concerns housing discrimination based on source of lawful income. | Concerns housing discrimination based on source of lawful income. | Crossed Over |
| S3880 | Amends list of hazard mitigation and resilience projects approved for funding by NJ Infrastructure Bank under FY2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program. | An Act concerning the financing of certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects in Fiscal Year 2025 and amending P.L.2024, c.45. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S720 | Requires DCPP to consult with Division of Developmental Disabilities following finding of child abuse or neglect to create services plan for person with developmental disability under certain circumstances. | An Act concerning the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and amending P.L.1974, c.119. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR76 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4284 | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Crossed Over |
| S2331 | "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act"; establishes procedures regarding collection of child support on behalf of children in custody of DCPP. | An Act concerning the liability for maintenance costs of children in the care or custody of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and amending and supplementing P.L.1962, c.142. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3308 | Requires electric public utilities to implement certain improvements to interconnection process for certain grid supply solar facilities and energy storage facilities. | An Act concerning certain grid supply solar facilities and energy storage facilities and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3791 | The "New Jersey Online Foreclosure Sale Act;" permits online foreclosure sales for real property. | The "New Jersey Online Foreclosure Sale Act;" permits online foreclosure sales for real property. | Crossed Over |
| A3803 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | This bill requires a public institution of higher education to readmit an undergraduate student who withdrew from the institution due to the student's service in the uniformed services, including service in the Armed Forces, or as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal or State authority. Under the bill, the institution is required to readmit the student with the same academic status as the student had when the student last attended the institution. The bill also provides that readmission is to be granted upon written request by the student for the next academic semester beginning after the date of the request. Finally, the bill provides that an institution cannot charge an application or other fee for a readmission request made pursuant to the bill's provisions. This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed. | In Committee |
| A4968 | Modifies list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | An Act concerning the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to finance a portion of the cost of certain transportation infrastructure projects and amending P.L.2024, c.43. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4446 | Requires notification of pet presence in seasonal rental unit. | Requires notification of pet presence in seasonal rental unit. | Crossed Over |
| A4888 | Establishes AI and Labor Market Study Commission to analyze impact of artificial intelligence on labor market. | Establishes AI and Labor Market Study Commission to analyze impact of artificial intelligence on labor market. | In Committee |
| A4935 | Establishes Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program and artificial intelligence apprenticeship tax credit program. | This bill establishes an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Under the bill, the program will collaborate with companies in the artificial intelligence industry to offer apprenticeship opportunities that focus on artificial intelligence technology, data analytics, and automation; facilitate partnerships between employers and educational institutions; assist employers in establishing and administering apprenticeship programs; and inform employers of the artificial intelligence apprenticeship tax credit program. The bill also establishes an artificial intelligence apprenticeship tax credit program under the gross income tax and corporation business tax. The bill gives employers with qualified artificial intelligence industry apprenticeship programs the lesser of $5,000 per apprentice or one-half of an apprentice's wages. To qualify for credit, an apprenticeship must employee an unskilled or semi-skilled person in the artificial intelligence industry, including data analytics and automation, that is employed by the taxpayer for no less than 20 calendar weeks in the privilege period as part of a term of artificial intelligence industry training not exceeding four tax years. | In Committee |
| A3864 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain educator common application and web portal. | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five. | In Committee |
| A3699 | Authorizes health care professionals to engage in the use of remote patient monitoring devices; requires health care insurance coverage by certain insurers for remote patient monitoring devices. | Authorizes health care professionals to engage in the use of remote patient monitoring devices; requires health care insurance coverage by certain insurers for remote patient monitoring devices. | In Committee |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1323 | Revises various provisions concerning New Jersey Aspire Program and surrender of tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | An Act concerning the New Jersey Aspire Program, amending P.L.2020, c.156 and P.L.2023, c.98, and supplementing P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4750 | Expands certain employer reporting requirements to include entities that employ or contract with individuals for financial compensation, including ride-sharing and delivery technology platforms. | This bill expands certain employer reporting requirements to include entities that employ or contract with individuals for financial compensation, including ride-sharing and delivery service technology platforms. Under current law, employers and labor organizations are required to report certain information to the Department of Human Services regarding employees or persons to whom the employer anticipates paying earnings. The law requires this information to be reported to the department within 20 days of the hiring, re-hiring, or return to work of the employee. The bill expands these existing reporting requirements to include employers, labor organizations, and other entities that employ or contract with any person for financial compensation. Financial compensation includes compensation from a technology platform used for ride-sharing or delivery services. | Crossed Over |
| AJR89 | Condemns hate in all forms and especially all hate and bias crimes. | Condemns hate in all forms and especially all hate and bias crimes. | Crossed Over |
| A2102 | Exempts community gardens operating on-site composting systems or other systems of managing organic waste from certain DEP permits under certain conditions. | This bill would exempt a community garden that operates an on-site composting system, or other on-site system of managing organic waste in accordance with the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) standards for recycling, from any permits required by the DEP pursuant to the "Solid Waste Management Act," P.L.1970, c.39 (C.13:1E-1 et seq.), the "New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act," P.L.1987, c.102 (C.13:1E-99.11 et al.), the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), or the "Water Pollution Control Act," P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), or any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. To be eligible for the exemption provided by the bill: (1) the system may not accept more than 200 gallons per week of source separated food waste, except that a community garden located on property that is 5,000 square feet or larger in size may accept source separated food waste in an amount equal to 200 gallons per week per 5,000 square feet of property; and (2) the compost generated from the system is to be used on-site for the community garden or be given away or offered for sale in accordance with the requirements of the DEP providing for the disposition of processed Class C recyclable materials. As defined in the bill, "community garden" means any publicly or privately owned piece of land maintained and cultivated as a garden by members of the surrounding community. | Crossed Over |
| A4229 | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | Crossed Over |
| A2845 | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | Crossed Over |
| A2887 | Establishes 21st Century Injured Workers' Access to Justice Act. | This bill establishes the 21st Century Injured Workers' Access to Justice Act. This bill revises the workers' compensation law to revise the cap on contingency fees to a prevailing party in workers' compensation matters from 20 percent to 25 percent, and it expands the application of the fee to orders for payment of medical and temporary disability benefits on motion and orders approving settlement of any kind. The bill provides that no awarded counsel fee will be allocated by a judge of workers' compensation against the petitioner's recovery for medical treatment or temporary total disability benefits secured by way of motion or plenary trial. The bill will not preclude a judge of workers' compensation from considering an hourly rate and hours expended when awarding a counsel fee pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2008, c.93 (C.34:15-28.2) or section 1 of P.L.1998, c.74 (C.34:15-57.4). Cases resolved pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1979, c.282 (C.34:15-20) will also carry a contingency fee of not exceeding 25 percent, subject to the discretion of the judge of workers' compensation. The bill is intended to address the ruling in the unpublished case of Garzon v. Morris County Golf Club, App. Div. Docket #A-1100-21, concerning the basis for the award of counsel fees in the workers' compensation system. Attorneys for injured workers are compensated on a contingency fee basis, to encourage the vindication of the rights of injured workers to medical treatment, temporary total disability, permanent disability, and dependency benefits under a beneficent and remedial system. The cost of denying these benefits to injured workers poorly situated to paying hourly counsel fees is to be borne by the employer when appropriate and to the extent appropriate, as determined by a workers' compensation judge. Since the original contingency cap of 20 percent was passed by the Legislature, attorneys for injured workers have been given additional duties by changes in the statutory and regulatory structures on both State and federal levels. The bill's revision of the contingency fee cap takes into account increased duties of attorneys for injured workers. A prevailing party should receive up to 25 percent as the counsel fee for securing these essential benefits for the injured worker if the court determines the efforts of counsel resulted in the payment of these benefits. | Dead |
| A5184 | Concerns availability of fire escape mechanisms in residential dwellings; provides penalty for violation. | This bill provides for the implementation of additional fire safety measures in residential structures. This bill would require that in addition to smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, which are already required in certain residential structures, that such structures also be equipped with "fire escape mechanisms." A fire escape mechanism is defined as a device or system of devices which provide for the safe exit of a person or persons from a window when passage through the use of ground floor exits is inaccessible due to fire, smoke, or other life-threatening danger. This bill also provides the Commissioner of Community Affairs with authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this new safety measure. The fire escape mechanism requirement would be enforced by the municipality if it has an ordinance requiring inspections upon a change of occupancy, or by the appropriate fire code official in the event the municipality does not have an inspection ordinance. The bill permits a penalty, not to exceed $1,000, to be imposed for a violation of the fire escape mechanism requirement. | In Committee |
| A4664 | Prohibits social media platforms from promoting certain practices or features of eating disorders to child users. | Prohibits social media platforms from promoting certain practices or features of eating disorders to child users. | Crossed Over |
| A5165 | Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to hire staff to alleviate professional license application backlog; appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028. | This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to hire additional staff to alleviate the professional license application backlog. The bill appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028 for the hiring of additional staff. The various state professional boards are responsible for both the processing of initial license requests and the periodic licensure renewals as required by statute. There is currently a significant backlog of these license requests in several of the regulated professions within the Division of Consumer Affairs. Starting in fiscal year 2016, language has been included in the annual appropriations act allowing the transfer of funds from the professional boards to other organizations within the Department of Law and Public Safety. These transfers may have taken away flexibility the boards would have to hire additional staff to address backlogs. This bill appropriates $10,000,000 in each of the next three fiscal years to allow for both the immediate hiring of additional staff to alleviate the current backlog as well as to ensure ongoing funding to maintain proper levels of service for license processing across the regulated professions. The bill also requires the division to provide an annual report that provides details on the spending authorized by the bill, and the effect of the spending on division staffing and the processing of license applications and renewals. | In Committee |
| A5172 | Requires State and county correctional facilities to make feminine hygiene products of varying absorbency levels available to female inmates. | This bill requires State and county correctional facilities to make feminine hygiene products of varying absorbency levels readily accessible to female inmates. Under current law, the Commissioner of Corrections in State correction facilities, or the chief executive officer or warden in county correctional facilities, is required to ensure that standard feminine hygiene products, including but not limited to tampons and sanitary pads, are provided at the request of and free of charge to female inmates. This bill amends current law to require that feminine hygiene products of varying absorbencies be provided to female inmates. | In Committee |
| ACR114 | Urges DEP and EDA to establish plastics recycling marketplace. | This concurrent resolution respectfully urges the Department of Environmental Protection to utilize monies from the State Recycling Fund to conduct the necessary research for the development of a plastics recycling marketplace in the State in order to increase the volume of single-use plastics being recycled in the State and decrease the amount of these plastics from entering into our natural environment. In addition, the Legislature respectfully urges the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to take steps to encourage and provide funding to establish a plastics recycling marketplace in the State in order to reduce the presence of single-use plastics in our natural environment. Single-use plastics are defined as plastic packaging and other consumer products made out of plastic that are designed to be used once and thrown away after a brief use, and include bottles, cups, plastic lids, bags, plates, utensils, straws, stirrers, swabs, food containers, plastic film wraps, and plastic packaging. Americans purchase 50 billion water bottles per year, an averaging 13 bottles per month per person. Additionally, 100 billion plastic bags and 25 billion styrofoam plastic coffee cups are thrown away by Americans each year, which averages to 307 plastic bags and 77 cups per person per year. Not all single-use plastic waste reaches landfills, permanent disposal facilities, or is recycled. New Jersey's current post-consumer plastics recycling rates vary between six to nine percent, however, although some calculations indicate recycling rates maybe around 13 percent. Mismanaged single-use plastic waste may block drainage systems, release toxic fumes if burned, become land pollution, and contaminate the food chain. Further, unrecycled plastics are disposed of in landfills, dumpsites, incinerators, or end up in waterways and oceans where they will remain for hundreds or even thousands of years. Furthermore, plastic released in the environment typically does not biodegrade, but instead breaks into smaller pieces, called microplastics, which continue to accumulate in the natural environment. There is evidence that microplastic pollution can move through natural food webs and accumulate in fin fish and shellfish tissues, which means microplastics and associated pollutants have the potential to move into the human food chain. The accumulation of single-use plastics in our environment is dangerous for the residents of this State, marine wildlife, and the environment, creates visual pollution, and impacts tourism, fishing, and shipping industries. | Crossed Over |
| A5166 | Establishes separate crime of porch piracy, "Porch Theft Task Force," and public awareness campaign; appropriates funds. | This bill establishes a separate crime of residential package theft, also known as "porch piracy," as a distinct crime, separate from the consolidated theft statute, N.J.S.2C:20-2. Under the bill, residential package theft is a crime of the third degree if the amount involved is less than $75,000 or is undetermined, and is a crime of the second degree if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. 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. A crime of the second degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under the bill, in addition to any other disposition authorized by law, the court may impose a fine not to exceed $250,000 or five times the retail value of the contents of the package stolen from the residence seized at the time of the arrest, whichever is greater. Also, under the bill, in addition to the ordinary penalties for crimes of the third or second degree, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a person convicted of a first offense of a crime of the third degree would not apply. Further, a person convicted of a second or subsequent offense is required to serve a mandatory minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which time the defendant shall not be eligible for parole. The bill also provides that a person may be charged with residential package theft in addition to, or in combination with, any other crime such as home invasion burglary, residential burglary, or trespass, as applicable. Additionally, the bill establishes the "Porch Theft Task Force" to be led by the Attorney General, and involving State and local law enforcement and delivery companies. The task force is required to track and reduce residential package thefts, centralize data collection concerning residential package thefts, and coordinate law enforcement efforts. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a public awareness campaign to educate residents on how to prevent residential package theft. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety such funds as are necessary to implement the bill. | In Committee |
| A2104 | Requires DEP to prioritize funding for certain projects for acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes and certain environmental infrastructure projects that include, or allow for, flood mitigation projects. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide additional priority points to certain applicants that seek funding, for Blue Acres projects and for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. Specifically, under the bill, projects that include, or allow for, a flood mitigation project to occur onsite would receive additional priority points in the ranking for funding pursuant to the respective program. The DEP would factor these additional points into its calculations when establishing: (1) the list of projects eligible to receive "Blue Acres funding"; (2) the "clean water project priority list," pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-20); and (3) the "drinking water project priority list," pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-20.1). As used in the bill, "Blue Acres project" means any project of the State or a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage caused by, storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage. | Crossed Over |
| A5169 | Adds language authorizing transfer of General Fund appropriations for certain licensed health care entities to Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services to maximize federal Medicaid payments to certain faculty physicians and non-physician professionals. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Act to add language authorizing the transfer of General Fund appropriations for a licensed hospital or health care entity to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services, consistent with federal guidelines, in order to maximize federal Medicaid payments to faculty physicians and non-physician professionals who are affiliated with the licensed hospital or health care entity under the Medicaid Access to Physician Services (MAPS) program. Authorization for these transfers will be subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The MAPS program, which was created to improve beneficiaries' access to primary and specialty care services following the expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, provides enhanced NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates for services delivered by physician practices that are affiliated with the State's public medical and dental schools. MAPS program reimbursement rates are similar to those paid by private insurers for the same services. | In Committee |
| A5163 | Establishes penalties for appraisers who engage in discriminatory real estate appraisals and requires certain information to be provided to present and prospective owners or occupants of real estate. | This bill establishes penalties for appraisers who engage in discriminatory real estate appraisals and requires certain information to be provided to present and prospective owners or occupants of real estate. Under the bill, holders of appraisal licenses or certificates, or appraisal management company registrations, may have their licenses, certificates or registrations revoked or suspended, or be subject to fines, if the State Real Estate Appraiser Board determines that the holder of the credential has engaged in a discriminatory appraisal of real estate on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, actual or perceived sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, age, actual or perceived marital status, disability, familial status, or national origin of either the prospective owners or occupants of the real estate or real property, the present owners or occupants of the real estate or real property, or the present owners or occupants of the real estate or real properties in the vicinity of the property, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, State, or local law. If the board finds a holder of a credential discriminated in the appraisal of real estate, the appraisal is deemed void and, for a first violation, the board is to fine the holder, order the holder to make restitution of the cost of the discriminatory appraisal, and require the holder to attend an anti-bias seminar approved by the board. A second violation requires the board to suspend the credential of the holder, order the holder to make restitution by covering the cost of the appraisal, and require the holder to attend an anti-bias seminar approved by the board. A credential may be restored after a second violation if the individual demonstrates restitution of the discriminatory appraisal and completion of the required anti-bias seminar after a period of suspension of no less than 30 days. If a third violation is committed, the board, after appropriate notice and a hearing, is to revoke the credential of the holder and order the holder to make restitution of the discriminatory appraisal. A holder of a credential who discriminates in the appraisal of real estate is also subject to civil penalties of varying amounts depending on the violation--up to $10,000 for a first violation; up to $25,000 for a second violation occurring within five years of the first; and up to $50,000 for a third violation. Additionally, the bill provides that within three days of a first interaction or within three days of receiving a mortgage loan application, a licensed mortgage broker or licensed real estate broker, broker-salesperson, or salesperson must provide the present owners or occupants of the real estate or real property, the prospective owners or occupants of the real estate or real property, or the agents of the present or prospective owners or occupants with a document, provided free of charge, that contains information, in a form and manner as prescribed by the board, informing the present or prospective owner of the opportunity to report, through the Internet website or telephone number of the Division on Civil Rights, any suspicion of discriminatory appraisal by the holder of an appraising credential. Finally, the bill requires that, when receiving a report of an alleged discriminatory appraisal, the Division on Civil Rights must ascertain the basis for the allegation and solicit from the complainant relevant demographic information, including but not limited to the identity of the complainant. The complainant may provide the demographic information solicited by the division on a voluntary basis. The division must compile any demographic information provided by the complainants and report in the aggregate the demographic information collected to the Governor and to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2026. | In Committee |
| A1468 | Requires DEP to consider potential impacts to natural resources when classifying dams according to hazard potential. | This bill would amend the "Safe Dam Act," P.L.1981, c.249 (C.58:4-8.1 et seq.) to require that any classification system for the hazard potential of dams adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) take into potential loss of life, property damage, and impacts to natural resources. Under current law, the DEP has adopted a classification system, which classifies dams as either: (1) Class I - loss of life or extensive property damage is probable upon dam failure; (2) Class 2 - likely significant damage to property and project operation upon dam failure, but loss of human life is not envisioned; (3) Class 3 - dam failure would cause loss of the dam itself but little or no additional damage to other property; or (4) Class 4 - for small dams that pose a negligible hazard potential. The bill would require the DEP to consider potential damage to natural resources when classifying dams, in addition to potential loss of human life and destruction of property. | Crossed Over |
| A4220 | Revises Statewide transfer agreements for transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at participating institutions of higher education; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | Revises Statewide transfer agreements for transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at participating institutions of higher education; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | Crossed Over |
| A583 | Permits deputy county clerks and municipal clerks to perform marriages and civil unions. | Permits deputy county clerks and municipal clerks to perform marriages and civil unions. | Crossed Over |
| A1657 | Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors. | Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors. | Crossed Over |
| A4434 | Requires DHS and DOH to study disordered eating; establishes "Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program." | Requires DHS and DOH to study disordered eating; establishes "Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program." | Crossed Over |
| A1476 | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5151 | Allows public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until certain specified date regardless of format. | An Act allowing publication of required public notices and legal advertisements in certain newspapers for extended period regardless of format. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3853 | Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2026. | An Act regarding telemedicine and telehealth and amending P.L.2021, c.310. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4513 | Requires electric public utilities to implement certain improvements to interconnection process for certain grid supply solar facilities and energy storage facilities. | Requires electric public utilities to implement certain improvements to interconnection process for certain grid supply solar facilities and energy storage facilities. | In Committee |
| AR82 | Urges NJ DOH to increase public awareness on effects of xylazine. | Urges NJ DOH to increase public awareness on effects of xylazine. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4168 | Requires DCPP to consult with Division of Developmental Disabilities following finding of child abuse or neglect to create services plan for person with developmental disability under certain circumstances. | Under current law, if the court finds that a person who has abused or neglected a child appears to be in need of therapeutic services, the court may order the person to accept such services or an evaluation for services. The services ordered by the court may include, but are not limited to, homemaker services, functional education, and professional therapy. This bill would provide that in cases where the person has a developmental disability and is eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in the Department of Human Services, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency would be required make reasonable efforts to consult with DDD to create a plan for services for the person. DDD would also be required to determine an appropriate method to offer the services based on the person's disability. | In Committee |
| AR156 | Requests that federal government offer legal remedies to victims exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and incentivize research into effects of those substances. | This resolution respectfully requests that the United States Congress pass legislation to support and incentivize research into the effects of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and offer legal remedies for victims of PFAS exposure against manufacturers. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds that persist and bioaccumulate in the environment. PFAS have been identified in countless consumer products, including clothing, wall paint, personal care products, cookware, and insulation. The chemicals have also been traced to drinking water supplies. Residues are absorbed through human skin and tear ducts, and often ingested. These "forever chemicals" then persist in the body and environment without breaking down. Research has associated PFAS exposure with multiple types of cancer, liver damage, reproductive issues, suppressed vaccine response, childhood developmental delays, and other health challenges. Nearly all individuals carry some trace of PFAS in their bodies. Some occupations experience long-term exposure that makes employees especially vulnerable to the associated health risks. Police officers, transit workers, firefighters, and manual laborers often work with materials containing the chemicals. The workplace is not the only site of potential PFAS exposure. Over twenty drinking water systems across New Jersey exceeded State PFAS limits in 2022, placing a wider network of New Jersey residents and workers at risk of health effects. In February 2024, the "PFAS Accountability Act of 2024" was introduced in the United States Senate. Under this bill, PFAS damages would be classified as a lawful injury and the bill would shift the costs of medical monitoring from those individuals to the parties responsible for exposure. The bill would also express Congress's desire to incentivize funding for PFAS safety research. By expressing support of this bill, New Jersey could catalyze congressional action to address PFAS harms. The fragmented state-level response to PFAS exposure warrants and necessitates a unified federal cause of action to address the concerns that the chemical presents. In this light, it is necessary that New Jersey requests that the federal government offer legal avenues to protect victims of PFAS manufacturing and incentivize research into the prevention of harm from those substances, through the "PFAS Accountability Act of 2024" or corresponding legislation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5124 | Amends list of hazard mitigation and resilience projects approved for funding by NJ Infrastructure Bank under FY2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program. | This bill would add three new projects to the list of projects authorized for funding by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) under the fiscal year 2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP): one in Brick Township, one in Rochelle Park Township, and one in Highlands Borough. The CHAMP program was established by the "Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program Revolving Loan Fund Act," P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.), in order to implement the federal "Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act" (STORM act), Pub. L. 116-284, in New Jersey. In July 2024, P.L.2024, c.45 was enacted into law, which authorized the NJIB to expend up to $7,198,045 to provide low-interest loans to six project sponsors for a portion of the total costs of six eligible Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation projects for fiscal year 2025. As amended by this bill, P.L.2024, c.45 would authorize the NJIB to expend up to $13,813,000 to provide loans to project sponsors for a total of nine eligible hazard mitigation and resilience projects for fiscal year 2025. | In Committee |
| A2076 | Revises various provisions concerning New Jersey Aspire Program and surrender of tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Revises various provisions concerning New Jersey Aspire Program and surrender of tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | In Committee |
| A4893 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | In Committee |
| A3517 | "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act"; establishes procedures regarding collection of child support on behalf of children in custody of DCPP. | This bill is to be known as the "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act." The bill amends section 1 of P.L.1962, c.142 (C.30:4C-29.1) to remove provisions in the statutes that outline how the Department of Children and Families currently collects child support obligations from legally responsible persons to offset the costs of maintenance, incurred by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), on behalf of children in the DCPP's care or custody, and establishes new procedures for such collection. Specifically, as amended, the bill stipulates that any current child support obligation or any unpaid outstanding arrears balance of a court-ordered child support obligation, all unsatisfied civil judgments based on a court-ordered child support obligation, all warrants issued solely based on the alleged failure to pay or the sole purpose of enforcing a child support obligation, or any current outstanding liens entered on any and all property to which the defendant has or has acquired an interest, which is owed to reimburse the DCPP for maintenance costs incurred while a child was in its care or custody, are deemed null and void and are to be vacated and discharged. This bill updates the State's statutes concerning the liability for maintenance costs of children in the care or custody of the DCPP to align with revised policies issued in 2022 by the Children's Bureau, an office of the federal Administration for Children and Families, allowing for Title IV-E agencies to define more narrowly when it is appropriate to seek child support from legally responsible persons. | In Committee |
| AR152 | Expresses support for "Breakfast Bowl" held by Montclair State University and Rowan University and recognizes food insecurity efforts of these institutions. | This Assembly resolution expresses support for the annual "Breakfast Bowl" between Montclair State University and Rowan University, which aims to bring attention to the fight against food insecurity many residents in this State endure. The winner of the annual event, along with receiving a trophy, will have the privilege of determining whether New Jersey's famous breakfast meat is to be called "Pork Roll" or "Taylor Ham" until the teams meet for the next year's "Breakfast Bowl." Montclair State University and Rowan University both operate food pantries that seek, in part, to provide fresh produce as part of their efforts to combat food insecurity. With successful football programs that enjoy strong alumni connections and widespread stakeholder support, the "Breakfast Bowl" provides a unique opportunity for the Montclair and Rowan communities, corporate sponsors, State residents, and elected officials to come together in the fight against food insecurity across New Jersey. This resolution also recognizes the significant contributions Montclair State University and Rowan University have made in higher education through academics, community development, and athletics. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR101 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | In Committee |
| A908 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit, commonly referred to as a rape kit, tracking system. Under the bill, the Attorney General is to issue guidelines or a directive establishing the system. The bill defines a "sexual assault forensic evidence kit tracking system" as an Internet-based system that allows a person, including a victim; a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer; an employee of a healthcare facility or laboratory, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General; and any other person, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General, to track a sexual assault forensic evidence kit through the chain of custody from the time of collection at a healthcare facility to the transfer to a local law enforcement agency, submission to a laboratory, and final disposition. | 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 |
| A5131 | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | This bill modifies State statutes regarding extended employment programs that provide rehabilitation and employment for persons with significant disabilities. The bill renames the "Sheltered Workshop Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.272 (C.34:16-39 et seq.), as the "Extended Employment Act." The bill amends the act to change the term used to designate facilities operated by nonprofit organizations to provide vocational rehabilitation and transitional employment to persons with disabilities from "sheltered workshop" to "extended employment." The bill relaxes the specifications regarding which individuals, deemed "extended employees," may be served under extended employment programs by permitting the individuals to have "significant," rather than "severe," disabilities and by removing the requirement that they first complete a workshop program, and that, after completing the program, their disability still makes them incapable of competing in the regular labor market. The bill eliminates the role of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired in determining the eligibility of individuals to be served by an extended employment program, setting standards for staff, facilities, and services of the programs, and requiring documentation of services. The bill eliminates the requirement that individual progress reports be provided and removes the law's exemption of extended employment facilities from the permit requirements and certain other requirements of the industrial homework law, P.L.1941, c.308 (C.34:6-136.1 et eq.). The bill clarifies the desired program outcomes of the extended employment program. The bill also sets requirements for baseline funding for the extended employment funding and parameters for minimum increases based on the funding provided in the FY 2024 New Jersey State Budget combined with the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) or 80 percent of expenses outlined in a functional expense report to be submitted by providers of extended employment services each fiscal year, whichever of the two is greater. The bill clarifies that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitative Services is responsible for informing and referring individuals to the extended employment program and requires consultation with ACCSES New Jersey for consultation on major policy and leadership changes within the division. The bill repeals the provisions of P.L.1975, c.350 (C.34:16-45 et seq.) concerning the sale of products produced in extended employment facilities, including specific labeling requirements, requirements regarding the minimum percentage of work to be done in the facilities, and penalties for misrepresentation regarding the disability status of the workers. Finally, the bill eliminates references to particular kinds of transportation in the program assisting persons with disabilities in extended employment programs. | In Committee |
| A5136 | Provides incentives for certified nurse aides and nursing students to work as direct support professionals; makes appropriation. | This bill provides incentives for certified nurse aides and nursing students to work as direct support professionals. The bill establishes a certified nurse aide funding program in the Department of Health (DOH) to distribute monies to employers of certified nurse aides, who provide direct support professional services under the employer, in an amount that is necessary to compensate the certified nurse aide for work as a direct support professional at the pay rate equal to the pay rate typically paid for certified nurse aide services, as determined by the DOH. The Commissioner of Health will establish an application process, guidelines, and compliance standards for the certified nurse aide funding program. Under the bill, the New Jersey Board of Nursing (board) will require schools of nursing approved by the board to grant a nursing student, who works as a direct support professional, academic credit towards the student's nursing degree for the student's experience as a direct support professional. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Health such funds as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5137 | Establishes Direct Care Worker Support Program in DOH; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the Direct Care Worker Support Program in the Department of Health (department). The purpose of the program will be to provide support to direct care workers by assisting direct care workers with childcare and transportation expenses and by examining wage gaps between different types of direct care workers. The program will provide financial assistance to direct care workers to assist with the cost of childcare and transportation expenses, in accordance with any requirements established by the department to implement the program. The commissioner will adopt eligibility criteria for providing financial assistance to individuals under the program. A direct care worker who wishes to receive financial assistance from the program will submit an application in a form and manner to be determined by the commissioner. The bill requires the department to conduct a study examining the wages of direct care workers and any wage gaps that exist between different types of direct care workers, and to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature, which will include, but not be limited to, a summary of the department's findings and any of the department's recommendations for administrative or legislative action concerning direct care worker wages, including any recommendations or strategies to increase direct care worker wages or to promote fair compensation and support for direct care workers. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Health such sums as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| A5138 | Provides for independent prescriptive authority for midwives. | This bill expands the authority of midwives to prescribe drugs.Under current law, a certified nurse midwife (CNM) may be authorized to prescribe drugs if the CNM has completed 30 contact hours in pharmacology, with at least one credit hour on topics or issues concerning prescription opioid drugs. A CNM who is approved to prescribe drugs is authorized to do so in accordance with standing orders and practice protocols developed in agreement between the CNM and a collaborative physician, which practice protocols are to be consistent with standards adopted by the State Board of Medical Examiners (BME). Pursuant to BME regulations, CNMs are restricted to prescribing the drugs outlined in a formulary set forth in the clinical guidelines established between the CNM and the collaborating physician, which drugs may include controlled dangerous substances. A licensed midwife is only authorized to prescribe a drug or medicine when preparing an ergot after the birth of the head of the infant, or household remedies, or to attend other than cases of labor. This bill would revise these requirements to provide that any certified midwife may prescribe drugs, and to remove requirements that the midwife do so in accordance with standing orders and practice protocols developed in agreement with a collaborative physician. The midwife would still be required to complete 30 hours of training in pharmacology, including one credit hour on topics and issues related to prescription opioid drugs. | In Committee |
| A5139 | Requires DHS to develop enhanced training curriculum for direct support professionals. | This bill requires Department of Human Services to develop an enhanced training curriculum for direct support professionals. Under the bill, within 120 days of the bill's effective date, the Department of Human Services is to establish a training curriculum that is to be completed by an individual within 90 days of the commencement of his or her employment as a direct support professional, or in the case of an individual who was employed as a direct support professional on or before the bill's effective date, within 210 days of the bill's effective date. The training curriculum is to include, at a minimum: 1) training on the prevention of abuse and neglect; 2) first aid training; 3) cardio-pulmonary resuscitation training; 4) medication administration training; 5) facility policies and procedures; 6) feeding techniques and nutrition training, as necessary; 7) resident mobility procedures, as necessary; 8) care for individuals with seizure disorders, as necessary; 9) care for persons with disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, as necessary; and 10) care for persons with behavioral and mental health needs, as necessary. | In Committee |
| A4863 | Requires NJ FamilyCare payment for multiple medical encounters per day for enrollee at federally qualified health center. | This bill provides for NJ FamilyCare reimbursement for multiple medical encounters with federally qualified health center (FQHC) specialists on a single day for an enrollee, provided: 1. the referring provider documents the reason for referring the patient to each specialty provider; 2. each of the enrollee's medical encounters is with different specialty provider; and 3. NJ FamilyCare reimbursement for multiple medical encounters per day at a FQHC does not violate federal statute. The bill defines a "federally qualified health center" as a community-based health care provider that delivers integrated primary care services in medically underserved areas, and meets the criteria established under section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1396(d)). The bill defines a "specialty provider" as a licensed physician who: (1) is a diplomate of a specialty board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); (2) is a fellow of the appropriate American specialty college or a member of an osteopathic specialty college; (3) is currently admissible to take the examination administered by a specialty board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the AOA, or has evidence of completion of an appropriate qualifying residency approved by the American Medical Association or the AOA; (4) holds an active staff appointment with specialty privileges in a hospital which is licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) and which is approved for training in the specialty in which the physician has privileges; or (5) is recognized in the community as a specialist by his or her peers. Nothing in this bill should be construed to authorize the Commissioner of Human Services to waive or limit any provisions of federal statute or any other State reimbursement methodologies governing NJ FamilyCare reimbursement to federally qualified health centers. State regulations, found at N.J.A.C.10:66-4.1, generally limit NJ FamilyCare coverage for medical encounters at a FQHC to one encounter per NJ FamilyCare beneficiary per day. Additional encounters in a given day are covered if: 1. the NJ FamilyCare enrollee is seen by more than one provider for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of different illnesses or injuries; or 2. the enrollee leaves the FQHC following an encounter with one practitioner, and subsequently returns to the FQHC and is seen by another practitioner on the same day. Under N.J.A.C.10:66-4.1, if an NJ FamilyCare enrollee has more than two medical encounters at a FQHC in a given week, the FQHC must document the medical necessity of the encounters in the enrollee's medical record. | In Committee |
| A4043 | Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund. | An Act concerning worker contributions for unemployment insurance and amending R.S.43:21-7. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2191 | Establishes "Remote Methadone Dosing Pilot Program;" appropriates $225,000. | This bill establishes the Remote Methadone Dosing Pilot Program in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The goal of the program will be: to increase the compliance of, and reduce the costs of providing, medication assisted treatment provided by participating opioid treatment programs (OTP) through the use of remote methadone dosing; to evaluate the effect remote methadone dosing has on patient outcomes and cost-savings in the treatment of opioid use disorder; and to develop any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action concerning whether remote methadone dosing should be implemented in opioid treatment programs in this State. The bill defines "remote methadone dosing" to mean the use of telehealth and telemedicine to remotely monitor a patient's methadone-based treatment, which treatment is administered in the form of take-home doses of methadone. Under this bill, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the DHS will select one OTP each from the cities of Atlantic City, Camden, and Paterson to participate in the program. In accordance with applicable federal and State laws and when clinically appropriate, each OTP participating in the pilot program will be authorized to utilize remote methadone dosing to treat a patient who is receiving methadone-based treatment and is eligible to receive take-home doses of methadone. In treating patients using remote methadone dosing, participating OTPs will utilize a provider of an online-enabled technology application, service, website, or system that facilitates remote methadone dosing approved by the department. Under no circumstances will the State or an opioid treatment program require that a patient participate in the pilot program. Each participating OTP will be required to annually report to the department information on patient outcomes and cost-savings as a result of the pilot program, including information on: the number of patients treated using remote methadone dosing; treatment compliance; the average time each patient spends being treated using remote methadone dosing; patient retention; any realized reduction in medical transportation costs; and any other information the department deems relevant in evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program. The bill requires DHS, no later than four years after the date the program is established, to prepare and submit to the Governor and Legislature a report that includes: an analysis on the impact of the pilot program on patient outcomes and cost-savings using the information received from participating OTPs; any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action concerning the potential expansion of remote methadone dosing in OTPs in this State; and any other information the department deems relevant in evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program The bill is appropriates $225,000 from the General Fund to the DHS. The department will then issue a grant in the amount of $75,000 to each participating OTP to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4148 | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | An Act concerning information provided on type 1 diabetes in public schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4672 | Changes certain Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program requirements; appropriates $20 million. | This bill amends current law that established the Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program (program) to expand the program's ability to award grants to local government units and transit agencies to fund public transportation projects throughout the State. Under current law, the program is only authorized to award grants to local government units and transit agencies to fund transportation projects within Mercer County. The bill also establishes additional criteria for the Commissioner of Transportation (commissioner) to consider when approving applications for the program. Specifically, the commissioner is required to consider the degree to which the proposed transportation projects: (1) improve transit system performance; (2) remove barriers to mobility, especially for travelers with disabilities and those without a personal vehicle; (3) improve mobility in disadvantaged communities, such as low-income areas and areas lacking existing public transportation; (4) accelerate deployment of advanced transit technologies, including shared-use mobility services; (5) deliver economic benefits through enhanced mobility; (6) improve safety by reducing roadway collisions; and (7) improve environmental sustainability, particularly by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The bill provides that in order to qualify for a program grant, the transportation project is required to: (1) enable persons without a smartphone or credit card to access transportation services made available through the project and (2) include wheelchair-accessible vehicles and an accessible mobile application as accessibility features that accommodate the mobility needs of persons with disabilities. Finally, the bill appropriates $20 million from the General Fund to the Department of Transportation to support the program, which is in addition to $2 million that was appropriated to the program when the program was first established. | In Committee |
| A3564 | Establishes program for certain individuals to become certified homemaker-home health aides and provide services to certain Medicaid and Medicaid-Medicare dually eligible enrollees under increased reimbursement rates. | This bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) in the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a program under which a family member of an enrollee in Medicare, Medicaid, or NJ FamilyCare, or a third-party individual approved by the enrollee or the enrollee's guardian, may be certified as a certified homemaker-home health aide (CHHA) and, under the direction of a registered professional nurse, provide CHHA services to the enrollee through a home care services agency, which services will be subject to an enhanced reimbursement rate. The program established under the bill will apply to enrollees who are 65 years of age or older and qualify for CHHA services under Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare. The DMAHS will be required to develop an assessment tool that will allow the DMAHS to readily identify enrollees who meet these eligibility criteria. Under the program, the family member or approved third-party individual will be required to complete all the training, testing, and other qualification criteria as are required under State and federal law for certification as a CHHA. The home care services agency that will employ the family member or approved third-party individual will be required to pay all costs for the family member or approved third-party individual to become certified as a CHHA. In no case will the family member or approved third-party individual be required to repay or reimburse the agency for the costs of becoming a CHHA. The tasks delegated by a registered professional nurse to a family member or approved third-party individual who becomes certified as a CHHA under the bill are to be consistent with the tasks that may be generally delegated to CHHAs pursuant to the rules of the New Jersey Board of Nursing. CHHA services provided by a family member of a Medicare, Medicaid, or NJ FamilyCare enrollee or an approved third-party individual under the bill will be reimbursed at a rate of no less than $30 per hour. The DMAHS will be required to establish the program within six months after the effective date of the bill. The DHS will be required to apply for State plan amendments and waivers as are necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| A1987 | Authorizes home care for individuals who are disabled or elderly and requires health insurance coverage therefor. | Authorizes home care for individuals who are disabled or elderly and requires health insurance coverage therefor. | In Committee |
| SJR103 | Declares NJ "Purple Heart State." | This resolution declares New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." New Jersey veterans and active duty military members have fought selflessly to preserve our nation's freedom, with many being wounded or killed while in the line of duty. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President to veterans and active duty military members who have been wounded or killed while serving in our nation's Armed Forces. The recipients of the Purple Heart Medal deserve recognition and honor for the bravery that recipients have shown while serving our nation. Three states, including West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, are declared "Purple Heart States." Parts of 45 states are part of the "Purple Heart Trail," a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that give tribute to the veterans and active duty military members who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. New Jersey has multiple counties, cities, and locations that are part of the "Purple Heart Trail." The "Purple Heart Trail" was established at the 1992 Military Order of the Purple Heart convention, which was held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" honors the contributions and sacrifices of the New Jersey service members who have received the Purple Heart Medal. Purple Heart Medal recipients from the State have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the State's citizens. The people of New Jersey have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all of the service members who have selflessly served our country and the State. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to declare New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." Declares NJ "Purple Heart State." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR29 | Designates August of each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in NJ and first Wednesday in August of each year as "Professional Engineering Day." | This joint resolution designates the month of August each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in New Jersey and first Wednesday in August of each year as "Professional Engineering Day." The licensing of professional engineers in the United States began in August 1907 to ensure that the engineering profession is practiced by qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Professional engineers are dedicated to applying scientific knowledge, mathematics, and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical, societal, and commercial problems while holding the public health, safety, and welfare paramount. Nearly 10,000 professional engineers in New Jersey contribute significantly to the technological growth and economic well-being of the State through their work in manufacturing, engineering services, scientific research and development, construction, education, government, industry, and private practice. The designated month and day will reflect that professional engineers should be recognized for their many achievements on behalf of the industries, commerce, and the people of New Jersey, and their commitment to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public above all other considerations. The designated month and day will also highlight that the engineering profession offers a unique and publicly oriented vocation for young people in the State to be educated and trained to continue the work, innovation, and accomplishments of their predecessors in improving the health, welfare, and safety of the public. The joint resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling upon the citizens of the State to participate fittingly in the observance of "Professional Engineers Month" and "Professional Engineering Day." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3611 | Provides grant to study and map mental health care resources for children; makes appropriation. | An Act concerning mental health services for children, supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR71 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1433 | Designates bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North as "Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company Memorial Highway." | An Act designating the bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North in honor of Army Specialist Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4626 | Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. | Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. | In Committee |
| A2444 | Requires DOH to study racial aspects of ovarian cancer. | Requires DOH to study racial aspects of ovarian cancer. | Crossed Over |
| A3875 | Requires testing of electrical systems of certain electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and batteries prior to sale, rental, lease, or other distribution to consumers. | This bill would prohibit the sale, lease, rental, or other distribution, and the offering for sale, lease, rental, or other distribution, of a low-speed electric bicycle, powered mobility device, or storage battery used to power such an electric bicycle or mobility device, unless: (1) the bicycle, mobility device, or battery has been tested by a accredited testing laboratory for compliance with an appropriate Underwriters Laboratories standard or other appropriate standard established by the Department of Transportation; and (2) confirmation of the testing is displayed using a logo, wordmark, or name of the accredited testing laboratory, either on packaging or documentation that is provided to the consumer at the time of sale, rental, lease, or other distribution thereto, or directly affixed to the bicycle, mobility device, or battery. Persons who violate the bill's provisions would be subject to a written warning for a first offense and a penalty of up to $1,000 for each subsequent offense occurring no later than two years after the date of the first offense. The bill would take effect on the first day of the eighth month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| A4297 | Requires issuance of raincheck for unavailable good or service advertised by digital coupon. | This bill requires the issuance of rainchecks for goods or services advertised by digital coupon. Under the bill, if an item advertised to the public by a person who sells or offers for sale goods or services at a retail location is not currently available in stock, as advertised to the public in a digital coupon, the person is required to provide a raincheck for not less than 60 days, which would allow the consumer to obtain the same product, service, or benefit at the same price, discount or on the same terms and conditions as that provided by the digital coupon. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. | In Committee |
| A5069 | Requires DOH to inspect reports of mold infestation in health care facilities. | This bill requires the Department of Health (department) to inspect reports of mold infestation in health care facilities. Under the bill, within six months after the bill's effective date, the department is to establish procedures for the department to inspect any reports made to the department of mold infestation with buildings or homes that are subject to the jurisdiction of the department pursuant to Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. The bill additionally provides that, within six months after the bill's effective date, the department is to establish guidelines for preventing or removing mold from buildings or homes that are subject to the jurisdiction of the department pursuant to Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. The bill defines "mold" to mean any form of multicellular fungi that lives on plant or animal matter and in indoor environments. Types of mold include, but are not limited to, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Memnoniella, Mucor and Stachybotrys Chartarum, often found in water-damaged building materials. | In Committee |
| A4934 | Requires continuation of health benefits dependent coverage for certain children with disabilities who are 26 years of age or older. | Requires continuation of health benefits dependent coverage for certain children with disabilities who are 26 years of age or older. | In Committee |
| A5070 | Requires New Jersey Board of Nursing to establish Nursing Scribe Program. | This bill requires the New Jersey Board of Nursing (board), in conjunction with schools of nursing approved by the board, to establish a Nursing Scribe Program. Under the program, the board is directed to authorize schools of nursing approved by the board to grant academic credit to a nursing student enrolled in the school for the successful completion of a nurse scribe course. At a minimum, the course is to: (1) provide training and instruction in electronic medical records documentation and unit workflows, medical terminology, the applicable provisions of the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," and the principles of medical billing, coding, and reimbursement; and (2) require the student to complete practicum hours, in an amount determined appropriate by the board, providing nurse scribe services The bill defines "nurse scribe services" to mean the provision of documentation assistance provided to a nurse licensed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing regarding a patient's encounter with the nurse that is consistent with the scope of the nurse's licensure. It is the sponsor's belief that the provisions of the bill will help support and grow the workforce of nurses in the State. Under the bill, student nurses will gain valuable experience working alongside experienced professionals in the field, while existing nurses will receive much needed clerical assistance, thereby allowing them to focus more on the clinic aspects of their roles and alleviating some of the workload strain challenging nurses since the COVID-19 pandemic. | In Committee |
| A3446 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR66 | Commemorates 71st anniversary of armistice that ended Korean War. | The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea invaded the Republic of Korea in a surprise and unprovoked attack. A few days later, the United Nations' Security Council declared that the attack conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was a violation of peace. Shortly after, United Nations members were urged to support the Republic of Korea in its defense. Twenty-two countries, including the United States, got involved in the Korean War by supplying the Republic of Korea with fighting units and medical services. From the 1.7 million American soldiers who served in the Korean War, more than 33,000 died and more than 100,000 were injured. More than 191,000 New Jersey residents served in the military during the Korean War, and 836 New Jersey residents were killed or missing in action during the war. After the Korean War ended, the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a mutual defense treaty, which established an alliance between both countries. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea that was formed through sacrifice and shared hardship. Although the Korean War led to the death of 2.5 million individuals, this war is often referred to as the "forgotten war" for the lack of attention it has received compared to other, more well-known international conflicts. Therefore, the State of New Jersey commemorates the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953. | Crossed Over |
| A1875 | Consolidates and makes technical updates to certain definitions used in Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. | This bill consolidates certain definitions used in Title 26 of the Revised Statues by placing those definitions into a single definitions section, section 1 of P.L.1947, c.177 (C.26:1A-1), which will be applicable to all of the statutes contained in Title 26, and by removing the definitions where they appear in individual sections of Title 26. Specifically, the bill will add to C.26:1A-1 definitions for "adult," "Alzheimer's disease and related disorders," "birthing facility," "contagious disease," "covered person," "hospital," "infectious disease," "local health agency," "local registrar/registrar," "long-term care facility," "Medicaid," "Medicare," "person," "state," "State registrar," "substance use disorder," "vital records," and "vital statistics." The section currently includes definitions for "commissioner," "council," "division," "division director," "local board/local board of health," and "State department/Department of Health/department." The bill does not make any substantive revisions to any of these definitions. The bill repeals another section of law, R.S.26:1-1, which defines the same terms as are included in C.26:1A-1 in generally the same manner, and which is currently applicable to all of Title 26. The bill additionally makes various technical updates to the laws being amended to ensure definitions are listed alphabetically, to replace gendered language, to update citations to other laws and to various regulatory agencies, and to update punctuation, the use of subdivisions within definitions sections, and syntax, as well as to update several cross-citations occurring outside Title 26. This bill is based on the recommendations set forth in a report by the New Jersey Law Revision Commission titled "Final Report to Eliminate Duplicative Definitions Sections of the Health and Vital Statistics Statute in Title 26," issued April 21, 2022. | Crossed Over |
| A3505 | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A1848 | Prohibits sale of certain diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to persons under 18 years of age under certain circumstances. | Prohibits sale of certain diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to persons under 18 years of age under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A4174 | Clarifies consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image. | This bill amends the invasion of privacy statute, N.J.S.A.2C:14-9, to clarify that a person's consent to being photographed, filmed, videotaped, recorded, observed, or otherwise having their nude, sexual, or sexually suggestive image reproduced is not be construed to include or imply the person's consent to the disclosure of such image. The bill also requires that a person's consent to disclosure is strictly construed to be limited only to the express purpose for which consent was obtained. Under current law, a person's consent to the taking of the image could be construed to also waive any restriction on the subsequent disclosure of the image. Under the bill, taking an image and disclosing an image are two separate acts that require two separate instances of consent. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S2652 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | An Act concerning certain criminal offenses involving sexual exploitation or abuse of children and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S912 | Establishes requirements concerning provision of postpartum care, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth information and development of personalized postpartum care plans. | An Act concerning postpartum care, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2310 | Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. | An Act concerning transparency in employment listings and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR14 | Designates third Sunday of November of each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in NJ. | Designates third Sunday of November of each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in NJ. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5020 | Makes $3 million supplemental appropriation for bonus awards for certain COVID-19 emergency essential frontline State workers of Local 195 International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. | This bill provides for a supplemental appropriation of $3,000,000 from the General Fund to provide individual employee awards to the many essential frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who provided emergency frontline workplace service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic completed on March 7, 2024 noted that one of the strengths of New Jersey State Government's response was that staff across government departments and agencies went above and beyond what they were expected or paid to do. Many state employees put their lives on hold to ensure that the important work of their department or agency continued amidst the uncertainty, additional workload, and safety challenges posed by the pandemic. Many frontline agency workers also reported experiencing significant trauma due to the panic and urgency of the response and the demands associated with their jobs. Personal losses and increased workloads caused many State workers to endure prolonged exhaustion and pandemic fatigue. Workers were overwhelmed by the sudden and dramatic increase in their responsibilities, which agencies had to process while being understaffed. Across departments and agencies, state employees demonstrated resilience and flexibility. Many state agencies worked closely with their respective unions to ensure their staff were well placed to continue their work during the pandemic. Agencies that had pre-existing relationships with union leaders were able to have proactive discussions and continuous dialogue in the early stages of the pandemic, enabling rapid decision making concerning workplace attendance by staff deemed essential for the health and safety of human life. The many frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers ensured the continued operation and maintenance of the many crucial State facilities, which provide essential services to their clients and patients who could not survive a termination of services during the pandemic. This appropriation will ensure that the many thousands of these State employees receive additional compensation in the form of individual bonuses for their essential work during the most dangerous of times. | In Committee |
| A1858 | Allows public bodies to conduct meetings by electronic means. | Allows public bodies to conduct meetings by electronic means. | In Committee |
| A4053 | Transfers New Jersey Historic Trust from Department of State to DCA and makes certain changes related to trustees and powers. | This bill statutorily transfers the New Jersey Historic Trust, which advances historic preservation in the State through several programs, from an entity in but not of the Department of State to an entity in but not of the Department of Community Affairs, and makes certain changes related to trustee qualifications and entity powers The New Jersey Historic Trust was created by legislation in 1967 and became affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs in 2002. This bill makes the statutory law consistent with its current affiliation with the Department of Community Affairs. The bill also provides that members of the New Jersey Historic Trust board of trustees, to include the Commissioner of Community Affairs or a designee, are required to possess a minimum of five years' experience in at least one of the following areas: historic preservation, fundraising, redevelopment and financing, architecture, planning, archaeology, or cultural nonprofit management. The bill also expands the New Jersey Historic Trust's authorization to collect fees for admittance to workshops or other education initiatives and allows the New Jersey Historic Trust to determine the amount of a fee to be collected for an application for a loan through the "Historic Preservation Revolving Loan Fund." | In Committee |
| A4332 | Requires certain ultrasounds on pregnant women to be performed by licensed health care professionals. | Requires certain ultrasounds on pregnant women to be performed by licensed health care professionals. | In Committee |
| A5046 | Revises credentialing process for physicians attempting to enter a health insurance carrier's provider network. | This bill makes changes to the existing health insurance carrier credentialing process to facilitate transparency and enforcement. First, the bill requires a carrier committee reviewing a credentialing application to notify the applicant within 30 days following submission of the application whether the application is incomplete. If the committee does not notify the applicant of an incomplete application within 30 days, the application is to be deemed complete. In addition, the bill requires carriers to include on their Internet websites the universal participation and renewal forms and an explanation of the credentialing process, including a list of all the documents required for participation and renewal and any expected timelines. The bill also provides that if a physician, while waiting to receive a credential to participate in the provider network of a carrier, is delivering health care services to covered persons within the network, the carrier is required to reimburse the physician for services delivered as of the date the credentialing application was filed, if the application is approved by the carrier. Under the bill, carriers are prohibited from requiring a physician who is already credentialed with the carrier and who changes employers or health care facilities within this State to submit a new application or renewal form to participate in the carrier's network solely on the basis that the physician changed employers or health care facilities. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to receive, investigate, and enforce alleged violations of law relating to the credentialing process. | In Committee |
| AJR46 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the many Hindu residents of this State and their rich and noteworthy history and cultural contributions to this State. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to a time between 3000-8000 BCE. Sacred texts have been passed on through generations for thousands of years, creating a strong following of 1.1 billion Hindus in the 21st century. Hindus believe in a variety of deities, each representing different concepts and values within Hinduism. Different sects of Hindus emphasize particular deities and practices over others, depending on their beliefs. Various Hindu gods and goddesses can be traced to origin points spanning several thousand years, making the traditions surrounding Hinduism and the Hindu deities rich and storied. Some deities have holidays celebrated in their honor, such as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Another well-known Hindu holiday is Holi, the Festival of Colors. It is a holiday celebrating the coming of spring, famous for colorful paste and water thrown on those celebrating. Hindus have made enormous contributions to cultural development throughout history across the globe. Significant achievements in math, science, and medicine used in the modern world can be traced to Hindus. New Jersey is lucky enough to be the state with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the United States. The Hindu community has shown others the beauty of their beliefs, including though the establishment of the largest Hindu temple in the world, now located in Robbinsville, New Jersey. | 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 |
| AR165 | Urges President and Congress of United States to enact federal legislation providing proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact federal legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The United States of America and the State of New Jersey are forever grateful to the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States and who sacrifice their lives to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of this nation. However, in the course of their selfless sacrifice for this nation, many veterans unfortunately experience permanent disabilities that can limit their ability to support themselves and their families. In recognition of the sacrifice and service of these veterans, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities receive the benefits necessary to enjoy a stable quality of life, without the fear of suffering catastrophic financial hardship. While the State of New Jersey currently provides crucial tax relief to these veterans in the form of a total property tax exemption for veterans with 100 percent service-connected disabilities, this assistance is unfortunately unavailable to veterans who live with similar disabilities in other states. To ensure that all veterans throughout the country receive property tax relief commensurate with the severity of their disabilities, there is an urgent need for the federal government to enact legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The provision of proportional property tax relief would entitle veterans with a service-connected disability to an annual property tax benefit based on a designated percentage of the property taxes paid by the veteran, as determined by the veteran's disability rating assigned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. However, to ensure that these benefits target the veterans most in need of assistance, this proportional property tax relief should be limited to those veterans with annual income up to $200,000, and the federal benefits should only be provided for the principal residences of eligible veterans. In providing this proportional property tax relief, the federal government would honor its duty and obligation to support the selfless men and women who sacrificed their well-being for the betterment of this great nation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR25 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. | In Committee |
| AR167 | Establishes "Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design." | This Assembly Resolution establishes the "Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design." 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 review and consider any studies, court decisions, best practices, and any other relevant research, information, guidance, and expertise regarding the design of primary election and general election ballots which may be utilized in the conduct of elections in New Jersey. The committee will expire upon the conclusion of the committee's work. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4569 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | In Committee |
| AJR50 | Designates August of each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in NJ and first Wednesday in August of each year as "Professional Engineering Day." | This joint resolution designates the month of August each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in New Jersey and first Wednesday in August of each year as "Professional Engineering Day." The licensing of professional engineers in the United States began in August 1907 to ensure that the engineering profession is practiced by qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Professional engineers are dedicated to applying scientific knowledge, mathematics, and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical, societal, and commercial problems while holding the public health, safety, and welfare paramount. Nearly 10,000 professional engineers in New Jersey contribute significantly to the technological growth and economic well-being of the State through their work in manufacturing, engineering services, scientific research and development, construction, education, government, industry, and private practice. The designated month and day will reflect that professional engineers should be recognized for their many achievements on behalf of the industries, commerce, and the people of New Jersey, and their commitment to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public above all other considerations. The designated month and day will also highlight that the engineering profession offers a unique and publicly oriented vocation for young people in the State to be educated and trained to continue the work, innovation, and accomplishments of their predecessors in improving the health, welfare, and safety of the public. The joint resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling upon the citizens of the State to participate fittingly in the observance of "Professional Engineers Month" and "Professional Engineering Day. | In Committee |
| A4433 | Designates bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North as "Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company Memorial Highway." | Designates bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North as "Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company Memorial Highway." | In Committee |
| A4970 | Provides grant to study and map mental health care resources for children; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families to distribute a $1,000,000 grant to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to study and map mental health care resources for children. Under the bill, the New Jersey Health Care Quality will be required to assemble a group of stakeholders to: create a comprehensive visual journey map that outlines families' experiences in obtaining mental health care and related support services for their children; identify the eligibility rules for various pediatric mental health care programs and resources available to children in this State, steps and barriers to accessing these programs and services, and how these programs and services may connect, disconnect, or compete; and provide concrete policy suggestions to improve the structure, funding, mission, and interconnectedness of pediatric mental health care programs ensuring that programs are family- and child-focused. The group of stakeholders will consist of: representatives with subject matter expertise in pediatric mental health care services; pediatric mental health care providers; and mental health care program administrators from counties representing the northern, central, and southern regions of New Jersey. Under the bill, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute will be required to: (1) evaluate the current landscape of pediatric mental health care services across: schools; counties; State agencies including, but not limited to, the Departments of Children and Families, Education, Human Services, and Health; insurers; and the legal system; (2) identify the eligibility rules, covered services, and funding structures for pediatric mental health care programs available to children in this State; (3) conduct qualitative research through interviews and focus groups with families, health care providers, and program administrators across three counties representing the northern, central, and southern regions of New Jersey; (4) review the applicable laws, regulations, and contract terms governing pediatric mental health care services in the State; (5) highlight barriers to care and analyze payment structures, reimbursement rates, and cost-sharing provisions to identify financial barriers to access to pediatric mental health care services; (6) compile and analyze data on pediatric mental health outcomes, stratified by payer type, race, ethnicity, and other relevant characteristics that can identify disparities in access to pediatric mental health care services and pediatric mental health outcomes across different populations; (7) prepare and submit to the Department of Children and Families a document that visually maps the steps a child and family are required to take in order to access mental health care services, covering the initial contact with a mental health care provider to the provision of mental health care and noting all the interactions, required steps, and encountered barriers related to receiving mental health care; and (8) prepare and submit to the Department of Children and Families a document that: summarizes eligibility criteria, coverage details, and payment policies for pediatric mental health care programs available to children in the State; identifies any key issues related to pediatric mental health care and any disparities in mental health outcomes in the State; and includes the advisory group's policy recommendations to pediatric improve mental health care program structures, efficiency, coverage, funding, and interconnectedness. No later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this bill, the Commissioner of Children and Families will submit to the Governor and the Legislature the documents prepared pursuant to the bill. The commissioner will also make the documents available to the public on the Department of Children and Families' Internet website. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Children and Families the sum of $1,000,000 to effectuate the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| AR128 | Commemorates 45th anniversary of enactment of Taiwan Relations Act and 35th anniversary of New Jersey-Taiwan sister state relationship. | This resolution commemorates the 45th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 35th anniversary of the New Jersey-Taiwan sister state relationship. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was passed by the United States. Congress on April 10, 1979 to sustain a close bilateral relationship and advance mutual security and commercial interests between the United States and Taiwan. Since its enactment, the TRA has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations, preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a part of the South China Sea that separates the island of Taiwan from the Asian continent. The Taiwan Strait is crucial to the maintenance of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region. Its importance has been recently highlighted in global summits such as the G7, NATO and East Asian Summit. The TRA has served as the foundation for the mutually beneficial partnership between Taiwan and the United States. In 2023, a total of $27.5 billion in bilateral trade occurred between the United States and Taiwan, making Taiwan the 8th largest trading partner of the United States. In June 2023, the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade was signed to enhance the existing trade partnership as a means to promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for workers, as well as businesses. The United States has also assisted Taiwan in furthering their global participation through international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 1989, New Jersey and Taiwan entered a sister-state relationship, which remains a continuous and prosperous affiliation today. In 2021, the relationship was expanded by a sister-city agreement between Newark, New Jersey and Taoyuan City, Taiwan. In 2023, New Jersey exported approximately $723 million worth of products to Taiwan, making Taiwan the State's 5th largest export market in Asia. In October 2023, Governor Murphy announced plans to open Choose New Jersey's New Jersey Asian-Pacific Center in Taiwan and witnessed numerous Memorandums of Understanding between State executive agencies and Taiwan to establish powerful economic trade partnerships and bilateral educational infrastructure. As of March 2024, over 200 Taiwanese companies have invested in New Jersey leading to the creation of new jobs in the State. | 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 |
| A5005 | Requires DHS and other appropriate state agencies to disseminate information on transportation options for persons with developmental disabilities. | This bill would require the Department of Human Services and any other State agency that provides services to or otherwise interacts with individuals with developmental disabilities to: 1) provide persons with developmental disabilities and their families with pamphlets or other written materials describing the various transportation options, including, but not limited to, the Access Link paratransit system operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, that are available to help such persons travel in the State; and 2) post those informational materials on their departmental websites, along with hyperlinks to relevant transportation provider websites. The Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services will be required to develop and distribute, to all appropriate State agencies, the written materials required by the bill. The written materials are to utilize language and imagery that can be easily understood by persons with developmental disabilities and are to identify: 1) for each mode of transport, the phone number or website address that can be used by consumers to reserve a ride or review applicable transportation schedules; the eligibility requirements, if any, that must be satisfied in order to use the particular mode of transport; and whether family members or caregivers may accompany a person with a developmental disability when using the mode of transport; and 2) any other information that may help persons with developmental disabilities and their families understand and navigate the State's available transportation systems. | In Committee |
| AR120 | Urges amendment of Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement to create definition for oral health care products. | This resolution urges the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board to amend the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, also known as SSUTA, to create a new definition for oral healthcare products. Dental hygiene is critical to an individual's overall health and well-being. Studies have consistently shown that those with poor oral health are at risk for a number of serious health issues, such as heart disease, cancer, dementia, kidney failure, pneumonia, and diabetes. The use of oral healthcare products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss, offer critical protection against diseases that can pose serious harm to one's health. Residents of the State are currently required to pay sales tax on purchases of certain oral healthcare products at a rate of 6.625 percent. The imposition of a tax on these products is done in conformance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) which New Jersey entered in 2005. The SSUTA is a multistate agreement that allows businesses operating in numerous states to more easily comply with the sales and use taxes imposed by member states. One of the ways in which the SSUTA simplifies the administration of sales and use tax laws is by requiring member states to adopt common definitions for the products that are subject to tax, thereby providing greater uniformity among member states' tax bases. Member states are permitted to exempt products from their respective sales and use tax provided that those exemptions are made in accordance with the product definitions contained within the SSUTA. Accordingly, as a member of the SSUTA, the State of New Jersey is restrained from providing a sales and use tax exemption exclusively for oral healthcare products without an amendment first being made to the agreement by the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. This resolution urges the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board to amend the definition of the term "grooming and hygiene product" under the SSUTA to remove oral healthcare products. The resolution further urges the board to amend the agreement to create a new product definition for "oral healthcare products," including toothbrushes, toothpaste, tooth powders, mouthwash, dental floss, and other similar products, to allow member states the ability to provide tax exemptions for the sale of these products, thereby ensuring greater affordability and access to these critical items. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR60 | Declares NJ "Purple Heart State." | This resolution declares New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." New Jersey veterans and active duty military members have fought selflessly to preserve our nation's freedom, with many being wounded or killed while in the line of duty. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President to veterans and active duty military members who have been wounded or killed while serving in our nation's Armed Forces. The recipients of the Purple Heart Medal deserve recognition and honor for the bravery that recipients have shown while serving our nation. Three states, including West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, are declared "Purple Heart States." Parts of 45 states are part of the "Purple Heart Trail," a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that give tribute to the veterans and active duty military members who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. New Jersey has multiple counties, cities, and locations that are part of the "Purple Heart Trail." The "Purple Heart Trail" was established at the 1992 Military Order of the Purple Heart convention, which was held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" honors the contributions and sacrifices of the New Jersey service members who have received the Purple Heart Medal. Purple Heart Medal recipients from the State have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the State's citizens. The people of New Jersey have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all of the service members who have selflessly served our country and the State. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to declare New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." | In Committee |
| AR131 | Urges federal government to raise federal poverty line for public assistance programs. | This resolution urges the federal government to raise the federal poverty line for public assistance programs. The current federal poverty line was developed in the 1960s and was based on a household's ability to afford basic foodstuffs alone; it did not account for other living expenses such as housing, transportation, child care, and health care, which have all risen exponentially in price over the past sixty years. The federal government has not changed the original calculation for the poverty line since its inception, aside from adjusting for inflation. Consequently, nearly 53 million households cannot afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care, but only 37.9 million are officially recorded as living in poverty, as of 2022. The poverty threshold is used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. As a result, the individuals and households who do not earn enough money to support their basic needs but do not meet the stringent limits of the current federal poverty line are without access to public assistance. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the rampant rate of inflation have only worsened the cost-of-living crisis, increasing the financial burden on many poor Americans who cannot access social welfare. In addition, recent policies to raise the minimum wage across the country have had unintended consequences for low-wage earners who have lost access to public assistance in exchange for a marginal, and often insufficient, increase in pay, resulting in a benefits cliff. By raising the federal poverty line, the federal government can more accurately report the number of impoverished Americans and, therefore, expand access to public assistance programs for the individuals and households who need it. [CM1]This number increased from 51 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. [CM2]This number decreased from 38.1 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR95 | Urges Congress to amend tax code to permanently exclude all forms of discharged student loans from federal income tax. | This resolution urges Congress to exclude all forms of discharged student loans from the federal income tax. Federal law requires payment of the income tax on forgiven debt except in certain circumstances. For example, student loans forgiven for teachers and public service employees eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs are not subject to the income tax. Discharge of student debt on account of death or disability is also not subject to the income tax but only if the debt is discharged between December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2026. Other forms of discharged student debt, such as the forgiveness of loans in Income-Driven Repayment-Plans after the 20 or 25 year repayment period, are subject to federal income taxation. This House therefore urges Congress to make the discharge of student debt on account of death or disability exception to the income tax a permanent part of the tax code, and to permanently exclude from the income tax all other forms of discharged student loans. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR111 | Recognizes loneliness as public health crisis. | This resolution recognizes loneliness as a public health crisis. The United States Surgeon General declared a loneliness epidemic on May 3, 2023 due to an increase in the number of people experiencing loneliness and the adverse health effects that those individuals are prone to experience. Loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives and to experience premature death. While the epidemic of loneliness and isolation is widespread and has profound consequences for our individual and collective health and well-being, there is an available solution to the problem: social connection. Social connection is beneficial for individual health, improving the resilience of our communities, and decreasing the feeling of loneliness. With more than one in five adults and more than one in three young adults living with a mental illness in the United States, addressing loneliness and isolation is critical in order to fully address the mental health crisis in New Jersey. It is fitting to recognize the loneliness epidemic and its effects on the health of New Jerseyans throughout the State in effort to proactively take necessary action in curtailing its adverse public health outcomes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2818 | Prohibits and imposes criminal penalty on disclosure of certain intentionally deceptive audio or visual media within 90 days of election. | Prohibits and imposes criminal penalty on disclosure of certain intentionally deceptive audio or visual media within 90 days of election. | Crossed Over |
| A4987 | Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." | This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that is in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| A4523 | Creates New Jersey Board of Paramedicine. | Creates New Jersey Board of Paramedicine. | In Committee |
| A4811 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR201 | Designates last full week of September of each year as "Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week" in NJ. | This resolution designates the last full week of September of each year as "Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week" in New Jersey. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) refers to a group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the brain's frontal lobes or temporal lobes. FTD is a terminal and incurable neurodegenerative disease that causes impairments to speech, personality, behavior, and motor skills. Approximately 40 percent of individuals living with FTD have a family history of the disease or a related condition like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Due to its broad range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms, FTD is often misdiagnosed as a psychiatric condition or another neurodegenerative disease. An individual living with FTD may lose their sense of social propriety and experience significant changes in their personality. They might also struggle with understanding grammar, lose the meaning of words, become hesitant in their speech, and may eventually become mute. A person living with FTD may also experience physical changes such as muscle weakness which can lead to loss of balance and increased falls. Research at both the national and global level is needed to enhance our understanding of FTD and ultimately discover a cure. In New Jersey there are an estimated 185,000 people living with Alzheimer's dementia. It is unknown how many New Jerseyans are living with FTD. Increasing FTD awareness through public events focused on the impact that FTD has on communities is key to informing New Jerseyans of this often overlooked and incurable terminal neurodegenerative medical condition. Designating the last full week of September as "Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week" would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the effects that FTD has on New Jerseyans diagnosed with FTD. | In Committee |
| A4525 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to provide written notice of toll violations and process for remedying violations prior to issuing administrative fee. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide a written notice of an alleged toll violation and a process for remedying the toll violation before issuing or collecting any administrative fee. Specifically, the bill requires the NJTA and SJTA to provide a written notice within 60 days of a toll violation to the owner of the vehicle by regular mail, providing the owner with the opportunity to resolve the matter prior to the issuance of a summons and complaint that charges a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations and any administrative fee that is associated with a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations. The written notice is required to contain sufficient information to inform the owner of the nature, date, time, and location of the alleged violation, as well as information pertaining to a process by which the owner may elect to remedy the alleged violation within 30 days of the date the written notice was sent to avoid the issuance of an administrative fee. The NJTA and SJTA are required to include within the written notice, a notification that, if the alleged violation is not remedied within the required time period, the owner will be required to pay a reasonable administrative fee. The bill prohibits the NJTA or SJTA from issuing any administrative fee to, or collecting any administrative fee from, the owner for an alleged violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations unless the written notice has been provided and the time period to remedy the alleged violation has expired. Current law requires the NJTA or SJTA to provide an advisory and payment request within 60 days of a toll violation. The advisory and payment request requires that the owner of the vehicle pay the proper toll and a reasonable administrative fee. | In Committee |
| A4940 | Expands competitive contracting for local contracting units and boards of education; permits county colleges to utilize competitive contracting. | This bill expands competitive contracting for local contracting units and board of education and permits county colleges to utilize competitive contracting. Under current law, local contracting units and boards of education are permitted to use competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding for specialized goods and services exceeding the bid threshold. This bill expands the list of specialized goods and services for which local contracting units and boards of education can use competitive contracting. Specifically, the bill permits local contracting units to utilize competitive contracting for the provision or performance of goods and services for the purpose of producing Class I or Class II renewable energy. The bill also permits boards of education to utilize competitive contracting for: maintenance, custodial, and groundskeeping services; consulting services; grant writing services; or the provision or performance of goods and services for the purpose of producing Class I renewable energy. Additionally, the bill enables a county college to utilize competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding for the procurement of certain listed specialized goods and services that exceed the bid threshold. The bill authorizes the use of competitive contracting for the following purposes: (1) purchasing or licensing certain proprietary computer software; (2) hiring a for-profit entity or a not-for-profit entity incorporated under current law to operate, manage, or administer recreation or social services facilities or programs and data processing services; (3) obtaining services concerning energy conservation education; (4) procuring certain telecommunications services; (5) obtaining laboratory testing services; (6) procuring maintenance, custodial, and groundskeeping services; (7) contracting for grant writing services; (8) concessions; (9) contracting for specified services to produce Class I renewable energy; (10) procuring any service exempt from the requirements for public advertising under current law, at the discretion of the county college; and (11) operating, managing, or administering other services, with the approval of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill stipulates that contracts awarded for these purposes may be awarded for a term not to exceed five years, unless otherwise permitted by law. The bill enumerates the process by which competitive contracting may be utilized by the county colleges, including: the requirements for request for proposals documentation; the manner in which county colleges are to solicit competitive contract proposals; and the methods for awarding competitive contracts. Finally, the bill revises the process by which county colleges may purchase any materials, supplies, goods, services or equipment under a contract entered into on behalf of the State by the Division of Purchase and Property. The bill stipulates that the terms and conditions of the contracts awarded by the Division of Purchase and Property are to be binding. The bill also provides that a county college is not entitled to any bonding or indemnification protections provided to the State unless the vendor agrees to extend the protections to the county college. Under the bill, a county college is permitted to enter into these contracts for a period exceeding 24 consecutive months, up to the length of the contract term. | In Committee |
| AJR200 | Designates first Sunday of May of each year as "National Centenarian Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates the first Sunday of May of each year as "National Centenarian's Day" in New Jersey in order to celebrate and honor those among us who have lived an entire century and to share in their wisdom, joys, and life as a whole. | In Committee |
| A4939 | Establishes Sign Language Interpreting Services Providers Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $2 million. | This bill establishes the Sign Language Interpreting Services Providers Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). This loan redemption program is to provide for the redemption of a portion of a program participant's State, federal, or commercial student loans in exchange for the program participant's service at a site approved by the authority. Under the bill, the sites are to include a nonprofit agency providing sign language interpreting services, the Judiciary, an entity providing healthcare or mental health services, a public or nonpublic school, an institution of higher education, a licensed childcare provider, an entity providing video relay services and video remote interpreting services, and a nonprofit entity providing services for the general public good, as approved by the authority. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: (1) be a resident of the State; (2) be employed as an eligible provider of interpreting services, defined as an interpreter who is certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., listed by the State Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services or the New Jersey Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and providing interpreting services in the State; and (3) submit an application in a manner and form to be determined by the executive director of the HESAA. In selecting program participants, the executive director is required to give preference to applicants employed as an eligible provider of interpreting services in a county facing a shortage of providers of interpreting services. The bill stipulates that a selected program participant is to enter into a written contract with the authority. The contract is to specify the duration of the program participant's required service and the total amount of qualifying student loan amounts to be redeemed in return for the service. Under the bill, loan redemption is to amount to 18 percent of a program participant's qualifying loan amounts in return for one full year of service at an approved site, an additional 26 percent for a second full year of service, an additional 28 percent for a third full year of service, and an additional 28 percent for a fourth full year of service. The total loan redemption for a program participant is not to exceed $200,000. Finally, the bill stipulates that a provider of interpreting services, who is participating in the National Health Services Corps Loan Repayment Program or any other loan redemption program administered by the authority, is not eligible to simultaneously participate in the Sign Language Interpreting Services Providers Loan Redemption Program. | In Committee |
| A4942 | Establishes multiple sclerosis public awareness campaign. | This bill establishes a multiple sclerosis public awareness campaign in the Department of Health (DOH) in order to promote among the citizens of the State an understanding of MS, including its causes and health effects, and to deliver information on how the disease can impact an individual's quality of life. The campaign may provide for the development of print and electronic media in languages including, but not limited to, English and Spanish. The public awareness campaign is to include, but not be limited to: (1) a comprehensive description of MS, including a discussion of causes, symptoms, and treatment options; (2) information about educational resources available to, and research being conducted to develop effective therapies and find a cure for, those with MS; and (3) materials on how MS can impact an individual's quality of life and ways in which those with MS can maintain the best health possible, live well with the disease, and make educated decisions about their health care. The DOH is to make available to the public information about MS, informational literature concerning the signs, causes, health effects of the disease, and any other information that the department deems to be necessary, and the information may be revised whenever new information about MS becomes available. | In Committee |
| A4927 | Requires health insurance coverage of postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for pelvic floor physical therapy during the postpartum period. Under the bill, the "postpartum period" is defined to mean one year after childbirth. | In Committee |
| A4943 | Mandates certain licensed mental health professional are qualified to provide behavioral health care supports through home and community-based services program administered by Division of Developmental Disabilities. | This bill mandates that a licensed mental health professional for which the provision of behavioral supports is included in their scope of practice be considered to have met the qualifications to provide such supports to individuals with developmental disabilities through the home and community-based services program administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services. | In Committee |
| A4929 | Requires health insurers, SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare coverage for sign language interpreter services for covered individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | This bill requires private health insurance plans, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), and the NJ FamilyCare program to cover the services of a qualified sign language interpreter during a medical encounter for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. A "qualified sign language interpreter" is defined as an interpreter, preferably with expertise in medical interpreting, who is certified by the New Jersey Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or by an accredited certifying organization designated by the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services. The bill also establishes a minimum reimbursement rate of $42.40 per hour for sign language interpreter services provided during a medical encounter for NJ FamilyCare enrollees, and $42.53 when such services are provided for an individual covered under the SHBP or the SEHBP. Under the bill, sign language interpreter services would be provided upon the request of a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing. Video remote interpreter services also would be covered, provided in person interpreter services are not available. The bill stipulates that interpreter services will not be covered in situations in which such services are provided by a family member or friend of the requester, unless: 1. the family member or friend is a qualified sign language interpreter; and 2. the individual requesting sign language interpreter services consents to having the family member or friend interpret during the medical encounter; or 3. the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing is a minor, and the child's parent or legal guardian is present and agrees to interpret during the medical encounter. In cases of suspected domestic violence, a health care provider is prohibited from allowing a family member to serve as a sign language interpreter during a health care encounter for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; rather, the bill requires the health care provider to provide a qualified sign language interpreter or video remote interpreter services during the encounter. In cases of suspected child abuse or neglect by a parent or legal guardian, the health care provider may not permit the parent or guardian to serve as a sign language interpreter for a minor child who is deaf or hard of hearing. The bill instead requires the health care provider to provide a qualified sign language interpreter for the child during the encounter. NJ FamilyCare coverage of, and the reimbursement rate for, interpreter services will be contingent upon federal approval of the State's application for any requisite Medicaid or CHIP waivers or state plan amendments. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C., s. 12101 et seq.) and federal regulations grant individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing the legal right to equal access to, and an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from, health care. Federal regulations permit the use of sign language interpreters as one of the acceptable "auxiliary aids and services" that medical providers are required to furnish to ensure accessible and effective communication with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Federal regulations prohibit medical providers from billing patients for the provision of sign language interpretation; rather, medical providers are advised to treat expenditures on interpreter services as an administrative or an overhead cost of their practice. The ADA provides a limited exemption for medical providers who demonstrate that furnishing a specific auxiliary aid or service, as requested by a patient with a disability, would present an undue burden or cause a fundamental change in the nature of the provider's services and goods. In such instances, however, the ADA stipulates that the medical provider must furnish an alternative auxiliary aid or service that would not present an undue burden and would facilitate effective provider-patient communications. It is the sponsor's intent to codify existing federal requirements concerning sign language interpreter services to ensure that private health insurance plans, the SHBP, the SEHBP, and the NJ FamilyCare program, cover sign language interpreter services during medical encounters for enrollees who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A4945 | Requires access to certain assistive services for students with disabilities at public institutions of higher education. | This bill requires an institution of higher education to provide a student with a disability access to assistive services during class for purposes of recording course material, including note-taking software or a scribe, provided that use of any recording is limited for personal use. Under the bill, course material does not include any test or graded assignment completed during class time. | In Committee |
| A4936 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on artificial intelligence; requires Secretary of Higher Education to develop artificial intelligence model curricula. | This bill requires instruction on artificial intelligence. Under the bill, school districts are required to incorporate instruction on artificial intelligence in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Computer Science and Design Thinking. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement the artificial intelligence curriculum requirement. Additionally, the bill requires each public institution of higher education to offer certificate and degree programs in artificial intelligence. The bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey Presidents' Council, and the Chief Innovation Officer for the State, to develop an artificial intelligence model curriculum for use by public four-year institutions of higher education in the State and an artificial intelligence model curriculum for use by county colleges in the State. The model curricula developed is to be made available to assist public four-year institutions of higher education and county colleges in implementing the certificate and degree programs requirement established in the bill. Under the bill, the artificial intelligence model curricula is to account for academic quality and other applicable standards required for accreditation of artificial intelligence-related degree programs. Additionally, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey Presidents' Council and the Chief Innovation Officer for the State, is required to develop and distribute to public institutions of higher education artificial intelligence career pathway marketing materials that provide descriptions of artificial intelligence careers and the benefits of pursuing those careers. | In Committee |
| A4900 | Requires Department of Treasury and DHS to annually identify State funds available for NJ FamilyCare, evaluate program, and create prioritized list of initiatives to improve quality of care under program. | This bill directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury and the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to annually prepare and submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature that: 1) identifies all unencumbered or unallocated State funds that are available to be appropriated in the current fiscal year to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services for the purposes of NJ FamilyCare; and 2) evaluates the quality of care for beneficiaries across NJ FamilyCare and compiles a prioritized list of the 12 most urgent policy changes and legislative actions, along with the associated State funds necessary to implement those initiatives, that are required to address any quality of care deficiency identified in the evaluation. The NJ FamilyCare provides health insurance to certain low-income residents of the State via the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. | In Committee |
| A4887 | Requires helmet while operating bicycle, scooter, or motorized scooter. | This bill requires all persons to wear a helmet when bicycling, roller skating, or skateboarding. Current law requires persons 17 years of age and younger to wear a helmet when bicycling, roller skating, or skateboarding. This bill also extends the helmet requirement to operators of non-motorized and motorized scooters. Under current law, it is unlawful to manufacture, assemble, sell, offer to sell, or distribute bicycles, roller skates, or skateboards without a warning notice advising customers of the legal provisions concerning the wearing of approved helmets and appropriate personal protection equipment, and persons selling or renting bicycles, roller skates, or skateboards are required to advise their customers of these legal provisions and make helmets available to persons subject to the helmet requirement. Businesses complying with these requirements would not be liable in a civil action for damages for any physical injury sustained by a bicyclist, roller skater, or skateboarder who fails to wear a helmet. The bill expands these requirements and civil immunity provisions to non-motorized and motorized scooters. The bill does not amend section 8 of P.L.1997, c.411 (C.39:4-10.12), and therefore, it is the sponsor's understanding that the bill's provisions do not apply to operators and patrons of roller skating rinks subject to the "New Jersey Roller Skating Rink Safety and Fair Liability Act," P.L.1991, c.28 (C.5:14-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A4901 | Establishes Commission on Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education. | This bill establishes the Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Under the bill, the commission would examine and report on the structure of public higher education and recommend ways to improve financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of the public institutions of higher education in the State. The commission would consist of 12 members. The members would include: the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee, serving ex officio; the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee, serving ex officio; two members appointed by the Governor, including the president of a State college or university, or a designee, and the president of a public research university, or a designee; the following four members appointed by legislative leadership including: the president of a county college, or a designee, appointed by the Senate President; the president of a county college, or a designee, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; a member representing a public-sector higher education labor union, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a full time faculty member employed by a public institution of higher education, appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; one member with expertise, knowledge, or experience in the fiscal management of institutions of higher education, appointed by the Governor; one student representative from a public research university; one student representative from the State colleges or universities; and one student representative from the county colleges. The student representatives would be appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Higher Education through an application process. The purpose of this commission is to bring together management of public institutions of higher education, students, faculty, staff, and union leadership to make recommendations on higher education, with a special emphasis on financial transparency, accountability, and oversight. The commission is responsible for examining issues related to the financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of public institutions of higher education. The commission would meet a minimum of three times. This bill requires the commission to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the commission's recommendations to improve the structure of higher education in the State. The commission would issue the report to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days after the commission organizes. The commission, and its enabling legislation, would expire 30 days after the issuance of its report to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A4193 | Requires licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to offer and screen, upon request, pregnant patients with history of depression for postpartum depression. | This bill expands an existing law that directs the Commissioner of Health, in conjunction with the State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, to address the issue of postpartum depression by working with health care facilities and licensed health care professionals in the State to develop certain policies and procedures. This bill adds an additional provision to the law mandating the development of a policy that would require physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to women to offer, and provide upon the request, pregnant patients with a history of depression a prenatal screening for postpartum depression. Current policies under the law include patient and family education regarding postpartum depression and postnatal screenings for postpartum depression for all applicable patients. | In Committee |
| A2940 | Establishes minimum Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for pediatric special care nursing facilities. | This bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) within the Department of Human Services to establish a minimum Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate of $950.00 per day for pediatric special care nursing facilities (SCNFs). Pediatric SCNFs provide specialized, long-term care and rehabilitation to medically fragile children and youth, up to 21 years of age. The bill, however, conditions the provision of this minimum reimbursement rate upon a facility's compliance with applicable State and federal laws and regulations concerning licensure, patient safety, and quality of care. The bill additionally appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums as are necessary to implement this reimbursement rate increase. New Jersey currently has four pediatric SCNFs that participate in the State Medicaid program and the NJ FamilyCare program: the Pediatric Long Term Care Center at Children's Specialized Hospital (Mountainside and Toms River), the Phoenix Center for Rehabilitation and Pediatrics (Haskell), and the Voorhees Pediatric Facility (Voorhees). | In Committee |
| A1400 | Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards. | This bill would require the owner or operator of a public water system to immediately notify, by telephone and electronic mail, the governing body of a municipality and the chief administrator of every school district, charter school, and nonpublic school located within the municipality whenever the public water system violates any drinking water quality standard for drinking water supplied by the public water system within the municipality. The notification would provide the name of any contaminant that exceeds a drinking water quality standard, the maximum contaminant level or the action level, as appropriate, for the contaminant, the level of the contaminant found on each date, the dates when the tests were performed, the location of each sample tested and the location of each sample tested that exceeds a maximum contaminant level or action level. The bill also requires the owner or operator of the public water system to provide information on suggested remedies that a customer may take to address the violation. | Crossed Over |
| A1813 | Prohibits delivery of electronic smoking devices and tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age. | Prohibits delivery of electronic smoking devices and tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age. | Crossed Over |
| A2607 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | An Act concerning paratransit services. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4313 | Requires Division of Travel and Tourism develop and maintain Internet website on historic sites, districts, and roadside markers. | This bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State to develop and maintain an Internet website for historic sites and historic districts, including, but not limited to, the New Jersey program on historical and cultural roadside markers. Under the bill, the division would develop and maintain an interactive website providing information on the historic sites or historic districts throughout the State. The bill requires the division to update the website whenever a site or district is added to the program or whenever a governmental entity establishes a new historic site or district. | Crossed Over |
| S3455 | Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses. | Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses. | Vetoed |
| A2835 | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Crossed Over |
| AJR112 | Designates calendar week that includes September 10th of each year as "Suicide Prevention Week" in NJ. | Designates calendar week that includes September 10th of each year as "Suicide Prevention Week" in NJ. | Crossed Over |
| A2158 | Requires institutions of higher education and government employers to provide certain students and employees with information about Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. | This bill requires institutions of higher education and government employers to provide information to certain students and employees, as applicable, concerning the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program is an initiative run by the United States Department of Education which offers student loan forgiveness to individuals who have spent ten years working full time in the public service sector. This bill aims at increasing awareness of the PSLF program for students and employees who may qualify for loan forgiveness under the program. Under this bill, institutions of higher education will be required to provide all students who have outstanding federal student loan debt with information about the PSLF program. This information will be distributed at two points - once during the second-to-last academic semester of a student's program of study, and once during the academic semester in which a student is scheduled to graduate from the institution. Any employer within the State of New Jersey that is considered a qualifying government employer under the PSLF program will be required to provide employees with information about the PSLF program. Employees hired after the date of enactment of this bill will be provided with the information during the explanation of benefits at the beginning of employment. The United States Department of Education advises an annual submission of the PSLF application, therefore employers will also be required to provide employees with information about the PSLF program at least once per calendar year. The information provided to students and employees will include notification of potential eligibility for the PSLF program, provide the Internet address for the PSLF program, and explain the eligibility requirements for the PSLF program pursuant to federal law, 20 U.S.C. s.1087e. With respect to the bill's requirements for government employers, any information about the employer necessary for the employee to fill out the PSLF program application will also be provided to the employees. The information about the PSLF program may be distributed in writing electronically, by regular mail, or in person. The executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will develop a model format for the information. | Crossed Over |
| A2316 | Increases traffic threshold for local installation of certain speed humps on certain local streets without DOT approval. | Increases traffic threshold for local installation of certain speed humps on certain local streets without DOT approval. | Crossed Over |
| A4473 | Eliminates statute of limitations on income tax assessments that arise out of erroneous refunds induced by fraud. | This bill would eliminate a conflict between two fraud exceptions contained in current State law governing the statute of limitations for tax assessments under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Under current law, the Division of Taxation ("division") in the Department of the Treasury is required to assess additional taxes within three years after a taxpayer has filed a tax return. However, this three-year statute of limitations does not apply in certain cases, including when a taxpayer has filed a false or fraudulent return. In other words, the division may issue an assessment at any time if a taxpayer files a false or fraudulent return with the intent to evade tax. Current law also authorizes the division to issue an assessment for a deficiency arising out of an erroneous refund within three years from the issuance of the refund. This statute of limitations is extended to five years in cases in which any part of the refund was induced by fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact. The statute, however, does not explicitly define "fraud" or "misrepresentation of a material fact," which has led to questions concerning whether the statute treats fraud as having a standard that is different from misrepresentation of a material fact. This bill seeks to eliminate the disparity in treatment between when: 1) a taxpayer files a false or fraudulent return, in which case the division may assess additional taxes at any time; and 2) a fraudulent return yields a refund to a taxpayer, in which case the division may assess additional taxes within five years from the issuance of the refund. Specifically, the bill would eliminate the five-year statute of limitations on assessments for erroneous refunds that are induced by fraud. With this change, the bill provides that the division may assess additional taxes at any time if it appears that any part of an erroneous refund was induced by the filing of a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade tax. This change would eliminate the current conflict between the two fraud exceptions and specifies that the filing of a false or fraudulent return would not include a taxpayer's inadvertence, reliance on incorrect technical advice, honest difference of opinion, negligence, or carelessness. The bill eliminates the use of the term "misrepresentation of a material fact." Finally, the bill's provisions would take effect immediately and would apply retroactively to assessments of deficiencies arising out of erroneous refunds that were made within the five years preceding the date of enactment of the bill. | Crossed Over |
| A3591 | Makes it fourth degree crime to engage in certain tracking and location activities. | This bill would make it a crime of the fourth degree for a person, in order to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act, to knowingly install or place, or cause to be installed or placed, an electronic tracking device or tracking application to track or determine the location of another person. A crime of the fourth degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill defines an "electronic tracking device" as "any device designed or intended to be used for the sole purpose of tracking the location or movement of a person that reveals its location or movement by the transmission of electronic signals"; and a "tracking application" as "any computer application software installed or otherwise operational on a computer or mobile device that is used to surreptitiously track and transmit to another person the movement or determine the location of the computer or mobile device." There would be a permissive inference (for consideration by a jury) that the use of a tracking device or application to conduct surreptitious surveillance of another person was to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act, such as stalking pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10) or harassment pursuant to N.J.S.2C:33-4. The bill would exempt actions involving State or local government entities and equipment owned, leased, or operated by those entities, as the bill indicates that the provisions which criminalize tracking or location spotting activities would not be applicable to such entities. The bill also provides that several enumerated parties, and in some cases specific uses tied to those parties, would be deemed to be lawful tracking or location spotting of a person. These parties and their lawful uses would include: - a parent or guardian of a minor child for the purpose of tracking or determining the location of the minor child; - for the purpose of monitoring, tracking, or locating a person who, due to a physical or mental health condition, may be at risk of injury or death; - a person in order to track or locate personal property during a lawful business transaction in which the person's personal property is in the temporary possession or otherwise under the control of a third party; - a person collecting consumer location data as part of a lawful business practice, so long as the use is disclosed in a terms of use policy, privacy policy, or similar document or form made available to the consumer; - an employer for the purpose of tracking an employee or vehicle used by an employee while engaged in the course of employment when not prohibited by State or federal law or regulation. The bill adds that a failure by an employer to comply with the written notice requirement to use a tracking device in a vehicle used by an employee in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2021, c.449 (C.34:6B-22) or failure to comply with any other requirements in order to track an employee or vehicle used by an employee pursuant to another State or federal law or regulation would only be considered a violation of that law or regulation, and not punishable as a crime pursuant to this section; and - any person who has obtained the consent of the person to be tracked or located, which consent would be required to be provided in writing, in the case of an electronic tracking device, or, in the case of a tracking application, by opting-in to or otherwise affirmatively accepting its use. A person's consent would be presumed to be revoked if: - the person who gave consent and the person who obtained consent are spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners, and one person has filed a petition for divorce, dissolution of the civil union, or termination of the domestic partnership; or - the person who gave consent or the person who obtained consent has filed an application for a temporary or final restraining order pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.). | Crossed Over |
| A4134 | Requires homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations to be translated into multiple languages. | Requires homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations to be translated into multiple languages. | Crossed Over |
| A1925 | Modifies languages that examinations are to be conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. | Modifies languages that examinations are to be conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. | Crossed Over |
| A3366 | Establishes Women's Menstrual Health Program to identify and assist patients with symptoms related to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. | Establishes Women's Menstrual Health Program to identify and assist patients with symptoms related to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. | Crossed Over |
| A2029 | Directs DOE and DOH to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education concerning student vaping awareness campaigns. | This bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health (DOH), to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education that will help facilitate the implementation of on-campus anti-vaping awareness campaigns that target student populations. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist school districts, colleges, and universities in equipping adolescents and young adults with research backed material on the dangers of vaping in effort to combat the increased use of e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults. The DOE and DOH are to review and update the guidelines annually. The guidelines, at a minimum, are to include recommendations for: (1) implementing an in-school and on-campus multi-tiered anti-vaping campaign that focuses on theories that promote age-appropriate positive behavior change among adolescents and young adults; (2) disseminating research backed materials on the dangers of vaping, as it relates to: its effects on the users' lungs, effects on mental health, how it compares to cigarette smoking, dangers to pregnant women, and its impact on people in the workplace and small children; (3) using decision-making models and decision-making aids to help students make healthy decisions and overcome peer pressure that encourages vaping; and (4) incorporating marketing materials, such as pamphlets, to promote on-campus age-appropriate anti-vaping information to middle school students, high school students, and college age adults. Under this bill, the DOE and DOH are to post the guidelines on the respective website of each department. | Crossed Over |
| AR160 | Declares racism a public health crisis in New Jersey. | This resolution declares racism a public health crisis in the State of New Jersey. It is widely understood that systemic racism is a driver of health inequity and is manifested in differential access by race to opportunities, resources, conditions, and power within the medical and public health systems. Black people contend with disproportionately high death rates for chronic health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer, and these racial health disparities have myriad causes such as lack of health insurance, failures of the medical system, and inadequate access to health care. Physical or verbal violence between law enforcement officers and the public is a communal violence, particularly among black and brown communities where these incidents are more prevalent and pervasive, that significantly drives unnecessary and costly injury and death. The trauma of violence in a person's life course is also associated with chronic stress, higher rates of comorbidities and lower life expectancy, all of which bear extensive care and economic burden on healthcare systems while sapping the strength of affected families and communities. Studies have shown that implicit biases and internalized racism has led to black and brown people having less access to health care, preventive care, and quality education, and suffering from higher incarceration and increased mortality rates throughout this country and State. The foregoing findings demonstrate the prevalence of systemic racism, racism's role as a driver of health inequity, and the detrimental effects that racism has on the citizens of the State of New Jersey and this country. | In Committee |
| A4869 | Phases out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions of higher education; redirects State tuition aid grant funding for students enrolled in proprietary institutions to summer tuition aid grant program. | This bill phases out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions of higher education. Under the bill, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, a State tuition aid grant for a student enrolled in a proprietary institution is to be limited to students who received an award prior to that academic year. Students enrolled in a proprietary institution who received an award prior to the 2026-2027 academic year are to continue to receive an award until the student is no longer eligible. Additionally, the bill provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year and each year thereafter, funds which would have otherwise been awarded to students enrolled in proprietary institutions prior to the enactment of the bill are to instead be appropriated to fund summer tuition aid grants. | In Committee |
| AJR48 | Designates third Sunday of November of each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in NJ. | Designates third Sunday of November of each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in NJ. | In Committee |
| A3539 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | This bill updates terminology in statutory law pertaining to the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. Current state law prohibits the creation, manufacture, distribution, sale or viewing of child pornography. Among child protection advocates, however, terms such as "child sexual abuse material" and "child sexual exploitation material" have come into wider use, replacing the general description of "child pornography" because these terms more accurately reflect the suffering of the children who are victims of these crimes. When used in the context of depictions of children, the term "pornography" may be understood to legitimize or trivialize the sexual abuse or exploitation of those children. In addition, the term "pornography" carries with it the implication that the acts are performed with the consent of the child, and represent legitimate sexual material. This bill replaces the term child pornography with the term "trade in child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in Title 2A. In Title 2C, the definition of "item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child" is amended to include "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" and the acronym "CSAEM." The bill replaces the term child pornography with "network to share child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in various sections of Title 2C concerning the definition, degrees of crime, examination referrals, registration of sex offenders, and special sentencing for parole supervision for life for a leader of a network distributing depictions of child sexual abuse or exploitation. The bill further clarifies that online distribution or possession of sexual abuse or exploitation material is to be included in the schedule of penalties pertaining to offenses involving computer criminal activity in Title 2C. In Title 9, the term pornography is replaced with "any crime involving child sexual abuse or exploitation material" concerning disqualification of employment pursuant to N.J.S.9:3-40.5. In Title 18A, the word pornography is replaced with the term "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" with regard to the practice of "sexting," or sending sexually explicit messages pursuant to N.J.S.18A:35-4.32. This bill replaces the term pornography in various parts of Title 30 with "any crime involving child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in the statutes concerning revocation of a day care center's registration, criteria for permanent disqualification from employment, disqualification from adopting a child or being a resource family parent, and disqualification of employment at, or ownership or sponsorship of, a child day care center. In Title 52, the term pornography is replaced with "online distribution or possession of child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in the statutes concerning the Department of Law and Public Safety's efforts to receive and respond to inquiries or complaints from members of the public reporting computer crimes pursuant to N.J.S.52:17B-193. This bill also updates the terminology used in current law to replace outdated references to certain crimes that involve the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. According to the sponsor, the changes made in this bill are not intended, nor should they be construed, to have any substantive impact on the applicability of the affected provisions; the changes are intended to render the terminology consistent with the rest of the current statutory scheme and the broader international trend. The bill also corrects technical inconsistencies in the statutes. | In Committee |
| AR164 | Recognizes and celebrates Bruce Springsteen's 75th birthday. | This Assembly Resolution recognizes and celebrates Bruce Springsteen's 75th birthday. Bruce Springsteen was born on September 23, 1949, in Long Branch, New Jersey and raised in Freehold, New Jersey by his working class family. Beginning in the late sixties and early seventies, Bruce Springsteen began his music career by touring with bands based in New Jersey, including The Castiles and Steel Mill, which eventually led him to several members of the now famous E Street Band. In 1972, Bruce Springsteen was signed to a record deal with Columbia Records and released the critically-acclaimed "Greetings from Asbury Park," launching his recording career as a musician. Throughout his career, Bruce Springsteen has established himself as a proud New Jersey native and as one of the greatest musicians of all time, selling over 120 million albums, winning 20 Grammys, and earning inductions in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Bruce Springsteen has also continuously pursued philanthropic endeavors, such as performing at numerous charitable concerts, contributing millions of dollars to humanitarian causes, and encouraging his audiences to give back, including bringing canned goods to his concerts to later be donated at local food banks. At the age of 75, Bruce Springsteen and his legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide, especially those who reside in his home state of New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4151 | Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. | Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. | In Committee |
| A3887 | Establishes requirements concerning provision of postpartum care, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth information and development of personalized postpartum care plans. | Establishes requirements concerning provision of postpartum care, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth information and development of personalized postpartum care plans. | In Committee |
| AJR197 | Designates May of each year as Haitian Heritage Month. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as Haitian Heritage Month. Haitian Heritage Month, recognized globally during the month of May, celebrates the rich culture of Haiti and its people, including their history, language, distinctive art, and cuisine. The purpose of Haitian Heritage Month is to raise awareness and understanding about Haitian culture, history, and traditions by educating the public about the historical global contributions Haitian people have made and to celebrate these Haitian achievements worldwide. Haiti's history is of vital significance and pride for its people and has crucial global importance, representing a new concept of human rights, universal citizenship, and participation in government through the Haitian Revolution, which occurred from 1791 to 1804. The Haitian Revolution is one of the largest and the first successful slave rebellions in the Western Hemisphere. Haitian Heritage Month is an expansion of Haitian Flag Day, a national Haitian Holiday celebrated annually on May 18th, serving as a major patriotic celebration in Haiti and the Diaspora to encourage patriotism. Haitian Flag Day serves as a reminder of the struggle to freedom and the Haitian Flag symbolizes the unity that borne the Haitian nation through the alliance of the Blacks and mulattoes during the Revolutionary war. Haitian American immigrants have come to the United States bringing their own influences and cultural traditions to a variety of spheres including the arts, business, sports, literature, science, and law. Today, New Jersey has the fourth largest Haitian-American population in the United States, with nearly 69,000 Haitian-American residents. For decades, Haiti has faced significant challenges, including natural disasters that have devastated the land and disrupted the lives of millions. However, the Haitian people have demonstrated resilience throughout history. It is time to officially recognize the Haitian people and all of their achievements. | In Committee |
| A3260 | Directs Department of Agriculture in consultation with DOE, to establish Internet-based school meals application. | Directs Department of Agriculture, in consultation with DOE, to establish Internet-based school meals application. | In Committee |
| A1884 | Establishes act of disseminating misinformation as professional misconduct for health care professionals. | Establishes act of disseminating misinformation as professional misconduct for health care professionals. | In Committee |
| A4855 | Concerns policies governing student use of cell phones and social media platforms in schools. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media and requires a board of education to adopt a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media. Under the bill, the commissioner is to develop a policy applicable to students enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12 concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms during regular school hours, on a school bus, or during school-sanctioned events when the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education. The policy is to, at a minimum, (1) provide age appropriate and grade-level differentiated policies concerning limiting and prohibiting student use of cell phones and social media platforms; (2) be consistent with State and federal law including accommodations provided in a student's Individualized Education Program or educational plan; (3) permit student use of cell phones in the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger; (4) permit student use of cell phones upon submission by a parent or guardian of documentation from a health care professional indicating that the use of a cell phone is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; (5) address smartphones, cell phones with only text or voice, and other relevant devices, including smart watches; (6) list options that may be utilized by a school district for cell phone storage, including locked pouches and cell phone lockers; (7) provide guidance for a school district to establish network-based restrictions to prevent the use of, or access to, social media platforms; and (8) detail protocols for communicating the district's policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms to students, their families, and teaching staff members. The bill also requires each board of education to adopt a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms during regular school hours, on a school bus, or during school-sanctioned events when the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education. The policy is to be consistent with the policy developed by the commissioner. Additionally, the bill permits the commissioner to grant an exemption to a board of education for the requirement to adopt the policy upon submission of an application by the board. | In Committee |
| A4827 | Requires DOH and DEP to develop best practices, and certain health care providers to develop plan, concerning medical waste management. | This bill requires the Departments of Health and Environmental Protection to identify and develop best practices for hospital and medical offices concerning medical waste management that promote public health and environmental stewardship. The bill requires each hospital and medical office to develop a written plan on medical waste management based on the best practices developed pursuant to the bill. The plan will include, but not be limited to: guidelines for the rational use of personal protective equipment; methods to implement effective waste sorting; and instructions for accurately identifying and sorting waste at the point of generation. Each hospital and medical office will be required to ensure that the hospital's and medical office's employees receive training on the implementation of the plan developed pursuant to the bill to the extent that such training is necessary to comply with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A4576 | Requires DOH to revise emergency response plan for pandemic influenzas. | The bill requires the Department of Health (department), in consultation with the State of Emergency Management, to revise the department's Pandemic Influenza Plan, or its successor plan. The bill requires the department to revise the plan to: (1) expand the scope of the emergencies anticipated by the plan to cover long-running and large-scale pandemic influenzas; (2) address each capability as outlined in the most recent United States Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities: National Standards for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Public Health, or such successor guidance as may be promulgated by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (3) outline the specific roles, succession plans, decision rights, and operational responsibilities of each State agency during a public health emergency involving a pandemic influenza; (4) outline the department's approach to coordinating each element of a pandemic influenza emergency response with local health departments in New Jersey; (5) establish or identify crisis standards of care to guide the healthcare response to pandemic influenzas in the State; and (6) incorporate strategies to address any health equity gaps related to pandemic influenzas, including any gaps that were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In revising the plan pursuant to the bill, the department will solicit input from the Governor's Office, local health departments, and other key public health stakeholders as determined by the department. The plan will be subject to regular review by the department and the State Office of Emergency Management and will be updated on a regular basis as may be appropriate. The plan will be utilized by the department and the State Office of Emergency Management to design regular emergency response training exercises related to pandemic influenzas. | In Committee |
| A4578 | Requires DOH to prepare comprehensive plan to invest in State's public health system. | This bill requires the Department of Health, within 18 months of the effective date of the bill, to submit to the Governor and the Legislature a proposal for a comprehensive plan to invest in the State's public health system. The plan shall outline: a summary of existing policies, as well as recommendations for new initiatives, which strengthen public health infrastructure, develop a robust public health workforce, address health equity, and improve public health messaging and trust; clear objectives, actionable steps, and timelines for each recommendation; and identify responsible agencies or entities for the implementation of each recommendation. The plan is required to be developed with input from health partners across the State, including local health departments, healthcare providers, community organizations, and academia. | In Committee |
| A4849 | Requires county clerks to send applications for mail-in ballots to registered voters upon their 18th birthday. | This bill directs the county clerk in each county to send an application for a mail-in ballot to each 17-year-old registered voter upon their 18th birthday. Under current law, a person who is at least 17 years of age and will be 18 on the date of the next general election is entitled to register to vote, provided they meet all other voter registration requirements. | In Committee |
| ACR144 | Urges Congress to enact "Find It Early Act." | This resolution urges Congress to enact the "Find It Early Act" to ensure women who are at greater risk for breast cancer have access to breast cancer screenings without cost-sharing. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in New Jersey. Screenings for breast cancer aim to reduce the mortality and morbidity of breast cancer by detecting cancer in its early stage. Early detection of breast cancer is critical. The five-year survival rate is 99 percent when breast cancer is diagnosed before it has spread outside of the breast compared to approximately 30 percent when found at a later stage. Approximately half of women over age 40 have dense breast tissue, which can obscure imaging performed by mammograms and delay the detection of breast cancer. To ensure that the cancer is not missed by mammograms, individuals with dense breasts or other risk factors may seek additional screenings, including breast ultrasounds and MRIs, which may be better able to detect cancer. Such services, however, may not be covered by insurance, leaving women to choose between paying exorbitant out of pocket costs or forgoing the screenings. Recognizing that the high costs of additional breast cancer screenings may result in delayed diagnoses, Congress introduced H.R.3086, known as the "Find It Early Act," which would ensure all health insurance plans cover breast cancer screenings and diagnostic imaging, including breast ultrasounds and MRIs, for women at increased risk of breast cancer at no additional cost to the insured. The Legislature of New Jersey urges Congress to enact the Find It Early Act to improve the affordability of and increase access to screenings needed to detect breast cancer early to improve the survival rates of individuals with breast cancer. | In Committee |
| A4725 | Requires State agencies to make good faith effort towards certain goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors. | This bill requires State agencies to make a good faith effort towards goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors in the State procurement process. In January 2024, a New Jersey Disparity Study was conducted on the availability and utilization of small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and their experience in the State procurement process. Across all types of contracts, minority and women-owned businesses received about 10 percent of prime contract dollars and about 36 percent of subcontract dollars. The study determined that minority and women-owned businesses are capable of fulfilling large State contracts if they were to be awarded the contracts and there are measurable differences for minority and women-owned businesses across all types of contracts. Under this bill, the Chief Diversity Officer is required to recommission the statewide disparity study regarding the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in State contracts. The study and its findings must be completed by August 15, 2029. Each State agency is required to structure procurement procedures for contracts made directly or indirectly to minority and women-owned businesses to attempt good faith effort towards increased utilization of minority and women-owned businesses with regard to total annual statewide procurement across all types of contracts. Each agency is also required to develop and adopt agency specific goals based on the findings of the most recent disparity study and must be consistent with the findings of the disparity study. The bill requires each contractor to develop a utilization plan on the use of minority and women-owned businesses as subcontractors during the bidding process. The bill also establishes a waiver procedure for contractors who have made a good faith effort to comply with the minority and women-owned business participation requirements. The bill establishes a complaint procedure for State agencies who have reason to believe that a good faith effort was not made by the contractor. The bill contains a sunset provision and will expire on December 31, 2029 if the required recommissioned disparity study does not indicate a measurable disparity for minority and women-owned businesses in the State contract procurement process. | In Committee |
| A2243 | Allows gross income tax credit for certain child care staff and registered family day care providers. | This bill allows a gross income tax credit for staff members employed by a licensed child care provider who directly supervises children and for registered family day care providers who, as applicable, have been employed by a child care provider or worked as a registered family day care provider for a continuous six month period during the taxable year. The credit amount varies depending on the staff member's or registered family day care provider's income: (1) for incomes of less than $25,000, the amount of the credit will be equal to $1,000 for providing child care services to children 30 months of age or older, and $1,500 for providing child care services to children from birth to the age of 30 months; (2) for incomes between $25,000 and $35,000, the amount of the credit will be equal to $750 for providing child care services to children 30 months of age or older, and $1,000 for providing child care services to children from birth to the age of 30 months; and (3) for incomes between $35,001 and $45,000, the amount of the credit will be equal to $500 for providing child care services to children 30 months of age or older, and $750 for providing child care services to children from birth to the age of 30 months. For staff members working for a child care provider who directly supervise children and for registered family day care providers who provide child care services to children from birth to the age of 30 months, the tax credit will only apply if the staff member or family day care provider spends at least 50 percent of the staff member's or family day care provider's employment time providing such services. For staff members and registered family day care providers with less than $45,000 of gross income, the credit is refundable: if the staff member or provider has no tax liability to against which the credit may be applied, the staff member or provider will receive the remaining credit amount from the State in cash. For a staff member or provider with an income of $45,000, any remaining credit may be carried forward to the next taxable year, but may not be carried forward beyond that. The credit allowed by this bill cannot be taken into account as income or receipts for the purposes of determining the eligibility of a taxpayer for benefits or assistance or for the purposes of determining the amount or extent of benefits or assistance under any State benefits or assistance program, including programs financed in whole or in part with federal funds. | In Committee |
| A4150 | Permits certified nurse aides to be employed as personal care assistants. | Permits certified nurse aides to be employed as personal care assistants. | Crossed Over |
| A3508 | Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families. | This bill requires that the child abuse reporting hotline maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) provide information on resources available to the victims of child abuse or neglect and their families. DCPP regularly contracts with community-based agencies throughout the State to provide a variety of services to children and families, including counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care, and residential placement. It is critical for families to be made aware of these services so that they are empowered to break the cycle of abuse and protect the most vulnerable residents of New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| AJR61 | Designates April of each year as "Financial Literacy Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates April of each year as "Financial Literacy Month" in New Jersey in order to improve the understanding of the State's citizens of critical financial issues such as credit management, savings, debt management, and homeownership, and to significantly increase an individual's likelihood of financial success. Under the joint resolution, the Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing April as "Financial Literacy Month" in New Jersey and calling upon schools, financial institutions, nonprofit financial educational organizations, the citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A3459 | Creates Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board. | This bill creates, in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, a Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board. The board will be responsible for the oversight of: (1) all veteran service officers; (2) each board, council, commission, program, and such similar entity, within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; and (3) all programs, benefits, and services provided specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families by any State Executive Branch department, division, commission, or agency. The board will consist of the head of each veteran organization in the State with a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. The heads of the American Legion Department of New Jersey, the Disabled American Veterans Department of New Jersey, and the Department of New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars will serve as co-chairs for the first three meetings. By the conclusion of the third meeting, the members will vote to elect a chair and vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair will serve for a term of three years. Each member of the board will be entitled to be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. In addition, each member will receive a per diem allowance of $1,000 for each monthly meeting attended. The failure of a member of the board to participate in a minimum number of monthly meetings will result in removal of that board member. Each Executive Branch department, division, commission, and agency, as well as the veteran service officers, and each board, council, commission, and such similar entity, within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint a liaison to the board. The liaison will act as the point of contact to the board. Each liaison will attend the monthly meetings of the board. The failure to participate in a minimum number of meetings will result in removal of that liaison. The liaison will provide a biannual report to the board. The report will describe in detail such programs, benefits, and services provided, and such other information deemed necessary and appropriate by the board. Each Executive branch department, division, commission, and agency will also annually present to the board that portion of their State and federal, if applicable, budget that represents those programs, benefits, and services. The bill also requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, upon request and when available, to provide copies of reports of the contractor relating to military mission maintenance and growth, subject to the provisions of the law commonly referred to as the Open Public Records Act. Under the bill, the responsibilities of the board will be to coordinate and implement a strategic plan to ensure military service members, veterans, and their families are made aware of the programs, benefits, and services available to them, and to ensure that all State departments, divisions, commissions, and agencies are effectively delivering programs, benefits, and services that are comprehensive to military service members, veterans, and their families in this State. The board will also conduct an analysis of the various programs, benefits, and services provided by the State specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families, and evaluate those programs, benefits, and services to assess their effectiveness. In addition, the board will analyze and evaluate with regard to veterans who reside in the State: accessibility of the programs, benefits, or services; educational, job skills, employment, and business opportunities; physical and behavioral health and long-term healthcare options; criminal justice issues; housing opportunities and homelessness; and special needs as determined by the board. The bill requires the board to provide a report detailing a strategic plan based upon comprehensive data acquired through engagement with State departments, divisions, commissions, and agencies, and military service members, veterans, and their families. The board will develop recommendations to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature to address any deficiencies in the provision of programs, benefits, and services specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families in this State. The recommendations will address specifically whether the existing State programs, benefits, and services are adequate to meet the existing needs of military service members, veterans, and their families; are being used to fulfill objectives in a manner that complements and leverages State, federal, and private resources; and how they may more effectively serve all current and future military service members, veterans, and their families in the State of New Jersey. Under the bill, the board will prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within nine months of the organizational meeting of the board. Thereafter, the board will prepare and submit annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature containing its findings, activities, and recommendations, including any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that it deems appropriate. All reports of the board will be prominently posted on the website of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will include in the annual budget request of the department a request for sufficient funds to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4802 | Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service firefighter applicants. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to establish and maintain a mentoring program for civil service firefighter applicants. The purpose of the mentoring program would be to assist applicants residing in a municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level through the civil service application, examination, and selection process, and to help address obstacles unique to their circumstances. The program will include a study group to help applicants in any municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level with the resources needed to compete with applicants in other communities that benefit from outside private study groups. The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. The program will be designed to provide mentoring to an applicant for the duration of the exam cycle, until the mentee completes the hiring process. The commission would develop criteria to determine eligibility in the program as a mentor and as a mentee. A mentor may be a current or former firefighter in good standing who obtained a firefighter position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed appropriate by the commission. A mentor or mentee may be removed from the mentoring program for good cause as determined by the commission. A mentee would be removed from the program upon the mentee's acceptance of an offer of employment. An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times within a 10-year period. A former mentee may be eligible to participate in the program as a mentor. No monies would be provided to a mentor to participate in the program, and no fees would be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. At least once a year, the commission would review the program for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs and purpose of the program. | In Committee |
| A4803 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $2,500,000 to Salvation and Social Justice for "Return and Restore" Program. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations act to provide $2.5 million in supplemental funding to the not-for-profit organization Salvation and Social Justice. Specifically, the supplemental funding is provided to Salvation and Social Justice's Trenton Restorative Street Team (TRST) to operate the "Return and Restore" program. According to the sponsor, TRST aims to work with formerly incarcerated individuals to reduce gang-related activities, gun violence, and the likelihood of recidivism. To advance the Return and Restore pilot program, Salvation and Social Justice seeks $2.5 million to provide comprehensive supportive services for hard-to-reach, corrections system-involved individuals, in Trenton. TRST team includes trained outreach workers, counselors, intervention specialists, community organizers, former gang members, and formerly incarcerated individuals from Trenton. The main goal is to mediate conflicts, deescalate tensions, and prevent acts of violence from occurring in schools and in communities. | In Committee |
| A4625 | Requires employers to include in job posting whether posting is for existing position and sets additional job posting requirements. | Requires employers to include in job posting whether posting is for existing position and sets additional job posting requirements. | In Committee |
| A885 | Requires State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct study of utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in State procurement process. | This bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer to study disabled veteran-owned businesses to determine whether disparities exist between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process. The Chief Diversity Officer will prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report containing the study's findings and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for disabled veteran-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the State. After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity Officer may, in the officer's discretion, prepare and submit additional reports identifying the extent to which previous recommendations have been successfully implemented and any impact the implementation of such recommendations have had on State procurement in the preceding years. Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs. | In Committee |
| A285 | Creates permanent commission to study various statutory definitions of veteran, disabled veteran, and service-disabled veteran. | This bill establishes permanent study commission on the various statutory definitions of veteran, disabled veteran, and service-disabled veteran. Of the total membership, one member would be appointed by the Governor, one member would be appointed by the President of the Senate, one member would be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, one member would be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one member would be appointed by the General Assembly Minority Leader. The appointee by the Governor will be an employee of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. The purpose of the study commission would be to (1) determine the various definitions of "veteran," "disabled veteran," "service-disabled veteran," and any other definition of veteran in the statutes, and (2) recommend changes to such definitions in the statutes that may provide greater uniformity and be less restrictive. The study commission would: (1) compile and analyze the various definitions of "veteran," "disabled veteran," "service-disabled veteran," and any other definition of veteran in the statutes; (2) identify statutes with unique and restrictive requirements for the various definitions and determine if the requirements may be revised for the benefit of more uniform definitions; (3) identify potential revisions to be made to the statutes to provide for a clearer understanding of the requirements for qualification under the various definitions; (4) consult with the military community for their expertise and input on its work; and (5) utilize the findings of the study commission, and the expertise from the military community, to recommend changes to the various definitions. The bill requires the study commission to prepare and issue an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and submit it to the Governor, the Legislature, the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor, and the General Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor. The first annual report will be issued no later than 12 months after the commission organizes. | In Committee |
| A4823 | Empowers State Parole Board to refer certain inmates for involuntary commitment evaluation. | This bill gives the New Jersey State Parole Board ("parole board") the authority to refer inmates, who are dangerous to themselves or others because of mental illness or who are sexually violent predators, to the Attorney General ("AG") and applicable county prosecutor to start the involuntary commitment evaluation process in order to ensure that the inmates are not released without appropriate supervision and treatment. Under current law, when an adult or juvenile inmate is scheduled for release due to expiration of the inmate's maximum term, the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections ("commissioner") or the Juvenile Justice Commission ("JJC") is to notify the AG and the prosecutor of the county if the person was convicted of certain sexually-based offenses that the court found was characterized by a pattern of repetitive, compulsive behavior, or the parole board or the superintendent of the facility in which the inmate has been confined has advised the commissioner or the JJC that the conduct of the inmate during the period of confinement, the inmate's mental condition, or the inmate's past history indicates that the inmate may be in need of involuntary commitment. This bill amends the law to now also expressly provide the parole board as having this authority to make the initial referral to the AG and prosecutor to start the evaluation process to determine whether an inmate is in need of involuntary commitment. This bill also amends the law to allow the parole board, commissioner, or the JJC to make the referral at the time an inmate would otherwise become eligible for parole, not just at the expiration of an inmate's maximum term. | In Committee |
| A4532 | Establishes separate crime of burglary of residential dwelling. | This bill establishes burglary of a residence as a separate crime from the crime of burglary pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:18-2, thus facilitating the tracking of the crime of burglary of residential dwellings in this State. Under the bill, "residential dwelling" is defined as: (1) any building or structure, though movable or temporary, or a portion thereof, which serves primarily as a residence for one or more persons; or (2) any place adapted for overnight accommodation of persons. The penalties for burglary of a residence remain the same as under current law. It is a crime of the third degree to commit a burglary of a residential dwelling under this bill; except that it is a crime of the second degree if the actor: (1) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone; (2) is armed with or displays what appear to be explosives or a deadly weapon; or (3) enters the residential dwelling while a resident or any other person, other than a person acting in concert with the actor, is present in the residential dwelling. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | Crossed Over |
| A4296 | Establishes exemption from ban on importation of woodchucks under certain circumstances. | The bill establishes an exemption to the ban on importation of woodchucks into the State for the importation of a woodchuck for the purposes of replacing a groundhog in order for a county or municipality to celebrate Groundhog Day when the county's or municipality's groundhog has died, provided that every effort is made to replace the groundhog with a woodchuck found in the State or imported from a state in which a variant of rabies other than raccoon rabies is not endemic as provided for in the bill. The bill directs the Division of Fish and Wildlife to notify each county and municipality in the State of the limited exception established by the bill, provide guidelines for replacing a woodchuck that dies, and establish procedures for relocating a woodchuck or authorizing its importation. Finally, the bill directs the division to establish requirements for the proper housing and handling of the woodchuck placed in the custody of the county or municipality, as applicable. | Crossed Over |
| A3060 | Permits designation of special event zones for traffic regulation purposes during certain large events. | This bill permits the designation of "special event zones" for the purpose of regulating traffic during certain "special events," which the bill defines as any automotive or motor vehicle events occurring on or near a roadway, which events either have been approved by the county or municipality in which the event is located, or are expected to have 25 or more persons in attendance. When a special event occurs, or is expected to occur, on any roadway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the bill permits the Commissioner of Transportation to designate all or part of the roadway, including any parking structures or other property located within the designated area, as a special event zone. Similarly, when a special event occurs, or is expected to occur, on a roadway under the jurisdiction of a county or municipality, the county or municipality may also designate the area as a special event zone. In either case, the special event zone would remain in effect for the duration of the special event, and including a reasonable period of time before and after the special event. While the special event zone remains in effect, the DOT, municipality, or county, as applicable, would be required to maintain appropriate signage on or along the special event zone. Under the bill, certain traffic regulations would be altered within the special event zone while the zone remains in effect, including: (1) an allowance for the DOT, county, or municipality, as applicable, to reduce the established speed limitations, as such reductions are deemed necessary to ensure public safety; and (2) the prohibition of "exhibition driving," which the bill defines to include certain forms of disruptive or erratic driving; and (3) the imposition of increased penalties for certain traffic offenses. Specifically, the bill provides that a person would be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 after committing the following traffic offenses within a special event zone: (1) operating a motor vehicle in excess of the posted speed limitation; (2) careless driving; and (3) operating a motor vehicle for a wager, in a race, or for the purposes of making a speed record. Additionally, a person who engages in exhibition driving or reckless driving within a special event zone would be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to 60 days, or both. Under current law, the Commissioner of Transportation is required to approve certain types of local traffic regulations before those regulations may take effect. Under the bill, the designation of a special event zone by a county or municipal would take effect without requiring the approval of the commissioner. | Crossed Over |
| A4531 | Limits negotiated plea agreements for crime of burglary when firearm involved. | This bill prohibits the prosecution from entering into a plea agreement for a lesser term of imprisonment or fine for the crime of burglary when a firearm is involved. Under current law, it is a crime of the second degree if, in the course of committing the offense of burglary, the actor: (1) purposely, knowingly or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone; or (2) is armed with or displays what appears to be explosives or a deadly weapon. Under the bill, a person convicted of burglary while armed with a firearm would be ineligible to enter into a negotiated plea agreement to receive a lesser term of imprisonment or a fine. "Firearm" is defined as any handgun, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, automatic or semi-automatic rifle, or any gun, device or instrument in the nature of a weapon from which may be fired or ejected any solid projectable ball, slug, pellet, missile or bullet, or any gas, vapor or other noxious thing, by means of a cartridge or shell or by the action of an explosive or the igniting of flammable or explosive substances. "Firearm" also includes, without limitation, any firearm which is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person. | Crossed Over |
| A2353 | Establishes "Scientific Conference Grant Program"; appropriates $250,000. | Establishes "Scientific Conference Grant Program"; appropriates $250,000. | In Committee |
| A3860 | Establishes certain medical billing requirements concerning specific nature of charges or expenses for health care services. | Establishes certain medical billing requirements concerning specific nature of charges or expenses for health care services. | Crossed Over |
| A3800 | Bans certain children's products containing excessive amounts of lead, mercury, or cadmium. | Bans certain children's products containing excessive amounts of lead, mercury, or cadmium. | Crossed Over |
| A4191 | Protects access to assisted reproductive technology. | This bill provides every woman in this State the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART). Under current law, the State provides the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization, or to choose whether to carry a pregnancy, to give birth, or to terminate a pregnancy. Under the bill, the fundamental rights related to reproductive health choice in the State are expanded to include the use of ART. ART includes, but is not limited to, in vitro fertilization (IVF). This legislation is in response to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. (Docket No. SC-2022-0515, SC-2022-0579), decided in February 2024. In LePage, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are "extrauterine children," finding that that the state's "'Wrongful Death of A Minor Act' applies on its face to all unborn children, without limitation." This holding could have widespread implications for anyone in Alabama who is seeking or provides IVF. New Jersey has long been a State that supports, and provides protections for, the reproductive freedom of its citizens, including the right to make the choice of whether to start or expand a family through IVF. | Crossed Over |
| A1844 | Requires 60 day notice concerning tuition rate changes by licensed child care centers. | Requires 60 day notice concerning tuition rate changes by licensed child care centers. | Crossed Over |
| A2402 | Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue United States Coast Guard license plates to current and former members of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and to the spouse and parents of current and former members of the USCG. The design of the license plate is to be chosen by the chief administrator, in consultation with the USCG. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the license plate program, the additional fees collected are to be deposited into the "United States Coast Guard License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be appropriated annually to the USCG. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the USCG appoint a liaison to represent the USCG in all communications with the MVC regarding the license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds may not be used by the MVC for the initial cost to implement the license plate program. The bill requires the USCG, or an individual or entity designated by the USCG, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for any computer programming necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the USCG to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The MVC is prohibited from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of the license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the USCG, or an individual or entity designated by the USCG, has provided the MVC with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the USCG, or its designee, has provided the MVC with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the date on which appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC are provided by the USCG or its designee. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | Crossed Over |
| A4530 | Allows sentencing to extended term for repeat convictions of receipt of stolen property. | This bill provides that a person may be sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment for repeat convictions of receiving stolen property. Under the bill, a person is a persistent offender if the person has previously been convicted on two or more prior and separate occasions of receiving stolen property in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:20-7, regardless of the dates of the convictions. A persistent offender may be sentenced to an extended term, upon motion of the prosecutor, if the prior conviction is for a crime committed on a separate occasion and the crime for which the person is being sentenced was either: (1) within 10 years of the date of the defendant's last release from confinement for the commission of any crime; or (2) within 10 years of the date of the commission of the most recent violation of N.J.S.2C:20-7 for which the defendant has a prior conviction. | Crossed Over |
| A3416 | Provides gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals for expense of classroom supplies. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals employed by a New Jersey elementary or secondary school for certain expenses incurred by the educator or paraprofessional for classroom supplies during the taxable year. This New Jersey gross income tax deduction is modeled on the federal income tax deduction for educator expenses allowed under section 62 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.62). The bill defines an "eligible educator" as an individual who is employed as a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, speech language specialist, or principal by a public or private school located in this State for at least 900 hours during a school year. The bill 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 by a public or private school located in the State that provides elementary education or secondary education. The bill also allows the deduction of unreimbursed expenditures by an eligible educator or paraprofessional for supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), books, computer equipment, including related software and services, and other equipment and supplementary materials used by the eligible educator or paraprofessional in the classroom. | Crossed Over |
| A4527 | Concerns keyless locking mechanisms and burglar's tools. | This bill expands the definition of "burglar's tool" to include that which may be considered an "engine, machine, tool or implement." Under the bill, an engine, machine, tool, implement, or program manufactured or possessed in violation of N.J.S.2C:5-5 includes such which may provide access to a premises through a keyless locking mechanism. Under the bill, it is a crime of the fourth degree if the person manufactured such instrument or implements or published such plans or instructions for tools which may provide access to a premises through a keyless locking mechanism. If the person merely possesses an instrument in violation of the statute, then it is a disorderly persons offense. A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | Crossed Over |
| S2435 | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | An Act concerning the "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund" and amending P.L.1992, c.143. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2607 | Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes. | An Act concerning requirements for certain private bus operators and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3368 | Concerns law protecting residential tenants from lead-based paint hazards. | An Act concerning lead-based paint hazards in residential rental property, including establishing lead-based paint hazard programs, amending P.L.2021, c.182, and repealing section 1 of P.L.2007, c.251. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3235 | Regulates production and sale of certain intoxicating hemp products. | An Act concerning intoxicating hemp products, supplementing Title 24 of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various sections of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2188 | Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of certain public community water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings or facilities to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires' disease. | An Act concerning Legionnaires' disease and supplementing P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.) and Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR150 | Recognizes historical importance and cultural significance of Hinchliffe Stadium and annual football game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University at Hinchliffe Stadium. | This Assembly resolution recognizes the historical importance and cultural significance of Hinchliffe Stadium to the State of New Jersey. This resolution also recognizes the significance of an annual football game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University at Hinchliffe Stadium as a sporting event that honors the history and legacy of the stadium. Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey is one of only two surviving Negro League stadiums in the nation and holds immense historical significance as a landmark of sports culture. The stadium, built in 1932, was renovated and reopened in 2023 as a 10,000 seat stadium, and features the Charles J. Muth Museum, a treasure trove of baseball's past. The preservation of historic sites like Hinchliffe Stadium is vital for educating future generations about the contributions of African American athletes to American sports and society. Montclair State University and William Paterson University have a longstanding football rivalry. The annual game between the two institutions is a celebrated event that brings together students, alumni, and the community. Plans to hold the annual rivalry game at Hinchliffe Stadium will not only honor the legacy of the stadium, but also promote its historical and cultural significance. | In Committee |
| A3858 | Requires collection of data by health insurers regarding health insurance claims and decisions made using automated utilization management systems. | This bill modifies current law requiring the collection of certain data from health insurers. Specifically, the bill requires, on an annual basis, that a payer, or a carrier or an organized delivery system who is doing business in New Jersey and is under a contractual obligation to pay insured claims, maintain, and the Department of Banking and Insurance to make publicly available, data on health benefit plan claims regarding various matters, including the number of claims originally denied that were appealed and the number of appeals sustained and overturned and the procedures of each medical specialty for which a claim is most frequently denied. Additional data may be collected as authorized by the department. A payer who is determined to have denied, without proper justification, at least 20 percent of claims received in a year is, as a penalty, to return to a covered person a dollar amount equal to the cost paid by the covered person for the services denied for coverage by the payer. Additionally, the bill modifies current law governing utilization management by establishing certain reporting requirements for data. Specifically, the bill requires that: (1) every claim submitted for utilization management be reviewed by at least one medical director employed by or contracted with a payer; and (2) payers submit annually to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Banking and Insurance and to publicly disclose, in a clear and conspicuous location on the payer's Internet website, certain information concerning the payer's claim rejection rates each year. Pursuant to the bill, a physician or medical director reviewing claims for a payer is required to include on all denial notices the physician or medical director's claim denial rate and the average amount of time it takes for the physician or medical director to review a claim. Furthermore, a physician or medical director reviewing claims for a payer is to include instructions, on all denial notices and explanation of benefits notices, explaining how to access consumer assistance through the Department of Banking and Insurance. Health insurance carriers are also required under the bill to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous location on the carrier's Internet website: (1) whether or not the carrier uses an automated utilization management system; and (2) how many claims were reviewed using the automated utilization management system in the previous year. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to audit at any time a payer's automated utilization management system and the data the payer collects in using that system. Under the bill, an "automated utilization management system" means an automated system for reviewing the appropriate and efficient allocation of health care services under a health benefits plan according to specified guidelines, in order to recommend or determine whether, or to what extent, a health care service given or proposed to be given to a covered person should or will be reimbursed, covered, paid for, or otherwise provided under the health benefits plan and which may use artificial intelligence or other type of software to automate the process of making recommendations or determinations. | In Committee |
| A4533 | Revises certain sections of law concerning financing mechanisms for school facilities projects of regular operating districts. | An Act concerning the financing of school facilities projects and amending P.L.2023, c.311. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4035 | Requires State to sell as surplus property certain land and improvements in Morris County known as Central Park School. | An Act requiring the State to sell to the Morris County Educational Services Commission certain surplus land and improvements in Morris County known as the Central Park School. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2890 | Permits temporary appointment of additional members to the Board of Review in the Division of Employment Security. | An Act concerning the Board of Review in the Division of Employment Security and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2294 | Establishes mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. | Establishes mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. | Vetoed |
| A4718 | "New Jersey Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Act"; requires DOT to develop public awareness campaign for motorcycle day. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety to develop and annually update a motorcycle safety public awareness campaign for the purpose of promoting motorcycle safety, encouraging vigilant driving, and reducing the number of motorcycle-related accidents on New Jersey roads. The public awareness campaign is required to include, at a minimum: (1) educational materials on the importance of motorcycle safety; (2) information on the risks associated with distracted driving; and (3) variable message signs to promote best practices for sharing the road safely with motorcyclists. | In Committee |
| A2983 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under health benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under a health benefits plan. | In Committee |
| A1941 | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | In Committee |
| A360 | Revises law prohibiting feeding of black bear. | This bill would amend the law concerning the feeding of black bear. Under current law, the prohibition on the feeding of black bear does not apply in the case of an unintentional feeding of a black bear. "Unintentional feeding" is defined in the law as using or placing any material for a purpose other than to attract or entice black bears but which results in the attraction or enticement of a black bear, and includes the use of bait for deer in accordance with section 1 of P.L.1997, c.424 (C.23:4-24.4) and the State Fish and Game Code. This bill clarifies that the prohibition applies to any food and includes the placement of food. The bill deletes the exemption for, and the definition of, "unintentional feeding," and replaces it with a specific list of activities or actions that are not considered to be the feeding of black bear. The bill provides that the following activities would not be subject to the prohibition in the bill: (1) any person licensed pursuant to law to possess wildlife; (2) any crop, agricultural product, or animal feed on the premises of any person engaged in agricultural or horticultural activities; (3) a birdfeeder maintained between the dates of April 1 and November 30, provided that certain conditions are met; (4) the placement of food at a shelter or pound licensed by the Department of Health or a municipally approved managed cat colony, provided that any uneaten food is removed every night; (5) the feeding of companion animals, provided that any uneaten food is removed every night; and (6) any action by federal, State, or local authorities that requires feeding, baiting, or luring of wildlife for management or scientific purpose. The bill would also amend the current law concerning the use of civil penalties recovered for violations. Under current law, any penalties are to be paid to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Under this bill, any penalties collected would be remitted to the municipality in which the violation occurred. | In Committee |
| A2280 | Codifies prohibition of discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and requires real estate appraisers to complete anti-bias training. | An Act concerning discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and supplementing and amending P.L.1991, c.68. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2875 | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | An Act concerning minimum loss ratios for certain health benefits plans and amending P.L.1992, c.161 and P.L.1992, c.162. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2837 | Authorizes school districts to submit separate proposals for additional spending for subsequent budget year at special school election. | An Act concerning separate proposals for additional school district spending and amending P.L.1996, c.138 and P.L.2007, c.62. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4619 | Modifies certain provisions of Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive programs. | An Act concerning the "Historic Property Reinvestment Act" and "Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act" and amending P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4360 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | An Act establishing a design professional self-certification program and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2822 | Revises workers' compensation law to increase contingency attorney fee cap in contingency case from 20 percent to 25 percent. | An Act concerning contingency fees in workers' compensation matters and amending R.S.34:15-64. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2884 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System for certain service and amending P.L.1991, c.153. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2644 | Requires DOE to establish working group on student literacy; mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students; requires professional development for certain school district employees. | An Act concerning student literacy and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2288 | Establishes Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in DOE. | An Act establishing the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2869 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | This bill provides that if the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development finds that an employer has, for the purpose of concealing any violation of State wage, benefit and tax laws, disclosed or threatened to disclose to a public body an employee's immigration status, the commissioner is, in addition to imposing any other remedies or penalties authorized by law, authorized to assess and collect an administrative penalty against the employer. Specifically, the bill provides for administrative penalties as follows: (1) for the first violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000; (2) for the second violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000; and (3) for any subsequent violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000. When determining the amount of the administrative penalty imposed pursuant to the bill's provisions, the commissioner may consider factors which include the history of previous violations by the employer, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith of the employer and the size of the employer's business. The commissioner may not levy an administrative penalty pursuant to the bill's provisions unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator with notification of the violation and of the amount of administrative penalty, and unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator an opportunity to request a hearing before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2344 | Limits availability of Child Care Facilities Improvement Program grants funded through Child Care Revitalization Act to licensed child care centers. | An Act making certain adjustments to child care funding and amending P.L.2021, c.144. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3432 | Establishes Next New Jersey Program for artificial intelligence investments. | An Act concerning the development of artificial intelligence innovations, ventures, and facilities, and amending and supplementing P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3861 | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | An Act concerning the report and collection of medical debt and supplementing P.L.1997, c.172 (C.56:11-28 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3364 | Clarifies cap on fees imposed, and modifies definition of participating county, under "County Option Hospital Fee Program Act." | An Act concerning the "County Option Hospital Fee Program Act" and amending P.L.2018, c.136. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1677 | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | An Act concerning electric school buses and government aggregation of certain energy services, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4587 | Increases hours required for individual to obtain licensure as teacher in cosmetology and hairstyling or as massage and bodywork therapist. | An Act concerning requirements for teaching in certain professions and amending and supplementing P.L.1984, c.205 and amending P.L.1999, c.19. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4478 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for FY2025; makes appropriation. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance the cost to construct transportation infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3275 | Revises various provisions of film and digital media content production tax credit program. | This bill revises certain provisions of the film and digital media content production tax credit program to include eligibility for wages and salaries paid to persons who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Under the film and digital media content production tax credit program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority awards corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to eligible taxpayers based on the qualified film production expenses or qualified digital media content production expenses incurred for use within certain parts of the State. In addition to certain other eligibility requirements, at least 50 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses incurred by a taxpayer are required to be for wages and salaries paid to full-time or full-time equivalent employees in New Jersey in order to qualify for the digital media content production tax credit. Under current law, the terms "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" are defined to include, among other expenses, the wages and salaries paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are subject to the tax imposed by the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Current law also defines the term "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include persons working not less than 35 hours per week, or other standard of service accepted by custom or practice as full-time or full-time equivalent employment, and whose wages and salaries are subject to withholding as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." This bill expands the scope of qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses to include wages and salaries that are paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. The bill also provides that these expenses would include any payments made by the taxpayer to a loan out company for services performed in New Jersey by individuals who are employed by the loan out company and whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Additionally, the bill amends the definition "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include otherwise eligible persons whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Currently, the State has entered into a reciprocal income tax agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the terms of this agreement, compensation paid to Pennsylvania residents who are employed in New Jersey is not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Accordingly, the bill provides that wages and salaries paid to certain Pennsylvania residents may be included as qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses, provided that these persons are employed in the New Jersey for the purposes of the film or digital media content production. The provisions of this bill would take effect immediately and apply retroactively beginning on January 1, 2024 to any taxpayer who has not received a tax credit certificate or tax credit transfer certificate from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority before this date. However, any taxpayer that has previously received a tax credit certificate, but has not used such tax credit certificate before January 1, 2024, would be allowed to surrender the tax credit certificate to the authority and receive a new tax credit certificate in accordance with the provisions of this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3192 | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | An Act concerning consumer rights in certain real estate transactions and amending P.L.2009, c.238 and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes and chapter 8 of Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3772 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | An Act revising the process for a property tax lien holder to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4581 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program projects for FY 2025. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance the cost of certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4572 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to help local government units acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2825 | Removes time limitation on issuance of additional alcoholic beverage licenses within boundaries of former federal military installations. | An Act concerning alcoholic beverage licensing and amending P.L.2018, c.101 and P.L.2023, c.290. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4458 | Establishes exemptions and revises implementation timeline for requirement that newly constructed townhouses be installed with automatic fire sprinkler system. | An Act concerning the installation of certain fire sprinkler systems for newly constructed townhouses and amending P.L.2023, c.265. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4425 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance a portion of the cost of construction of environmental infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3474 | Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2792 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4448 | Revises various provisions of film and digital media content production tax credit program. | Revises various provisions of film and digital media content production tax credit program. | In Committee |
| A4623 | Concerns law protecting residential tenants from lead-based paint hazards. | Concerns law protecting residential tenants from lead-based paint hazards. | In Committee |
| A4454 | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | In Committee |
| A4558 | Establishes Next New Jersey Program for artificial intelligence investments. | This bill establishes the "Next New Jersey Program" within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) and modifies certain provisions of the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020," P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-269 et al.). The purpose of the Next New Jersey Program would be to attract new investment to New Jersey in the artificial intelligence (or "AI") industry and AI-related industries, create new jobs and economic opportunities, and to position New Jersey as a leader in the innovation economy. Under the program, the EDA would provide tax credits to eligible businesses, following approval of an application by the EDA, to eligible AI businesses. Eligible AI businesses would include a business or division that is primarily engaged in the artificial intelligence industry or large-scale artificial intelligence data center industry. A business would be considered primarily engaged in such an industry if at least 50 percent of the business's employees are engaged in AI-related activities, or at least 50 percent of the business's revenue is generated from AI-related activities. The bill defines "artificial intelligence" or "AI" to mean the development of software and hardware, and the end-use application of technologies that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, including, but not limited to, visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation between languages, and generative artificial intelligence, which generates new content in response to user inputs of data. The bill provides that an eligible business that executes a project agreement with the EDA pursuant to the provisions of the Next New Jersey Program may receive tax credits as authorized under the project agreement. The bill defines "project" to mean a capital investment at a qualified business facility and an employment commitment specified in the eligible business's project agreement. The bill defines "qualified business facility" to mean any building, complex of buildings, or structural components of buildings, and all machinery and equipment located therein, used in connection with the operation of an eligible business. Under the bill, the amount of the tax credit allowed for a particular project would equal to the lesser of: (1) the product of 0.1 percent of the eligible business's total capital investment multiplied by the number of new full-time jobs; (2) 25 percent of the eligible business's total capital investment; or (3) $250 million. The bill provides that up to $500 million in tax credits, originally allocated for the New Jersey Aspire Program and the Emerge Program, be made available to eligible AI businesses under the Next New Jersey Program. Additionally, the bill provides that if the EDA awards less than the annual limitation of tax credits under the New Jersey Aspire Program and the Emerge Program, then the uncommitted credits would also be made available to eligible AI businesses under the Next New Jersey Program. | In Committee |
| A3986 | Revises workers' compensation law to increase contingency attorney fee cap in contingency case from 20 percent to 25 percent. | This bill revises the workers' compensation law to increase the cap in contingency fee matters from 20 percent to 25 percent. Attorneys for injured workers are often compensated on a contingency fee basis, and the original cap of 20 percent does not take into account additional duties that workers' compensation attorneys are required to handle since the cap's establishment. | In Committee |
| A3906 | Removes time limitation on issuance of additional alcoholic beverage licenses within boundaries of former federal military installations; allows ABC Director to issue concessionaire permit for locations eligible to receive special mall license. | Removes time limitation on issuance of additional alcoholic beverage licenses within boundaries of former federal military installations; allows ABC Director to issue concessionaire permit for locations eligible to receive special mall license. | In Committee |
| S1446 | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers; makes an appropriation. | An Act concerning housing assistance for certain homebuyers and amending P.L.2023, c.78. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR138 | Designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. | This Assembly resolution designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey, in recognition of the achievements, contributions, struggles, and humanity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary, and pansexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. Public officials and citizens of New Jersey are respectfully urged to commemorate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2024 with appropriate activities. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4461 | Regulates production and sale of certain intoxicating hemp products. | Regulates production and sale of certain intoxicating hemp products. | In Committee |
| A4676 | Requires board of education to provide an individual textbook for each student enrolled in a class. | This bill requires that the board of education of a school district provide an individual textbook for each student enrolled in each class in the district which uses a textbook. The bill defines a textbook as any book, workbook or manual, or electronic textbook intended as the principal source of study for a given class. The purpose of this bill is to address the concern raised by the parents of students in some school districts that not all of the students in a particular class are being issued a textbook. This lack of a textbook puts students at a disadvantage in completing homework assignments and preparing for tests. | In Committee |
| A3697 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would appropriate $500,000 to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for a municipal planning incentive grant, pursuant to a program established by P.L.1999, c.180 (C.4:1C-43.1), for farmland preservation purposes. Of the $500,000 provided in section 1 of the bill, $200,000 is to be provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues received pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of New Jersey in November 2014, and $300,000 is to be provided from the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," made available due to the reallocation of monies previously appropriated to the SADC. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 18 of the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," P.L.2009, c.117. Under the bill, Washington Township, in Warren County, will receive a "base grant" of $500,000, as specified in the bill. In addition, this municipality would also be eligible to compete for an additional grant from the SADC's competitive grant fund, to be financed with monies previously appropriated to the SADC pursuant to P.L.2019, c.450 and P.L.2020, c.139. The maximum amount of such competitive grant funding award would be $1 million, including up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2019, c.450 and up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2020, c.139. The allocations and projects listed in the bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A4597 | Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses. | Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses. | In Committee |
| A4670 | Requires $1 million annual appropriation to certain educational services commissions for school facilities projects and school security improvements. | This bill provides State funding to educational services commissions for certain school facilities projects and school security improvements. Under current law, educational services commissions do not receive direct State funding for school facilities projects or school security improvements. This bill would provide State funds in an amount of $1 million per school year to an educational services commission that provides in-classroom instruction and educational services primarily to students with a school district of residence that is an SDA district. The funds are to be used for school facilities projects and school security improvements. | In Committee |
| A4669 | Establishes United Network for Inclusive Teaching and Youth Grant Program; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to administer a three-year United Network for Inclusive Teaching and Youth (UNITY) Grant Program. The program is to award grants to school district employees facing adverse situations, as defined by the commissioner, to provide access to free or low cost preschool or higher education for their dependents. A school district employee that wishes to receive a grant is to submit an application to the commissioner in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. The application is to include any information required by the commissioner. Under the bill, the commissioner is to determine the amount of each grant awarded under the program and the commissioner may award multi-year grants. The sponsor notes that the purpose of the bill is to foster collaboration, inclusivity, and support within the educational community for the benefit of both school district employees and their children. | In Committee |
| A4708 | Appropriates $5 million to the Department of State for Cultural Projects. | An Act concerning cultural projects and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4702 | Phases out sales and use tax exemption on zero emission vehicles; repeals annual sales tax holiday for certain school supplies and sport or recreational equipment. | An Act concerning sales and use tax exemptions, amending P.L.2003, c.266 and P.L.2015, c.24, and repealing P.L.2022, c.21. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4303 | Requires DOE to establish working group on student literacy; mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students; requires professional development for certain school district employees. | Requires DOE to establish working group on student literacy; mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students; requires professional development for certain school district employees. | In Committee |
| A3537 | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | In Committee |
| A4570 | Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $10,067,905 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $9,588,905 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $479,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. This bill appropriates funds to be used to provide grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Further, of the funding allocated for acquisition and development projects by nonprofit entities, a certain percentage is to be used to fund stewardship activities undertaken by nonprofit entities. A "stewardship activity" is defined in the "Preserve New Jersey Act" as an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken to repair or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $5,701,800 is allocated for 11 acquisition projects; $3,578,105 is allocated for four park development projects; and $309,000 is allocated for two stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill appropriates $479,000 to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs. | In Committee |
| A2824 | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers. | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers. | In Committee |
| A4084 | Authorizes school districts to submit separate proposals for additional spending for subsequent budget year at special school election. | This bill authorizes school districts without a board of school estimate to submit to the voters of the district at a special school election a separate proposal or proposals for permission to raise additional funds for the subsequent school budget year beyond the district's authorized tax levy for that year. Under current law, a school district may submit to the voters at the annual school election, a separate question or proposal for permission to raise additional funds for the budget year beyond the district's authorized tax levy. This bill would allow districts to submit proposals to voters at a special school election to raise such additional funds for the subsequent school budget year. Special school elections may occur in January, March, September, and December. A separate proposal or proposals may only be submitted on a date of a special election once during a school year. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to prohibit the submission to the voters of a question for the approval of capital projects on the same special election date as the submission of a separate proposal for additional funds. | In Committee |
| A4081 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | In Committee |
| A1669 | Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. | An Act concerning teacher certification, supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.2023, c.180. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3582 | Limits availability of Child Care Facilities Improvement Program grants funded through Child Care Revitalization Act to licensed child care centers. | This bill amends the Child Care Revitalization Act, P.L.2021, c.144, to remove language requiring that the $54.5 million of federal resources, appropriated under the act for use by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide facilities improvement grants to licensed child care providers, fund such grants for registered family child care homes. The Child Care Revitalization Act appropriates federal funds, allocated to the State from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act", Pub.L.117-2, as the funding stream for the child care facilities improvement grants. The Economic Development Authority is currently developing a facilities improvement grant program, to be funded with State resources that have already been appropriated to the authority, for family child care providers. Both the sponsor and the authority believe that a State-funded program will provide a less burdensome application, implementation, and compliance experience for family child care providers. The initial phase of the Child Care Facilities Improvement Act provides grants, in an amount ranging from $50,000 to $200,000, for qualifying facilities improvement projects undertaken by child care centers licensed by the Department of Children and Families prior to June 4, 2021. Family Child Care providers are not eligible for the first phase of the grant program. | In Committee |
| A3872 | Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes. | This bill establishes several requirements for a private entity that operates motorbus regulator route service. Specifically, these private entities would be required to: (1) provide at least four months written notice to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) and the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; (2) provide at least three months written notice to the service's customers prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; and (3) hold at least one public meeting in the affected area, as close as possible to the highest trafficked stop on the route, within 15 days after providing notice to the service's customers. Prior to holding the public meeting, the private entity is required to provide written notice of the public meeting to the commission, NJ Transit, as well as the State legislators representing any legislative district, the mayor and governing body of any municipality, and the board of county commissioners of any county that will be affected by the substantial curtailment of such service. A private entity found to be in violation of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, which penalty is to be in addition to any other penalties that may be available pursuant to law. The bill requires the commission to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill and to take any action necessary to ensure that private entities are in compliance with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A3972 | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | In Committee |
| A1970 | Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of certain public community water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings or facilities to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires' disease. | Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of certain public community water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings or facilities to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires' disease. | Crossed Over |
| A2027 | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | An Act concerning a monthly State benefit for menstrual hygiene products and diaper products under the Work First New Jersey Program, supplementing P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55), and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4656 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| A4657 | Creates "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to strengthen access to reproductive health care; makes appropriation. | This bill implements various measures to strengthen access to reproductive health care services in the State and establishes the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to address those purposes. The fund will be used for the following purposes: (1 "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program"; (2) "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program"; and (3) "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program". The purpose of the "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program" established in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety will be to protect access to reproductive health care by ensuring that there are sufficient number of health care professionals to provide reproductive health care services. For instance, the program will ensure that the coordinating organization has demonstrated experience in coordinating health care training programs for reproductive health care services and family planning services. The coordinating organization will also be responsible for administering grants to develop and sustain reproductive health care services. The bill provides that the "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program" in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness will make available grants to eligible reproductive health care facilities which the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness determines are at a high risk of being the target of unlawful activity, including acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, cyber attacks, and harassment. Grants provided under the program will be used to hire security personnel and target-hardening equipment. Further, the "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program" will award loans to eligible reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care services. Under the bill, loans awarded will be used to support establishing or renovating existing health care facilities, investments in technology to facilitate care, the recruitment and retention of staff, and other operational needs that increase reproductive health care services. The bill requires that the Department of Health conduct a Statewide needs assessment to examine the gaps in access and delivery of reproductive health care services in the State, including the impact that out-of-State restrictions have had on the need for reproductive health care services and the provider network in the State. Finally, the bill appropriates monies from the General Fund, subject to availability, to the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund." The FY 2024 Appropriations Act includes a $5 million appropriation for OBGYN Clinical Training Program to provide training to licensed members of the health care community. Another $5 million in FY 2024 is appropriated for the Reproductive Health Security Grant Program toward securing clinics. These grants support reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care with target hardening support. The FY 2024 Governor's Budget recommends language in which the Office of Homeland Security Preparedness will receive reimbursement to administer the grant. | In Committee |
| A4662 | Requires Medicaid cover emergency contraception without requiring prescription or other authorization. | This bill would require that the Medicaid program provide coverage for emergency contraceptives obtained over the counter without requiring a prescription or other authorization. At this time, Medicaid provides coverage for emergency contraceptives if they are obtained with a prescription. Individuals can obtain emergency contraceptives without a prescription, but the individual must pay for these out-of-pocket. This bill would enable individuals greater access to needed contraceptives without the unnecessary visits to a provider to obtain a prescription. | In Committee |
| A4661 | Provides for voluntary contributions for taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support reproductive health care services. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access 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 equitable access to reproductive health care services for individuals who cannot afford them. Under the bill, the State would be required to annually appropriate the amounts deposited into the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" for distribution, in equal amounts, to the three largest providers of reproductive health care services to Medicaid patients in the State during the previous calendar year, as determined by the Commissioner of Health. The bill requires these monies to be used to provide reproductive health care services to individuals who cannot afford such services. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" to mean medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy. | In Committee |
| A4659 | Requires four-year public institution of higher education to develop and implement reproductive health services plan; requires county college to develop referral network for reproductive health care services. | This bill requires four-year public institutions of higher education to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan. Pursuant to the bill, the plan is required to include: making available on-campus services provided by health care professionals, or referrals to off-campus services provided by health care professionals or health care facilities, for: obtaining contraception, including non-prescription and prescription emergency contraception and pharmacist authorized, self-administered hormonal contraceptives; services for preventing, testing for, and treating sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; prenatal care; and abortion. The plan is also required to include: methods to provide students with 24-hour access to over-the-counter contraception through the student health center, on-campus retail establishments, or vending machines; the provision of evidence-based reproductive health education services provided by the student health center, peer educators, or other health education programs; and the development of a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus health care services located within the county that the four-year institution of higher education is located. The bill also requires county colleges to develop a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus reproductive health care services in the county in which the county college is located in. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Human Services, to develop guidelines to assist public institutions of higher education in developing and implementing a reproductive health services plan and county colleges in developing the referral network. Finally, the bill stipulates that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require a public institution of higher education to be a direct provider of reproductive health care services, including abortion. | In Committee |
| A4660 | Establishes Reproductive Health Care Professionals Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $5 million. | This bill establishes the Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The loan redemption program is to provide for the redemption of a portion of a program participant's State, federal, or commercial student loans in exchange for the program participant's service at a site providing reproductive health care services, as approved by the authority. Under the bill, the sites may include sites operated by a nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, and other facilities providing reproductive health care services. An approved site under the bill includes sites providing abortion care. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: (1) be a resident of the State; (2) be employed as an eligible reproductive health care professional, defined as a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services and who is providing reproductive health care services in the State; and (3) submit an application in a manner determined by the executive director of the HESAA. In selecting program participants, the executive director is required to give preference to applicants employed as an eligible reproductive health care professional in a county facing a shortage of reproductive health care professionals. The bill stipulates that a selected program participant is to enter into a written contract with the authority. The contract is to specify the duration of the program participant's required service and the total amount of student loans to be redeemed in return for the service. Under the bill, loan redemption is to amount to 18 percent of a program participant's qualifying loan amounts in return for one full year of service at an approved site, an additional 26 percent for a second full year of service, an additional 28 percent for a third full year of service, and an additional 28 percent for a fourth full year of service. The total loan redemption for a program participant is not to exceed $200,000. Finally, the bill stipulates that a reproductive health care professional, who is participating in the National Health Services Corps Loan Repayment Program or any other loan redemption program administered by the authority, is not eligible to simultaneously participate in the Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program. | In Committee |
| A4655 | Codifies authority for certain health care providers to provide abortions and clarifies certain operational requirements for abortion facilities. | This bill codifies the authority of physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, and advanced practice nurses to provide abortions. Under the bill, physician assistants can perform aspiration abortions consistent with the physician assistant's scope of practice, which can include the administration of sedation consistent with the physician assistant's scope of practice and training and a physician assistant can order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication abortions. Under the bill, certified nurse midwives and certified midwives can perform aspiration abortions, which may include the administration of moderate sedation, consistent with their scope of practice and training and consistent with regulations of the applicable licensing board. A certified nurse midwife authorized to prescribe drugs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 97 (C.45:10-18), may order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication abortions. A certified nurse midwife who is not authorized to prescribe drugs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 97 (C.45:10-18) or a certified midwife may provide medication abortions if the use of the medication is authorized by a standing order issued by a physician. Under the bill, advanced practice nurses may perform aspiration abortions, which may include the administration of moderate sedation, and administer medication abortions consistent with the advanced practice nurse's scope of practice and training and consistent with regulations of the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The bill provides that an abortion facility will not be required to be an ambulatory surgical facility or a surgical practice license, to the extent that the facility performs abortion procedures that do not require general anesthesia or an operating room, and such services may be performed in procedure rooms. An entity seeking licensure as an ambulatory care facility or a surgical practice at which early aspiration abortions would be performed will not be subject to certain limitations under current law for ambulatory care facilities, so long as the facility or surgical practice adheres to all applicable regulations with respect to the standard of care. | In Committee |
| A4645 | Changes date of "Juneteenth Day" in NJ to June 19 of each year. | This bill establishes that the "Juneteenth Day" holiday will be observed on June 19 of each year in New Jersey. Under current law, "Juneteenth Day" is observed on the third Friday of June each year in New Jersey. This change will allow the State holiday to correspond to the federal "Juneteenth National Independence Day" holiday. | In Committee |
| A4647 | Requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts and establishes uniform age requirement for enrollment in kindergarten. | This bill requires all school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs for their students. If a school district does not currently provide a full-day kindergarten program, and is classified in district factor groups A, B, CD, or DE, then the district would be required to begin offering such a program by the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. All other school districts would be required to provide such a program by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The bill also establishes a uniform age requirement for a student to enroll in kindergarten. Under current law, each school district determines the date by which a child must attain the age of five years in order to enroll in kindergarten. Under the bill, a child would have to be five years old by October 1 of the school year in order to enroll in kindergarten. | In Committee |
| A4646 | Requires Medicaid coverage for self-administered hormonal contraceptives dispensed by pharmacist under standing order. | This bill requires the State's Medicaid program to cover expenses incurred in the provision of self-administered hormonal contraceptives as prescribed by a standing order and dispensed by a pharmacist. Under the bill, "self-administered hormonal contraceptive" means any oral, transdermal, or vaginal contraceptive product, including, but not limited to, birth control pills, vaginal rings, and diaphragms. "Standing order" means a prewritten medication order authorizing pharmacists in this State to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives to patients without an individual prescription. Currently, pharmacists are permitted, pursuant to P.L.2023, c.2 (C.45:14-67.9 et seq.), to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives pursuant to a standing order, in accordance with protocols established by Board of Pharmacy and Board of Medical Examiners. That law, in conjunction with this bill, would eliminate the need for Medicaid beneficiaries to get a prescription from a doctor for a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, as is the existing requirement, before going to have it filled at a pharmacy; thereby increasing access to these medications. | In Committee |
| A4637 | Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians. | The bill provides that it is a violation of the consumer fraud act for a veterinarian to intentionally misrepresent, including through the use of euphemisms, code words, or otherwise, the information required under current law to be provided to the owner of a dead domestic companion animal undergoing testing for rabies. An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. In addition, the bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop a poster and pamphlet with information relating to rabies vaccines and quarantine and testing protocols. Veterinarians are required to display the poster in office reception areas and to distribute the pamphlets to certain customers. Lastly, the bill requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a trauma-informed mental health protection training certification program for veterinarians and staff. The program is optional, and those who complete it are to receive a certification from the division. | In Committee |
| A2369 | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | In Committee |
| A2784 | Authorizes school district that moves its annual school election to November to submit separate proposals for additional spending for budget year and subsequent budget year. | Authorizes school district that moves its annual school election to November to submit separate proposals for additional spending for budget year and subsequent budget year. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A4090 | Increases cap on personal care assistant services from 40 hours to 91 hours per week for Medicaid beneficiary determined clinically eligible for nursing facility level of care. | Increases cap on personal care assistant services from 40 hours to 91 hours per week for Medicaid beneficiary determined clinically eligible for nursing facility level of care. | In Committee |
| A3567 | Requires each public institution of higher education to convene menstrual equity task force. | Requires each public institution of higher education to convene menstrual equity task force. | In Committee |
| A4611 | Establishes survivor support liaison in Department of Treasury to assist beneficiaries of emergency responders who die in line of duty; "designated as Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's act"; appropriates $1,000,000. | This bill establishes in the Department of Treasury an Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation, which would be responsible for providing information concerning the available benefits to the beneficiaries of any emergency responder who has died in the line of duty. The bill defines "emergency responder" as a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or other person who has been trained to provide emergency medical first response services in a program recognized by the Commissioner of Health and licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of Health to provide those services The bill provides that the office would be led by a survivor support liaison and consist of at least an additional three employees, all of whom are to be beneficiaries of first responders who have died in the line of duty. The office would be responsible for providing beneficiaries with a summary of the nature and amount of benefits for which they are eligible. The bill also requires the office to maintain contact with the beneficiaries and assist with any questions or requests during the application process for available benefits. The bill is designated as the "designated as Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's act" in honor of Captains Acabou and Brooks who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty while responding to the cargo ship fire at Port Newark. The designation also honors firefighter, Marques Hudson, who died in a house fire in Plainfield, NJ. | In Committee |
| AR144 | Urges Major League Baseball to adopt Negro Leagues Day on May 2 of each year. | This resolution urges Major League Baseball to adopt a Negro Leagues Day across baseball to be recognized on May 2 of each year. Even though African-Americans were excluded from playing in the Major Leagues of their time with their white counterparts until Major League Baseball fully integrated its leagues in 1959, the desire of many African-Americans to play baseball could not be repressed. African-Americans began organizing their own professional baseball teams in 1885 and seven separate baseball leagues, known collectively as the "Negro Baseball Leagues," were organized by African-Americans between 1920 and 1960. On May 2, 1920, the Negro National League, the first successful Negro League, played its first game. The talents of players such as Josh Gibson, James "Cool Papa" Bell, and Oscar Charleston earned numerous Negro Leagues players recognition in the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Sporting News List of Baseball's Greatest Players. With the integration of Negro Leagues statistics from over 2,300 players into Major League Baseball history in 2024, these players have taken their rightful place as leaders in various categories of baseball statistics. New Jersey has been at the forefront of several contributions to the Negro Leagues, including being home to the Newark Eagles and hosting games across the State played by various National Baseball Hall of Fame players who were part of the Negro Leagues. Under the ownership of Effa Manley, who is the only woman inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Abe Manley, the Newark Eagles played from 1936 to 1948 and won the Negro World Series in 1946. A plaque was placed at Memorial Field in Belmar, New Jersey to commemorate Josh Gibson's "legendary 600-foot home run that reached the backyard of the Belmar Post Office," which could be the longest home run ever witnessed. Since the first game of the National Negro Baseball League that was played on May 2, 1920, the Negro Leagues positively impacted the sport of baseball and, by achieving success on the baseball field, African-American baseball players helped break down color barriers and integrate African-Americans into all aspects of society in the United States. | In Committee |
| A4594 | Requires DOH to evaluate technology uses in long-term care settings, implements certain technological requirements within long-term care settings, and clarifies existing telehealth reimbursement parity includes long-term care settings. | This bill implements a variety of provisions regarding technology in long-term care settings. As used in the bill, long-term care settings include home-based care, community-based care, and residential-based care. First, the bill requires the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the applicable State entities and provider stakeholders, to evaluate, review, and provide recommendations for the use of technology in long-term care settings within the State, and to report the findings of the review, and subsequent department actions, to the Legislature within 18 months after the effective date of the bill. The goal of this review is to identify existing uses, and potential new and expanded uses, of technology within long-term care settings. Following the review, the department will encourage and support providers in implementing the department's recommendations regarding the uses of technology via the distribution of available federal and State funds, the establishment of grant or low interest loan programs, the implementation of performance incentives, or the provision of other aid deemed appropriate and necessary by the Commissioner of Health. Second, the bill expands an existing law requiring long-term care facilities to implement an electronic medical records requirement, and that provides need-based grants via the DOH to implement this requirement, to also include home and community-based service providers. The bill also requires the DOH to provide grants to long-term care providers to support the exchange of user-friendly clinical information via an electronic health record system with State hospitals. Third, commencing six months following the effective date of the bill, the DOH is to require each long-term care facility in the State, as a condition of licensure, to provide internet, television, and telephone services within each residential room. To the extent possible, the long-term care facility will also provide residents with the necessary equipment to utilize these services. The department will distribute federal and State funds to facilities in compliance with this provision, and to determine compliance with the provision during facility inspections. In addition to any other applicable penalties provided by law, a long-term care facility that fails to comply with these provisions is liable to pay an administrative penalty and may be subject to adverse licensure action. Finally, this bill amends section 11 of P.L.2021, c.310 to clarify that the provisions of that law requiring a health benefits plan to provide coverage and payment parity for health care services delivered to a covered person from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024 through telemedicine or telehealth at a provider reimbursement rate that equals the in-person provider reimbursement rate, includes those health care services provided in a long-term care setting. | In Committee |
| A4601 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of health care services. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for the termination of pregnancies. Under the bill, "pregnancy" is defined as the period of the human reproductive process beginning with the implantation of a fertilized egg. The bill provides that, upon request of a religious employer, health insurers are required to grant an exclusion if the coverage conflicts with the religious employer's bona fide religious beliefs and practices. "Religious employer" is defined in the bill to mean an organization that is referred to in section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. s.6033), and that is organized and operates as a nonprofit entity. Additionally, the bill provides that any State program that provides benefits for pregnancy-related care will also provide benefits for the termination of a pregnancy. Lastly, under the bill, medical malpractice insurers are barred from taking any adverse action, including loss of coverage, sanctions, fines, penalties, or rate increases, against an insured for providing or facilitating reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services based solely on the fact that the patient receiving the service is a resident of a state where providing or facilitating the activity is illegal. | In Committee |
| A4600 | Permits companion to receive PFRS accidental death pension when there is no surviving spouse; requires adjustment of final compensation for calculation of accidental death benefit for surviving spouse, companion, and children of PFRS members. | Under current law, the surviving spouse of a member of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRS) who died in the line of duty receives a pension of 70 percent of the member's compensation, or a minimum of $50,000 annually, during the life of that spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the pension of 70 percent of final compensation is paid to the member's surviving children. This bill requires that the amount of the compensation be adjusted for a period of time after the death of the member, thereby increasing the annual pension for surviving spouses and children. The compensation will be increased by the same percentage increase which is applied in any adjustments of the compensation schedule of active members after the member's death and before the date on which the deceased member of the retirement system would have accrued 25 years of service under an assumption of continuous service. At 25 years, the amount resulting from such increases will become fixed and be the basis for any increases for cost of living granted thereafter. Any adjustments will take effect at the same time as any adjustments in the compensation schedule of active members. The bill provides that adjustments to PFRS accidental death survivors' pension would apply to those granted prior to effective date of the bill but only for payments made on or after the effective date of the bill. In addition, this bill permits that same pension of 70 percent of compensation to be paid to a companion of a member who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2023. A companion is defined in the bill. The bill permits a companion of a member who died before the bill's effective date to file, within six months after the bill's effective date, an application for an accidental death pension, and if approved, the pension will be made retroactive to the date of the member's death. The companion of a member who died before the effective date of the bill may apply for a pension only if the deceased member did not have a surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents at the time of death, or if the member's aggregate contributions have not been paid to a beneficiary or the estate, or have been returned to the retirement system. | In Committee |
| A4327 | Revises statutory definition of "elevated blood lead level." | Revises statutory definition of "elevated blood lead level." | In Committee |
| A4012 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, approximately $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.38 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| A3852 | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | In Committee |
| A4538 | Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate tuition by more than two percent over prior academic year. | This bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from increasing the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for any academic year by more than two percent over the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for the prior academic year. | In Committee |
| A4561 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| A4545 | Requires State to bear partial cost of transportation of certain homeless students to school. | This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence. Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student's parent or guardian remains homeless for that period. In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless. | In Committee |
| A4555 | Requires DOLWD to provide assistance and education to small businesses in special improvement districts; establishes outreach campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to identify small businesses that are located in special improvement districts throughout the State for the purpose of notifying each small business of the business's location within a special improvement district and of certain benefits that are available to businesses within a special improvement district. Further, the bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Department of Environmental Protection, the Business Action Center in the Department of State, to create and implement an outreach program to inform small businesses which are located in special improvement districts about key issues that small businesses might face including, but not limited to: (1) small business grants and loans; (2) State wage, benefit and tax laws; and (3) climate change resiliency. The program will develop and distribute written materials to small businesses which are located in special improvement districts, and will engage in regular outreach to these businesses to notify and educate small businesses on the key issues that small businesses may face. | In Committee |
| AJR184 | Designates May 6th of each year as "Nurse's Day." | This joint resolution would designate May 6th of each year as "Nurse's Day" to promote greater public appreciation of the professionals who work tirelessly to provide quality healthcare to all patients. New Jersey is home to over 140,000 nurses in addition to thousands of nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses. Nurses are vital to maintaining our healthcare systems and perform critical services to people during all stages of life. In 2023, the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing reported that the State's healthcare workforce could lose 10,000 nurses over the next few years and that 9 out of 10 nursing programs are unable to enroll additional students due to lack of faculty nurses. In the face of workforce shortages and relentless public health crises, nurses have continually shown up and given back to the community. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic while many individuals were able to work remotely, nurses appeared in person to perform lifesaving services. New Jersey seeks to honor nurses from every walk of life as they have so valiantly provided indispensable care to residents throughout the State.+ | In Committee |
| A4585 | Requires DHS to increase home and community-based services under Medicaid. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services to increase home and community-based services under Medicaid. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to: 1) by 2027, aim to place 80 percent Medicaid participants, who are eligible to receive nursing home care, in home and community-based services, with 60 percent of the Medicaid funding for long-term services and supports allocated to home and community-based services; 2) by 2029, aim to allocate 70 percent of the Medicaid funding for long-term services and supports to home and community-based services; 3) establish a five-year strategic plan to rapidly expand home and community-based services by investing monies from available funds in a manner that decreases the number of individuals who are institutionalized in State developmental centers; 4) take measures to reduce institutional bias in State policy, including Medicaid eligibility changes, more timely authorizations for home and community-based services, and Medicaid coverage changes designed to promote home and community-based services; 5) develop an equitable plan across health care provider types with stakeholder input prior to expiration of enhanced federal funding contained in the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; 6) manage Medicaid payment methods for home and community-based services in a manner that ensures a living wage for caregivers, and periodically review the adequacy of rates in a transparent, verifiable manner, with predictable adjustments in wages to account for inflation; and 7) in collaboration with the Department of Community Affairs, increase affordable supportive housing through various policies, including better coordination of programs at the State level, and promoting the integration of acute, primary, and long-term care through the expansion of integrated care models, such as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. | In Committee |
| A4484 | Establishes "New Jersey Paid Prenatal Personal Leave Act." | This bill provides every eligible employee in the State with 20 hours of paid prenatal personal leave for each calendar year. The bill defines paid prenatal personal leave to mean leave that is taken for health care services received by an employee during the employee's pregnancy or related to the employee's pregnancy, including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, and discussions with a health care provider related to the pregnancy. The requirement to provide prenatal leave applies to private and public employers in the State, and full-time and part-time employees are eligible for the leave. Under the bill, employees may take the leave in one-hour increments, and they are entitled to compensation at their regular rate of pay for the leave taken. The bill provides that employers are prohibited from penalizing, discriminating against, or retaliating against employees for taking or requesting the leave. Employers are not required to pay employees for any unused leave at the time of separation from employment. The bill's provisions will not go into effect until January 1, 2026. | In Committee |
| A4507 | Changes term "inmate" to "incarcerated person." | This bill removes all references to the term "inmate" from the statutes, and replaces those references with the term "incarcerated person." This bill embodies the recommendation of the New Jersey Law Revision Commission, set forth in its Final Report: Regarding the Use of the Term "Inmate"; issued on June 6, 2022. | In Committee |
| A4512 | Codifies various centers and programs at Rutgers University - Newark; appropriates $6.5 million. | This bill codifies five centers and programs at Rutgers The State University - Newark into law and directs the Legislature to appropriate $6.5 million among all five centers to be allocated accordingly:· $1,000,000 for the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America· $1,000,000 for the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME)· $1,000,000 for the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR)· $1,000,000 for the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN)· $2,500,000 for the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP). The primary objective of the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America is to serve as a nonpartisan research center to investigate the link between race and politics in America. It aims to achieve this by functioning as a comprehensive data resource center that produces and disseminates data on race and politics across all levels of government. Additionally, the center is to facilitate various training programs in data analysis along with a paid internship program to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for careers in public service. The purpose of the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME) is to conduct collaborative public scholarship on issues of structural inequality and systemic racism. Additionally, the center provides opportunities for advanced training in areas such as data analysis, legal primers, and policy evaluation, in order to support the development of future leaders committed to social justice. The goal of the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR) is to serve as an applied research center aimed at enhancing the resilience of New Jersey's supply chain system. The center collaborates with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and community organizations to address key issues such as supply chain disruptions, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The mission of the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN) is to support justice-impacted youth. The program engages with partner organizations to provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for those participating in the program. The objective of the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP) initiative is to provide higher education courses for incarcerated students and to assist in their transition to college life upon release. Additionally, NJSTEP facilitates transition support services, including academic advisement, access to financial aid, and assistance with post-release educational plans. | In Committee |
| A4497 | "Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act." | This bill, the "Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act," requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Program to purchase menstrual hygiene products and provide such products at no cost to Haitian migrants who have arrived in the State at least two years prior to the effective date of the bill. Under the bill's provisions, the DOH is to contract with community-based, faith-based, and non-profit organizations specifically serving Haitian migrants to distribute sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and other menstrual hygiene products deemed necessary by individuals who menstruate. The DOH is also directed to conduct outreach activities to ensure that eligible Haitian migrants are made aware of the program and the organizations contracted to distribute menstrual hygiene products. The program is to be funded by and subject to annual appropriations allocated to the DOH from the General Fund for the purchase and distribution of menstrual hygiene products, and the DOH may apply for and accept any grant of money from the State or federal government or other sources, which may be available for programs related to period inequity and menstrual health services. The bill requires the DOH to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of, and any recommendations for legislative or administrative action necessary to improve, the program. Period inequity and period poverty significantly impacts the health, dignity, and overall well-being of individuals, especially among marginalized and newly arrived migrant populations. Haitian migrants, as part of these vulnerable groups, often face substantial challenges in accessing basic menstrual hygiene products due to economic, cultural, and logistical barriers. Recent data from the American Community Survey indicates that approximately 46,000 Haitian migrants reside in New Jersey, making up six percent of the State's immigrant population. Addressing the availability of menstrual hygiene products for Haitian migrants is essential for ensuring this population's health and promoting the dignity of a community that has made and continues to make important contributions to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of this State. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the State to support the health and dignity of, and mitigate the economic, cultural, and logistical barriers challenges faced by, Haitian migrants through the creation of a program that ensures the provision of necessary menstrual hygiene products to help this population thrive in the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A4496 | Revises visitation and reporting rules for professional guardians. | This bill revises the duty of professional guardians to meet with and report on the status of an incapacitated ward. At present, persons appointed guardian of the person of a ward, including persons appointed to serve as registered professional guardians, have an obligation to visit the ward and to maintain sufficient contact with the ward to know the ward's capacities, limitations, needs, opportunities and physical and mental health. N.J.S.A.3B:12-57 provides general rules for guardians, which include that the guardian personally visit the ward not less than once every three months, or as deemed appropriate by the court, and otherwise maintain sufficient contact with the ward to know the ward's capacities, limitations, needs, opportunities and physical and mental health. This bill would require a registered professional guardian, who is compensated for guardianship services, to personally meet with the ward not less than once every three weeks, or as deemed appropriate by the court. The bill further provides that a family member of the ward may, upon motion to the Court, request a report be prepared by a registered professional guardian concerning the condition of the ward and the condition of the ward's estate which has been subject to the guardian's possession or control as ordered by the court. | In Committee |
| A4494 | Increases penalties for drag racing; provides for impoundment under certain circumstances. | This bill concerns the penalties for drag racing on public highways. Under current law, a person is subject to a fine of a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 for a first offense of racing on a public highway. In addition, a person is subject to a fine of a minimum of $100 and a maximum $200 for a subsequent offense. This bill increases the penalty for racing on a public highway to a fine between $100 and $200 for a first offense and a fine between $200 and $300 for a second offense. For a third or subsequent offense, the bill provides that the motor vehicle used for racing in violation of current law be impounded for not less than 96 hours. Under the bill, the owner of the motor vehicle may reclaim the motor vehicle by showing proof of registration and insurance and paying all reasonable towing and storage costs. Further, if the owner fails to claim the motor vehicle within 30 days, it may be sold at public auction. Proceeds of the sale in excess of reasonable costs of towing and storage are returned to the owner or administered in accordance with the "Uniform Unclaimed Property Act." | In Committee |
| A4498 | Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit any electric or gas public utility (utility) from charging a residential customer (customer) for electric or gas utility service who participates in a budget billing plan offered by the utility, as provided by any BPU rule or regulation, if the customer incurred a service interruption due to the customer having sustained damage to the customer's residence from the effects of a "major emergency event," as that term is defined in the bill, until such time service is restored. This prohibition does not extend to any utility collecting from a customer, pursuant to law, payment for utility service rendered prior to the date of the major emergency event. | In Committee |
| A4495 | Prohibits DCF from using certain federal benefits to reimburse State for cost of a child's care; requires DCF to conserve benefits for child's unmet or future needs. | The bill requires the Department of Children and Families (the department) to determine, within 60 days of a child's placement in a foster home, whether the child currently receives, or is eligible for, federal benefits, such as Social Security or Veteran's Administration benefits. Upon determining that a child is eligible for federal benefits, the department will apply for these benefits on the child's behalf, after notifying the child, the child's attorney, the child's parent, provided parental rights have not been terminated, or the child's legal guardian. If a child received federal benefits prior to placement in a foster home, or if the department applies for federal benefits on the child's behalf, the department, in consultation with the child and the child's attorney, will identify a representative payee. If no suitable candidate is available to serve as the child's representative payee, the department may apply to become the representative payee for the child's benefits. In such cases, the department is required to annually review whether an appropriate individual is available to serve as representative payee; if so, and with the consent of the child and the child's attorney, the department will petition to have this individual appointed as representative payee. If the department is appointed as the representative payee, the department is prohibited from using the child's federal or any other benefits, savings, or assets to offset the State's costs for the child's care. The department is also required to utilize the child's federal benefits for the child's unmet needs, or to save for the child's future needs. Under the bill, the department is required to establish an account at a financial institution, into which the child's federal benefits will be deposited, consistent with federal and State asset and resource limits. The department may establish certain types of accounts, such as a special needs trust or an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE), which will not conflict with the income and asset limits of certain federal benefits programs. The department will annually provide the child, the child's attorney, and the child's parent or legal guardian with an account of the use, application, or conservation of the child's benefits. The department is also required to annually review the cases of children in foster care to determine whether a child may have become eligible for federal benefits in the time since the department's initial assessment of the child's eligibility. Upon termination of the department's responsibility for a child, the department must turn over any remaining federal benefits to the child, if the child is age 18 years or older or is an emancipated minor, or to the child's parent or legal guardian. | In Committee |
| A4499 | Establishes "Reproductive Health Access for Haitian Migrants Act." | This bill establishes the "Reproductive Health Access for Haitian Migrants Act." Under the bill, the Department of Health (department), in collaboration with community health clinics and migrant support organizations, is to ensure that all Haitian migrants have access to reproductive contraceptives at no cost. Contraceptive options for Haitian migrants are to include, but are not to be limited to, intrauterine devices, birth control pills, and Depo-Provera injections. Services for Haitian migrants are to include comprehensive reproductive health education and counseling to ensure informed decision-making. The department is to develop detailed guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of this bill, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, and logistics of contraceptive distribution within 120 days following the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the department is to prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature an annual report containing information on outreach, usage statistics, and any barriers to accessing reproductive contraceptives encountered by Haitian migrants. | In Committee |
| A4000 | Establishes Office of Professional Corporate Guardians. | Establishes Office of Professional Corporate Guardians. | In Committee |
| A4524 | Creates crime of incest. | This bill would establish a third degree crime of incest that may be prosecuted separately from or in addition to other sexual offenses, such as sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2) or endangering the welfare of children (N.J.S.2C:24-4). Under current law, the crime of sexual assault does not apply to incestuous acts between consenting adults. Under the bill, a person commits the crime of incest if the person marries or commits an act of sexual penetration with a person's ancestor or descendant, a sibling, a sibling of the person's parent (i.e., aunt or uncle), or a child of the person's sibling (i.e., niece or nephew). These relationships enumerated in the bill would include blood relationships of the whole or half blood, without regard to legitimacy or relationship of parent and child by adoption. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Incest was previously a crime under State law, N.J.S.A.2A:114-1 and 2A:114-2, but those laws were repealed by P.L.1978, c.95. | In Committee |
| A1855 | Prohibits modification of mufflers and exhaust systems to produce audible sounds. | Prohibits modification of mufflers and exhaust systems to produce audible sounds. | In Committee |
| A4520 | Requires DHS to establish program to assist children with incarcerated non-custodial parents in enrolling in safety net programs. | This bill directs the Department of Human Services (department), in collaboration with county welfare agencies, to establish an enrollment and outreach program focused on assisting any New Jersey child, with an incarcerated non-custodial parent, in enrolling in safety net programs for which the child or the child's custodial parent or guardian may be eligible. As used in the bill, safety net program means any program administered through the department, which is authorized to provide assistance and services to needy persons, such as the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Work First New Jersey, the NJ FamilyCare program, and the Child Care Subsidy Program. In order to effectuate the goal of the program, the department, at a minimum, is required to: 1) collaborate with the Department of Corrections, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and any other applicable public agency to identify any child in the State, up to and including the age of 18, whose non-custodial parent is or will be incarcerated; 2) contact, at a minimum, the custodial parent or guardian of such a child no less than on three occasions, using as many means of contact as are available to the department, with the department contacting the parent or guardian in writing on at least one occasion. During each contact, the custodial parent or guardian of the child is to be informed of the various benefits and services offered through the safety net programs administered by the department; the eligibility requirements of each program; the methods in which the custodial parent or guardian may apply for the programs, including the physical location and hours of operation of the local county welfare agency; a contact phone number and e-mail address which the custodial parent or guardian may use to ask questions or seek guidance on enrollment at a later time; and referrals to any program administered by a State agency other than the department that may provide services or benefits useful to the child or the custodial parent or guardian of the child; and 3) track any applications for safety net programs submitted under the program and expedite the processing of these applications such that a determination is provided to the custodial parent or guardian within 30 days of submission. | In Committee |
| A4483 | "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act," provides certain protections for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer patients. The bill: 1. Requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for individuals diagnosed with cancer and with a prognosis that is deemed Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal (1) parenteral treatment of the cancer; (2) survivorship care plan, including follow-up appointments; and (3) any other service or item as determined by the regulators of each type of carrier or contract. Under the bill, "parenteral treatment" means the intravenous, intra-arterial, intraperitoneal, or intrathecal administration of nutrition or medication bypassing the gastrointestinal system and "survivorship care plan" means a plan for an individual with cancer from diagnosis through the end of life that focuses on the health and well-being of the individual. This includes, but is not limited to, side effects from treatment, cancer recurrence, and quality of life. Any cost-sharing or copayment or coinsurance that may be required for coverage will not apply. 2. Prohibits residential mortgage lenders from providing a notice of intention to a residential mortgage debtor undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. Under the bill, a residential mortgage lender shall ensure, before sending a notice of intention to cure a default on a mortgage debtor's residential mortgage obligation, that the residential mortgage debtor is not undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. If a mortgage debtor is undergoing treatment, the mortgage lender will be prohibited from providing a notice of intention to the mortgage debtor until the mortgage lender receives notice from the physician of the mortgage debtor that the debtor is no longer undergoing treatment. Additionally, the bill provides that any foreclosure action to take possession of a residential property will be dismissed upon submission by the residential mortgage debtor to the residential mortgage lender of a letter from the physician of the debtor certifying that the debtor is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 3. Prohibits a creditor from initiating a collection proceeding for a default on any debt against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer and who submits to the creditor a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. The bill also provides that any collection proceeding against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer is required to be dismissed upon submission by the individual of a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 4. Requires that for eviction actions based on nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or for failure to pay a rent increase, the Superior Court will authorize a stay of eviction for up to 45 days if the tenant is actively undergoing Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer treatment. To qualify for this stay, the tenant must provide a confidential certification from their treating physician, submitted under seal. Additionally, during the stay period, the tenant has the right to renew their lease upon its expiration, subject to reasonable changes proposed by the landlord. The bill also provides the right to reinstatement to equivalent employment after a period of leave applies to all periods in which TDI or FLI benefits are provided, including extending that right to FLI leave takers employed by employers with less than 30 employees, as is presently the case for TDI leave takers. Under the bill, an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either TDI or FLI benefits, may use either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of the TDI or FLI benefits, and may select the order in which they are taken, but may not receive more than one kind of paid leave benefits during any period of time. | In Committee |
| A4480 | Establishes civil right of action for misuse of individual's name, image, likeness, or voice. | This bill establishes a person's right of publicity as a property right in the New Jersey Statutes. The right of publicity is commonly defined as the right to prevent unauthorized commercial use of a person's name, image, likeness, or voice. In this State, the right of publicity has long been recognized and developed through case law by the courts since Edison v. Edison Polyform & Mfg. Co., 73 N.J. Eq. 136 (Ct. Chancery 1907), but has never been codified in the statutes. Under the bill, every individual has an exclusive property right in the use of that individual's name, image, likeness, or voice in any medium in any manner, which may be assigned, licensed, or inherited by the individual's executors, assignees, heirs, or devisees. A deceased individual's executors, assignees, heirs, or devisees retain the individual's exclusive right of publicity for ten years following death, which may be extended in perpetuity if that right is commercially exploited, or which may be terminated after two years for non-use following the initial ten year period. A person who knowingly infringes on an individual's right of publicity, including infringement through the use of artificial intelligence technology, shall be liable in a civil action and shall also be guilty of a disorderly person offense. A disorderly person offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. In addition, court may order an award of monetary damages as well as injunctive relief such as the forfeiture, seizure, or destruction of any infringing items. The bill sets forth fair use exceptions for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, research, or other uses consistent with the federal Copyright Act of 1976 and the federal Lanham Act. The bill is intended to not affect any existing licensing or publicity contracts, or service marks, trademarks, or trade names, properly made or registered as of the effective date of the bill. The bill is also intended to not affect any existing civil tort laws concerning defamation, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, false light, misappropriation of identity, intrusion of privacy, public disclosure of private facts, unlawful interference with prospective economic advantage, or tortious interference with contractual relations, or any existing criminal laws concerning identity theft, music piracy, or counterfeiting. The bill is also not intended to limit the rights of student-athletes under the New Jersey Fair Play Act. | In Committee |
| A3857 | Allows social worker to acquire four hours of continuing education credit for volunteering as poll worker. | Allows social worker to acquire four hours of continuing education credit for volunteering as poll worker. | In Committee |
| A4325 | Permits procurement of medical countermeasures, products, and therapeutics. | This bill permits the procurement of medical countermeasures, products, and therapeutics. Under the bill, the Department of Health may directly purchase medical countermeasures, supplies, and therapeutics pursuant to any federal laws, regulations, or programs, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in a contract that has been approved by the federal department or agency responsible for administering such laws, regulations, or programs, if the Commissioner of Health determines that the purchase is necessary to advance or protect public health and safety. | In Committee |
| A4111 | Directs Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to grant deferment of New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) student loan payments to new parent. | This bill provides that in the event that an eligible student borrower under the NJCLASS Loan Program becomes a parent, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will be required to grant a deferment of payment of loan principal and interest for a period of 12 weeks. To qualify for the loan deferment, the student borrower must provide the authority with proof of the child's birth or adoption within 120 days of the birth or adoption. The bill provides that the deferment will begin on the date that the student borrower's proof of the child's birth or adoption is received by the authority and will end 12 weeks after that date. Interest on the loan will not accrue during the period of deferment. | In Committee |
| A2161 | Requires public institutions of higher education to waive or reimburse application fees and transcript fees for veterans and members of military. | This bill requires a public institution of higher education to waive or reimburse the institution's application fee and fee for the receipt or transmission of a transcript for each veteran, member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Reserve components thereof, or member of the New Jersey National Guard who resides in the State and accepts admission to the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| A1494 | Prohibits use of biometric surveillance system by business entity under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the use of a biometric surveillance system on a consumer under certain circumstances. Under the bill, a business entity is prohibited from using a biometric surveillance system on a consumer at the physical premises of the business entity, unless: (1) the business entity provides clear and conspicuous notice to the consumer regarding its use of a biometric surveillance system; and (2) the biometric surveillance system is used for a lawful purpose. The business entity may satisfy the notice requirement by posting a sign in a conspicuous location at the perimeter of any area where a biometric surveillance system is being used. However, under the bill, if a business entity uses information obtained through a biometric surveillance system to deny a consumer access to its premises or to remove a consumer from its premises, the business entity is required to provide the consumer with a detailed explanation regarding its actions and the criteria used by the business entity in making its determination. The bill provides that a business entity will not be liable for a first violation if, within thirty days, the business entity demonstrates compliance with the provisions of this section. In addition, the bill prohibits a business entity from selling, leasing, trading, sharing, or otherwise profiting from information obtained through the business entity's use of a biometric surveillance system on a consumer. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations may result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. | In Committee |
| A4280 | Extends permission to administer blood glucose tests to EMTs. | Extends permission to administer blood glucose tests to EMTs. | In Committee |
| A3939 | Mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for professional firefighters not enrolled in SHBP, but who are eligible for SHBP by virtue of public employment. | An Act mandating access to periodic cancer screening examinations for full-time paid firefighters not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program, and amending P.L.2021, c.478. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR86 | Designating fourth Wednesday in May of each year as "Crisis Professionals Day." | This joint resolution permanently designates the fourth Wednesday in May as "Crisis Professionals Day." Crisis professionals are trained professionals that engage with people who are experiencing a crisis. These professionals directly engage with people when they are most vulnerable, oftentimes as a result of their illness and trauma, in effort to deescalate the crisis using methods that center around empathy, support, and hope. Crisis professionals face high-stress situations on a regular basis and as a result have earned the State's highest respect and gratitude. It is fitting to recognize and honor the life changing and lifesaving services that crisis professionals provide, as well as, the invaluable contributions they have provided to thousands of New Jerseyans and communities throughout the State. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2364 | Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | In Committee |
| A4438 | Revises out-of-State reciprocity for elevator, escalator, and moving walkway mechanic's license. | This bill revises the rules concerning out-of-State reciprocity for elevator, escalator, and moving walkway mechanic's licenses. Current law provides that the Elevator, Escalator, and Moving Walkway Mechanics Licensing Board may in its discretion grant licenses without examination to applicants so licensed by other states; provided that equal reciprocity is provided for New Jersey licensed mechanics by the law of the applicant's domiciliary state and that the domiciliary state's standards are equal to or comparable to those of this State. This bill removes the requirement of equal reciprocity, thereby allowing the board to grant licenses without examination to applicants with comparable licenses in other states, provided that the domiciliary state's standards are equal to or comparable to those of this State, even if the domiciliary state does not provide reciprocity to New Jersey licensees. | In Committee |
| A1679 | Requires health insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP to cover mammograms for women over 35 and women under 35 under certain circumstances. | 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 mammograms for women age 35 or older, rather than age 40 and older as is required under current law. In addition, the bill also adds a new requirement for health benefits plans issued pursuant to the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide mammogram coverage under the same circumstances. | In Committee |
| S2082 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force," and amending and supplementing P.L.2012, c.26. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3801 | Prohibits sale, distribution, and manufacture of jewelry containing cadmium. | This bill would prohibit the sale, distribution, import, or manufacture of jewelry that contains more than 0.03 percent cadmium by weight. Under the bill, the Director of Consumer Affairs or any manufacturer, distributor, or importer of jewelry who discovers that a type of jewelry contains more than 0.03 percent cadmium by weight would have to issue an immediate recall for that type of jewelry. Within 48 hours of receiving notice of the recall, retail mercantile establishments would be required to remove the jewelry from displays and make it unavailable for purchase. Within 14 business days, a retail mercantile establishment would be required to return all inventory of the jewelry to the manufacturer, distributor, or importer from which it was obtained, at the cost of the manufacturer, distributor, or importer. The manufacturer, distributor, or importer would then have 60 business days to dispose of the jewelry in a manner and location designed to remove it from access by the public. A violation of the provisions of the bill would be considered an unlawful practice under the "Consumer Fraud Act," P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and would be punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, a violation of the "Consumer Fraud Act" can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. The bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment. | Crossed Over |
| A3521 | Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. | Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. | In Committee |
| A4387 | Allows students to use portion of opportunity grant awards under Educational Opportunity Fund program during summer session. | This bill provides that a student may elect to use a portion of an opportunity grant funded through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), during the summer session following the academic year for courses that fulfill graduation requirements or award credits in the student's academic major. The student would be responsible for notifying the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of the intent to use a portion of the award during the summer. The Secretary of Higher Education would adjust the amount of the student's award that will be disbursed during the academic year, and notify the student that using a portion of the grant during the summer session will reduce the amount of the award that will be disbursed during the academic year. The secretary would also be required to annually report the number of students who did and did not use a portion of a grant award to enroll in courses during the summer, and the number and percent of these students who graduated within 100 percent and 150 percent of average completion time. This bill implements a recommendation of the College Affordability Study Commission which released its final report in September 2016. | In Committee |
| AR139 | Expresses sincere appreciation to staff of New Jersey General Assembly. | This resolution expresses sincere appreciation to the staff of the New Jersey General Assembly. Each legislative session, the General Assembly of New Jersey elects officers and administrative personnel to serve the vital functions of the General Assembly. These staff members play a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of the legislative process in this State, and their experience and diverse backgrounds contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the General Assembly's operations. Despite any challenges faced during each legislative session, the General Assembly staff uphold exemplary standards of professionalism and expertise within the constitutionally mandated timeframes. It is essential to recognize the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their unwavering dedication and service to the State of New Jersey. Therefore, the General Assembly wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their outstanding dedication, cooperation, and excellent work. | In Committee |
| A1628 | Allows certain licensees of New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to teach in private schools of cosmetology and hairstyling. | This bill allows certain licensees of the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to teach in a private school of cosmetology and hairstyling. Current law limits a license to teach cosmetology and hairstyling to individuals who hold a cosmetologist-hairstylist license. This bill expands that law to allow individuals holding a license to practice barbering, beauty culture, manicuring or as a hair braiding or skin care specialist to teach in a private school of cosmetology and hairstyling, provided the individuals meet certain other requirements. The bill also makes it an unlawful practice for a teacher to teach a course in a service not within the scope of practice of the professional license held by the teacher. | Crossed Over |
| A4385 | Requires vehicle identification number be stamped on catalytic converters of motor vehicles. | According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, theft of catalytic converters has dramatically increased in recent years. In 2019, approximately 3,400 claims of catalytic converter theft were filed. In 2020, the number of claims more than tripled. Under this bill, car manufacturers would be required to engrave or stamp the vehicle identification number onto the catalytic converter of a motor vehicle sold within the State. It is the sponsor's belief that this bill is necessary given the increasing number of thefts, and that once scrap yards and would-be thieves become aware of the new requirements, thefts will decrease. | In Committee |
| A4386 | Requires public schools that offer student psychological services to offer remote sessions. | This bill requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects that employ a school psychologist and offer in-person school psychology services to students in grades kindergarten through 12 to allow students to attend counseling sessions or meetings of any kind through virtual or remote means. Under the bill, a student will not be eligible to participate in remote psychology sessions if the school psychologist determines that in-person counseling is in the best interest of the student. Also under the bill, a student will not be required to attend a school counseling session or meeting with a school psychologist remotely, and will be permitted to continue to attend sessions in-person. As used in the bill, a "school psychologist" means a person who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school psychologist endorsement. School psychologists assist educators in implementing safe, healthy classroom and school environments by providing students with a wide range of emotional and academic services. This bill ensures that students who are unable to attend in-person sessions, for whatever reason, will continue to have access to their school psychologist by offering virtual or remote counseling sessions. | In Committee |
| A4388 | Allows court to consider previous care when granting letters of guardianship for incapacitated person. | This bill clarifies the order of eligibility of certain persons for letters of guardianship. The bill maintains the existing priority status of the spouse or domestic partner of the incapacitated person to receive letters of guardianship. If no spouse or domestic partner is available, able, or willing to accept letters of guardianship, then letters are to be granted to the incapacitated person's heirs or friends. The bill provides that in granting letters of guardianship, the court may give consideration to a person or persons who can demonstrate that they provided previous care in the best interest of the incapacitated person or their estate. Finally, the bill explicitly states that the appointed guardian is required to perform the duties and responsibilities of guardianship in the best interest of the incapacitated person, whether appointed as guardian for the person, guardian for the estate, or guardian of the person and estate. | In Committee |
| AJR178 | Urges US Department of Veterans Affairs to study use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans. | This joint resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to study the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans. While serving their country, military members can come across various traumatic events through circumstances such as war zone deployment, training accidents, and military sexual trauma. Among veterans using health care provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 23 percent had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their life. PTSD can cause chemical changes in the body's hormonal system and autonomic nervous system, as well as changes to brain activity and structure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been effective in treating disruptions of brain structure and functions, making it a potential alternative treatment for PTSD. In 2017, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced it would offer HBOT as a treatment option for a small group of veterans with PTSD symptoms resistant to standard treatments. Additionally, two evidence briefs on the use of HBOT to treat veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD in whom other treatments have not been successful were prepared for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. On April 16, 2024, legislation establishing a pilot program at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish HBOT for veterans who have PTSD or TBI passed the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health by voice vote. It is important that a study on the efficacy of HBOT be conducted to determine if the treatment will bring about beneficial changes for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly serve the nation and risk their lives to protect our freedom. | In Committee |
| A3891 | Creates new level of barbering license and apprenticeships in barbering, and establishes limits to hours of instruction for certain barbering training. | This bill establishes a general barbering license and a barbering apprenticeship. As a general barber, an individual can perform the following services: (1) shampooing, cutting, including clipper cutting, and styling of the hair; (2) shaving or trimming of the beard, mustache, or other facial hair; and (3) massaging, cleansing, or stimulating the face. In the bill, a barbering or general barbering apprenticeship is two years. To be a barbering or general barbering apprentice, an individual has to show proof of being at least 17 years of age, of good moral character, and of being free of any communicable, contagious or infectious disease. A shop approved by the board to host an apprenticeship is to meet requirements established in current law and in the bill in regards to licensure as a shop and the employment of the proper professionals to oversee the management of the shop. An apprenticeship, under the bill, can be for an individual seeking a barbering license or a general barbering license. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, an individual is given the option to apply for licensure by the board. Lastly, hours to train as a general barber are established in the bill to not exceed 550 hours of instruction. As part of the 550 hours of instruction, general barbering applicants are to be trained in shears-over-comb techniques, shop management, ethics, and a review of State laws and regulations. | Crossed Over |
| A4059 | Requires Commissioner of Education to permit certain school districts losing State school aid to submit budgets after enactment of FY 2025 appropriations act. | An Act concerning budget submissions for certain school districts. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4161 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | An Act concerning school district finances and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4057 | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | In Committee |
| A2388 | Requires inspections of retail cigarette and vapor product dealers. | This bill requires inspections of retail cigarette and vapor product dealers. The bill amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.91 (C.2A:170-51.6) and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.425 (C.2A:170-51.12) to remove the following provision: an official authorized by "statute or ordinance to enforce the State or local health codes or a law enforcement officer having enforcement authority in that municipality shall issue a summons for a violation of the provisions of subsection a. of this section, and shall serve and execute all process with respect to the enforcement of this section consistent with the Rules of Court." The bill amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.91 (C.2A:170-51.6) and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.425 (C.2A:170-51.12) to provide the following: (1) an official authorized by the Attorney General or the Commissioner of Health, including any county or municipal law enforcement agencies or their employees to enforce this section shall inspect retail dealers at least twice annually. A follow-up inspection shall be conducted within three months following a violation of this section; (2) when so ordered by the Attorney General or the Commissioner of Health and in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 1 of P.L.2011, c.80 (C.54:40B-13.1), any cigarettes or vapor products that are found to be the subject of a violation of this section, by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be declared prima facie contraband goods, and may be subject to seizure and disposal or destruction; and (3) a penalty recovered under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality. | In Committee |
| A1896 | Adopts Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. | Adopts Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. | In Committee |
| A3992 | Increases penalties for certain prohibited sales of tobacco and vapor products. | Increases penalties for certain prohibited sales of tobacco and vapor products. | In Committee |
| A4364 | Establishes EMS part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency medical services employees. | This bill creates an EMS Part in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide enhanced pension benefits under terms identical to those provided to prosecutors under the Prosecutors Part of the PERS, including mandatory retirement at age 70. The members of the EMS Part will include State, county, or municipal employees serving in one of the following positions: emergency medical technician; mobile intensive care paramedic; paramedic; flight paramedic; mobile intensive care nurse; flight nurse; emergency medical services supervisor or deputy supervisor; emergency medical services chief or deputy chief; emergency medical services hazardous materials responder technician; emergency medical services coordinator, dispatcher, or instructor; or any position the primary or essential duties of which require the employee to be trained in basic or advanced life support services and who is certified or licensed by the Department of Health to perform these services. The State will be liable for the increased pension costs payable by counties or municipalities as a result this bill. | In Committee |
| A3975 | Establishes oversight and qualifications of peer recovery specialists. | Establishes oversight and qualifications of peer recovery specialists. | In Committee |
| A2198 | Clarifies DHS authority to regulate sober living homes and halfway houses as residential substance abuse aftercare facilities; requires background checks and other protections for residents of residential substance abuse facilities. | This bill would amend the State's substance abuse treatment laws in relation to the regulation of sober living homes and halfway houses. In particular, the bill would expressly clarify that the existing statutory authority of the Department of Human Services (DHS) to license and regulate residential substance abuse facilities, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1975, c.305 (C.26:2B-7 et seq.) which concerns alcohol and P.L.1970, c.334 (C.26:2G-21 et seq.) which concerns narcotic drugs, includes the authority to license and regulate residential substance abuse aftercare facilities such as transitional sober living homes and halfway houses. The bill also provides for criminal history record background checks of a person employed or seeking employment as an administrator of these residential substance abuse facilities, or as a representative payee who receives government benefits on behalf of an individual residing in a facility. The background checks are also to be conducted on a person who is the owner of the physical plant on which a facility is located. A person would be disqualified from securing or maintaining a license pursuant to P.L.1975, c.305 (C.26:2B-7 et seq.) or certificate of approval pursuant to P.L.1970, c.334 (C.26:2G-21 et seq.), if the criminal history record background check of the person who is the owner of the physical plant of the facility or a person employed as an administrator or representative payee at the facility reveals a record of conviction of the crimes or offenses enumerated in the bill. If a person refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, securing a criminal history record background check, DHS is to suspend, deny, revoke, or refuse to renew the license or certificate of approval of the facility. The criminal history record background checks are to be processed by the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the person who undergoes the background check is to assume the cost of the background check. The bill also provides that the facilities are not to remove a resident from a facility until at least one week following the date of delivery by the facility to the resident of a written notice advising that the resident is to be removed. However, this provision would not apply if the resident poses an immediate and serious threat to other residents or the facility. DHS is also required to conduct inspections every two weeks if there is an investigation for a violation of the laws and regulations governing these facilities or under any other authority. Additionally, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS is to oversee the development and maintenance of a registry to collect and track information about the number of openings available for persons seeking residency in these facilities. The facilities are required to submit to the registry, no less than once a day, information as to the number of openings that are available on that day. The registry would contain, by county, the following information: the name, address and telephone number of the facility; the type of services provided; the maximum occupancy; and the number of openings available. The registry would: be prominently displayed on the DHS website; provide for a search by county or name; be made available to the public, upon request, through the addictions telephone hotline and the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system; and also be made available using any other means that the Commissioner of Human Services deems appropriate. Lastly, the bill would update the language used in this area of law, in order to ensure grammatical correctness, maintain consistency with current rules of statutory drafting, and correctly reference the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS, which is the agency and division currently responsible for the regulation of substance abuse treatment facilities. | In Committee |
| A3977 | Concerns State regulation of boarding houses, including cooperative sober living residences. | The bill amends the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979" to strengthen the State's regulation of cooperative sober living residences, as defined in the bill. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for certain licensing violations for a rooming or boarding house, including cooperative sober living residences. The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to maintain a list of licensed cooperative sober living residences on its Internet website including the location and contact information for each licensed cooperative sober living residence. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for incidents affecting the safety or welfare of cooperative sober living residence residents or staff, which includes an immediate notification to DCA and a written report of the incident within five working days of the incident. Incidents for which the bill's reporting requirements would apply include: (1) fire, flood, disaster, accident, or other unanticipated event that results in the serious injury or death of a resident or staff member, or the evacuation of residents from the cooperative sober living residence, or closure of the cooperative sober living residence for six or more hours; (2) serious injury or death of a resident of the cooperative sober living residence, including overdose; (3) outbreak of a communicable disease or other condition that adversely affects multiple residents or staff; (4) alleged or suspected crimes that endanger the life or safety of residents or staff, or which jeopardize the operations or fiscal stability of the cooperative sober living residence; (5) disciplinary actions concerning staff, including termination, resulting from inappropriate staff interaction with residents; and (6) criminal convictions or disciplinary sanctions imposed on staff or board members or representatives of the governing authority by licensing or credentialing boards since the prior application for licensure. | In Committee |
| A3936 | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury to develop and implement programs to increase utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State. | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury to develop and implement programs to increase utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State. | In Committee |
| A2318 | Establishes requirements for State to enter into contract for purchase of menstrual products. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property (director) in the Department of the Treasury to review all State purchasing arrangements, contracts, and initiatives, and consider options to maximize the State's bargaining power with regard to menstrual products, which may include recommending appropriate statutory, administrative, or executive actions as may be necessary to reduce the cost of purchasing menstrual products to State programs and entities. The bill further provides that the director will, at the request of a State department, division, office, or agency, advertise for and award a contract for the purchase of menstrual products. This contract will be available for use by all executive branch entities and cooperative purchasing participants. The bill additionally permits, at the director's discretion, a non-profit entity to purchase menstrual products under any contract awarded for the purchase of menstrual products on behalf of the State by the director, subject to any rules the director may establish. The director may establish limitations with respect to the menstrual products available for purchase and impose other appropriate conditions upon purchasing as deemed necessary to protect the State's purchasing interests. A non-profit entity that purchases menstrual products under such contracts will file reports as the director may require setting forth the expenditures on such contracts. | In Committee |
| A4341 | Requires DHS to establish Haitian Migrant Assistance Program. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a Haitian Migrant Assistance Program to provide social services and financial assistance to undocumented Haitian migrants who have arrived in the State at least two years prior to the effective date of the bill. As defined in the bill, "undocumented Haitian migrant" means a person of Haitian descent residing in the United States without legal immigration status, including a person who entered the United States without inspection and proper permission from the United States government in order to find work or better living conditions or to permanently relocate to the United States, and who may be subject to removal by the government. The services offered by the program are to include financial and social service assistance; educational, referral, translation, interpreter, and employment related services; and civic and community-related instruction as outlined in the bill, and the DHS is permitted to contract with community-based, faith-based, and non-profit organizations serving immigrant populations to provide such services. Labeled as one of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been battered by natural disasters, including earthquakes and hurricanes, public health emergencies, and extreme economic hardships for hundreds of years. The catastrophic earthquake in 2010 killed more than 220,000 Haitians and left several thousand injured and about 1.5 million homeless. Another earthquake in 2021 pushed the country into an even greater crisis. In addition to natural disasters, the country experienced additional upheaval because of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and, as result, many Haitians were confronted with growing violence, extreme poverty, and a government in disarray. As the security and political situation in the Caribbean nation continued to devolve after President Moïse's death, gang violence increased and continues to affect everyday life to a perilous degree. This has led to a massive exodus of Haitians to Central and Latin America and, most recently, the United States. Given the political turmoil, economic distress, public health emergencies, and natural disasters the country has faced and continues to face, Haitian migrants undergo the treacherous journey to the United States, many who have lost their lives in the attempt, in search of safety and economic opportunity. Haiti is the country with the highest rate of asylum denial in the United States, according to data from the Justice Department. This has resulted in many Haitians entering this country undocumented and without the ability to access traditional migrant services that provide them with the financial support and social networks necessary to settle in the United States and in New Jersey. It is therefore in the public interest of the State to establish an assistance program to provide social services and financial assistance to undocumented Haitian migrants who have recently arrived in the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A4338 | Requires distribution of family leave informational materials to certain patients. | This bill requires the Department of Health to develop, in consultation with the Department of Labor, a pamphlet and informational materials for patients concerning the availability of programs developed pursuant to the "Family Leave Act," P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-1 et seq.). The department is to make the pamphlet and informational materials available to all health care professionals and licensed health care facilities, as well as through its Internet website, and will be required to distribute the pamphlet and informational materials to health care professionals and health care facilities that provide maternity care services. Health care professionals and facilities providing maternity care services will be required to make the pamphlet and informational materials available in their patient waiting areas, and to distribute the pamphlet and informational materials to maternity care patients upon discharge. The bill additionally requires hospitals providing a discharge plan to a patient caregiver pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2014, c.68 (C.26:2H-5.28) to include a copy of the pamphlet and informational materials in with the discharge plan. | In Committee |
| A4333 | Requires Medicaid and health insurance network contracts to provide participating health care providers with certain notifications. | This bill requires a contract between a health care provider and a carrier that offers a managed care plan or the State Medicaid program or FamilyCare Health Coverage Program to require the carrier or program to provide a participating health care provider with notice at least six months in advance of any change in the policy that could result in the denial of coverage for services provided by the provider to a covered person. As used in the bill, "carrier" means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State, and shall include the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. | In Committee |
| A4329 | Requires court to consider certain factors in appointing guardian and to justify guardianship appointment on record. | This bill establishes factors a court is required to consider when making a guardianship determination for an individual. This bill would apply to general and temporary guardianship, guardianship for the person, guardianship for the estate, or both. Under the bill, the court is required to consider, but is not limited to, the following factors: 1) the safety and the well-being of the individual; 2) the ability of the potential guardian to care for the individual; 3) any pre-established relationship between the potential guardian and the individual; 4) any affidavits or certifications provided by physicians evidencing the individual's incapacity; 5) any report provided to the court by a court-appointed counsel for the alleged incapacitated individual in an incapacity hearing; and 6) any issue relevant to the care of the alleged incapacitated individual or the management of the individual's estate. The bill requires any determination for guardianship to be based on clear and convincing evidence. Finally, the court is required to specifically place on the record the factors and evidence which justify the appointment of a guardian for an individual. | In Committee |
| A4330 | Establishes program to provide free tuition under State Tuition Aid Grant Program to certain students who are accepted to public four-year institutions of higher education and elect to attend county college for first two years. | This bill establishes the Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program within the State Tuition Aid Grant Program. The program will provide free tuition to certain students who are accepted for admission to a four-year public institution of higher education, qualify for tuition aid grants, and elect to attend a county college for the first two years of their undergraduate education. A grant for an eligible student under the program will cover the full cost of tuition for two years at a county college to complete an associate degree and two years at a four-year public institution of higher education to complete a baccalaureate degree. In order to be eligible to participate in the Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program, a student must meet the following criteria: (1) be accepted for admission as a full-time undergraduate student at a four-year public institution of higher education; (2) be eligible to receive a State tuition aid grant pursuant to N.J.S.18A:71B-18 et seq., and apply for all available State and federal student grants and scholarships for which the student is eligible; (3) elect to complete the first two years of the student's undergraduate education at the New Jersey county college serving the student's county of residence; (4) defer admission at the four-year public institution of higher education for a period of two years; and (5) have a New Jersey Eligibility Index under the State Tuition Aid Grant Program that does not exceed 2499. The bill requires a four-year public institution of higher education to grant a deferment for two years to a student who has been accepted for admission to the institution and who participates in the Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program. All academic credits earned at the county college by a program participant will be fully transferrable and credited as the first two years of a baccalaureate degree program at the four-year institution. In addition, the bill allows independent institutions of higher education to elect to participate in the program. In the case of an eligible student who is accepted to a participating independent institution, the grant will cover the full cost of tuition for two years at a county college, and for the two subsequent years the grant amount will equal the average cost of attendance at the four-year public institutions of higher education in each year of attendance. The independent institution may charge the student for the cost of tuition in excess of the grant amount. The bill provides that any monies the State saves under the Tuition Aid Grant Program as a result of students participating in the Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program will be reinvested in the Tuition Aid Grant Program in order to expand the population of students who are eligible to participate in the Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program. The bill also requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to submit a report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the program, which will include the number of students participating in the program, the graduation rate of participants, information on student outcomes, and the amount of any cost savings realized by the State as a result of students participating in the program. | In Committee |
| A4322 | Makes FY 2025 supplemental appropriation of $587,450 to DCF for HomeFront NJ - Diaper Access Expansion Pilot Program. | This FY 2025 supplemental appropriation provides $597,450 to the Department of Children and Families for a grant to HomeFront NJ for a Diaper Access Expansion Pilot Program. HomeFront's mission is to end homelessness in Central New Jersey by harnessing the caring, resources, and expertise of the community. After decades of informally providing diapers to the families, the organization began planning in 2016 for a more formalized Diaper Program. In the years since, the demand for diapers has led HomeFront to expand significantly their diaper service to local families. These additional State resources would allow the organization to serve a larger region, with the potential for Statewide implementation. According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 47 percent of parents in the United State reported diaper need in 2023. Diaper need is defined as parents' and caregivers' inability to provide a sufficient supply of diapers to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy. | In Committee |
| A4339 | Increases pay for direct support professionals; makes appropriation. | This bill increases pay for direct support professionals and makes and appropriation. Under the bill, the Department of Human Services is to establish a direct support professional funding program to distribute monies to employers of direct support professionals in an amount that is necessary to address direct support professional staffing challenges in this State, as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services. The monies are to be used by the employers to increase the pay of existing or new employees who are direct support professionals. The Commissioner of Human Services is to establish an application process, guidelines, and compliance standards for the direct support professional funding program. Direct support professionals provide critical services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their own homes, family homes, provider-managed residences and programs, in the community, and workplaces. They support individuals with the activities related to daily living, including personal care, health and well-being, behavioral and mental health, relationship building, home and community participation, achievement of goals, and a variety of other individual needs. An increase in pay for direct support professionals is well-deserved and will help to address staffing challenges for employers who are struggling to hire and retain direct support professionals. | In Committee |
| A4353 | Permits individual holding a nursing multistate license to be eligible for school nurse certification. | This bill permits registered nurses holding a nursing multistate license to be eligible for an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement, a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, and a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. P.L.2019, c.172 (C.45:11A-9 et seq.) entered the State into the enhanced multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (eNCL). The eNLC provides for a mutual recognition model of nurse licensure in which a nurse needs to obtain one license from the nurse's state of residence in order to be permitted to practice nursing in any other state that is a party to the compact, as long as the nurse complies with the state practice laws of the state in which the patient is located at the time that care is rendered. This bill amends current law to permit a nurse holding a multistate license through the eNCL to be eligible for an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement, a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, and a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. | In Committee |
| A4336 | Requires emergency shelters for the homeless to admit certain persons unless they pose danger. | This bill prohibits emergency shelters for the homeless from restricting access to the shelter based on a perception or belief that a person is: (1) a drug or alcohol dependent person; (2) not in compliance with a prescription medication regimen; or (3) has consumed alcoholic beverages off the premises of the shelter. Current law prohibits emergency homeless shelters from refusing admittance to a person who is perceived or believed to have a mental illness. This bill expands the prohibition to include other members of vulnerable populations in need of shelter. Current law also provides that a shelter may prohibit admittance if there is a reasonable basis to believe that the person poses a danger to self, others, or property, or if the basis for the refusal is otherwise authorized by law or regulation. Under the bill, shelters would continue to have the authority to refuse admittance in these circumstances. Finally, the bill provides that shelters are authorized to prohibit the possession or consumption of controlled dangerous substances and alcoholic beverages on the premises. | In Committee |
| AJR175 | Designates March 1 of each year as "Endometriosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution designates March 1 of each year as "Endometriosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey, with the aim of raising public awareness about endometriosis, a chronic disease that affects approximately one in 10 menstruating individuals worldwide. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, leading to severe discomfort and potential difficulties conceiving. The impact of endometriosis is significant, costing the United States healthcare system approximately $80 billion annually. Despite its prevalence, the normalization of menstrual pain by society and the medical profession often leads to delayed diagnoses, with many individuals suffering in silence for seven to 10 years before receiving proper medical attention. Nationally, the month of March is recognized as "Endometriosis Awareness Month", dedicated to spreading information about endometriosis and acknowledging the healthcare workers fighting against it. By designating March 1 as "Endometriosis Awareness Day", New Jersey will contribute to the national movement to increase public awareness about endometriosis and ensure that those affected can access the care and support they need. | In Committee |
| A4335 | Concerns juveniles charged with or adjudicated delinquent for certain firearms offenses. | This bill concerns juveniles who are charged with or adjudicated delinquent for certain firearms offenses. Under current law, a judge or court intake officer is required to consider and where appropriate, use certain alternatives to placing a juvenile who has been charged with certain offenses in a juvenile detention facility. In addition to those alternatives set forth under current law, this bill includes the following as alternatives to placing a juvenile in detention: 1) in the case of a juvenile who has been charged with an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute unlawful possession of a weapon or possession of a prohibited weapon or device, placement in a residential reengagement center or a non-residential reengagement center program and a requirement for the parent or guardian of the juvenile or an appointed court official, as appropriate, to attend hearings conducted as part of this placement; and 2) in the case of a juvenile who has been charged with an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime of the first, second, or third degree, or one of the following fourth degree crimes: aggravated assault, stalking, criminal sexual contact, bias intimidation, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, possession of a prohibited weapon or device or unlawful possession of a weapon subsequent to being charged with an offense, which, if committed by an adult, would constitute unlawful possession of a weapon or possession of a prohibited weapon or device, placement in a residential reengagement center or a non-residential reengagement center program and a requirement for the parent or guardian of the juvenile or an appointed court official, as appropriate, to attend hearings and participate in programs conducted as part of this placement. In both cases, a parent or guardian of the juvenile or an appointed court official, as appropriate, is required to provide written assurance that the juvenile and the parent, guardian, or appointed court official, as appropriate, will appear at the next hearing. In addition, under current law, if a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent, the court, in accordance with certain principles, may order incarceration of the juvenile or may order certain other enumerated dispositions. Under this bill, in addition to the dispositions set forth under current law, the court may also order the following disposition: in the case of a juvenile who is adjudicated delinquent for an act, which if committed by an adult, would constitute unlawful possession of a weapon or possession of a prohibited weapon or device, place the juvenile in a residential reengagement center or a non-residential reengagement center program and order the parent or guardian of the juvenile or an appointed court official, as appropriate, to attend hearings conducted as part of this placement. Further, under current law, one of the enumerated dispositions that a judge may order is a requirement for a parent or guardian of the juvenile to make restitution in certain cases. This bill clarifies that the parent or guardian is also required to participate in the restitution process. Under the bill, "reengagement center" is defined as a facility that provides counseling, direct career placement services, self-improvement programs, school assistance, resources for enrolling in college preparation courses or vocational training, extracurricular activities, and information to assist the juvenile with re-enrolling in a high school or a General Educational Development (GED) program and that gives the juvenile an opportunity to reconnect with the community for the purpose of rehabilitation and prevention of future unlawful activity. | In Committee |
| A4354 | Concerns venue for juveniles charged with certain acts of delinquency. | This bill concerns venue for juveniles who are charged with certain acts of delinquency. Under current New Jersey Court Rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. However, when the juvenile charged is domiciled in a county other than the county of the alleged occurrence, venue is to be laid in the county of the juvenile's domicile unless the court finds good cause for venue to be retained in the county where the incident occurred. Venue is the county in which an action or prosecution is brought for trial. Under the provisions of this bill, when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act which if committed by an adult would constitute theft of a motor vehicle, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, carjacking, or burglary with the intent to commit theft of a motor vehicle and the juvenile has previously been adjudicated delinquent for one of the offenses set forth above, there is a presumption that venue is laid in the county where the complaint was filed. | In Committee |
| A4337 | Provides tax credit to developers for affordable housing projects in certain neighborhoods. | This bill would provide up to $600 million in tax credit available to developers to construct affordable housing projects in distressed neighborhoods. A distressed neighborhood is defined in the bill as a neighborhood located within a distressed municipality, in which the median family income does not exceed 80 percent of the Statewide or metropolitan median family income, as reported in the most recently completed decennial census published by the United States Census Bureau. Distressed municipalities include certain municipalities that receive assistance from the State, municipalities under the supervision of the Local Finance Board pursuant to the provisions of the "Local Government Supervision Act (1947)," P.L.1947, c.151 (C.52:27BB-1 et seq.), municipalities identified by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to be facing serious fiscal distress, SDA (Schools Development Authority) municipalities, and municipalities in which a major rail station is located. An SDA municipality is defined as a district that received education opportunity aid or preschool expansion aid in the 2007-2008 school year. In order to qualify for tax credit, a developer is required to construct a residential project in that: (1) at least 20 percent of the residential units are constructed and reserved for low- to moderate-income housing; and (2) at least 20 percent of the residential units are constructed and reserved for workforce housing. Developers are to apply for tax credit in the same manner in which developers applied for grants under the Economic Redevelopment Growth Program. This bill would incentivize development of affordable and market-rate housing in distressed neighborhoods around the State. The bill is expected to create balanced redevelopment in municipalities experiencing financial trouble and a more comprehensive urban development strategy. The bill is designed to transform the State's urban centers from areas with just offices, to 24-hours per day, seven-days per week communities with robust residential populations. | In Committee |
| A4342 | Requires certain motor vehicles to install rear-seat detection systems. | This bill requires all new passenger automobiles manufactured in this State to be equipped with a rear-seat detection system that detects the presence of an unattended occupant in the passenger compartment of the automobile and engages a warning to alert the driver. Under the bill, the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would be required to prescribe the functional design specifications to be included in the rear-seat detection system. However, the bill requires the rear-seat detection system to: (1) be capable of detecting the presence of an unattended occupant in the passenger compartment of the passenger automobile after the vehicle engine or motor is deactivated; (2) include auditory, visual, and haptic warnings to notify individuals inside and outside of the passenger automobile of the presence of an unattended occupant within the automobile; and (3) be unable to be disabled, overrode, reset, or recalibrated to prevent the detection or warning of the presence of an unattended occupant. The bill also permits the chief administrator to require the rear-seat detection system to include an additional warning to alert emergency response agencies in the general vicinity of the automobile and provide the geographical location of the automobile in a manner that allows for an emergency response. This bill would take effect two years after the date of enactment. Any passenger automobile manufactured before this date would not be required to install a rear-seat detection system. | In Committee |
| A4340 | Establishes "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act." The bill establishes in the Department of Human Services (department) a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program. The purpose of this program will be to connect migrants and refugees with information and resources regarding public assistance programs for which they are eligible. The department will ensure that the information provided under the program will include, but not be limited to, information on: housing, healthcare, educational opportunities, job training, and legal services. The department will collaborate with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to facilitate access to these resources. Under the bill. the department will develop and implement an outreach campaign to inform migrants and refugees about the program. The outreach campaign will utilize multiple languages and media platforms to ensure widespread dissemination of information about the program. The department will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, which report will: (1) detail the effectiveness of the program, including the number of migrants and refugees served and the types of assistance provided; and (2) include any recommendations for improvements to the program. | In Committee |
| A2265 | Revises "New Jersey Money Transmitters Act"; provides consumer protections; increases reporting and record keeping requirements. | This bill makes various revisions to the "New Jersey Money Transmitters Act" to require licensed money transmitters and their delegates to provide more reporting, record keeping and consumer disclosures. The bill requires licensees to prominently display license information at their locations. The bill broadens the consent deemed to be given by licensees and delegates to include record inspection rights for appropriate law enforcement representatives in addition to the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, and requires licensees to keep records for five years instead of the three years required by the current act. The bill requires licensees to file quarterly reports with the commissioner, in addition to the annual reports presently required, and raises the penalty to $200 per day, from not more than $100 per day, as to any licensee who fails to file any report. The licensee shall also file annually with the commissioner, a copy of the licensee's most recent registration with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as a money transmitter business pursuant to 31 C.F.R. s.1010.100 et seq. The bill expands the liability of licensees for certain acts of their delegates and provides for license suspension upon conviction for certain crimes. The bill also requires a delegate to prominently display at each of its locations a notice indicating that the delegate is an authorized delegate of a licensee. Further, the bill mandates that the department maintain a website to make licensee and delegate information available to the public. Finally, the bill increases the crime of operating as a money transmitter without a license from a crime of the third degree to a crime of the second degree. This bill provides that funds belonging to a licensee and deposited in a financial institution shall not constitute trust funds, unless the financial institution has actual knowledge that such funds are owned by or belong to the licensee. The bill also provides that the licensee is liable to a purchaser or holder of an outstanding payment instrument which is issued by the licensee or received by the licensee's authorized delegate for transmission and set-off by the financial institution. If the licensee has insufficient assets to make the purchaser or holder whole, the purchaser or holder will be entitled to reimbursement under the surety bond that the act currently requires all licensees to have. The bill also makes technical corrections. | Crossed Over |
| A2165 | Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state. | Under current law, United States military personnel and their dependents who are living in New Jersey and are attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey are regarded as residents of the State for the purpose of determining tuition. This bill amends that law to provide that:? the in-State tuition classification also applies to the military service member's spouse; and? in the event that the military service member is relocated out of the State due to the service member's continued military service, the service member's spouse or dependent will not lose their in-State tuition classification provided that: (1) the spouse or dependent was enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Jersey prior to the service member's relocation; and (2) the spouse or dependent maintains continuous enrollment at the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| A3160 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator in DMVA. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| A2075 | Establishes minimum base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate of $1,100 for special care nursing facility with neurologically impaired young adult unit. | This bill establishes a minimum base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate of $1,100 for special care nursing facilities which operate a neurologically impaired young adult unit. Under the bill, a special care nursing facility is defined as a nursing facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) that is not a unit attached to, or on the same campus as, a rehabilitation or acute care hospital and is not a distinct unit within a NJ FamilyCare-certified conventional nursing facility, and which has been approved by the Department of Human Services to provide care to NJ FamilyCare recipients who require specialized nursing facility services beyond the scope of a conventional nursing facility Specifically, the bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to reimburse a special care nursing facility, issued a certificate of need by the Department of Health as of July 1, 2023 to operate a neurologically impaired young adult unit, a base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate that is, at a minimum, the greater of the special care nursing facility's FY 2022 base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate or $1,100 per diem. This bill applies to reimbursements beginning January 1, 2024 and only those facilities in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations concerning licensure, patient safety, and quality of care. | In Committee |
| A3873 | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | In Committee |
| A1471 | Provides tax credits for hiring certain military spouses. | This bill provides tax credits, to be awarded by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, for the hiring of certain military spouses. Under the bill, an employer may claim a tax credit for hiring an employee who is a nonresident of this State and is the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been transferred to this State in the course of the member's service, is legally domiciled in this State, or has moved to this State on a permanent change-of-station basis. The final amount of the tax credit provided to an employer for hiring a nonresident military spouse employee is to equal: (1) for a nonresident military spouse employee who works for an employer for at least 120 hours but less than 400 hours in a taxable year or privilege period, 15 percent of the wages provided by the employer to the nonresident military spouse employee; or (2) for a nonresident military spouse employee who works for an employer for at least 400 hours in a taxable year or privilege period, 25 percent of the wages provided by the employer to the military spouse employee; or The bill limits the final amount of a tax credit for hiring a nonresident military spouse employee to $2,400 in a tax year. | In Committee |
| A3143 | Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires a veteran to serve for at least 90 days, exclusive of certain types of initial training, in order to be eligible for any of the veterans' benefits identified in the bill. The bill also requires a veteran of a Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, to serve the entire period to which called to federal active service, exclusive of training, in order to be eligible for the veterans' benefits. A veteran who is discharged as the result of a service-connected disability will be eligible even if the veteran has not completed the 90 day service period or the period to which called to federal active service. The benefits that an eligible veteran could apply for are (1) a civil service hiring preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF and PERS. In addition, the surviving spouse of a veteran or of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof killed while in active service is eligible in certain instances for a civil service preference. The bill also provides that an active service member of the United States Armed Forces or a member of a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who has not been discharged from service is eligible for the civil service hiring preference provided that the member otherwise qualifies as a veteran. Eligibility for civil service hiring preference is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A3173 | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | In Committee |
| S349 | Concerns motor vehicles overtaking certain pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances. | An Act concerning motor vehicles overtaking certain pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances and amending P.L.2021, c.194. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4265 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to provide monetary awards to whistleblowers who report tax law violations committed by employers in the construction industry. The bill defines "employer in the construction industry" as an employer engaging in any activity related to the erection, construction, alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures, bridges, highways, roadways, dams, tunnels, sewers, underground buildings or structures, pipelines or ducts and all other construction projects or facilities. Under the bill, if the director proceeds with an administrative or judicial action against an employer in the construction industry and determines that the action is based on specific and credible information brought to the director by an individual, the director is required to provide that individual an award of at least 15 percent, but not more than 30 percent, of the proceeds collected as a result of the action or from any settlement in response to that action; provided, however, if the director determines an action is based principally on an individual's disclosure of an allegation resulting from a judicial or administrative hearing, from a governmental report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, any award provided by the director to that individual may not exceed 10 percent of the proceeds. The bill requires the director to determine the amount of an award based upon the extent to which any information submitted by an individual contributed to the outcome of an action or related settlement. If the director determines that the claim for an award pursuant to the bill is brought by an individual who planned and initiated the actions that led to the violation resulting in the administrative or judicial action in which that individual is a party, the bill permits the director to reduce the amount of the award. In addition, if such an individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the individual's role in the violation, then the director is not permitted to provide an award to that individual. The following individuals are also ineligible to receive an award under the bill: (1) an individual who obtained information through the individual's official duties as an employee of the Department of the Treasury; and (2) an individual who filed a claim for an award based on information obtained from an ineligible individual for the purpose of avoiding the rejection of the claim that would have resulted if the claim was filed by the ineligible individual. The bill provides that any complaint with respect to an award provided, reduced, or revoked pursuant to the bill is to be filed within 30 days after the date of the provision, reduction, or revocation of that award. Finally, the bill protects any employee, as defined by the bill, from retaliatory action under the provisions of the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act," P.L.1986, c.105 (C.34:19-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A4274 | Requires youth sports team coaches to undergo cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and other first aid training. | This bill provides that youth sports team coaches are required to be trained in the administration of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid measures. Under the bill, a person would not be permitted to serve as a coach of a youth sports team unless the person is certified by the Commissioner of Health as having received the required training and instruction. The bill requires the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations setting forth certification requirements necessary to serve as a coach of a youth sports team, which are to include, but not be limited to, first aid training and instruction in the administration of CPR. The bill further requires the commissioner to provide for the issuance of a certificate to a person who possesses or acquires the necessary training. On February 10, 2023, a 12 year-old boy named Elijah Jordan Brown-Garcia of Newark, New Jersey collapsed following a light football practice and conditioning skills training. During the practice, he was supervised by adults who did not know CPR or other life-saving first aid measures. This bill would ensure that the adults supervising children participating in sports are appropriately trained to provide CPR and other life-saving first aid measures. | In Committee |
| AR134 | Urges United States Congress to renew funding for Affordable Connectivity Program. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to renew funding for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Millions of Americans are without access to broadband Internet services. As a result, these individuals struggle to improve social outcomes through education, achieve upward economic mobility, gain digital literacy skills, and receive quality healthcare. In 2021, to close the digital divide, the FCC launched the ACP, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. In addition, the program offers a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers, under specific circumstances, for eligible households. Currently, over 20 million households receive broadband benefits through the ACP. In New Jersey, as of January 2024, 335,079 households are enrolled in the program. Specifically, New Jersey has received nearly $152 million in ACP funding, resulting in $8.3 million per month in collective cost savings on broadband Internet services for all New Jersey households enrolled in the program. However, the ACP is slated to expire in April 2024 when the program is scheduled to exhaust its $14.2 billion budget. To improve broadband access for millions of Americans, and thereby advance social, economic, and health outcomes for the underserved, Congress is respectfully urged to renew funding for the ACP. | In Committee |
| A4227 | Exempts licensed master plumbers from certain electrical contractor business permit requirements. | This bill exempts licensed master plumbers in the State from certain business permit requirements under the law governing electrical contractors concerning certain electric water heaters and air conditioning units. Electric water heaters are among the most common types of water heaters in New Jersey and the United States, and are increasing in popularity due to their cost and energy efficiency. Electric air conditioning condensing units are also very popular appliances. Licensed master plumbers in New Jersey possess the skills and training necessary to replace these appliances, but under current law these plumbers would need to hold a New Jersey master electrician's license to perform such work. By exempting licensed New Jersey master plumbers from needing a business permit from the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, this bill frees those plumbers to perform additional tasks. This less burdensome requirement will provide costs savings to customers by increasing competition for plumbing services and plumbers by removing a costly and unnecessary regulatory requirement. | In Committee |
| A4228 | Revises eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services. | This bill revises the eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services. Under the bill, a Medicaid enrollee is to be deemed eligible to receive adult medical day care services if the individual: (1) requires assistance or supervision with at least one activity of daily living; (2) possesses a letter or prescription from a physician recommending the individual receive adult medical day care services; and (3) furnishes an up-to-date copy of the individual's medical history and a current report of a physical examination of the individual completed by a physician. The bill defines "activity of daily living" to mean a function or task that is completed for self-care. "Activity of daily living" is to include, but is not to be limited to: dressing, bathing, toilet use, transfer, locomotion, bed mobility, and eating. "Adult medical day care" means a community-based group program designed to meet the needs of functionally or cognitively impaired adults through an individual plan of care structured to provide a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day but less than 24 hours. Adult medical day care allows individuals with a functional impairment to remain in a community setting, rather than being institutionalized, and is the preferred method of providing services to this population. It is the sponsor's belief that the current eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services are too onerous, and prevent people who would benefit from adult medical day care services from receiving those services while remaining in their own communities. It is the sponsor's intent to ease the eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services in order to expand the population benefitting from those services. | In Committee |
| AR130 | Urges Governor and Legislature to establish initiatives towards education of social workers. | This resolution urges the Governor and the Legislature to establish initiatives towards the education of students seeking degrees in social work. Social workers play a crucial role in improving the well-being of the people of New Jersey and helping the State become a better place to live. As essential workers, social workers played a crucial role in helping communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational debt for social work graduates has continued to rise over the past 10 years. According to the Council on Social Work Education, 71.3 percent of baccalaureate graduates and 76 percent of master's graduates were in substantial educational loan debt. In 2021, the average loan debt was approximately $26,500 for a baccalaureate graduate, $48,000 for a master's graduate, and $135,000 for a doctorate graduate. The student loan debt burden carried by social workers is further compounded by the low salaries and compensation afforded to this segment of the workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a social worker's median salary is only $50,390. Failure to address the student loan crisis faced by social workers will continue to economically harm those in practice and dissuade prospective social workers from entering the field. This resolution urges the Governor and the Legislature to work together to establish initiatives, such as creating scholarships and loan redemption programs, that invest in the education of students seeking to obtain baccalaureate and graduate degrees in social work in order to incentivize the career and ensure that the State has a qualified and educated workforce. | In Committee |
| A4221 | Requires DHS to conduct review of reimbursement rates paid by State's child care assistance program to certain child care providers. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a review of the reimbursement rates paid by the State's child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program to ensure that the reimbursement rates adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours. If, based on the review, the DHS determines that the reimbursement rates are not adequate to compensate child providers offering services during non-traditional hours, the DHS is to seek out and apply for all sources of federal funding necessary to allow the State's child care assistance program to compensate such providers, including, but limited to, applying for such State plan amendments or waivers as may necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The bill also stipulates the DHS to: 1) prepare a written report of the review conducted pursuant to the bill; 2) post a copy of the report on its Internet website, and 3) upon request, provide a copy of the report to child care providers participating in the State's child care assistance program. The bill is to expire upon issuance of the written report of review conducted pursuant to its provisions. Currently, reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program compensate such providers for approximately seven hours of operation. However child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours, to accommodate working parents, face additional expenses because they do not receive reimbursement to operate extended hours. It is the sponsor's intent to allow the State to pursue additional funding if the review required under this bill reveals that the reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program do not adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours. | In Committee |
| AJR168 | Designates March of each year as "Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of March of each year as "Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month" in order to promote an awareness and understanding of the disease. Fibromuscular dysplasia, commonly referred to as FMD, is a disease that causes abnormal cellular development in the arterial wall, which can lead to the narrowing or tearing of arteries. FMD is considered a rare disease that currently has no cure or standard protocol to treat it. The joint resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| AR127 | Condemns Arizona Supreme Court ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Mayes banning abortions in the state and reaffirms New Jersey citizens' freedom to access reproductive health care services. | This Assembly Resolution condemns the Arizona Supreme Court ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Mayes, which upheld a long-dormant and outdated 1864 law banning abortions. The resolution additionally reaffirms the rights of all New Jersey citizens to have the freedom to make decisions about planning their families free from unreasonable governmental interference. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR126 | Recognizes and celebrates April 10 as Dolores Huerta's birthday. | This Assembly Resolution recognizes and celebrates April 10 as Dolores Huerta's birthday. Dolores Huerta, born on April 10, 1930, in New Mexico, became a significant figure in labor activism and the Chicano civil rights movement. Raised by her mother in California, Huerta experienced discrimination early in life, yet pursued an education and earned an associate teaching degree. Married twice to fellow activists and a mother of seven, Huerta co-founded the Community Service Organization (CSO) and later the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with César Chávez, which evolved into the United Farm Workers' Union (UFW). Huerta was instrumental in organizing strikes, negotiating contracts for farm workers, and advocating for their rights, including leading boycotts that resulted in legislative changes, including the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975. Huerta continued her activism throughout the 1970s to 2000s, focusing on workers' rights and promoting Latino and women's representation in politics. Huerta, who coined the motto "Sí se puede," has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. At 94 years old, Huerta remains active in various organizations, including the Dolores Huerta Foundation advocating for feminist and labor issues, and her legacy continues to inspire social justice and workers' rights activism. | In Committee |
| A2320 | Requires Department of Agriculture to take various actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in New Jersey. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to take certain actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in the State. "Community supported agriculture" is a method of on-the-farm direct sales and marketing in which the retail sale, to a consumer, of a share of the agricultural output of a commercial farm is effectuated through a paid subscription service. "Community supported agriculture program" or "CSA program" is defined by the bill to mean a farm product retail sales and marketing program in which participating consumers agree to pay a seasonal or annual subscription fee to a farm in exchange for the consumers' regular and ongoing receipt of weekly shares of the farm's seasonal agricultural output. The bill would provide, in particular, that within 180 days after the bill's effective date, the Secretary of Agriculture is to develop and implement a publicity and marketing program to promote community supported agriculture in the State. As part of the program, the department would be required to: (1) establish and regularly update, on its Internet website, a webpage that is dedicated to community supported agriculture, which webpage, at a minimum, is to include a searchable list of all CSA programs in the State and the farms participating therein, and provide hyperlinks, or use another simple methodology, to enable members of the public to subscribe to CSA programs in their local area; (2) use all available means, including, but not limited to, print media, television, radio, road and other signage, the Internet, and social media to advertise and publicize: the availability of, and the benefits of participating in, community supported agriculture in the State; the names and locations of farms that participate in CSA programs; and the availability of the community supported agriculture webpage, established pursuant to the bill; and (3) develop, print, and distribute distinct promotional and marketing labels that may be used by farmers to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the operator of a farm, after first consulting with the DOA, from creating the farm's own promotional labels and using those labels to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold by the farm through community supported agriculture. The bill would also require the DOA, acting in cooperation with the Department of Education and in coordination with farmers, public, private, and charter schools and their food services, the New Jersey Farm to School Network or its successor entity, and other interested and relevant organizations and groups, as determined by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to be appropriate, to establish and annually observe a week of promotional events to be known as "Community Supported Agriculture Week." "Community Supported Agriculture Week" would be intended to highlight and promote the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both as a means by which farming operations can better ensure their ongoing productivity, success, and financial stability, and as a means by which individuals, families, and businesses in the State can obtain fresh, seasonal, and easily accessible farm-to-table foods, throughout the year, while developing closer, more supportive, and reciprocal relationships with local farmers and becoming more invested in, and aware of the factors affecting, the seasonal and long-term success, stability, and viability of farming operations. The week would be celebrated on an annual basis, throughout the State, during the last full week in February, and would be observed through the holding of relevant promotional events. The bill would further require the DOA, through the State's existing "Farm to School Program," to encourage schools in the State to obtain fresh, locally grown or produced agricultural products for school meals by subscribing to, and becoming participants in, a community supported agriculture program, and to work in cooperation with the Department of Education to ensure that school curriculum addresses the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both to farmers and to the community as a whole, and the ways in which students and their families can become active participants in community supported agriculture. In addition, the bill would require the State's existing "Farm to School" website to: (1) provide opportunities for the execution of community supported agriculture subscription agreements between and among farmers, distributors, and schools or school districts; (2) facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events in association with "Community Supported Agriculture Week"; and (3) include a copy of any community supported agriculture subscription agreement that has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State. The bill would also require the existing State website that serves as a clearinghouse for farmers, and that currently provides a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that have a need for produce or dairy products, to additionally provide a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that are interested in participating as subscribers in a community supported agriculture program. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and receive funds, either as direct contributions, or from the sale of labels or the right to use labels authorized by the DOA, or from any other source, for the purposes of advertising and promoting the value and importance of community supported agriculture in the State, as provided by the bill. This authority would be supplemental to the secretary's existing authority to solicit and receive funds for the purpose of advertising and promoting the sale of NJ farm products and the "Jersey Fresh" program. Any monies received for the purposes of the bill are to be deposited in the State's existing "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund." The bill would clarify that, in addition to the existing purposes for which monies in the "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund" may be used, such monies may be used to publicize the value and importance of community supported agriculture; to cover the expenses of printing and distributing labels used in identifying products being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture; and to cover any other expenses that are incident to the implementation of this bill. | Crossed Over |
| A4169 | Establishes task force to study and make recommendations concerning health care service needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer or questioning individuals, and persons with intersex conditions in the State. | This bill establishes the nine-member New Jersey Task Force on Health Care Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex Persons in the Department of Health (DOH). The purpose of the task force would be to develop and issue recommendations concerning the health care service needs of the State's LGBTQI community. Specifically, the task force would: review current State and federal policies and laws as they relate to LGBTQI-related health care services; determine what existing resources are currently being utilized Statewide for the provision of health care services to members of the LGBTQI community, examine the quality and accessibility of those services, and investigate whether there is a need for improving the quality and accessibility of such services; evaluate research and literature concerning the removal of barriers faced by members of the LGBTQI community when accessing health care services and obtaining health insurance coverage; examine the current curricula of the State's medical schools and schools of public health to determine whether they provide instruction on how to address the specific health care needs of the LGBTQI community; and develop and issue recommendations to improve the quality and accessibility of LGBTQI-related health care services in the State and to remove current and emerging barriers faced by members of the LGBTQI community when accessing health care services and obtaining health insurance coverage. The membership of the task force would include: the Commissioner of Health or a designee; four members of the public appointed by the Governor representing Garden State Equality, the New Jersey Hospital Association, a federally qualified health center, and the LGBTQI community; and four members of the public, one each appointed by the Senate President, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly. Under the provisions of the bill: DOH would provide professional and clerical staff to the task force as necessary to carry out its duties; the task force would report to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings, recommendations, and activities no later than one year after its organization of the task force; and the task force would expire upon the issuance of its report. | In Committee |
| A817 | Requires public institutions of higher education to establish plans concerning cyber security and prevention of cyber attacks. | Requires public institution of higher education to establish plans concerning cyber security and prevention of cyber attacks. | Crossed Over |
| AJR69 | Designates March 31 of each year as "Cesar Chavez Day." | This joint resolution commemorates the birth and celebrates the life of Cesar Chavez by designating March 31 of each year as "Cesar Chavez Day." Cesar Chavez worked in the farm fields of California since he was a child, leaving school when his father suffered an accident so that his mother would not have to work in the fields. Chavez joined the U.S. Navy in 1946 and served for two years in the Western Pacific. Upon completion of his service, Chavez returned to work in the farm fields. However, Chavez still had a desire to help others, and despite only having an eighth grade education, he became the staff director of the Community Service Organization (CSO) in the 1950's and early 1960's. In this position, Chavez assisted individuals with important tasks such as voter registration. Although this work provided Chavez with a stable salary, he voluntarily left this position to dedicate himself to "La Causa," standing up for the employment rights of oppressed migrant farm workers and their families. By doing so, Chavez took on a life of poverty, never earning more than $6,000 per year. Inspired by St. Francis, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar Chavez employed a strategy of non-violent advocacy for the rights of farm workers. This advocacy included labor strikes and the boycotting of grapes and other produce. The boycotting ultimately led to the passage of California's Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, the first and only law guaranteeing farm workers the right to unionize. Further, Chavez led a 340 mile march from Delano, California to Sacramento, California in 1966. Additionally, Chavez engaged in fasting on three separate occasions: in 1968, Chavez fasted for 25 days; in 1972 Chavez fasted for another 25 days; and in 1988, at the age of 61, Chavez fasted for 36 days. Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, which is now the United Farm Workers (UFW), the union for farm workers, in 1962. Moreover, Chavez formed the National Farm Workers Service Center in 1966, now the Cesar Chavez Foundation, which provides educational services to children, provides and manages affordable housing projects and operates the Radio Campesina network, providing Spanish language music and educational programming. Although Chavez died in 1993, his legacy endures. In 1994, President Clinton awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, to Chavez posthumously, and Chavez's work and life continue to inspire many others. With this designation, the Legislature and the Governor honor the life of Cesar Chavez and continue to raise awareness for "La Causa." | Crossed Over |
| AJR59 | Designates November of each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month." | This joint resolution would establish the month of November of each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month" in New Jersey in order to raise awareness of the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and encourage education and improved public understanding in regard to the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar. The condition affects more than 29 million Americans and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with more than seven million Americans undiagnosed and more than 5,000 Americans diagnosed each day. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, representing an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed adult cases. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death associated with diabetes and accounts for 68 percent of deaths in people with type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes also have a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the first place. Yet findings from a recent study reveal that 52 percent of adults living with type 2 diabetes are unaware of this increased risk. There are significant costs associated with the treatment of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and Medicare expenditures for this population in the State total nearly $1.5 billion for 5,481 beneficiaries. By increasing public awareness and providing education about the cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes, the State can improve the overall outcome of, and reduce the financial burdens associated with, the illness. | Crossed Over |
| A1815 | Requires DOH to conduct survey on status of antenatal and prenatal care clinics in New Jersey. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to conduct a survey and analysis of antenatal and prenatal care clinics for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services throughout the State. The survey includes data collected from all antenatal and prenatal care clinics in the State, including antenatal and prenatal care clinics that have closed or substantially ceased operation of any of its beds, facilities, or services, within a two-year period prior to the effective date of the bill. As used in the bill, "antenatal and prenatal care clinic" means an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the Department of Health that provides maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services. The purpose of the survey is to: inform policy on the certificate of need requirements as provided by P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) concerning the closure or discontinuance of all, or a component of, antenatal and prenatal care clinic's services; assess the availability of antenatal and prenatal care clinics and their ability to provide maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services; identify where low and moderate income pregnant women receive maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services; and collect cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic background data about the pregnant women served by antenatal and prenatal care clinics. The collected survey data is to be analyzed to: identify local and Statewide trends and developments in the provision of maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services and disparities in the care received by pregnant women based on economic factors and the accessibility of antenatal and prenatal care clinics; and develop programs, resources, and strategies to improve access to, and the quality of, maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services throughout the State. Survey data is to be made available through the Department of Health's website, and the commissioner is to submit a report to the Legislature concerning the results of the survey and any recommendations for legislation or other action. The bill specifies that published and reported data is not to include any personal identifying information or confidential patient information. The bill authorizes the commissioner to contract with a third party entity to administer the survey, review survey data, and produce the required report. | Crossed Over |
| A378 | Requires health insurance carriers, health care providers, and hospitals and health care facilities to change manner of communications of protected health information under certain circumstances. | Requires health insurance carriers, health care providers, and hospitals and health care facilities to change manner of communications of protected health information under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A4172 | Concerns discrimination based on membership in a labor organization. | This bill extends protection under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to members of a labor organization. The LAD, P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et. seq.), provides protections for those who are members of a protected class, including protection against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, land use, lending, and association membership. Under current law, a member of a protected class includes an employee who has one or more characteristics, including race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, sex, gender identity or expression, disability or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of any individual, or liability for service in the armed forces. This bill provides that members of a labor organization also are members of a protected class who are entitled protection under the LAD. In addition, the bill revises the definition of "labor organization" to include any organization of any kind, including a labor union or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which public or private employees participate and which exists and is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with public or private employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment. | In Committee |
| A4149 | Revises infection control regulation in long-term care facilities. | This bill amends current law to revise infection control regulations in long-term care facilities. The bill's amendments to N.J.S.A.26:2H-12.87: 1) remove the requirement for a long-term care facility to assign to the facility's infection prevention and control committee a physician who has completed an infectious disease fellowship; 2) revise infection preventionist qualifications to include certification under the American Health Care Association Infection Preventionist Specialized Training program, or under the Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training course; 3) restrict the infection preventionist to membership in no more than five infection prevention and control committees; 4) require the infection preventionist to perform other duties within his or her scope of practice when infection preventionist duties are not required; 5) remove the requirement for the infection preventionist to be a managerial employee; 6) provide that in the case of a long-term care facility with a licensed bed capacity equal to more than 100 beds or that provides on-site hemodialysis services, an infection preventionist is to be employed on a part-time basis, or on a full-time basis if it is determined to be necessary based on the facility's risk assessment that is required pursuant to federal law; 7) require that in addition to the infection preventionist, the infection prevention and control committee is also to be responsible for: contributing to the development of policies, procedures, and a training curriculum for long-term care facility staff based on best practices and clinical expertise; monitoring the implementation of infection prevention and control policies and recommending disciplinary measures for staff who routinely violate those policies; assessing the facility's infection prevention and control program by conducting internal quality improvement audits; and ensuring that all employees are trained in infection prevention at such intervals as determined by the Department of Health; and 8) remove a provision that was dated to February 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| A4122 | Establishes commission to advise Secretary of Higher Education on student issues of concern. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission in, but not of, the Department of State. The commission will consist of 14 members appointed by the Secretary of Higher Education including: three student representatives of the State colleges and universities, a student representative of each of the four public research universities, three student representatives of the county colleges, three student representatives of the independent colleges and universities, and one student representative of a proprietary degree-granting institution. Under the bill, a student enrolled in an institution of higher education or a proprietary degree-granting institution in the State may submit an application to serve on the commission to the Secretary of Higher Education. The commission is charged with advising the secretary on system-wide issues of concern to students, which will include, but are not limited to, the following issues: postsecondary education affordability, student mental health, and campus safety. The commission is directed to annually report to the Assembly Higher Education Committee and the Senate Higher Education Committee, or their successor committees on the concerns, perspectives, and experiences of students attending institutions of higher education or proprietary degree-granting institutions in the State and may make recommendations on suggested legislative initiatives. | In Committee |
| A4120 | Prohibits book banning in public libraries and schools; authorizes withholding of State aid for noncompliance. | This bill prohibits the banning of certain books in public libraries and school libraries, and authorizes the withholding of State aid for noncompliance. This bill prohibits a governing body of any free public library, joint free public library, free county library, and free regional library from banning or restricting access to books or other resources because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Additionally, this bill requires the governing body of these public libraries to either adopt: 1) the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which provides that books and materials "should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation," or "because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval"; or 2) a policy prohibiting the banning or restricting access to a book or resource because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Under the "state library aid law," the Department of the Treasury can withhold State Library aid from any municipality, county, or area library if the public library fails to comply with certain laws and regulations. This bill amends current law to permit the withholding of State Library aid if a public library fails to follow the provisions of this bill. Similarly, this bill prohibits a board of education of a school district from banning or restricting access to books or other resources in a school library. Under the bill, a board of education is similarly required to adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights or a policy prohibiting the banning or restricting access to books or resources. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education to withhold State aid to any board of education that does not follow the provisions of this bill. The bill's provisions should not be construed to require a free public library or board of education to purchase, or otherwise acquire, a book or resource for inclusion in its collection. | In Committee |
| A4103 | Allows persons diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's disease to receive parking privileges reserved for persons with disability. | This bill permits a person who has been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's Disease, as certified by a physician with a plenary license to practice medicine and surgery in this State or a bordering State; a physician stationed at a military or naval installation located in this State who is licensed to practice in any state; a physician assistant licensed to practice in this State or a bordering state; or a nurse practitioner licensed to practice in this State or a bordering state, to park a motor vehicle in parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability. Under the bill, persons diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's Disease are eligible to receive from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission a person with a disability identification card, a vehicle identification placard, and license plates that display the national wheelchair symbol. People living with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's Disease often suffer from the debilitating urgency to use a restroom immediately. In addition, the chronic nature of these conditions can result in certain mobility issues, such as difficulty walking, standing, or traveling for long periods of time. This bill would help to alleviate some of the obstacles facing people who have been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's Disease. | In Committee |
| A4119 | Establishes task force to examine issues and make recommendations concerning youth sports, including abusive coaching, confrontational parents, and bullying of players. | This bill establishes the Youth Sports Task Force. Under the bill, the task force will consist of 13 members including six members, two will be appointed by the Senate President, two will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and two will be appointed by the Governor, who each have a background in, or special knowledge of, the legal, policy, educational, social, or psychological aspects of bullying. The task force will also consist of seven members of the public to be appointed by the Governor, including: the parents or guardians of athletes participating on youth sports teams; a youth who was a victim of harassment, intimidation, or bullying while participating on a youth sports team; and three coaches representing various aspects of youth sports. The task force will study and consider issues of youth sports including, but not limited to:· protection for parents, guardians, and athletes from unscrupulous business practices conducted by for-profit entities sponsoring youth sports activities; · financial oversight to strengthen the business practices of youth sports team organizations and for-profit entities sponsoring youth sports activities;· training for coaches to recognize the signs and symptoms of harassment, intimidation, and bullying;· ways to acknowledge and promote youth sports as an extension of the classroom;· developing training workshops for parents and guardians to recognize the signs and symptoms of harassment, intimidation, bullying, and abusive coaching, and on proper spectator conduct; and · protection for sports officials from abusive behavior while engaged in the performance of their duties. The bill directs the task force to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after its organizational meeting. The task force will expire 30 days after the submission of its final report. | In Committee |
| A4145 | Excludes environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from designation as vacant or available for purposes of affordable housing construction. | This bill requires certain environmentally sensitive, flood-prone land, regulated by any State or federal agency, to be excluded from counting as available land for the construction of affordable housing as a part of the fair share affordable housing obligation of a municipality, established pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.). Currently, State statutes only establish this requirement if development is prohibited on the land by a State or federal agency. Specifically, this bill requires land to be excluded from counting as available for the construction of affordable housing if the land is regulated by a State or federal agency, including, but not limited to: · the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council if the land is either in the Highlands Preservation Area, or, as long as the municipality has conformed to the Highlands regional master plan, if the land is in the Highlands Planning Area; · land regulated pursuant to the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act," P.L.1962, c.19 (C.58:16A-50 et seq.); or · land regulated pursuant to the "Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act," P.L.1987, c.156 (C.13:9B-1 et seq.). The bill also makes technical amendments to replace references to an inactive agency, the Council on Affordable Housing. This bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. | In Committee |
| A4 | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | An Act concerning affordable housing, including administration and municipal obligations, amending, supplementing, and repealing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1495 | Exempts receipts from sales of materials, supplies, and services for certain affordable housing projects from sales and use tax. | An Act exempting receipts from the sales of materials, supplies, and services for certain affordable housing projects from taxation under the sales and use tax, and amending P.L.1980, c.105. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2267 | Requires HMFA to establish affordable housing insurance pilot program; appropriates $5 million. | An Act concerning an insurance fund for certain for-profit affordable housing entities, supplementing Title 55 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2296 | Permits municipality to authorize municipal clerk to submit certain written statements concerning affordable housing. | An Act concerning affordable housing administration, including municipal approval of certain affordable housing projects, supplementing and amending P.L.1985, c.222, and amending P.L.1983, c.530. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1422 | Allows taxpayers to utilize alternative method of depreciation of certain expenditures in connection with construction of new affordable housing developments. | An Act allowing taxpayers to utilize alternative method of depreciation for certain expenditures under corporation business and gross income taxes, supplementing P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.) and Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3413 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | In Committee |
| AR108 | Urges United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. | This Assembly resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The citizens of this nation and State are indebted to the sacrifice and heroism of all who have bravely served in the Armed Forces of the United States. In return for their sacrifices, this country has made a commitment to meeting the health care needs of veterans. As of 2023, 338,012 veterans live in New Jersey, with 119,200 of them residing in the southern counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem. Currently, there is no federal Department of Veterans Affairs inpatient hospital facility in southern New Jersey, making it necessary for veterans needing inpatient care to travel long distances to northern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. The East Orange Veterans Medical Center is the largest health care facility serving veterans from southern New Jersey, which is over two hours away from some veterans. In New Jersey, the average resident lives approximately 12 minutes away from the closest hospital, therefore, requiring veterans to travel multiple hours for medical care is unjust. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is an ideal location for an inpatient hospital facility for veterans from southern New Jersey as it shortens the travel distance for these veterans. Additionally, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst provides a variety of other services to veterans, therefore, making trips to the base efficient and convenient for veterans and their families. It is fitting and appropriate for the State to take steps to ensure that our nation's promise of health care access is kept to the veterans of southern New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4087 | Increases pay for certified nurse aides; makes appropriation. | This bill increases pay for certified nurse aides and makes and appropriation. Under the bill, the Department of Health is to establish a certified nurse aide funding program to distribute monies to employers of certified nurse aides in an amount that is necessary to address certified nurse aide staffing challenges in this State, as determined by the Commissioner of Health, which monies are to be used by the employers to increase the pay of existing or new employees who are certified nurse aides. The Commissioner of Health is to establish an application process, guidelines, and compliance standards for the certified nurse aide funding program. | In Committee |
| A4094 | Requires DOH to expand services provided under plan to improve perinatal mental health services and health insurers to cover costs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening. | This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to expand services provided under the plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening developed and implemented pursuant to P.L.2021, c.380 (C.26:2-178.1 et seq.). Specifically, the bill amends section 1 of P.L.2021, c.380 (C.26:2-178.1) to mandate that the Perinatal Mental Health Coalition of New Jersey and the Maternal Child Health Consortia consult with the DOH to develop and implement the plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening required under the provisions the law. The bill also amends the law to mandate that the plan also include strategies to: (1) expand the referral network of mental health care providers and support services to serve women: planning a pregnancy; during pregnancy, during the time period prior to giving birth; and during the first year after a woman's pregnancy; (2) insure that women planning a pregnancy and women who are about to give birth are screened for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder risk factors; (3) implement a standardized process to collect data concerning all perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services provided in an outpatient setting; (4) implement a perinatal mental health continuing education requirement for all health care professionals and certified peer specialists who provide perinatal treatment and care; and (5) require the DOH prepare a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services resource guide. The bill stipulates that a health care professional or a certified peer specialist who has received training related to perinatal mental health care services and provides perinatal treatment and care to pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, or the parent or parents of a newborn infant is to complete a continuing education course on perinatal mental health. Under the bill's provisions, the State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board of Nursing are to require that the number of credits of continuing medical education required of the health care professionals licensed or certified by the respective boards, who provide perinatal treatment and care, to include one credit of a continuing educational course on perinatal mental health, as a condition of license or certification renewal. The bill also requires health insurers to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening women for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as required by the plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services developed and implemented by the DOH, during preconception, pregnancy, prior to giving birth, and throughout the first year after pregnancy. Specifically, this provision of the bill affects health, hospital, and medical service corporations; individual and group health insurance policies; health maintenance organizations; individual health benefits plans; small employer health benefits plans; the State Health Benefits Program; the School Employees' Health Benefits Program; and the State Medicaid Program. | In Committee |
| A4093 | Clarifies staff training requirements at long-term care facilities regarding care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and intersex seniors and seniors living with HIV. | This bill clarifies provisions under current law, which require long-term care facilities to ensure that the administrators and staff at the facility receive training: concerning caring for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and intersex seniors and seniors living with HIV; and preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intersex status, and HIV status. Specifically, this bill amends the law to provide that the training entity selected by the long-term care facility under existing law is only required to provide in-person training to two designated employees, one which must represent management at the facility and one which must represent direct care staff at the facility. The bill further clarifies that these two designated employees are required to provide training, utilizing the information and training materials received from the selected training entity, to train the remaining administrators and staff members employed at the facility. | In Committee |
| A4092 | Establishes commission to study impact of certain Medicaid reimbursement rate change on nursing homes. | The bill establishes the "Impact of Medicaid Personal Care Services Reimbursement Change on Nursing Homes Study Commission," to analyze the effects of the adjustment to the Medicaid hourly reimbursement rate for personal care services within the Medicaid program, resulting from the enactment of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n and 30:4D-7o), as well as the revisions to that law adopted pursuant to P.L.2019, c.275 and any corresponding appropriations, on nursing homes in the State. Specifically, the commission is to analyze the effects of the increase in the hourly reimbursement rate on the operations, ability to comply with any minimum staffing requirements, employee retention, financial health, resident costs, and related issues on nursing homes in the State, including whether any nursing homes closed following the effective date of P.L.2017, c.239 or the enactment of P.L.2019, c.275 and the reasons for any closures. The bill requires that the commission solicit data or information from nursing homes in the State or other entities, as is necessary to carry out its duties. The study commission is to consist of nine members as follows: the Commissioners of Human Services and Health, or their commissioner's designee; one member of the public with expertise in State Medicaid policy and healthcare finance, who will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; one member of the public with expertise in State fiscal and budgetary matters, who will be appointed by the President of the Senate; and five members of the public with significant operational, financial, or managerial expertise in the nursing home industry, three of whom are to be representatives of entities currently operating one or more nursing homes in the State, two of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two of whom will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and one of whom will be appointed by the Governor. The bill requires that the study commission prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature not later than 12 months after its initial meeting. The report is to present the commission's analysis of the effect of the enactment of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n through 30:4D-7o), as amended by P.L.2019, c.275, on nursing homes in the State, as well as any recommendations for legislation or other action the commissioner deems appropriate. The bill provides that the study commission is to expire on the first day of the third month following submission of its written report to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A4088 | Revises responsibilities and duties of Nursing Home Administrator's Licensing Board. | This bill revises the responsibilities and duties of the Nursing Home Administrator's Licensing Board (board). Under the bill, the following revisions to the board are made: 1) within 90 days following the submission of an application, issue licenses to nursing home administrator licensing applicants; 2) within 15 business days following the submission of a nursing home administrator intern training program plan that is submitted by a nursing home to be used by the nursing home in its facilities, or within 10 business days following the submission of an amended plan, either approve or disapprove the plan; 3) if a nursing home administrator intern training program plan is not approved or disapproved within the timeframe established under the bill, the nursing home is to be permitted to implement the plan; 4) to require nursing home administrators to notify the board within six months of the next licensing renewal date of a change in the administrator's address or name, which is to include a copy of the court order, marriage certificate, or other document that authorized the change in name; 5) to require an applicant for a license to complete 1,750 hours, with no more than 50 hours completed on a weekly basis, in a nursing home administrator intern program within a two year period, and successfully pass a licensing examination within two attempts or complete 50 hours of study in the subject area that resulted in examination failure in order to retake the examination; 6) to immediately approve the application of a licensed nursing home administrator in good standing in another state if the applicant does not have a record of disciplinary actions; and 7) to grant presumptive eligibility for licensure approval to a licensed out-of-State applicant who is transferring work locations from an out-of-State nursing home to an in-State nursing home, which nursing homes are under the same ownership. | In Committee |
| A3365 | Allows taxpayers to utilize alternative method of depreciation of certain expenditures in connection with construction of new affordable housing developments. | Allows taxpayers to utilize alternative method of depreciation of certain expenditures in connection with construction of new affordable housing developments. | In Committee |
| AR117 | Urges United States Congress to permanently fund Affordable Connectivity Program. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to permanently fund the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Millions of Americans are without access to broadband Internet services. As a result, these individuals struggle to improve social outcomes through education, achieve upward economic mobility, gain digital literacy skills, and receive quality healthcare. In 2021, to close the digital divide, the FCC launched the ACP, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. In addition, the program offers a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers, under specific circumstances, for eligible households. Currently, over 20 million households receive broadband benefits through the ACP. In New Jersey, as of January 2024, 335,079 households are enrolled in the program. Specifically, New Jersey has received nearly $152 million in ACP funding, resulting in $8.3 million per month in collective cost savings on broadband Internet services for all New Jersey households enrolled in the program. However, the ACP is slated to expire in April 2024 when the program is scheduled to exhaust its $14.2 billion budget. To improve broadband access for millions of Americans, and thereby advance social, economic, and health outcomes for the underserved, Congress is respectfully urged to permanently fund the ACP. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1490 | Concerns motor vehicles overtaking certain pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances. | This bill concerns motor vehicles overtaking certain pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances. Under current law, the operator of a motor vehicle is required to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or any other lawful personal conveyance on the roadways of this State. Additionally, current law does not define "personal conveyance." Under this bill, "personal conveyance" includes, but is not limited to, a low-speed electric bicycle, a low-speed electric scooter, a manual wheelchair, a motorized wheelchair or a similar mobility assisting device used by persons with physical disabilities or by persons whose ambulatory mobility has been impaired by age or illness, an electric personal assistive mobility device, a motorized scooter, a skateboard, a motorized skateboard, roller skates, or any other device used by a person for transportation. In addition, this bill makes clarifying changes to the current definition of "pedestrian." Under the bill, "pedestrian" includes, but is not limited to, a pedestrian as defined under current law or any other person who is upon the roadway and outside of a motor vehicle for work, emergency response, or recreation. | In Committee |
| AR122 | Condemns Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. and pending federal legislation, H.R.431; reaffirms freedom of access and protection of reproductive health care services in New Jersey, including IVF. | This resolution condemns the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. and pending federal legislation, H.R.431; and reaffirms the freedom of access and protection of reproductive health care services in New Jersey, including in vitro fertilization. In the United States, one in six people of childbearing age struggle with infertility and require some type of professional assistance in order to conceive a child. Fortunately, 90 percent of infertility cases are treatable with medical therapies including drug treatment, surgery, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is a process whereby an egg is removed from a person's body and combined with sperm inside a laboratory for fertilization; the fertilized egg, called an embryo, is then transferred into the uterus. In LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. (Docket No. SC-2022-0515, SC-2022-0579), the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are "extrauterine children," finding that that the State's "'Wrongful Death of A Minor Act' applies on its face to all unborn children, without limitation." This holding could have widespread implications for anyone in Alabama who is seeking or provides IVF. With the support of over 120 representatives from the Republican party, Congressman Alexander X. Mooney of West Virginia introduced H.R. 431, which would implement equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for the right to life of each "born and preborn human person." Under this bill, the terms "human person" and "human being" include "each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being." This legislation, if enacted, poses a significant threat to the reproductive freedoms of the citizens in New Jersey and the United States, particularly those related to IVF and other fertility treatments. A number of Republican senators joined the Democrats in criticizing the LePage ruling, and expressed their support for IVF. Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic Senator from Illinois who utilized IVF to conceive her two children, introduced legislation, S.3612, to protect the rights of individuals to seek reproductive assistance, such as IVF, and physicians who provide these services, without the fear of prosecution. Senator Duckworth urged her Republican colleagues to join the Democrats' efforts to protect access to IVF by unanimously passing this legislation, as many Republican Senators initially denounced the LePage ruling for the harmful precedent that the decision has set on reproductive assistance services,. However, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi blocked the unanimous passage of the bill by objecting to Senator Duckworth's request. When the United States Supreme Court's issued its 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org., which overturned Roe v. Wade, the country faced fear and uncertainty around key reproductive rights issues. A number of states took action to interfere with a person's access to reproductive health care out-of-state, in some instances by seeking to prosecute a person in a state where reproductive health care access was criminalized following Dobbs, for seeking reproductive health care services in another jurisdiction where it remained legal. Such actions are designed to prevent individuals and health care providers from seeking and providing lawful reproductive health care services by instilling fear through the threat of prosecution. In stark contrast to actions taken in states to monitor private health information, the New Jersey legislature has acted to protect private medical information from prosecutors in other states, to ensure New Jersey law enforcement will not take part in extraditions to people who have sought reproductive health care that is legal in New Jersey, and to require the creation of a website so people who are confused about recent court decisions know what their freedoms are on reproductive health decisions in New Jersey The LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. ruling threatens the rights of Alabamians who are planning to have children, and endangers the fertility clinics that provide IVF services, those that have embryos stored, and the overall future of family planning in Alabama. It is in the public interest of the citizens of New Jersey to condemn, in the strongest terms, any ruling that infringes on citizens rights to exercise their reproductive freedom or their access to reproductive health care, including IVF. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR107 | Urges U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. | This resolution urges the United State Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. Approximately five million veterans in the United States have a service-connected disability, and about 53,000 of those veterans live in New Jersey. The VA operates two medical centers in New Jersey, with one in East Orange and one in Lyons. Service-connected disabilities can adversely impact veterans' abilities to access necessary medical care at these facilities. Currently, the VA provides transportation service via the Veterans Transportation Service, but this service has limitations that can result in the reduced efficiency of transporting disabled veterans to and from medical appointments. Disabled American Veterans and other veterans' service organizations also provide free van transportation to and from VA medical centers in New Jersey, but these non-profit organizations should not shoulder the responsibility to provide properly coordinated VA-funded patient transport for deserving veterans and qualified family members. It has also been reported by numerous New Jersey veterans that the transportation service provided to these VA facilities is deficient, with veterans being left at facilities for hours, overnight, and in adverse weather conditions. Both New Jersey counties and non-profit social service organizations have existing paratransit transportation for use by senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These high quality county and non-profit paratransit providers may be able to expand their coverage to meet the transportation needs of veterans traveling to and from VA facilities if provided funding to cover the cost of such an expansion. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4078 | "Disaster Victims Protection Act"; requires Governor to allocate federal and State disaster aid to municipalities in proportion to amount of catastrophic physical damage sustained within each municipality. | Under this bill, the Governor would allocate federal and State disaster relief aid to municipalities, including residents and businesses therein, in proportion to the relative amount of catastrophic physical damage suffered within each affected municipality. This aid allocation methodology is intended to ensure that residential victims and business owners in the most heavily damaged areas following a disaster are provided assistance prior to the expenditure of aid monies for other economic development and redevelopment projects. In response to the unprecedented damage to this State caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, New Jersey received billions of federal dollars from Congress in the form of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to support the State's rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. With approval from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Governor allocated millions of dollars to housing development projects within the nine most-impacted counties, as designated by HUD, which include Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties. Some municipalities within these designated counties were completely devastated, while other municipalities within these counties suffered far less, if any, major damage. Some of the least-damaged municipalities, however, received disproportionately greater CGBG-DR funding from the State for development projects, leaving some of the residents and businesses in more damaged municipalities at a fiscal disadvantage for reconstruction. This bill is intended to ensure that residents and businesses most impacted by a disaster will receive a level of disaster relief aid commensurate with the amount of damage sustained within the municipality. Fundamental principles of fairness and equity require that the residents and businesses in those municipalities that are the hardest hit and suffer the most physical damage from a natural or other disaster should receive the most relief. | In Committee |
| A4082 | Increases benefit amounts and expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program. | This bill increases the benefit amounts under the New Jersey earned income tax credit (NJEITC) program and expands eligibility for taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) and those taxpayers who have been victims of domestic abuse Currently, the program provides a tax credit equal to 40 percent of the federal earned income tax credit. The bill increases this amount from 40 percent to 45 percent over a five-year period. This bill allows taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the NJEITC program. Under the federal earned income tax credit program, a taxpayer, including a spouse if filing a joint return, is required to have a Social Security number issued by the federal Social Security Administration in order to qualify. Eligibility for the NJEITC program is generally linked to the federal earned income tax credit program; thus, an individual taxpayer who has an ITIN does not qualify for either the federal or State programs. The bill modifies the eligibility criteria under the NJEITC program to allow taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the tax credit. The bill also expands eligibility under the NJEITC program for taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse. Under the federal program, if a taxpayer is married, the taxpayer is required to file a joint return with their spouse to be eligible for the federal earned income credit. However, victims of domestic abuse typically file as married filing separately, losing their federal earned income credit and NJEITC program eligibility in the process. The bill exempts a married taxpayer from the joint filing requirement if the taxpayer files as married filing separately and the taxpayer: (i) was living apart from the taxpayer's spouse on the last day of the taxable year for which the credit is claimed; (ii) was a victim of domestic abuse, as defined by the bill, within the past three years; and (iii) indicates on the taxpayer's gross income tax return that the taxpayer meets the criteria set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| A3030 | Permits patients to indicate that they should not be prescribed opiates and certain other controlled substances in prescription monitoring program information. | This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a process by which a patient may request that the patient's prescription monitoring information include an indication that the patient should not be prescribed opioid drugs or other controlled substances with a significant potential for abuse or addiction. The indication would not be included in the patient's prescription monitoring information except at the patient's request. The division would establish a process for removing the indication that a patient should not be prescribed opioid drugs or other controlled substances with a significant potential for abuse or addiction, at the patient's request. The division would also establish a method, for persons who indicate that they should not be prescribed opioid drugs or other controlled substances with a significant potential for abuse or addiction, to communicate this preference, in the event that the person is incapacitated or otherwise unable to communicate this preference prior to or while receiving health care services. The division would develop an education and outreach program for health care providers concerning this process. It is the sponsor's belief that permitting patients to indicate that they should not be prescribed opioids and certain other controlled substances will facilitate the recovery process, help patients maintain sobriety, help avoid the issuance of prescriptions for drugs that could jeopardize the patient's recovery, and assist health care practitioners to identify patients who are at risk of abusing or diverting prescription medications. | In Committee |
| A920 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A904 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey." | This bill establishes the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey" and is modeled after the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York." Under the bill, all statutes, rules, and regulations, in this State including all local laws or ordinances related to the elective franchise must be construed liberally in favor of: (1) protecting the right of voters to have their ballot cast and counted; (2) ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote; and (3) ensuring voters of race, color, and language-minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process in registering to vote and voting. The bill prohibits the authority to prescribe or maintain voting or elections policies and practices to be so exercised as to unnecessarily deny or abridge the right to vote. The bill also prohibits a county board of elections or political subdivision from using a method of election that has the effect of impairing the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections, as a result of vote dilution. The bill requires any policy and practice that burdens the right to vote must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling policy justification that must be supported by substantial evidence. The bill provides factors for determining if a violation of the bill has occurred, including if a voter's right to vote has been violated or if the voter has experienced vote dilution. Under the bill, if a violation of the provision of the bill occurs, the bill provides a remedy process, including for apportionment and redistricting maps. The bill provides that after a New Jersey Voting Rights Act notification letter is mailed from a prospective plaintiff to a political subdivision the political submission may pass a New Jersey Voting Rights Act resolution reaffirming: (1) the political subdivision's intention to enact and implement a remedy for a potential violation of the bill; (2) specific steps the political subdivision will undertake to facilitate approval and implementation of such a remedy; and (3) a schedule for enacting and implementing such a remedy. The bill provides that if the governing body of a political subdivision lacks the authority under this act or applicable State law or local laws to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, or fails to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, within 90 days after the passage of the resolution, or if the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined by the bill, the governing body of the political subdivision must coordinate with the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to resolve the violation, including reaffirming that any proposal is unlikely to violate the United States Constitution, New Jersey Constitution, or any federal or State law, would not diminish the ability of protected class members to participate in the political process and to elect their preferred candidates to office; and is feasible to implement. Under the bill, the Attorney General and the Division on Civil Rights are provided with certain preclearance powers. The bill provides that if certain political subdivisions that have been the subject to court order or government enforcement action based on violations of the bill; the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, or a voting-related violation of the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution, may be subject to preclearance, which is the process of obtaining prior approval from the Division on Civil Rights or a court of this State for any changes related to election procedures in that political subdivision. The bill provides assistance to language-minority groups. Under the bill, a county board of elections or a political subdivision that administers elections must provide language-related assistance in voting and elections to a language-minority group in a political subdivision if, based on data from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey, or data of comparable quality collected by a public office, that: (1) more than two percent, but in no instance fewer than 300 individuals, of the citizens of voting age of a political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient; or (2) more than 4,000 of the citizens of voting age of such political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient. The bill further provides that a county board of elections or political subdivision required to provide language assistance to a particular language-minority group pursuant to this section must provide voting materials in the covered language of an equal quality of the corresponding English language materials, including registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots. Under the bill, any aggrieved persons or organization whose membership includes aggrieved persons or members of a protected class, organization whose mission, in whole or in part, is to ensure voting access and such mission would be hindered by a violation of this bill, or the Attorney General may file an action pursuant to the bill in court. The bill provides that any action or investigation to enforce any provision of this bill, the Attorney General would have the authority to take proof and determine relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil and criminal laws of this State. The bill also contains a severability provision. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, or other portion of the bill is for any reason held or declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or preempted by federal law, or the applicability of that portion to any person or facility is held invalid, the remainder of the bill would not thereby be deemed to be unconstitutional, preempted, or invalid. The purpose of this bill is to: (1) encourage participation in the elective franchise by all eligible voters to the maximum extent; (2) ensure that eligible voters who are members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups have an equal opportunity to participate in the political processes of this State and exercise the elective franchise; (3) improve the quality and availability of demographic and election data; and (4) protect eligible voters against intimidation and deceptive practices. This bill would take effect on the first day of the 18th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Attorney General may take any anticipatory action in advance thereof. | Dead |
| A3988 | Provides free telecommunication services for incarcerated persons at State, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities. | This bill provides that all adult and juvenile correctional facilities in the State operated by the Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Justice Commission, the counties, and private operators allow incarcerated persons to make and receive telephone calls, video calls, and electronic mail free of charge to both the sending and receiving party. Under current law, incarcerated persons may be charged for domestic telephone calls at up to 11 cents per minute using a debit, prepaid, or collect call system. Current law does not require incarcerated persons to have access to video calls or electronic mail, although such capability is already in place at certain facilities, with a fee charged to the incarcerated person. The bill makes an appropriation of such funds as may be necessary for the implementation of the bill, as certified by the Commissioner of Corrections and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission. The Department of Corrections and the Juvenile Justice Commission retain the authority to establish rules and regulations for the security of telecommunication services. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would not require any renegotiation of existing State or local contracts for telecommunication services, but would instead shift the costs associated with the contracts to the correctional facility operator. In the sponsor's view, the more incarcerated persons stay in touch with their families, the better they do when they reenter society, while those with weaker support systems due to lack of communication during incarceration are more likely to re-offend. Maintaining family and community connection while incarcerated is key to successful reentry, and thus it is in the public interest to reduce the economic burden on incarcerated persons associated with making and receiving calls and messages. The sponsor notes that New York City, Connecticut, California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Colorado have all recently adopted legislation to make telecommunication services free to incarcerated persons. The sponsor further notes that prison telecommunication services is a $1.4 billion industry that has been accused of price-gouging and profiteering from the families of incarcerated persons. According to some studies, one in three families with an incarcerated loved one goes into debt over the cost of telephone calls charged by correctional facilities. It is the sponsor's intent to ease the enormous financial burden on the families of incarcerated persons who are simply trying to maintain communication with their loved ones. | In Committee |
| AR119 | Urges Congress to fully fund programs and activities under federal Elder Justice Act. | This resolution urges Congress to fully fund programs and activities under the federal Elder Justice Act. The act, which was enacted in 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, was the first time a federal law authorized a specific source of federal funds to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Among other provisions, the Elder Justice Act authorizes grants to support improvements to state adult protective services and long-term care ombudsman programs; authorizes grants for federal and state survey agencies for long-term care facilities andfor forensic centers to develop expertise on the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The Elder Justice Act also established an Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation to create a multi-disciplinary plan for developing the field of elder justice, and requires abuses in long-term care facilities to be immediately reported to law enforcement. Despite the intent of the Elder Justice Act to fight elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, Congress has failed to fully fund the act's authorized programs and activities. According to a June 15, 2020 report by the Congressional Research Service, the authorizations of appropriations for most Elder Justice Act activities expired in September 2014, and most programs and activities authorized under the act have either not received funding since enactment, or have not received funding at their previously authorized levels. | In Committee |
| A3990 | Requires MVC to provide customers with certain documents in-person, same day. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide all customers who have an in-person appointment to receive certain documents at any commission agency location within the State with the option to receive the new or renewed document on the same day as the appointment and prior to leaving the the commission agency location, provided that the customer has completed the proper application and provided any necessary payment. Upon request from the applicant, the commission is required to issue the following documents on the same day as the appointment: (1) a standard basic driver's license; (2) a standard motorcycle license; (3) a standard special learner's permit; (4) a standard examination permit; (5) a standard probationary driver's license; (6) a standard non-driver identification card; (7) a REAL ID basic driver's license; (8) a REAL ID motorcycle license; (9) a REAL ID probationary driver's license; (10) a REAL ID identification card; (11) a commercial driver license; and (12) a motor vehicle registration certificate. The bill also requires the commission to ensure that one or more cameras and license printers are available at each commission agency location for the same-day issuance of the documents. | In Committee |
| A4028 | Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3966 | Provides for DCA to reestablish and administer certification program for recreation administrators and automatically reinstate administrator certifications issued under prior law. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), no more than 180 days after the bill's effective date, to reestablish and administer a program for the certification of recreation administrators in New Jersey. No more than 30 days after the certification program is reestablished, the DCA is to be required to send written notice to each previously certified recreation supervisor and each previously certified recreation administrator, indicating that the person is eligible to apply for new certification or, if appropriate, is eligible to apply for the automatic reinstatement of the person's pre-existing certification, as provided by the bill. Under the bill, the DCA is to be required to automatically reinstate a previously certified recreation administrator, provided that the person submits, to the DCA, a completed reinstatement request form and a reinstatement fee of $25, no more than 60 days after receipt of the DCA's notice regarding the right to reinstatement. Any person who fails to submit a request for reinstatement within the 60-day reinstatement grace period established by the bill is to be deemed to have a lapsed certification, will no longer be eligible for the automatic reinstatement of the certification, as provided by the bill, and will be required to comply with the procedures applicable to new applicants. A new applicant for certification as a recreation administrator under the bill would be required to submit to the DCA: a completed application form; an application fee of $25; and documentation sufficient to establish, to the Commissioner of Community Affair's (commissioner) satisfaction, that the applicant is either certified by the National Recreation and Park Association as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or is otherwise qualified, by education or experience as determined by the DCA, to serve as a recreation administrator in the State. The reestablished certification program is not to provide for the separate certification of recreation supervisors. However, the bill provides that any previously certified recreation supervisor is to be eligible to apply for a new certification as a recreation administrator, based on the person's prior supervisory experience. The bill requires the DCA to issue a new, printed certificate to any person who is certified to serve as a recreation administrator, including any person whose prior certification has been automatically reinstated. Each certificate issued under the bill, including a certificate reinstated for a previously certified recreation administrator, is to be valid for, and will automatically expire after, a period of two years following its date of issuance, unless the holder biennially renews the certification in accordance with the procedure specified by the bill. A person seeking the biennial renewal of certification as a recreation administrator would be required, prior to the expiration of the certificate, to submit to the DCA: a completed renewal application form; a renewal fee of $25; and documentation verifying that the person has completed at least twenty hours of continuing education credits in appropriate subject areas, as required by the DCA, during the preceding two-year certification period. The bill requires the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill's provisions. The rules and regulations are to include, but need not be limited to, certain provisions enumerated in the bill. | In Committee |
| A3944 | Establishes "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program"; appropriates $95,000. | This bill establishes the three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program," which is to be developed and operated by the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner is to select one or more institutions of higher education that offers an educator preparation program, and one or more school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects that each employ at least one male teacher of color to participate in the pilot program. Under the pilot program, the commissioner is to select 19 male students of color from among the institutions of higher education selected for participation in the pilot program and 19 male teachers of color from the school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects selected for participation in the pilot program. To be eligible for the program, a student is required to be in the final year of an educator preparation program. The commissioner is required to pair each selected student with a current teacher, who is to serve as the student's mentor through the candidate's last year of the educator preparation program and, if the student is hired for employment in the participating district, charter school, or renaissance school project upon the student's graduation from an educator preparation program, for the first two years of the student's teaching career. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that provides mentoring services under the provisions of the amended bill is to conduct a review of the student's performance under the pilot program following completion of the student's final year in an educator preparation program. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that provides mentoring services to a student under the pilot program is required to make a good faith effort to hire the student following the student's graduation from an educator preparation program, if the student receives a favorable performance review under the review conducted by the school district, charter school, or renaissance school project. Under the pilot program, a mentor is to receive a stipend of $5,000 for each year of participation in the pilot program. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner is to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program, including the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts, charter schools or renaissance school projects, and institutions of higher education in the State. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Education $95,000 to establish the "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program." | In Committee |
| A3922 | Expands Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Programs to include assistance for water utility bill. | This bill adds assistance for water utility bills to the Lifeline Credit Program, established pursuant to P.L.1979, c.197 (C.48:2-29.15 et seq.), and the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program, established pursuant to P.L.1981, c.210 et seq. (C.48:2-29.30 et seq.). Under current law, these programs provide a $225 benefit only on gas and electric utility bills to eligible customers who are participating in the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program (PAAD), receiving or eligible to receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program established pursuant to P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85), or receiving disability benefits under the federal Social Security Act and also meet eligibility requirements for PAAD. Under this legislation, these programs would be expanded to include water utility bills. | In Committee |
| A3942 | "Santiago/Ramos/Liu Police Protection Act"; requires certain law enforcement vehicles to have tinted windows. | This bill, to be known and cited as the "Santiago/Ramos/Liu Police Protection Act," requires any law enforcement agency in this State purchasing and using a new motor vehicle to have tinted windows which permit only the minimum light transmittance required pursuant to federal law, rule, or regulation. The bill applies only to vehicles clearly and conspicuously marked as those used for law enforcement purposes. The window tinting requirement would apply to law enforcement vehicles purchased on or after the first day of the fourth month following the date of the bill's enactment. The title of the bill honors New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, as well as Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago, all of whom were murdered in 2014. | In Committee |
| A3967 | Requires court to consider results of domestic violence assessment before dissolving certain domestic violence restraining orders. | This bill requires the court to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving a final restraining order when the defendant has two or more restraining orders against him. The defendant would be responsible for the costs of the assessment and the assessment would be considered confidential. The bill defines a "domestic violence assessment" as an assessment performed by a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor with the goal of determining the likelihood that the offender will commit future acts of violence, abuse or other unacceptable behavior that could pose a threat to the victim, the victim's family, the victim's property, or other person identified as being at risk. The substitute requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop standards for persons who are eligible to conduct the assessments. The bill also codifies the factors currently considered by the court in determining whether a defendant who has applied to dissolve a final order has established requisite good cause. Those factors, as set forth in Carfagno v. Carfagno, 288 N.J.Super. 424 (Ch. Div. 1995), are: (1) whether the victim voluntarily consents to dissolve the final order; (2) whether the victim fears the defendant; (3) the nature of the current relationship between the victim and defendant; (4) the number of times the defendant has been convicted of contempt for violating the final order; (5) whether the defendant has a continuing involvement with drug or alcohol abuse; (6) whether the defendant has been involved in other violent acts with other persons; (7) whether the defendant has engaged in counseling; (8) the age and health of the defendant; (9) whether the victim is acting in good faith in opposing the defendant's request for dissolution; and (10) whether another jurisdiction has entered a restraining order protecting the victim from the defendant. Finally, the bill clarifies that when there is a complaint for a restraining order, the court may order a domestic violence assessment. Current law authorizes the court to order a psychiatric evaluation. | In Committee |
| A3962 | Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for hospitalizations resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 without imposing cost-sharing requirements. | This bill requires a health insurance carrier to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the hospitalization of a covered person as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement. | In Committee |
| A3937 | Requires Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain primary and mental health care services match reimbursement rates under Medicare. | This bill requires the Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care and mental health services to match the reimbursement are for those services under Medicare. Specifically, commencing July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Medicaid reimbursement rate for primary care and mental health services is required to be no less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to such services under part B of the federal Medicare program. Primary care and mental health services include those services furnished by: (1) a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; (2) a health care professional, including but not limited to an advance practice nurse or a physician assistant, who is working in the area of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; or (3) a midwife. Mental health services additionally include those services furnished by a health care provider with one of the following specialty designations: licensed clinical social worker, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, or psychiatrist. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require any decrease in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for a primary care or mental health service from the previous fiscal year's reimbursement level for the same service. The requirements of the bill will apply to services reimbursed under both the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system and the Medicaid managed care delivery system, but will only to services delivered by an approved Medicaid provider. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill, to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature concerning implementation of the bill, including data regarding changes in access to primary care and mental health services, as well as the quality of care of these services, for Medicaid beneficiaries following any rate increases implemented under the bill. The report is also to include any recommendations for further enhancements to the Medicaid rates for these services to improve provider access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved areas of the State. | In Committee |
| A3938 | Establishes task force to examine school discipline practices including racial disparities and effectiveness. | This bill establishes a ten-member task force to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding discipline policies and practices in New Jersey public schools, including any racial disparities in the implementation of those policies and the effectiveness of the policies. The task force will consist of 10 members. One member will be appointed by the Commissioner of Education or a designee. Seven members will be appointed by the Governor, who will include: one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one member upon the recommendation of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Charter Schools Association; and one member of the public who has specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to school discipline practices. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly will each appoint a public member with specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to school discipline practices. Under the bill, the task force is charged with studying, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding school discipline policies and practices in New Jersey. The task force will:· examine discipline practices of school districts in the State and any racial disparities or disproportionate impacts associated with the discipline practices, including the impact of race on the suspension or expulsion of students enrolled in preschool programs;· evaluate the effectiveness of school discipline practices in the State in reducing problem behaviors and protecting the safety and security of students and school staff;· study federal guidance on school discipline issued by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice, including the January 8, 2014 Dear Colleague Letter on the Nondiscriminatory Administration of School Discipline and the January 2014 document entitled "Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline";· study other best practices or emerging research regarding improving school climate and creating positive and nondiscriminatory school discipline practices;· provide recommendations to assist school districts in improving school discipline policies and practices, including ensuring that discipline practices are applied in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; and· provide recommendations for legislation concerning school discipline policies and practices. The task force is required to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 12 months of its organization. | In Committee |
| A3888 | Extends duration of law requiring certain provider subsidy payments for child care services be based on enrollment. | This bill extends the applicability of P.L.2021, c.324, which requires that subsidy payments to licensed child care providers be based on enrollment of students who are eligible for child care services, rather than on attendance, to provide that the provisions of the law continue for an additional three years, instead of expiring on June 30, 2022 as provided for in existing law. The bill provides that a licensed child care provider or registered family day care provider receiving subsidy payments based on enrollment is required to pay wages to its staff, and determine the number of hours worked by staff, based on the number of children enrolled with the provider who are eligible for child care services. At no time will the amount of wages paid to staff or the number of hours worked by staff be based on the attendance of children eligible for child care services. The bill stipulates that a licensed child care center or a registered family day care provider receiving subsidy payments based on enrollment will continue to receive such payments until the Division of Family Development (the division) in the Department of Human Services issues the report required pursuant to the bill, at which time the division may consider to extend the payment of enrollment-based subsidies to licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers in accordance with P.L.2021, c.324. The bill requires the division to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the study conducted under the provisions of P.L.2021, c.324 within three years following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3874 | Establishes fringe benefit rate for State colleges and universities. | This bill directs the Division of Budget and Accounting, also known as the Office of Management and Budget, in the Department of the Treasury to establish a fringe benefit rate for public institutions of higher education that reflects the actual cost of employee fringe benefits. The separate fringe rate is to first apply in FY 2025. Currently, the fringe benefit rate used is not specific to employees at the State's public institutions of higher education, but to State employees in general. Many State employees are enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), while many of the employees employed by State public colleges and universities are enrolled in the less costly Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP) or are not enrolled in a retirement plan. This results in a difference between the actual cost of benefits and the amount paid to the State. | In Committee |
| A3877 | Requires DOH to develop interconception care resources to enhance postpartum care for women. | This bill requires the Department of Health to develop interconception care resources for health care facilities and health care practitioners providing postpartum care. The interconception care resources will include evidence-based clinical management algorithms and patient education materials based on the most common pregnancy-related and delivery-related complications identified in the State, as determined by the department. The algorithms will be designed to guide risk assessment, counseling, and the management of adverse pregnancy outcomes, maternal complications, and neonatal complications, with the goal of supporting and improving maternal health and reducing risks in future pregnancies. The patient education materials will provide clear, easily understood explanations of individual health conditions and complications commonly encountered during the birth process and postpartum period, present available treatment options, and include self-care strategies that women can employ to improve their own health, the health of their newborn children, and the likelihood of successful, complication-free pregnancies in the future. To the extent possible, the department is to make the patient education materials available in English, Spanish, and any other language with a significant representation in the State. In developing interconception care resources, the department may review and, when appropriate, adapt relevant resources developed by another state or by a professional association with expertise in maternal and postpartum care. Additionally, the department may partner with one or more nonprofit organizations for the purpose of developing the algorithms and patient education materials. | In Committee |
| A3880 | Establishes "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission;" appropriates $2.5 million. | This bill establishes a "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission" and appropriates $2.5 million. Under the bill, there is established in, but not of, the Department of Law and Public Safety a commission to be known as the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission." The purpose of the commission is to design and oversee the construction of a Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial in Monmouth County that honors and recognizes law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The commission is to consist of the following seven members: 1) a representative of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, appointed by the Governor; 2) a representative of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, appointed by the Governor; 3) a representative of the State Troopers Fraternal Association, appointed by the Governor; and 4) four public members, one of whom shall be a retired law enforcement officer, appointed by the Governor. The bill requires the appointments to be made within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The commission is to organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of the majority of the members. A majority of all of the authorized members constitutes a quorum. Under the bill, the Department of Law and Public Safety is to provide staff and related support services as the commission requires to carry out its work. The bill requires the commission to select a suitable design and location in Monmouth County for the construction of the Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial and to oversee the construction of the memorial. Within 18 months of the bill's effective date, the commission is required to submit a final report to the Governor and the Legislature which is to include the final design and location in Monmouth County selected for the memorial. In addition, the bill establishes, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund." The fund is to be administered by the Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission and dedicated for the costs associated with designing and constructing the memorial. Finally, the bill appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety for the provision of that amount to the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund." | In Committee |
| A3878 | Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education, in coordination with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, to establish a three-year pilot program to provide information on and assistance in the proper completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The goal of the pilot program is to ensure that each 12th grade student has the opportunity and instruction necessary to apply for federal financial aid. Under the bill, a school district that wants to participate in the program is required to submit a proposal to the commissioner. The commissioner will select four districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to participate in the program. The bill requires the board of education of a participating school district to ensure that each student receives information at least once before the student enters grade 12 on how to properly complete and submit the FAFSA. Information may be disseminated through classroom instruction during regular school hours. Information may also be provided through an existing school program, family information sessions, or group or individual sessions with school counselors. The information provided is to include material related to: (1) the types of documentation and personal information that each student financial aid application requires; (2) an explanation of terms used for each application; (3) eligibility requirements for student financial aid; and (4) application timelines and submission deadlines for the FAFSA. The bill also requires the board of education of a participating school district to ensure that the parent or guardian of each student entering grade 12 receives, via written or electronic means, information on the FAFSA and how to properly complete and submit the form. Under the bill, the board of education of a participating school district is required to ensure that a paper copy of the FAFSA is provided upon request to each high school student or the student's parent or guardian. The board of education is also required to ensure that any information shared by a student, parent, or guardian pursuant to this bill is handled according to applicable State and federal privacy laws and regulations. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education is directed to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. The report is to contain information on the implementation of the pilot program, including the commissioner's recommendation on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis. | In Committee |
| A3866 | Sets State's mileage reimbursement rate at IRS rate for business use of automobile. | Under current law, the State's mileage reimbursement rate is $0.18 cents per mile, adjusted biannually to reflect changes in gasoline prices. Annual appropriations acts have adjusted this mileage reimbursement rate. This bill provides that the mileage reimbursement rate payable to a State officer or employee driving a private automobile on State business will be the same as the standard mileage rate established by the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business purposes. The bill repeals the provision of current law that requires adjustment twice each year to reflect changes in the price of gasoline. | In Committee |
| A3889 | Requires counseling for certain domestic violence offenders. | This bill would require a defendant convicted of, or placed on probation or has a sentence suspended for, a domestic violence offense, to attend domestic violence counseling. Under current law a court may, in its discretion, require the defendant to receive professional counseling from either a private source or a source appointed by the court. Under the bill, in cases in which a defendant is found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence, or where the court suspends the imposition of a sentence or places the defendant on probation for a domestic violence offense, the court would be required to order the defendant to participate in and complete a program of professional counseling. In all cases of court-ordered domestic violence counseling under the bill, the professional administering the counseling is required to have expertise in individual or group domestic violence counseling. This bill is modeled after similar laws in California, North Carolina, and Minnesota. | In Committee |
| A3862 | Provides police officers may be present at senior residential center or school being used as polling place under certain circumstances; requires school to establish election day security plan. | This bill provides that one or more police officers may be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place or school if there is a request by the center or school. This bill clarifies that the officers must be in plain clothes in both senior residential centers and schools. Under current law, police officers are permitted to be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place. The provision of current law that prohibits any such officer from interfering with any person present at the location for the purpose of voting will remain in place. This bill also requires the center notify the district board if the center requests a police officer, the district board then will notify the county board of elections or superintendent of elections who will notify the Secretary of State. This bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Secretary of State to notify schools of the new mandate as soon as the bill becomes law. | In Committee |
| A3868 | Requires person offering digital coupon to make available in-store alternative of identical value. | This bill would require retail stores that offer digital coupons to customers to also provide in-store alternatives to allow customers to purchase items at the same price and terms as provided by the digital coupon. The bill defines the term "digital coupon" to mean a store coupon, rebate, or similar instrument offered to a consumer through the Internet and only obtainable through a consumer's personal computing device, such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet, and that provides to a consumer a discounted price or benefit, redeemable at the physical location where the goods or services are being offered for sale. The bill defines the term "in-store alternative" to mean providing an on-site consumer the ability to purchase an item at the same discount or other benefit offered by a digital coupon. Examples of an "in-store alternative" set forth in the bill include: paper coupons, electronic kiosks, or providing a customer the discounted price or benefit at the point-of-sale upon request. Violation of the bill would subject a person to a civil penalty of up to $250 for a first offense, and up to $500 for a subsequent offense, which may be collected and enforced by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. | In Committee |
| AJR150 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | This resolution designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. Cleft lip and palate, together commonly called orofacial clefts, are birth defects that occur when a baby's lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. A cleft lip occurs when the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth and results in an opening in the upper lip. The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose. A cleft palate occurs when the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. Some babies are born with both the front and back parts of the palate open while others only part of the palate is open. Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and are prone to have ear infections, hearing problems, and problems with their teeth. About one in every 1,700 babies is born with cleft palate in the United States. The causes of orofacial clefts among most infants are unknown and ongoing research is being conducted at the national level to better understand the root causes. Cleft lip and palate affects people worldwide, impacting speech, eating, and overall quality of life. Raising awareness about cleft palate is essential to foster understanding, compassion, and support for New Jersey residents and families affected by this condition, as well as to encourage medical research aimed at identifying the root cause of the orofacial disorder. | In Committee |
| A3707 | Requires certain doctors and nurses to ask patients questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock syndrome. | This bill requires nurse practitioners who practices nursing in emergency medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology and physicians who practice emergency medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology to ask patients questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock syndrome. Under the bill, a nurse practitioner or physician is to ask each female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis if the patient has an active menstrual cycle or the date of the last menstrual cycle if the female patient does not have an active menstrual cycle at the time of the medical visit. A nurse practitioner or physician is to ask a female patient with an active menstrual cycle or a recently active menstrual cycle, when the patient most recently used a tampon and if the patient experienced symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using the tampon or soon thereafter. A nurse practitioner or physician is to inform a female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis about signs and symptoms of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. In addition, a nurse practitioner or physician is to offer to test a female patient for toxic shock syndrome if: (1) the patient is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis; (2) the patient has an active or recently active menstrual cycle; and (3) the patient began experiencing symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using a tampon or soon thereafter. | In Committee |
| A3799 | Establishes New Jersey Community Learning Program in DOE to provide comprehensive after school programs in certain communities; dedicates portion of State cannabis revenue to support program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Community Learning Program in the Department of Education to support the provision of comprehensive after school programs in certain areas most impacted by the criminalization of cannabis ("impact zones"). The costs of the program would be supported by a portion of the annual State revenues collected from the retail sale of recreational cannabis products. Under the bill, every school district located within an impact zone ("impact district") would be required to establish and implement an after school community learning program. These programs would endeavor to close the achievement gap and provide services for enrolled students during non-school hours, including summer recess. The bill allows these services to be provided at one or more locations, including existing school facilities and approved off-site locations, except that the district would be required to provide participating students with transportation to and from any such location. Following the effective date of the bill, each impact district, in collaboration with the governing body of each municipality located within the district, would be required to conduct two public hearings to receive community input concerning the establishment of an after school community learning program. Before implementing the program, the board of education of an impact district would also be required to submit a program plan to the commissioner for approval. At a minimum, the program plan would be required to include: (1) a detailed description of the services that will be provided through the program; (2) a detailed description of the background and qualifications of the personnel who will supervise and staff the program; (3) a schedule of the days and hours during which the program will operate; (4) the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility for student participation in the program; (5) an estimate of the number of students who will participate in the program; (6) the locations in which academic assistance and community enrichment services will be provided; (7) an estimate of the annual cost of implementing the program; and (8) any other information that the board of education may deem necessary. The bill requires the commissioner to approve or conditionally approve each program plan within 30 calendar days of receipt. If the commissioner conditionally approves a program plan, the plan would be deemed approved when the board of education adopts all revisions contained in the conditional approval. Thereafter, an impact district may modify its after school community learning program by submitting a revised program plan to the commissioner for approval. Under the bill, the department would be required to annually distribute such funding as is necessary to each impact district to defray the full costs of implementing the after school community learning program. The bill requires all State funds received by an impact district to be accounted for in a special revenue fund and used exclusively to implement the after school community learning program. The bill provides that an impact district would not be required to implement an after school community learning program during any year in which State funding is not provided pursuant to this bill. The bill also establishes the New Jersey Community Learning Assistance Fund, which would be used to distribute program funding to impact districts. Beginning in State Fiscal Year 2022, the bill requires the State to annually deposit into the assistance fund an amount determined by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission from the State revenue collected from the tax imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) on the retail sale of recreational cannabis products. However, if in any year, these amounts are insufficient to support the full distribution of funding to impact districts, the State would be required to appropriate such additional amounts as are necessary from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the assistance fund. This bill would take effect on the date of enactment, or on the effective date of an amendment to the State Constitution to legalize cannabis for personal, non-medical use by adults who are 21 years of age or older, whichever occurs later. | In Committee |
| A3804 | Establishes interagency council on menopause in DOH. | This bill establishes an Interagency Council on Menopause in the Department of Health (DOH) to promote and support access to best practice health care for a person through their menopause transition and post-reproductive years, enabling the person to achieve optimal health and well-being. Under the provisions of the bill, the interagency council is to consist of 15 members as follows: (1) the Director of the Office of Women's Health in the DOH, the Assistant Commissioner of Family Health Services in the DOH, and the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; and (2) 12 public members appointed by the Governor, who include: a person with perimenopause, a person with menopause, a public health educator, an expert in perimenopause and menopause treatment and research, a representative of a women's health organization, an epidemiologist, a gynecologist licensed to practice in this State who is a menopause specialist, a general practitioner licensed to practice in this State with expertise in treating persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause, a geriatrician licensed to practice in this State, a registered professional nurse licensed to practice in this State, a nutritionist who has experience in providing services to persons with perimenopause or menopause, and a representative of a women's health advocacy organization. The purpose of the interagency council is to: promote the health and quality of a person's life during midlife and beyond through an understanding of perimenopause, menopause, and healthy aging; disseminate evidence-based knowledge concerning perimenopause and menopause to health care professionals through multi-lingual and multi-cultural educational resources, programs, and events; support and promote research into all aspects of perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; facilitate collaboration and information-exchange between health care professionals, medical societies, governmental agencies, research institutions, community-based organizations, and other organizations or entities with shared interests and goals relating to the study of, and treating persons experiencing, perimenopause or menopause; encourage the multi-disciplinary delivery of health care from menopause transition to a person's post-reproductive years; develop and provide State-supported evidence-based treatment services related to perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; increase awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause through the provision of multi-lingual, culturally sensitive health information to health care professionals and policy makers; develop and establish a plan to disseminate information, through television, radio, Internet, print media, social media, and other forms of communication, about new treatment options, research findings, and ways in which a person experiencing perimenopause or menopause can access services in the State; and make policy recommendations to the Legislature on the quality of, and access to, treatment and services for persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Health to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the effective date of bill, and annually thereafter, on the activities and accomplishments of the interagency council and its findings and recommendations on issues relating to the quality of, and access to, treatment and services for persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause in this State. | In Committee |
| AJR152 | Designates July 3 of each year as "CROWN Act Day" in NJ. | This joint resolution designates July 3 of each year as "CROWN Act Day" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the passage of the CROWN Act in New Jersey. July 3 has been designated National Crown Day by the CROWN Coalition to commemorate California signing the CROWN Act into law, being the first state to do so. African-American women, men, and children regularly deal with discrimination in the workplace and in educational settings due to their hair. Hair textures and styles have been the focus of bias and discrimination, especially in professional settings, for too long. A study completed in 2019 by the JOY Collective found data that is alarming in the 21st century. African-American women are 80 percent more likely to change their natural hair to meet social norms and fit in at work. African-American women are 1.5 times more likely to have been sent home or know of an African-American woman who has been sent home from work because of her hair. African-American women's hair is 3.4 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional. Finally, African-American women are 30 percent more likely to be made aware of a formal workplace appearance policy. African-American men and children are not immune to the effects of the statistics found in the 2019 study. In 2018, an incident occurred with an African-American 16-year old boy named Andrew Johnson, spurring the passage of the CROWN Act in this State. He was denied from competing in a wrestling match at his New Jersey high school unless he cut his dreadlocks. A 2021 study by the JOY Collective found that 86 percent of African-American teens who experience discrimination state they have experienced discrimination based on their hair by the age of 12. African-American individuals face many forms of discrimination in the workplace and in educational settings and it is time that more attention be brought to the issue of hair discrimination. Designating July 3 as "CROWN Act Day" will highlight the 2019 passage of the CROWN Act in New Jersey and will create an annual opportunity for New Jerseyans to learn about the issue of hair discrimination. | In Committee |
| A3762 | Requires lobby security for certain senior citizen high-rise buildings in areas with high violent crime rates. | This bill requires the owners of senior citizen high-rise buildings having 50 units or more to provide 24-hour security if the building is located in a municipality with a violent crime rate exceeding six per 1,000 persons, according to the average of the three most recent Uniform Crime Reports issued by the New Jersey State Police. The Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Attorney General, would be responsible for annually notifying the owners of those buildings of their security obligations under the law. The bill requires buildings consisting of 75 dwelling units or more to meet their security obligation through 24-hour monitoring by on-site security guards. If the building consists of at least 50, but fewer than 75 dwelling units, then the security obligation may be satisfied through the use of video surveillance cameras operated 24 hours a day, recording all building exits and entrances, as well as any common areas, including parking lots, where criminal incidents have occurred within the past 12 months. The bill enables the Commissioner of Community Affairs to order a building owner in a municipality with a violent crime rate of six or less per 1,000 persons to provide security in the lobby or other common area upon evidence of persistent criminal activity against residents in the building. The bill also gives the commissioner the authority to issue regulations concerning the security of residents in lobbies and interior common areas of hotels and multiple dwellings in general. The bill contains a delayed operative date of approximately six months to allow time for the promulgation of rules, regulations, and notices. | In Committee |
| A3761 | Directs DOE to develop guidelines for school districts concerning student mental health services. | This bill directs the Department of Education, in partnership with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, to develop and distribute to school districts guidelines for providing mental health services to students. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist school districts in enhancing and improving mental health services for students. Under the bill, the guidelines are to be reviewed and updated annually by the Department of Education. In developing and updating the guidelines, the department is required to seek the input and recommendations of school district administrators, educators, mental health professionals, and other appropriate stakeholders. The guidelines established under the bill, at minimum, are to include recommendations on: (1) implementing a quality-based multi-tiered student mental health system of care that prevents mental health concerns and mitigates trauma; (2) establishing sustainable school partnerships with community mental health service providers; (3) providing mental health services to English language learners; (4) providing culturally sensitive mental health services; (5) incorporating new technology and innovations into existing mental health services including, but not limited to, providing mental health services to students through virtual or remote means; (6) evaluating the effectiveness of available student mental health services; (7) identifying and maximizing the use of available State, federal, nonprofit, and private funding to support a multi-tiered student mental health system of care; and (8) the ratios of student mental health providers to students. Under the bill, the Department of Education is to post the guidelines on its Internet website. The bill also requires the Department of Education, in partnership with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, to create and maintain a database consisting of available mental health resource providers throughout the State. The database is to be available to school districts, as well as students and their families. | In Committee |
| A3702 | Requires State, county, and municipal social service workers to periodically complete implicit bias and cultural competency training. | This bill requires implicit bias and cultural competency training for all State, county, and municipal social service workers. Implicit bias is a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. Cultural competency is the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from different cultures or belief systems. The bill requires social service workers to complete the online tutorial by April 1 of every even-numbered year and to participate in training annually. The bill mandates that certain certifications and verifications be communicated to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and such communications will be considered public information. Every day, State, county, and municipal social service workers make decisions that impact people of all backgrounds and cultures. In doing this important work, it is critical for all of these individuals to understand their own biases as well as cultures and belief systems different from their own. | In Committee |
| AJR143 | Designates September 15 of each year as "World Afro Day" in NJ. | This joint resolution designates September 15 of each year as "World Afro Day" in New Jersey. Beginning on September 15, 2017 in the United Kingdom, World Afro Day has stood as a celebration of natural hair and as an educational event to teach about Afro hair. The date was chosen to mark the day in 2016 when the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the rescinding of a job offer for Chastity Jones, who had her job offer rescinded for refusing to cut her dreadlocks. The court later withdrew this opinion and issued a revised opinion with the same outcome. The organization World Afro Day provides educational resources and hosts events to teach about natural hair and end hair discrimination. Afro hairstyles have been discriminated against for centuries. This has led to exclusion, bias, and low self-esteem. New Jersey recognized this problem and passed the "Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair Act" in 2019. Positive representations of natural hair and shifting perspectives on natural hair are crucial to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where all residents of New Jersey can thrive. | In Committee |
| A3701 | Requires implicit bias training for physicians. | This bill requires implicit bias training for physicians biennially. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department), in consultation with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the Department of Human Services, and the Board of Medical Examiners (board), is to establish a list of approved implicit bias training programs and a protocol by which providers of implicit bias training may seek approval of their training programs by the department. The implicit bias training programs are to, at a minimum, train physicians to recognize and diminish the impact of implicit bias in the practice of medicine, include an overview of current research on implicit bias in the practice of medicine, and include ways to recognize and diminish the impact of implicit bias in order to achieve better health care outcomes. Under the bill, the board is to ensure that a physician completes a minimum of two hours of implicit bias training within two years following the effective date of this bill, and a minimum of two hours of implicit bias training every two years thereafter. The bill defines "implicit bias" to mean an individual's prejudice in favor of or against a person or group which manifests itself in an unconscious manner. | In Committee |
| A3651 | Establishes "College Child Care Advisory Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations on providing programs and services for college students who require child care services. | Establishes "College Child Care Advisory Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations on providing programs and services for college students who require child care services. | In Committee |
| A3612 | Extends eligibility for tuition benefit to dependents of members of United States Armed Forces who died while on active duty. | Under current law, the child or surviving spouse of a member of the New Jersey National Guard who died while on active duty may attend regularly-scheduled courses at any public institution of higher education in this State and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that certain conditions are met. This bill extends the tuition waiver benefit to the dependents of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who died while on active duty. The bill further provides to dependents of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard who died while on active duty a monetary award equal to 10 percent of the cost of tuition at the public institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled. This award will be made available to the student for use on non-tuition education costs, including but not limited to housing, dining, fees, or supplies. | In Committee |
| ACR119 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, and make the State the trustee of all public natural resources. Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment would provide that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment. The amendment provides that the State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction. The amendment would also provide that the State's public natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all of the people, including both present and future generations. The State would serve as trustee of these resources and have a duty to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people. Finally, the amendment would provide that the rights established in the amendment are self-executing, and are in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law. | In Committee |
| AJR136 | Designates December of 3rd of each year as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities." | This joint resolution designates December of 3rd of each year as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities" in New Jersey to State promote the public understanding of the inequalities that exclude people living with disabilities, mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities, and increase awareness of the gains derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The joint resolution respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing December of 3rd as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities" in New Jersey and calls upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A3571 | Requires DOH to maintain emergency stockpile of insulin and authorizes dispensing of emergency supply of insulin to certain patients. | This bill establishes requirements for patients to access emergency supplies of insulin and provides for insurance coverage of emergency insulin. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to maintain an adequate emergency stockpile of insulin as is necessary to meet the emergency needs of people in New Jersey whose insulin supply has or will run out before the person's next prescription may be filled. At a minimum, the emergency stockpile is include the 10 most common brands and types of insulin used by New Jersey residents. The DOH will be required to collaborate with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to determine which brands and types of insulin are most commonly used in New Jersey. In determining the quantity of insulin the DOH will need to maintain under the bill, the DOH will be required to take into account prevailing conditions in the State that may affect the need for and availability of insulin; take into account anticipated surges, over the next 90 days, in the need for emergency supplies of insulin; take into consideration the current state of the supply chain of insulin in the State, including, but not limited to, unit cost, recent price increases, overall availability, and delays in shipping times; and utilize any other tool as the DOH designates for use in determining the anticipated need for emergency insulin. The DOH will be required to reevaluate the adequacy of its emergency stockpile of insulin at least quarterly and acquire such additional supplies of insulin, and such additional brands and types of insulin, as it determines are necessary to meet the need for emergency insulin in New Jersey. The DOH will be required to develop a sourcing protocol to acquire insulin for its emergency stockpile that maximizes the cost effectiveness of the program and secures the best available consumer price for each insulin product. The DOH will be required to develop a program under which the DOH will furnish emergency insulin, at cost, to individuals whose insulin supply has or will run out before the person's next prescription may be filled. The DOH will be authorized to seek reimbursement for the emergency insulin from the person's health benefits plan, if any, or accept cash payment from the person. The department may establish standards and procedures to verify whether a person's insulin supply has or will run out before the person's next prescription may be filled. The bill additionally authorizes pharmacists to dispense an emergency 30-day supply of insulin once every 12 months, which emergency supply of insulin may be dispensed pursuant to a standing order issued by a prescriber or pursuant to the standing order issued by the DOH under the bill. In order to dispense emergency insulin to a person under the bill, the pharmacist will need to: have a record of a previous prescription for insulin for that person, which prescription was dispensed within the past year; have been unable to obtain authorization for an additional supply of insulin from an authorized prescriber; and ensure the amount of insulin dispensed in the emergency 30-day supply does not exceed the amount that was dispensed under the most recent prescription for insulin dispensed by the pharmacy to that person. The Commissioner of Health, or, if the commissioner is not a duly licensed physician, the Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Services, will be required to issue a standing order authorizing all licensed pharmacists in the State to dispense emergency insulin under the bill. The Commissioner of Health is to provide a copy of the standing order to the Board of Pharmacy, which will post a copy of the standing order on the board's Internet website and transmit a copy of the standing order to all licensed pharmacists in such a manner as the board deems appropriate. In general, individuals may not receive more than one emergency 30-day supply of insulin in a given 12-month period, regardless of whether the emergency insulin was dispensed by the DOH or a pharmacist. However, the bill authorizes the DOH to furnish additional emergency supplies of insulin to a person based on demonstrated need. The bill specifies that additional emergency supplies dispensed by the DOH over an emergency 30-day supply will not be subject to the insurance coverage requirements of the bill. The DOH and pharmacists will be required to report each emergency 30-day supply of insulin dispensed under the bill to the prescription monitoring database maintained pursuant to P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-44 et al.) and will be required, prior to dispensing an emergency 30-day supply of insulin, to review the person's prescription monitoring information to determine whether the person was dispensed an emergency 30-day supply of insulin by the DOH or by a pharmacy in the preceding 12 months. The bill requires health insurers, Medicaid, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide coverage for emergency 30-day supplies of insulin dispensed under the bill at least once every 12 months. The coverage requirement includes the health benefits plan of a hospital, medical or health service corporation, individual, small employer, large group commercial insurer, and health maintenance organization. | In Committee |
| A3565 | Revises procedures for processing incomplete Medicaid applications; exempts asset transfers of up to $500 per month during look back period for determining eligibility for long-term care services. | This bill permits individuals to transfer up to $500 in assets per calendar month during the 60 month look back period prior to receiving Medicaid coverage for long-term care services without being subject to a period of ineligibility. State and federal law requires a look-back period of 60 months from the date of an individual's application for Medicaid long-term care benefits to determine whether the individual has transferred financial resources to other individuals. (The bill also revises the State statute to conform with federal law extending the 60 month look-back period to all asset transfers.) Unauthorized resources transfers may result in a penalty period during which the individual may not receive Medicaid coverage of long-term care services. Federal law permits states to exclude certain transfers made for less than fair consideration, which are called "de minimis gifts," on the assumption that gifts or transfers under a certain amount of money would not be presumed to be made in contemplation of future Medicaid eligibility. New Jersey does not currently have a clear standard regarding such transfers, effectively leaving decisions about whether certain gifts will result in a penalty to the county welfare agencies. The lack of a clear standard also results in applicants resorting to the fair hearing process to resolve disputes, which may be costly for both the applicant and the State. The bill also provides that, if a county welfare agency deems a Medicaid application incomplete on the basis of incomplete or missing information, the agency will be required to provide the applicant with notice that the application was deemed incomplete, identify the information that is incomplete or missing, and inform the applicant that this information can be provided at any time and that the application will be reviewed when the incomplete or missing information is provided. The bill expressly requires the agency to review an application deemed incomplete upon receipt of all information identified as incomplete or missing. | In Committee |
| A3569 | Requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. | This bill requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. Under the bill, commencing 180 days following the bill's effective date, a licensed health care professional who performs an annual physical examination on a female patient who is 40 years of age or older is to provide the female patient an informational pamphlet on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause, as prepared and published by the Department of Health pursuant to the bill, during the visit. The bill provides that, within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the Department of Health is to prepare and publish on its Internet website an informational pamphlet on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. | In Committee |
| AJR125 | Designates October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in New Jersey. Perimenopause is the time during which a woman's body makes the natural transition to menopause and often begins about eight to 10 years before menopause. Perimenopause is a natural process caused by the gradual decline of ovary function and estrogen production, during which ovulation may become erratic, the menstrual cycle lengthens, and flow may become irregular before a woman's final period. Common symptoms can last for a few months to many years and may include: irregular periods or skipping periods; periods that are heavier or lighter than usual; hot flashes; vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex; urinary urgency; sleep problems; changes in mood; and depression. Perimenopause is a lesser known stage of the menopause process and individuals may not realize that the symptoms the person is experiencing are associated with perimenopause and may instead attribute the symptoms to ageing, stress, anxiety, and depression, which may result in the delay of appropriate treatment from health care professionals. October 11 is recognized as "World Perimenopause Day" with the purpose of educating people about mental health and the early signs of perimenopause and supporting women going through perimenopause who may feel lost. It is altogether fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in order to support women going through perimenopause, to raise awareness of the realities of perimenopause and the available disease management options, and to combat stigma and misinformation concerning perimenopause. | In Committee |
| AJR124 | Designates October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in New Jersey. Postmenopause is the period of time after menopause after a woman's menstrual periods have ceased for 12 consecutive months. Natural postmenopause typically occurs sometime between a woman's late 40s and early 60s, with the average postmenopausal age being 51 years old. Postmenopause is caused by the same hormonal changes that drive the entire menopause transition and can be influenced by internal factors such as fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone hormones and external factors such as lifestyle habits, stress, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. It is a common belief that the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause will disappear once postmenopause begins; however, some women can continue to experience symptoms during postmenopause, which can be very similar to the symptoms experienced during menopause and perimenopause. Postmenopausal women may be at an increased risk for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and urinary tract infections, which are conditions where early awareness of a woman's elevated risk can help women receive appropriate and timely healthcare. A bone density screening test is an example of an important screening tool for postmenopausal women that can help determine the levels of calcium in bones and allow postmenopausal women to take timely action to prevent osteoporosis. Since 2009, the International Menopause Society, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has designated October as World Menopause Awareness Month, with October 18 celebrated as World Menopause Awareness Day with the purpose of raising awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and well-being throughout the menopause process. It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in order to raise awareness about the period of time after menopause, the symptoms and health risks associated with postmenopause, and the disease management options available for women experiencing postmenopause. | In Committee |
| A3590 | Upgrades burglary of residence to crime of the second degree. | Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. This bill further provides that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA). Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| A3574 | Establishes Medicaid Managed Care Organization Oversight Program. | This bill would require the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) Oversight Program to ensure the availability of accessible health care for individuals who are enrolled in the NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid programs. The Office of the State Auditor conducted an audit of the Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, Medicaid Provider Networks for the period July 1, 2013 to May 31, 2016. Information from the audit indicated that managed care organizations (MCOs) which are contracted with the State to provide health benefits to Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries did not provide adequate access to: general acute care hospital service networks; dental providers; and accurate online provider directories. Additionally, the MCOs were not adequately reporting claims inactivity for providers and had provider panel sizes which exceeded the eligible limits. Furthermore, the audit recommended that the department take certain actions to ensure that the MCOs are meeting the contractual obligations regarding access to quality care and provider availability. This bill requires each MCO contractor to submit updated provider data and beneficiary data on a quarterly basis to the Medicaid MCO Oversight Program in a format designated by the Medicaid MCO Oversight Program. The submitted data will allow the Medicaid MCO Oversight Program to accurately determine if the MCOs are providing adequate network adequacy to the enrolled beneficiaries. Additionally, the audit disclosed that the MCOs are collecting updated beneficiary information but there is no currently implemented mechanism to share this data with the department. Without updated beneficiary information, the department is not able to ensure network adequacy. The updated beneficiary information collected by the MCOs could also streamline the work of entities, such as county welfare offices, which enroll individuals in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare. To ensure the sharing of information, this bill requires the Medicaid MCO Oversight Program to share any updated beneficiary information with county welfare offices, or any other entity which is responsible for the enrollment or re-enrollment of beneficiaries in the Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare program. The audit also determined that the information in the MCOs' on-line directories containing eligible providers, and these providers' locations, was not always accurate. Therefore, this bill requires the Medicaid MCO Oversight Program to establish an independent verification system to annually verify that at least 20 percent of the information provided to the program from the MCO contractors is accurate and that 100 percent of the providers listed are eligible Medicaid providers. The audit also revealed that there was a need for the MCOs to identify inactive providers. To rectify this situation, the bill requires the MCO contractors to submit claims inactivity reports for all providers that meet the claims inactivity criteria established by the Medicaid MCO Oversight Program for that MCO contractor. Additionally, the audit disclosed that a small number of MCO contractors were listing providers as "eligible" who had patient panel sizes that exceeded acceptable numbers. This bill would require MCO contractors to verify that all of the participating providers' panel sizes do not exceed criteria established by the Medicaid MCO Oversight program for that MCO contractor. The bill also requires the panel size criteria for each provider specialty to include all patients of the provider, notwithstanding the patient's health insurance carrier. It is unclear what sanctions are currently being brought against MCO contractors that do not comply with the current contracts. Consequences for not meeting the requirements of this bill will be a minimum $50,000 fine for each failure to submit information as required pursuant to the bill. If, after an administrative hearing, the MCO fails to pay the fine, the MCO may be barred from contracting with the department for five years. Lastly, the bill requires an annual report containing the information provided to the program from the MCOs no later than 90 days from the first day of the calendar year. To evaluate longer term changes, the bill requires the Office of State Auditor to conduct a follow up audit on MCO provider networks three years after enactment. | In Committee |
| A3566 | Establishes Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement in DLPS. | This bill establishes a Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety. Pursuant to the bill, the purpose of the division would be to compile information, raise public awareness, and act as a centralized resource for law enforcement agencies concerning crimes and offenses related to marijuana and cannabis. The bill provides that the division would be responsible for establishing and maintaining a database of the following information: (1) the number of arrests made annually for driving while intoxicated or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs in which alleged marijuana or cannabis possession or use was involved in the arrest; (2) the number of arrests, dismissals of charges, convictions, and adjudications of delinquency made annually related to marijuana and cannabis; and (3) information concerning any marijuana or cannabis seized pursuant to the State's forfeiture law. The bill also requires the division to establish a public awareness campaign concerning marijuana and cannabis use and driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel. The public awareness campaign would be required to include, but not be limited to, information concerning the risk of motor vehicle and vessel crashes associated with driving under the influence of marijuana or cannabis and the risks of the combined use of marijuana or cannabis and alcohol. Under the bill, the division would be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature, which includes the information required to be compiled and maintained in the database and the division's activities related to the public awareness campaign. The report also would include any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate by the division. | In Committee |
| A3576 | Requires menopause informational pamphlet to be distributed under certain circumstances. | This bill requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. Under the bill, commencing 180 days following the bill's effective date, a licensed health care professional who performs an annual physical examination on a female patient who is between the ages of 35 and 39 is to provide the female patient a pamphlet containing information on premature menopause, early menopause, and primary ovarian insufficiency, as prepared and published by the Department of Health pursuant to the bill, during the visit. The bill provides that, within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the Department of Health is to prepare and publish on its Internet website a pamphlet containing information on each stage of menopause. | In Committee |
| AR102 | Urges Congress to respond to consolidation of ticket industry. | This resolution urges Congress to respond to the consolidation of the ticket industry. In 2010, Live Nation Entertainment, the world's largest event promoter and venue operator, merged with Ticketmaster, the world's largest ticketing platform. This merger allowed both companies to become even more powerful, controlling an estimated 70 percent of the ticketing and live event venue markets. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the live entertainment industry, Live Nation reported that it put on more than 40,000 events around the world and sold 485 million tickets. The company also owns more than 300 venues around the world, the most in the industry. In the years since the merger with Ticketmaster, Live Nation has been accused multiple times of abusing its market dominance and bullying smaller competitors. In 2019, the United States Department of Justice alleged that Live Nation "repeatedly violated" the consent decree the company entered with the federal government at the time of the merger. These alleged violations include threatening to withhold tours from performing at competing venues if those venues did not sign deals with Ticketmaster. Live entertainment is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, and New Jersey contributes to that with its dozens of venues hosting a wide variety of shows. However, Live Nation's practices and its dominance of the market make it so the majority of the profits do not go to performers or independent venue owners. These practices also harm consumers by making it difficult to purchase affordable tickets at initial sales, forcing them to pay inflated prices due to surge pricing or additional fees, or purchase tickets on resale markets that result in even higher prices. | In Committee |
| A3572 | Requires each nursing home to employ patient advocate. | This bill requires each nursing home to employ a patient advocate. Under the bill, each nursing home is to employ a patient advocate on a full-time or part-time basis who is a health care professional or social worker with previous employment in a nursing home. At the request of a nursing home resident or the family member of a nursing home resident, the patient advocate is to advocate for nursing home residents and negotiate with the nursing home on behalf of nursing home residents. The bill provides that a patient advocate is to notify the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman if a nursing home violates the rights of a nursing home resident. | In Committee |
| A3570 | Imposes minimum staffing requirements and certain reporting requirements on certain long-term care facilities. | This bill imposes minimum staffing requirements and certain reporting requirements on certain long-term care facilities. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) is to establish a training program for health care providers in licensed long-term health care facilities that provide specialized care of patients with Alzheimer's disease, which is to include training on memory care therapy. Under the bill, the commissioner is to establish a minimum number of staff to be employed by a long-term care facility that provides specialized care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, which staff is to be trained in providing care to patients with Alzheimer's disease. At least one staff member trained in memory care is to be present at all times in a long-term care facility that provides specialized care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The commissioner is to require a long-term care facility that provides specialized care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders to annually certify compliance with memory care practices, which is to include enrichment activities for patients, under standards promulgated by the commissioner. Under the bill, the commissioner is to contract with a third-party to review and track the antipsychotic drug administration practices of long-term care facilities to determine if those facilities excessively prescribe antipsychotic medication to patients with Alzheimer's disease in a manner that is harmful to those patients, as determined by a consensus of physicians with expertise in the administration of antipsychotic medication and Alzheimer's disease. The commissioner is to create a publicly available report summarizing data collected on the usage of antipsychotic medication by long-term care facilities and issue a plan for corrective action to a long-term care facility that is deemed to excessively prescribe antipsychotic medication to patients with Alzheimer's disease in a manner that is harmful to those patients. The bill provides that a long-term care facility that provides specialized care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders is to provide an annual report to the Department of Health containing data on the administration of antipsychotic mediation to patients with Alzheimer's disease, as determined by the department. | In Committee |
| A3568 | Allows persons who qualify under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to become law enforcement and corrections officers. | This bill allows persons who have been granted relief under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law enforcement officers, State and county correctional police officers, and juvenile corrections officers. Under current law, a person is required to be a United States citizen as a prerequisite to being appointed as a law enforcement or corrections officer. The DACA program was established by the federal government to protect from deportation certain noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children and allow them to receive work permits. Under this bill, persons who qualify under the DACA program would be eligible to become law enforcement or corrections officers. The bill also clarifies that a person who qualifies under the DACA program and is appointed as a law enforcement or corrections officer would be entitled carry a firearm in the course of the officer's employment and when required by the officer's supervising authority. | In Committee |
| A3575 | Provides comprehensive Medicaid benefits to certain individuals formerly in foster care. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for Section 1115 demonstration authority to extend New Jersey FamilyCare coverage to individuals up to age 26 who were in foster care under the responsibility of another state when the individual attained the age at which said state has selected for termination of federal foster care assistance under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.670 et seq.). These former foster youth would be eligible for New Jersey FamilyCare coverage up to age 26, regardless of income or resources. The bill brings the State into compliance with federal law, pursuant to the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, Pub.L.115-271 (42 U.S.C. s.1396a et seq.). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows young adults to maintain health insurance coverage under their parents' or guardians' health plan until age 26, provided the health plan extends coverage to dependents. In order to provide a parallel benefit to former foster youth who were enrolled in Medicaid at the time that they aged out of the foster care system, the ACA added these youth as a new, mandatory Medicaid eligibility group at section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of the federal Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1396 et seq.). As of April 2023, according to United States Department of Health and Human Services, eleven states have extended Medicaid coverage to former foster youth from other states up to age 26 through Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers. | In Committee |
| AJR118 | Designates second week of November of each year as "Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week" in New Jersey. | This resolution designates the second week of November of each year as "Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week" in New Jersey. More than 26 million people live with urinary incontinence in the United States. Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control, or being unable to control urination. It is a common condition and can range from being a minor problem to something that greatly affects daily life. The following persons are at high risk of being diagnosed with urinary incontinence: women who have experienced pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause; the elderly; men with prostate problems; persons with certain health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, or long-lasting constipation; smokers; and persons with birth defects affecting the structure of the urinary tract. Urinary incontinence has a multitude of treatments, ranging from medical to non-medical, preventative to protective, and invasive to non-invasive. Contrary to common myth, urinary incontinence is worsened by limiting fluid intake. Low fluid intake causes bladder irritation, further complicating issues. Furthermore, lowering fluid intake reduces the overall capacity of the bladder, which lessens the ability of the bladder to retain fluid. Though urinary incontinence is not life threatening, it does threaten a person's social and working lives and has a severe adverse effect on quality of life. Individuals afflicted with urinary incontinence often find their life dictated by their accidents, fearing embarrassment in front of friends and co-workers. The annual cost of adult urinary incontinence products in the United States currently exceeds $1 billion and that number is expected to grow as the general population ages. Many senior citizens are on fixed incomes and suffer great hardship because they must spend significant amounts of their incomes on urinary incontinence products. An overriding concern of senior citizens is finding ways to continue living in their own homes as long as possible and urinary incontinence is a leading cause of institutionalization of the elderly. | In Committee |
| A3516 | Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for up to $500 for spoiled food and full cost of spoiled medicine resulting from lengthy service outage following major event. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to reimburse a residential customer (customer) who experienced a "sustained interruption" caused by a "major event," as those terms are defined in the bill, for certain costs of spoiled food and medication, due to the lack of refrigeration during the sustained interruption, upon the customer filing a claim for the loss in a form and manner established by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Under the bill, a customer that experiences a sustained interruption may be reimbursed up to $500 for the amount paid for the food that spoiled. For any reimbursement request over $250, a customer is to provide to the utility an itemized list of the spoiled food and proof of purchase, including an itemized receipt. A customer that experiences a sustained interruption may be reimbursed for the full cost of the amount paid for the medication that was compromised. For any reimbursement request over $500, a customer is to provide to the utility an itemized list of the compromised medication and proof of purchase, including an itemized receipt. No later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, each utility in the State is required to develop and implement a system for customers of the utility to apply for a reimbursement online via the utility's Internet website. Applications for a reimbursement are to be made in a form and manner as determined by the BPU, and customers are to be reimbursed no later than 30 days after a utility's receipt of a reimbursement request. The bill prohibits any costs incurred by a utility pursuant to the bill to be recoverable from ratepayers of the utility. | In Committee |
| A3562 | Requires health insurers to cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring for subscribers with preeclampsia; requires health care professionals to provide home blood pressure monitor to pregnant patients diagnosed with preeclampsia. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State, every federally qualified health center in the State, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person, to provide, without cost to the patient,: (1) a validated home blood pressure monitor to a pregnant patient who is diagnosed with preeclampsia; (2) a validated home blood pressure monitor to a pregnant patient who expresses fear or anxiety regarding the patient's blood pressure and who requests a blood pressure monitor; and (3) printed educational material regarding preeclampsia to each pregnant patient at the patient's first pregnancy visit. The educational material shall be developed and distributed to providers by the Department of Health and shall include, at a minimum, the following information: a definition of preeclampsia; the symptoms and warning signs of preeclampsia and at what point a patient experiencing those symptoms or warning signs should contact a medical professional; and a description of how a patient can advocate for themselves in regard to addressing preeclampsia. The sponsor's goal is to provide pregnant patients in New Jersey, particularly those diagnosed with preeclampsia, with home blood pressure monitors and the training to use such a monitor to improve maternal outcomes in the State. Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure disorder that can occur during or after pregnancy. The condition can keep the baby from getting proper amounts of blood and oxygen from the mother. Preeclampsia can also cause the mother to have serious problems with her brain, liver, and kidneys. Monitoring blood pressure is therefore an essential part of prenatal and postpartum care. Self-measured blood pressure monitoring in a patient's home can be particularly critical in the case of masked hypertension, where blood pressure levels are elevated at home despite normal blood pressure in a clinical setting. In addition, sudden rises in blood pressure can threaten pregnant women between prenatal appointments or if they have limited access to healthcare. This bill seeks to eliminate barriers to home-based monitoring, such as access to blood pressure measurement devices or limited knowledge on how to utilize a device. In doing so, this bill provides for the early detection of life-threatening high blood pressure in pregnancy, thereby preventing the maternal and neonatal morbidities associated with preeclampsia. In addition, the bill directs that a hospital, a birthing center, a federally qualified health center, or a physician or health care practitioner that provides a patient a validated home blood pressure monitor pursuant to the bill is required, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner, to educate and train the patient on the proper use of the blood pressure monitor; to transmit blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor; to interpret blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor; and to report to the Department of Health, one year after the effective date of this act and annually thereafter, de-identifiable data on the number of patients who received blood pressure monitors under this section and the health outcomes of those patients. The bill also directs the Department of Health to establish a process by which a hospital, a birthing center, a federally qualified health center, or a physician or health care practitioner that provides a patient with a validated home blood pressure monitor under the bill is able to submit a claim to the department for the reimbursement of the cost of the validated home blood pressure monitor and any provider time used to educate and train the patient on the proper use of the blood pressure monitor, to transmit blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor, and to interpret blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor, provided that the patient does not have coverage of such benefits from a third party, such as an insurance carrier or medical assistance program. The bill appropriations $1 million to the department to issue these reimbursements and requires that any unspent balance at the end of the current fiscal year be appropriated for the same purpose in the next fiscal year. Finally, under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is mandated to report to the Governor and to the Legislature, 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, on the health care outcomes of patients provided blood pressure monitors under the bill, which report is to include: the number of patients who received blood pressure monitors, disaggregated by those patients who were diagnosed with preeclampsia and those patients who requested blood pressure monitors; and the number of patients who received blood pressure monitors who: had documented improvement with blood pressure following the receipt of the monitor, required hospitalization due to blood pressure issues following the receipt of the monitor, and experienced maternal mortality related to preeclampsia. The bill also requires health insurers to provide coverage for self-measured blood pressure monitoring for any subscriber who is diagnosed with preeclampsia, which coverage is to include the provision of a validated home blood pressure monitor and the reimbursement of provider time used to educate and train the subscriber on the proper use of the blood pressure monitor, to transmit blood pressure data from the subscriber's blood pressure monitor, and to interpret blood pressure data from the subscriber's blood pressure monitor. Specifically, this provision of the bill affects health, hospital, and medical service corporations; individual and group health insurance policies; health maintenance organizations; individual health benefits plans; small employer health benefits plans; the State Health Benefits Program; the School Employees' Health Benefits Program; and the State Medicaid Program. | In Committee |
| A3563 | Establishes the "Urban Wealth Fund Pilot Program." | This bill would establish the "Urban Wealth Fund Pilot Program" for the purpose of determining whether identification of undervalued publicly-owned assets, which are capable of generating revenue, and enhancing the ability of those assets to generate revenue, by depoliticizing and professionalizing management and control over those assets, is viable and should be extended statewide. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) would develop program details, in consultation with the State Treasurer, the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, and the Chief Diversity Officer in the State Department of the Treasury. The purpose of the program is to:· encourage State entities and pilot municipalities to identify publicly-owned assets that are capable of generating revenue;· select publicly-owned assets to be held in the urban wealth fund;· contract with a private asset management firm or firms to manage publicly-owned assets held in the urban wealth fund in a manner designed to enhance the revenue generated from those assets;· serve as a holding company for publicly-owned assets held in the urban wealth fund;· facilitate the transfer of management of selected publicly-owned assets to the private asset management firm or firms; and· enable participating State entities and pilot municipalities to allocate increased revenue derived from publicly-owned assets held by the urban wealth fund to specific public purposes, including:o assistance to minority-owned businesses;o improvements to infrastructure;o investments in education; ando reductions in property taxes. The bill would require the EDA to establish program guidelines and establish criteria to evaluate assets for inclusion in the program. The bill would direct the EDA to: notify State entities and pilot municipalities of the opportunity to participate in the pilot program; devise forms and procedures to enable State entities and pilot municipalities to apply to participate in the program; and provide a portal on its Internet website to enable State entities, pilot municipalities, and private asset management firms to submit to the authority questions about the program, and to submit applications to participate in the program. A State entity or pilot municipality interested in participating in the program may, in accordance with program guidelines to be established by the EDA:· undertake an inventory and evaluation of its assets for the purpose of identifying assets that have sound commercial viability. · conduct a valuation of assets identified as having sound commercial viability for the purpose of determining the current value and the potential value of each publicly-owned asset.· identify publicly-owned assets that are undervalued and underleveraged.· undertake a preliminary assessment of the structural issues, financial benefits and risks, and social and policy impacts of participating in the program.· identify assets to include in an application to participate in the program.· submit an application to the EDA in accordance with program guidelines established by the EDA. Upon receipt of an application, the EDA would:· assess the structural issues, financial benefits and risks, and social and policy impacts of including assets in the urban wealth fund;· preliminarily screen and evaluate each asset identified in an application against established program criteria and rank each asset based on the likelihood that inclusion of the asset in the program may result in a significant increase in revenue generated from the asset; and· determine whether to approve an application, in whole or in part, or with conditions, and determine which assets identified in an application to include in the program. The bill would authorize the EDA to engage in negotiations with an applicant for the purpose of assisting the applicant in revising an application to satisfy program requirements. The bill would direct the EDA to establish criteria for the selection of a private asset management firm to manage assets held in the urban wealth fund and advertise a request for proposals from potential private asset management firms in an open and public manner. The authority may award a contract to a private firm or firms to manage assets held in the urban wealth fund for a term of no more than five years. The bill provides that a private asset management firm selected by the EDA is to manage assets held in the urban wealth fund in a manner that will ensure compliance with all provisions of law applicable to the asset, and program guidelines established by the EDA, however, the focus of the firm's management of the portfolio of assets shall emphasize ways to enhance revenue to be derived from the assets. The bill would require the EDA to at least annually engage in an accounting of revenues derived from assets held in the fund, and distribute to each program participant its share of revenues attributable to the participant's asset or assets held in the fund. The bill provides that a participating pilot municipality may appropriate these revenues for public purposes authorized under the program guidelines, which would include: assistance to minority-owned businesses; improvements to infrastructure; investments in education; and reductions in property taxes. The bill would require the EDA to prepare and deliver to the Governor and the Legislature a report on the pilot program, including the EDA's recommendations for changes to the program and its recommendations as to whether the Legislature should allow the pilot program to expire, extend the pilot program, or make the program permanent. The bill would direct the EDA to prepare and deliver the report prior to the conclusion of the fourth year following the award of a contract to the private asset management firm. Upon conclusion of the fifth year following the award of that contract, the authority would return control over the management of asset held in the Urban Wealth Fund to the State entity or pilot municipality that owns the asset. | In Committee |
| ACR109 | Urges Congress to pass "Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act" and fund initiatives to expand palliative care. | This resolution urges Congress to pass the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), thereby providing invaluable resources such as fellowship funding in order to expand and improve end-of-life care for all Americans. The resolution also urges the New Jersey Congressional delegation to work with this Legislature to help fund initiatives in end-of-life care, such as a carve-out from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services graduate medical education funding cap for palliative care fellowships, and State-designated graduate medical education payments targeted to State institutions looking to create palliative care fellowship programs. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient's other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment. As the U.S. population ages and develops chronic, progressive illnesses, it is generally understood that there will be an insufficient number of palliative care specialists to serve all patients with serious illness and their families and caregivers. Traditional medical education focuses on providing physicians with the skills to diagnose and treat illness. Optimal end-of-life care requires a physician to be able to diagnose, prognosticate, establish goals of care with the patient based on the prognosis, and then provide treatment to best respect and effectuate the mutually agreed upon goals of care. As such, there is a need for physicians specializing in palliative care to effectively communicate with patients and their families on advance care planning, end-of-life care, and informed consent discussions. On June 27, 2018, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed H.R.1676, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). This legislation will authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants or contracts for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers, promote the career development of nurses and physicians in palliative care through fellowship funding and academic career awards, and promote research and outreach in the delivery of care for patient with serious or life-threatening illness. The Senate version of PCHETA, S.693, was introduced on March 22, 2017, and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and H.R.1676 was received in the Senate and referred to the same committee on July 24, 2018. Currently, there are only two one-year palliative care fellowships in New Jersey: one at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and one at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Due to the shortage of palliative care fellowship programs in New Jersey, there is a growing need and opportunity for improvement in end-of-life care. | In Committee |
| AJR123 | Designates September of each year as "Menopause Awareness Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates September of each year as "Menopause Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Menopause is the stage of life where a woman's hormone levels change and she permanently stops having menstrual periods, and is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period. The average age women begin menopause is 51, but it can commence anytime in a women's 40s or 50s. In 2019, there were 1.2 million women in New Jersey between 40 and 59 years of age. Menopause and the years preceding menopause, known as perimenopause, are natural biological processes, however the physical and emotional symptoms that coincide with these processes may disrupt a woman's daily life. In addition to enduring the symptoms of menopause, the process is often a shrouded subject, not discussed in families or the community, which results in women feeling alone and isolated. Nationally, September is designated as "Menopause Awareness Month" by organizations throughout the United States to raise awareness on menopause. It is fitting and proper for the State to join these entities to promote understanding and encourage discussion regarding menopause throughout the month of September. | In Committee |
| A3511 | Requires contractors' compliance with federal requirement regarding lead-based paint. | Currently, the federal government requires contractors to be certified through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") program or an EPA-approved state program to perform renovations, repairs, and painting which may disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. This bill codifies that requirement for New Jersey-registered contractor businesses if the business employs contractors who perform that type of work. The bill requires those contractors businesses to demonstrate compliance with the certification requirement when applying for initial registration and for registration renewal or reinstatement. The requirement was developed as a result of the "Toxic Substance Control Act," 15 U.S.C. 2682 and 2686, addressing lead-based paint and lead abatement. According to medical research, children are able to absorb lead more easily than adults, particularly through lead-contaminated dust or paint, which can cause serious health issues in both childhood and adulthood. | In Committee |
| AJR119 | Designates October of each year as "Fire Prevention Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of October of each year as "Fire Prevention Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Fires cause significant physical and economic damage and inflict emotional scars on people who are injured or lose loved ones. A fire department has to respond to a fire somewhere in the nation every 24 seconds. In 2017, fires killed 3,400 people and injured about 14,670 people in the United States. New Jersey reported 27,409 fires in 2015, and lost 77 civilians as a result of fires. Furthermore, five firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty in New Jersey in 2015. Raising awareness about fire prevention can prevent fires and save lives. 17.5 percent of building fires that resulted in fatalities, and 11.4 percent of building fires that caused injuries, were the result of careless actions such as leaving stoves unattended or not properly disposing of cigarettes. New Jersey law requires schools hold at least one fire drill per month to prepare for a potential fire. October is a peak month for college campus dormitory fires, and October 9th is the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which started National Fire Prevention Week. In order to enhance public safety and encourage fire prevention, it is important to raise public awareness about the dangers of fires and how to prevent them. | In Committee |
| A3502 | Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for persons who commit carjacking, theft of motor vehicle, or burglary. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for the crimes of car theft, carjacking, and burglary. The bill provides that if, upon motion by the prosecutor, the court finds probable cause a defendant committed: (1) theft of a motor vehicle or burglary in furtherance of car theft and the defendant has a prior conviction within the preceding 12 months or prior pending charges for any of those crimes; or (2) carjacking, there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person be detained pending trial. Under current law, the rebuttable presumption applies when the court finds probable cause that the defendant committed murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. The bill would expand the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention to car theft, carjackings, and burglary. Finally, the bill requires, after the one-year expiration of the bill, that the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) report to the Legislature and the Governor on the number of individuals detained under the presumption of pretrial detention after an individual commits the crime of car theft, carjacking, or burglary, the rehabilitation of offenders, and other related objectives of pretrial detention. | In Committee |
| A3499 | Requires BPU to post on its website report from public utility on public utility's capital investments in response to petition from public utility to increase rates. | This bill provides that when filing a petition with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for an increase in a public utility's base rates, the public utility is to provide the BPU with a report that includes an analysis of the public utility's capital investments, in a form and manner determined by the BPU, for the purpose of determining the level of revenues necessary to afford the public utility an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return on prudently incurred capital investments in the public utility's rate base. Within 30 days of receiving the report, the BPU is to examine its contents and post the report on the BPU's Internet website. Prior to posting the report on its Internet website, the BPU is to remove or redact from the report any contents that the BPU determines to be confidential information. | In Committee |
| A3506 | Grants child placed in resource family care and resource family parents the right to be notified when case manager or supervisor is assigned to child; grants child in resource family care right to be notified of certain property and benefits. | This bill amends the "Child Placement Bill of Rights Act" to grant a child placed in resource family care and the child's resource family parents the right to be promptly notified of the identity and contact information of the child's case manager or supervisor, and if a new case manager or supervisor is assigned to the child. The bill further amends the "Child Placement Bill of Rights Act" to grant a child placed in resource family care the right to be promptly notified of property and benefits to which the child is the owner or beneficiary at the time of the child's placement outside of the child's home, including but not limited to federal Social Security benefits; to be informed of the department's intent to file for federal benefits on the child's behalf; and to have an opportunity to review the contents of any application form for federal benefits filed on the child's behalf prior to submission. | In Committee |
| A3498 | Requires construction permit and inspections for certain work involving lead paint on home exterior. | This bill would require the owner of a residential building constructed, or partially constructed, prior to 1979, to obtain a construction permit before painting, or removing existing paint from, the building's exterior. This permit requirement would apply if existing paint is present in the area of the planned work. When lead builds up in the body over months or years, lead poisoning occurs. Lead exposure, even in small amounts can cause serious health problems in both children and adults. Those at most risk are children younger than six years old. As a result of lead exposure and poisoning even in small levels, mental and physical development can be compromised. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. Lead-based paint and dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources include contaminated air, old water lines and pipes, and soil. This bill is intended to help prevent the lead contamination of the air and soil that can result from working with old lead paint on existing homes. The bill would require that, prior to the issuance of a construction permit involving exterior home painting, the construction code enforcing agency would determine whether or not paint in the area of the proposed work may contain lead. This determination would be made either through an inspection, or through a review of the records on the building. If the enforcing agency determines that the paint in the area of the proposed work may contain lead, then the bill would require the enforcing agency to notify the owner that, if the owner intends to sand or scrape existing paint, the owner has to employ a contractor who is certified to conduct lead hazard control work. If the project includes the sanding or scraping of existing paint, the bill would require the enforcing agency to inspect the work site in no fewer than two unscheduled visits during the expected times of work. These inspections would ensure (1) compliance with the permit application; (2) that a properly-certified contractor is on-site while work with lead paint is ongoing; and (3) that the work is compliant with the lead safe maintenance work standards established in State law. The bill would prohibit the enforcing agency from charging a fee in excess of $50 for issuance of a construction permit required by the bill, but would allow fees for other types of permits to be raised if necessary to account for any shortfall in revenue resulting from this limitation. An owner in violation of the permit requirement established by the bill would be liable for a penalty of $150. If an owner continues unpermitted work in violation of this permit requirement despite an initial infraction, the owner would be liable for an additional penalty of $1,500. This bill would take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| A3510 | Authorizes local contracting units to establish joint venture and set-aside programs. | This bill would authorize local contracting units to establish women's, minority, and veteran business enterprise joint venture and set-aside programs. The "Local Public Contracts Law" has authorized local contracting units to establish minority and women's business enterprise set-aside programs since 1985, and veteran business enterprise set-aside programs since 2013, as a way to encourage the growth and competitiveness of minority, women's, and veteran businesses. This bill would amend the current local set-aside law to permit a local contracting unit to set aside a percentage of the dollar value of total procurements to be awarded as set-aside contracts to joint ventures which include one or more qualified women's, minority, or veteran business enterprises. This joint venture method, allowing traditionally disadvantaged women's, minority, and veteran-owned businesses to partner with more seasoned businesses into joint ventures, has been successfully employed in other places as a way to remove historic roadblocks that prevent disadvantaged businesses from competing in the public bidding process. | In Committee |
| A3500 | Creates stockpile of protective masks for use by first responders under certain circumstances. | This bill requires the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to create a stockpile of protective masks to be used by first responders in the event of a military or terrorist attack or any other event, such as wildfires, where protective masks are necessary to protect first responders from inhaling air pollutants and toxic gases. Within 180 days of the effective date of this bill, the director is required to stockpile a sufficient quantity of protective masks to distribute to first responders as necessary in the event of a military or terrorist attack or other event in this State. The bill requires the director to consult with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management county coordinators and seek input from the New Jersey Hospital Association, EMS Council of New Jersey, and other emergency medical responders and emergency medical response entities operating in the county when creating the stockpile. In addition, the director is required to establish a central depository for the storage of protective masks; create and implement a system for the maintenance and periodic replacement of protective masks, as necessary to maintain a supply of properly functioning protective masks; and create a plan for deploying protective masks to first responders throughout the State as needed. The sponsor notes that when the COVID-19 pandemic began, first responders were not properly supplied with the necessary personal protective equipment to allow them to safely aid those in need of assistance. Given the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it is the sponsor's intent to have a plan in place prior to a possible military or terrorist attack. In addition, the sponsor recognizes that climate change is impacting forests across the entire continent and that the frequency and severity of wildfires and resulting smoke will likely increase throughout the entire United States, including the mid-Atlantic region, due to drought, pests, disease, and rising temperatures. Gas masks and N95 face masks will help protect first responders from inhaling air pollutants and toxic gases. In an emergency, first responders are the first to arrive and provide aid; therefore, they should be afforded the appropriate level of protective equipment to ensure that they can do their job effectively and safely. | In Committee |
| A3504 | Establishes Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program; appropriates $30 million. | This bill establishes the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program in the Division of Workers' Compensation. The bill provides supplemental benefits to health care workers determined to be eligible for workers' compensation because they have contracted COVID-19 in the course of employment. The supplemental benefits are provided for the time in which an eligible healthcare worker qualifies for regular workers' compensation equal to 70 percent of the weekly wages received at the time of injury subject to the stated minimum and maximum compensation levels. The supplemental benefits do not commence until all benefits which are equal to the health care worker's full salary have ended. The supplemental benefits are provided as long as the health care worker is unable to work due to COVID-19 but not more than 180 weeks. The amount of the supplemental benefit is such that the sum of the weekly regular workers' compensation plus the weekly supplemental benefit equals 100 percent of the health care worker's weekly wage, except that that sum shall not exceed $1,800, with similar adjustments made to compensation paid to volunteer health care workers. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to issue annual reports of available information regarding the number of claims by health care workers entitled to the supplemental benefits, the total amount of benefits awarded, the total anticipated and the accrued costs of the benefits, and an estimate of what portion of the funds appropriated for the program will be needed to pay all of the benefits, and a request to the Governor and the Legislature for any additional appropriation which may be required to make the payments. The supplemental benefits are not to be considered in determining the annual surcharge levied on policyholders and self-insured employers for the Second Injury Fund or the experience ratings of individual employers. The bill establishes the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program Advisory Council in the Division of Workers' Compensation to advise the division and provide recommendations concerning the administration of the program. The advisory council will be dissolved, and the annual reports by both the council and the commissioner will cease, upon a determination that that all eligible health care workers have received all supplemental benefits to which they are entitled. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Second Injury Fund $30,000,000 from the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program, to be used for the provision of the supplemental benefits and any necessary expenses of the advisory council. The purpose of this legislation is to assist health care workers, whose public service has rendered them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, by alleviating long-term economic hardships due to COVID-19. The support provided by the bill is especially important in cases where health care workers become unable to work for long periods of time because of persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19, colloquially known as "long COVID." | In Committee |
| A3509 | Specifies placement of early voting locations and ballot drop boxes. | This bill changes the requirements of the placement of early voting locations and ballot drop boxes in this State. The requirements in this bill are intended to make voting more accessible to certain residents in New Jersey. At least 50 percent of the early voting centers and ballot drop boxes in a county are to be located in municipalities that have the lowest voter turnout percentages in that county. At least 50 percent of the early voting locations and ballot drop boxes are also to be placed in locations that are accessible by public transportation. | In Committee |
| A3507 | Requires all hospitals with maternity departments to maintain Baby-Friendly and Mother-Friendly designations. | This bill requires that, commencing two years after the effective date of the bill, every hospital that provides inpatient maternity services maintain both a Baby-Friendly Hospital designation issued by Baby-Friendly USA and a Mother-Friendly Hospital designation issued by the Improving Birth Coalition as a condition of continuing to provide inpatient maternity services. | In Committee |
| A3515 | Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed. | This bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioners of Health, Community Affairs, and Children and Families, to establish and maintain, on a 24 hour a day basis, a toll-free Mental Illness Resource telephone hotline service. The hotline would be operated separately and apart from the State's existing social services information hotline, the State's existing mental health and developmental disabilities services hotline, and any community-based suicide hotlines. The Mental Illness Resource Hotline would be used to receive and respond to calls from persons who are experiencing, or are seeking help for another individual who is experiencing, a non-emergency mental health issue or non-emergency mental health crisis. Hotline staff would be required to promptly identify, and either refer or directly connect callers to, appropriate State and local programs, services, health care and mental health care professionals, and other resources that can be accessed by the caller and used to address, mitigate, and potentially eliminate the non-emergency mental health issue or crisis. To the extent practicable, each caller is to be referred to, or connected with, programs, services, professionals, and other appropriate resources that are available in the same county or region of the State in which the person experiencing the mental health issue or crisis is a resident. If a caller to the Mental Illness Resource Hotline provides any information indicating that suicide may result from the mental health issue or crisis that is the subject of the call, hotline staff will be required to deem the call to be of an urgent and emergency nature, and will be prohibited from providing the caller with referrals to resources, as provided by the bill. Instead, hotline staff will be required to immediately effectuate a warm hand-off of the caller to staff at the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline in order to ensure that the caller is provided with direct mental health assistance on an emergency basis. A warm hand-off is to involve the use of phone conferencing technology, and the bill requires the staff member transferring the call to: 1) remain on the line and accessible to the caller during the transfer of the call; 2) formally introduce the caller to the staff member at the Suicide Prevention Hopeline who receives the transferred call; and 3) summarize, for the receiving staff member, the information that necessitated the transfer of the caller to the Suicide Prevention Hopeline. At no time during a warm hand-off may a caller be placed on hold. The bill would require the Mental Illness Crisis Resource Hotline to be staffed by licensed or certified professional counselors, psychologists, psychoanalysts, and social workers who have particular training and knowledge in the institutional and community-based programs, services, and other resources that are available throughout the State to assist persons who are experiencing a non-emergency mental health issue or crisis, and their families. The hotline is to be staffed by persons with diverse ethnic backgrounds, including persons who speak both English and Spanish. The commissioner will also be required to ensure that the hotline either employs or contracts with translators and bi- or multi-lingual health care professionals who can be made available to assist callers, upon request, or when needed. The commissioner will be required to engage in a public awareness campaign, using all available media, to inform the public about the availability and purpose of the Mental Illness Resource Hotline. The campaign is to include a component that is specifically designed to inform children and young adults in elementary school, high school, and institutions of higher education about the availability of the hotline. Posters, signs, and other promotional materials used in this component of the public awareness campaign are to employ the use of language that is understandable by, and appropriate to, children and young adults. Any promotional materials used in the public awareness campaign are to be made available in both English and Spanish. The bill would require the Departments of Human Services, Health, Children and Families, Community Affairs, Education, and Law and Public Safety to each prominently display the phone number for the Mental Illness Resource Hotline on the departments' respective Internet websites. The bill would additionally require the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation and coordination with the Commissioner of Health, to develop a system that requires and enables the staff of any health or human services-related hotline in the State (including the Mental Illness Resource Hotline established under the bill) to immediately connect callers to other appropriate State or federal hotlines, as needed to address the callers' stated needs and issues. The hotline connection system is to ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that: 1) whenever a person calls a health or human services-related hotline in the State that is inappropriate to their needs, the hotline staff will immediately and directly transfer the caller to another appropriate hotline, without ending the call; and 2) whenever a caller to any hotline provides information indicating the intention or potential for suicide, the hotline staff member receiving the call will immediately facilitate the warm hand-off of the caller to the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline, in accordance with the warm hand-off procedure outlined in the bill. The establishment of this type of hotline connection system will prevent instances where a person seeking help is denied assistance because the hotline is not appropriate for the person's needs. | In Committee |
| A3501 | Requires certain salary, compensation and benefit information to be included in certain job postings. | This bill requires employers to include in all job postings certain information regarding the position, specifically: (1) the minimum and maximum salary or hourly wage rate range for the position; (2) any supplemental compensation for which the position is eligible; (3) a description of the benefits provided for the position, including, but not limited to, paid leave, health care plans, and dental plans; and (4) retirement plans offered through the employer. The bill includes all public and private employers in the State with 10 or more employees, and the requirement applies to postings on platforms owned or controlled by employers or on platforms owned or controlled by third parties. Under the bill, if an employer fails to include the required information in a job posting, the employer will be liable for a civil penalty, collectible by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development in a summary proceeding. | In Committee |
| A3503 | Requires Medicaid coverage for remote stress tests for pregnant women. | This bill requires Medicaid coverage for remote stress tests for pregnant women. Specifically, the bill provides that coverage under the Medicaid Program include benefits for expenses incurred in conducting, non-stress tests for pregnant women with high risk pregnancies, which have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for at-home use to monitor fetal and maternal heart rate and uterine activity, provided that there is federal financial participation available. It is the sponsor's belief that women with high risk pregnancies are often prescribed contraction stress tests twice per week during the third trimester, but only 40 percent of such women undergo the testing. Failure to undergo prescribed contraction stress tests can worsen existing health issues and contribute to maternal mortality. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the contraction stress test may be the primary means of fetal surveillance for many women with high-risk pregnancies. Undergoing such testing twice per week is impossible for many pregnant women. However, technology exists, which has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, to allow for at-home, contraction stress tests, consisting of 20 to 40 minute sessions to monitor fetal heart rate, fetal movement, and uterine contractions, under the oversight of trained clinicians. | In Committee |
| AJR115 | Designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month. The men and women in the Armed Forces courageously defend our Nation and State, and keep its citizens safe. As they make heroic sacrifices for their county, their husbands and wives are often left to deal with the strains of relocation and deployment. Though most military spouses do not wear a uniform themselves, they serve and strengthen our Nation and State every day be providing our brave troops with support, comfort, and love. They are the rock on which their families, our military community, and our security depend. They deserve recognition for the contributions and sacrifices they make. This State recognizes the selfless and extraordinary service and sacrifices of military spouses, and designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A3512 | Requires Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare to provide medically tailored nutrition services for certain enrollees. | This bill requires the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs to cover medically tailored nutrition services, when prescribed by a medical professional and designed by a dietician or a licensed nutritionist, in order address an enrollee's diet-related medical conditions. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to provide enrollees with the nutritional support necessary to help prevent, manage, or treat diet-related illness or medical conditions. The bill provides Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare coverage for a minimum of 10 medically tailored meals per week for enrollees who have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or renal disease. Medically tailored meals are defined under the bill as being ready-to-eat or fully prepared meals and snacks that are designed by a dietician or a licensed nutritionist as part of a treatment plan to address an individual's diagnosed medical conditions, and which are intended to provide complete or near-complete nutrition. The bill also requires Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare coverage for medically tailored foods, in an amount sufficient for the preparation of 14 meals per week, for enrollees diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or obesity. The bill defines medically tailored foods as being non-prepared, perishable and nonperishable grocery items and produce, which are selected by a dietician or a licensed nutritionist as part of a treatment plan, and which are intended to provide partial or near-complete nutrition. Under the bill, the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs are to provide subsidies for nutritious foods, in the amount of $25 per week or greater, for enrollees who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, overweight, or hypertension. The food items that enrollees may purchase using these subsidies may require further preparation before consumption. The bill additionally provides Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare coverage for medical nutrition therapy, in an amount and for a duration to be determined by the prescribing physician, for certain enrollees diagnosed with diabetes or renal disease. The bill further stipulates that all medically tailored nutrition services provided under the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs be designed and managed by a dietician or a licensed nutritionist as part of a treatment plan to address an enrollee's medical condition. Studies show that dietary interventions, such as medically tailored meals, help reduce the number of hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and nursing home admissions for patients with diet-related illnesses. According to data from the Food is Medicine Coalition, a research and advocacy organization, six months of dietary interventions can reduce an individual's medical costs by 16 percent. As of February 2023, moreover, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers the federal Medicaid and CHIP programs, has approved Medicaid demonstration programs in Oregon, Massachusetts, and Arkansas that provide healthy food and nutrition supports for certain enrollees. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one in ten adults consumes the recommended number of servings of fruit and vegetable, as included in the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Results of a study conducted by researchers at Tufts University show that the majority of children and youth between the ages of two and 19 years consume a diet that nutrition researchers would describe as being of "poor quality," while less than one percent consume a diet that researchers would consider to be of "ideal quality." A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease; conversely, a diet high in refined carbohydrates, added sugars, alcohol, and processed meats is associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and early death. Researchers have found that highly processed foods, which are associated with increased caloric intake and weight gain, comprise nearly 60 percent of the average consumer's diet and account for 90 percent of added sugar consumption. It is the sponsor's belief that individuals living with particular primary and comorbid health conditions may also have specific dietary needs that must be met in order for these individuals to manage their health. | In Committee |
| A547 | Requires public agency receiving State funds to post on website use of State funds for public work contracts with minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. | This bill requires a public agency that is receiving State funds for the purpose of public work to post on its main website for public inspection an accounting of how much of those funds were used for public work contracts in which the public agency contracted with businesses to owned by minorities, women, and veterans. The accounting will also provide how much of those funds were used for public work contracts in which the public agency contracted with other businesses that are not owned by minorities, women, or veterans, and the accounting is required to be updated monthly. Whenever a public agency does not maintain a website, the information shall be forward by the public agency to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and posted on that department's main website, which shall be updated monthly. The bill also requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on an annual basis, to submit a report that summarizes each public agency's use of State funds for public work and how much of those funds went to contracts with businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans. | In Committee |
| AJR113 | Designates November of each year as "Transgender Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates November of each year as "Transgender Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey, and respectfully calls on the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling on public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Transgender Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs. Transgender individuals, who are people whose gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with the individual's assigned sex at birth, face considerable challenges in society, including discrimination, harassment, physical abuse, and social isolation. In the face of a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being introduced nationwide, with numerous bills seeking to limit access to health care, housing, education, and free expression for transgender individuals and transgender youth in particular, the Legislature finds it fitting and appropriate to increase awareness and understanding of the prejudice, discrimination, and violence that transgender persons face, as well as to recognize the beauty, strength, and resilience of the transgender community and the myriad contributions transgender individuals make to the life, culture, and social fabric of the United States. | In Committee |
| AJR106 | Establishes task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. | This joint resolution establishes a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The Centers for Disease Control has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women. Additionally, in a 2020 report by the Women's Media Center, it was reported there are approximately 64,000-75,000 missing Black women and girls across the United States. Cases involving BIPOC women and girls often are under-reported, do not receive the required level of attention by the media or law enforcement, and are categorized improperly by law enforcement officials. The systemic racism, sexism, and suppression experienced by BIPOC women and girls leads to worse health, wealth, housing, education, and employment outcomes. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive database regarding missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls. Creation of the task force on missing BIPOC women and girls will address these inequities. The task force will be responsible for: (1) developing policy recommendations to ensure first responders are culturally competent regarding the severity and impact of missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls on the communities and families affected; (2) developing training and education materials for BIPOC communities on methods of prevention and protection and social media protocols relating to missing BIPOC women and girls, and disseminating the materials in high-impact communities within the State; (3) developing strategies and recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General to collect statistics, demographics, surveys, and oral histories; conduct data analysis; and issue guidelines to ensure de-identified data is publicly available; (4) identifying traffic hubs, highways, and resource extraction sites that lead to or facilitate the abduction of BIPOC women and girls; and (5) creating a State-wide public awareness campaign. The task force will be comprised of 15 members, as follows:· the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Health or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Superintendent of State Police or the superintendent's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and · two members to be appointed by the Governor. | In Committee |
| A3425 | Increases benefit amount under New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit program from 40 percent to 60 percent of federal benefit amount. | This bill increases the benefit amount under the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program to 60 percent of the federal benefit amount beginning in Tax Year 2022. The program, which piggy-backs on the federal EITC program, currently provides a refundable tax credit under the New Jersey gross income tax equal to 40 percent of the federal benefit amount. The federal and State EITC programs are meant to provide tax relief to low- to moderate-income workers and families. In most cases, taxpayers must first file for the federal EITC before they can claim the State EITC. | In Committee |
| A1972 | Requires DOH to develop and implement plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening. | This bill requires the Department of Health (department) to develop and implement a plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening. Under the bill, the department is to develop and implement a plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services. The plan is to provide strategies to: (1) increase awareness among mental health care service providers who treat women experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders with regard to the prevalence and effects of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders on women and children; (2) establish a referral network of mental health care providers and support services for women who are in need of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder treatment; (3) increase women's access to formal and informal peer support services, including access to certified peer specialists who have received training related to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; (4) raise public awareness for, and reduce the stigma related to, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; and (5) provide available funds to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services. | Dead |
| 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 |
| A1983 | Requires DHS to establish public awareness campaign about period poverty. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to establish a public awareness campaign to publicize and inform the general public about period poverty and its economic and public health implications. The campaign is to include information on: (1) the definition of period poverty; (2) the causes of period poverty; (3) the number of persons in the State of New Jersey and in the United States who are affected by period poverty; and (4) what can be done to address the issue of period poverty Statewide. Under the provisions of the bill, the commissioner is to develop educational materials and public service announcements in languages including, but not limited to, English and Spanish and to disseminate information for distribution to the public on the Departments of Human Services and Health official websites and through a variety of entities and community-based programs and organizations. The bill also directs the commissioner to annually report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than two years after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, on the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign. Period poverty refers to the social, economic, political, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, education, and sanitation. Although period poverty is a widespread problem, there is a lack of research on the topic. It is the sponsor's intent to promote awareness of, and public actions to address, period poverty. | Dead |
| A1838 | Establishes New Jersey Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Regulatory Commission. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Regulatory Commission (commission). Under the bill, the commission is to consist of the following 17 members: (1) four public members to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, with each public member having a background in the field or business of pharmaceuticals, one public member having a general background in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and at least one public member having a background in active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing; (2) two public members to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate and two public members to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, with each public member having a background in the field or business of pharmaceuticals or active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing; (3) two members of the Senate, who are not to be of the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and who are to serve as ex officio, non-voting members, and two members of the General Assembly, who are not to be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and who is to serve as ex officio, non-voting members; (4) the Commissioner of Health, ex officio, or the commissioner's representative; (5) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, ex officio, or the executive director's representative; (6) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology, ex officio, or the executive director's representative; and (7) two presidents of a State public or private research institution of higher education, who are to be appointed annually by the Governor and who are to serve as ex officio, non-voting members. In the selection of public members, a strong effort is to be made to appoint women and minorities to the commission. Under the bill, the commission is to: (1) establish standards and provide oversight of the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the State and for the quality and use of active pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured outside of the State in a manner that is consistent with federal law; (2) promote the growth of the active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing industry in this State, with a focus on the use of available federal monies and resources; (3) act as a liaison between the pharmaceutical industry and the State and federal governments as it pertains to identifying federal funding and grant opportunities for members of the industry; (4) adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) if necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act; (5) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business; (6) adopt and have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure; (7) have the authority to sue and be sued; (8) have the authority to conduct meetings and public hearings in connection with the purposes of this act; (9) receive and disburse funds from non-State sources including but not limited to federal funds; and (10) have the authority to do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers granted in this act. On February 24, 2021, the Biden administration issued an executive order requiring the review of active pharmaceutical ingredient supply chains. The executive order directs a 100-day review and strategy development process to identify and address vulnerabilities in the supply chains of four key product sectors which are: semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging, large capacity batteries, critical minerals and materials, and pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. With regards "to promot[ing] domestic growth, equity, and resilience throughout the pharmaceutical" and active pharmaceutical ingredient supply chains, the executive order prescribes "a strategic approach that includes the following three elements[:]" 1) boosting local production to foster international competition; 2) building emergency capacity; and 3) increasing information available to the Federal Drug Administration to improve its surveillance and shortage prevention and mitigation efforts. | In Committee |
| A616 | Transfers jurisdiction over school meals programs from Department of Agriculture to DOE. | This bill would transfer authority over all school meals programs in the State from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to the Department of Education (DOE). A "school meals program" is defined to mean and include: the National School Lunch Program; the federal School Breakfast Program, including a school breakfast after the bell program; the Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option; the Child and Adult Care Food Program; any emergency meals distribution program; and any other similar State or federal nutrition assistance program that is designed to ensure that children enrolled in school, or that children or adults attending a day care center or other, similar temporary care facility, have regular and affordable access to nutritious meals. The transfer of authority under the bill would not affect any civil or criminal actions or proceedings that have been brought by or against the DOA in association with its administration and enforcement of a school meals program, and which are pending as of the bill's effective date. Nor would the transfer affect any order or recommendation that has been made by, or any other matters or administrative proceedings that are pending before, the DOA as of the bill's effective date. The existing orders, rules, and regulations of the DOA that have been issued in relation to the State's school meals programs would also remain in effect until they are either repealed or superseded by rules, regulations, and orders adopted by the DOE pursuant to the bill, whichever occurs first. Although the DOA currently has authority to administer and enforce all school meals programs operating in the State, this authority is superfluous to, and takes the department's attention away from, its main purposes and functions, which are to promote and protect the State's agriculture and agribusiness industries and lands, and to conserve soil and water resources for agricultural purposes. The primary purpose and function of the DOE, by contrast, is to support schools, students, educators, and school districts in order to ensure that students are capable of achieving academic excellence. Because access to nutritional meals is a proven means by which students enhance their capacity for academic success, and because the DOE's mission already requires it to focus on programs geared toward schools and students, the DOE is better positioned, and is the more appropriate department, to administer the school meals programs and to provide assistance to schools, students, parents, and guardians, in association with the operation of those programs. | In Committee |
| A1665 | Authorizes temporary licensure of graduated nursing students; waives fees for nurse licensure applicants who work at long-term care facilities. | This bill authorizes nursing school graduates to be issued a temporary license to practice. Specifically, any person who has graduated from a nurse training program but has not yet met the requirements for licensure as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse may apply to the New Jersey Board of Nursing (board) for a temporary license. Applications are to be submitted in a form and manner and are to be subject to any fees as are required by the board. The fees assessed for a temporary license may not exceed the fees assessed by the board for a full nurse license. A temporary graduate nurse license will be valid for one year. At least 90 days prior to the expiration of the temporary license, the graduated nursing student will be required to initiate the process of applying for full licensure as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, as applicable, including registering for the applicable licensure examination, initiating the process of completing a criminal history record background check, and submitting the required fees. A temporary graduate nurse license will immediately expire if the graduated nursing student fails the applicable licensing examination. The board may authorize an extension of a temporary graduate nurse license for up to one year on the basis of illness or extreme hardship, provided the graduated nursing student has initiated the process of applying for full licensure and submits an application for extension at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the license that includes a detailed, written explanation of the reason the extension is requested. If requesting an extension due to illness, the applicant will be required to provide certification of the illness from the applicant's treating health care provider. A temporary graduate nurse license may only be extended once. Graduated nursing students will only be authorized to practice under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse who is physically present in the area or unit where the graduated nursing student is practicing. | In Committee |
| A3120 | Establishes NJ Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Pilot Program within EDA. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("EDA") to establish and maintain the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Pilot Program ("program") and the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Fund ("fund"). Under the bill, the authority is required, within six months of the effective date of the bill, to provide financial assistance in the form of loan guarantees to non-profit organizations to support the construction of new physical spaces that are capable of generating income sufficient to repay the loans. Application Criteria The bill requires the EDA to establish an application process. A non-profit organization that seeks a loan guarantee agreement under the program is required to submit an application to the EDA in a form and manner prescribed by the EDA. In addition to any other information that the EDA may deem appropriate, the application is required to request the non-profit organization to submit proof that the non-profit organization has: 1) been determined by the federal Internal Revenue Service to be a tax-exempt organization pursuant to federal law; 2) been in existence for 10 years prior to the effective date of the bill; and 3) received financial assistance from the State, including grants, loans, or any other form of assistance prior to the effective date of the bill. The EDA may only approve the application if the EDA determines: 1) that the loan for which the application for a loan guarantee has been submitted is expected to result in the creation of 10 or more full-time jobs upon completion of construction of a new physical space financed under the provisions of the bill; 2) based on the projections by the non-profit organization, including the data and assumptions forming the basis thereof, of the profitability and financial stability over the term of the loan guarantee, that the loan for which the application for a loan guarantee has been submitted will support the construction of new physical space that is capable of generating income sufficient to repay the loan through box office sales, private donations, sponsorships, or other sources of revenue; and 3) that the non-profit organization has a record of financial stability, good reputation, and credit worthiness. Loan Guarantee Agreements Under the bill, the EDA would enter into an agreement with a participating bank and a non-profit organization qualified pursuant to the bill to use the moneys from the fund to guarantee a direct loan or revolving line of credit provided by the participating bank to finance the construction of a new physical space by the qualified non-profit organization. Each loan guarantee agreement that the EDA enters into with a participating bank and non-profit organization will not exceed $15 million per qualified applicant or a period of more than 20 years. The agreements are also required to provide for any other terms or conditions that the EDA and the participating banks determine as being necessary or desirable to effectuate the purpose of the program. The EDA is also required to establish sufficient reserves and liquid reserves to provide a sufficient and actuarially sound basis for its pledges contained in any loan guarantee agreement entered into pursuant to the bill. Loan Fund The bill requires the fund to be credited with: 1) an amount from the Economic Recovery Fund that the EDA determines is necessary to effectively implement the program, within the limits of funding available from the Economic Recovery Fund; 2) any moneys received by the EDA from the repayment of the moneys in the guarantee fund used to provide loan guarantees pursuant to the bill and interest thereon; and 3) any other moneys of the EDA, including but not limited to, any moneys available from other business assistance programs administered by the EDA that are authorized and determined by the EDA to be deposited in the fund. Report Requirements Finally, within 24 months following the effective date of the bill, and on or before February 15 of each year thereafter in which a loan guarantee agreement entered into under the bill is in effect, the EDA is required to prepare a report on the program. The report may be issued separately, or in combination with any reports required by any law concerning financial assistance to non-profit organizations in New Jersey. The report is required to include, but need not be limited to, a description of the demand for the program from qualified non-profits and participating banks, the efforts made by the EDA to promote the program, the total amount of loan guarantees approved by the EDA under the program, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the program in meeting the goals of the bill. The EDA is required to submit its report to the Governor and the Legislature, including any recommendations for legislation to improve the effectiveness of the program. | In Committee |
| A2819 | Prohibits creation or disclosure of deceptive audio or visual media, known as "deepfakes," under certain circumstances. | This bill concerns the creation or disclosure of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." The bill defines deceptive audio or visual media as "any video recording, motion picture film, sound recording, electronic image, photograph, or any technological representation of speech or conduct substantially derivative thereof that appears to authentically depict any speech or conduct of a person who did not in fact engage in the speech or conduct and the production of which was substantially dependent upon technical means, rather than the ability of another person to physically or verbally impersonate the person." The bill establishes a crime of the fourth degree if a person, without license or privilege to do so, generates or creates, or causes to be generated or created, deceptive audio or visual media for an unlawful purpose. The bill provides that the trier of fact may infer that the deceptive audio or visual media was generated or created for an unlawful purpose if the work is subsequently used as part of a plan or course of conduct to commit one or more of the following: (1) harassment; (2) cyber harassment; (3) theft by deception; (4) theft by extortion; (5) false incrimination or reports; or (6)invasion of privacy. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill also establishes a crime of the third degree if a person, without license or privilege to do so, discloses a work of deceptive audio or visual media that the person knows or should reasonably know was created in violation of the provisions of this bill without clearly identifying it as a work of deceptive audio or visual media. A crime of the third degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. However, the bill provides that a court may impose a fine of up to $30,000. Under the bill, a person would be liable to the individual depicted in the deceptive audio or visual media, who may bring a civil action in the Superior Court. The bill further provides that a conviction is not to be a prerequisite for a civil action. The civil action authorized by this bill is to be in addition to, and not in lieu of any other civil action, injunctive relief, or other remedy available at law. The bill provides that it should not be construed to alter or negate any rights, obligations, or immunities of an interactive computer service provider pursuant to 47 U.S.C. s.230. The bill also provides that criminal and civil penalties imposed pursuant to the bill only apply to the news media or a news agency, if the news media or news agency broadcasts or publishes a work of deceptive audio or visual media that the news media or news agency knows was created in violation of the bill and fails to clearly identify the work as deceptive audio or visual media. | In Committee |
| A1600 | Requires school districts to take certain actions in circumstances when school meal bill is in arrears; prohibits shaming students with school meal bills in arrears; prohibits certain district actions in collecting unpaid school meal fees. | In February of 2015, the Legislature enacted P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) to establish a process that a school district must follow prior to denying a school breakfast or a school lunch to a student due to the fact that the student's school breakfast or school lunch bill was in arrears. The purpose of the law was to ensure that a student was not suddenly denied a school breakfast or school lunch, and that the student's parent or guardian received proper notice of the arrearage and an adequate opportunity to address the arrearage prior to the school district making a determination to deny the student school meals. This bill clarifies that nothing in section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) requires a school district to deny school breakfast or school lunch to a student whose bill is in arrears, but rather to provide adequate notice and opportunity to the student's parent or guardian if the district determines to take such an action. The bill amends that same section of law to require that, if a student's parent or guardian has not made full payment of a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill in arrears by the end of 10 school days, a school district must provide notice of any action to be taken by the school district in response to a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill being in arrears. The bill also amends that section of law to include a number of provisions regarding a school district's responsibilities when a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears. Pursuant to the bill, prior to contacting the parent to provide notice of the school meal bill in arrears, the school district is required to exhaust all options and methods to directly certify the student for the free or reduced priced meal program. If the school district is not able to directly certify the student, when the district sends the notification of the arrearage to the parent, it must include a paper copy of, or an electronic link to, an application for the school meal program and contact the parent to encourage submission of the application. The bill includes a provision that requires school districts to ensure that a student whose school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears is not shamed, treated differently, forced to go to the end of the food line, or served a meal that differs from what a student whose bill is not in arrears would receive. Under the bill, a district may not permit any action directed at a student to collect unpaid school meal fees. Districts may attempt to collect unpaid school meal fees from parents, but the districts are not permitted to threaten to make a child protective services report solely in regard to the arrearage. | In Committee |
| A1920 | Extends child care subsidies to families earning up to 300 percent of federal poverty level; appropriates funds. | This bill raises the annual household income limit for determining initial income eligibility under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. Currently, initial eligibility determination in the State's subsidized child care assistance program is limited to families that report a maximum annual gross family income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $55,500 for a family of four in 2022. However, according to the most recent ALICE Report by the United Ways of New Jersey, the average ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - Household Survival Budget in the State was $88,224 for a family of four in 2018. In 2018, 37 percent of New Jersey's 3.2 million households struggled to make ends meet, with 27 percent of these households categorized as ALICE households. This bill raises the maximum initial income eligibility, and subsequent redetermination income eligibility, for the State's subsidized child care assistance program to 300 percent of the FPL, which is $83,250 for a family of four in 2022. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to establish and utilize at least four tiers to determine initial income eligibility and placement on the Division of Family Development's co-payment schedule for child care services under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. The bill specifies that nothing in its provisions precludes the commissioner from establishing a child care assistance income threshold that is higher than 300 percent of the FPL. The bill additionally appropriates such sums as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill, which appropriation will be in an amount determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to approval by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| A1871 | Establishes cause of action for residents of assisted living facilities and comprehensive personal care home providers. | This bill establishes a cause of action for residents of assisted living facilities and comprehensive personal care home providers. Current law enumerates the rights of residents of assisted living facilities and comprehensive personal care home providers. Under the bill, a person or resident whose rights as set forth under current law are violated, is to have a cause of action against any person committing the violation. The action may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce those rights and to recover actual and punitive damages for their violation. A plaintiff who prevails in the action is to be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs of the action. | In Committee |
| A925 | Allows voter registration at polling place on election day or at early voting site during early voting period. | This bill allows for voter registration at polling places on election day or at early voting sites during the early voting period. Under current law, a person must register to vote at least 21 days before the election. This bill allows a person who has not registered to vote by that deadline to register at a polling place on the day of the election or at an early voting site during the early voting period. This bill also allows a person to cast a provisional ballot if the person has registered to vote within the period of 21 days before the election if the person can affirm that the person has not previously voted in that election. If the county commissioner of registration is not able to verify the person's Motor Vehicle Commission New Jersey driver's license number or non-driver identification number, or the last four digits of the person's Social Security Number, the county commissioner of registration will notify the person by mail, e-mail, or telephone within 24 hours that they must provide valid identification no later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election in order for their ballot to be counted. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1901 | Removes exemption from law regulating patient referrals. | This bill removes an exemption from the law regulating patient referrals. In general, N.J.S.A.45:9-22.5 provides that a practitioner shall not refer a patient for a medical procedure to a health care service in which the practitioner or the practitioner's immediate family has a significant beneficial interest. N.J.S.A.45:9-22.5 exempts certain medical procedures from the above prohibition. This bill amends N.J.S.A.45:9-22.5 to remove the following medical procedure from the statute's exemption list: "medically-necessary intraoperative monitoring services rendered during a neurosurgical, neurological, or neuro-radiological surgical procedure that is performed in a hospital." | In Committee |
| A1370 | Requires DOT to implement complete streets policy that considers persons with certain disabilities. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department) to implement a complete streets policy to plan, design, construct, maintain, and operate new and rehabilitated public highways and public transportation projects to provide safe access for all users. The complete streets policy would require the consideration and implementation of design elements and infrastructure improvement projects that promote the ability of persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to travel independently. The bill also requires the department, as part of the complete streets policy, to develop universal design concepts that advance the mobility options for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, the department is required to develop guidance and policies concerning the means by which the universal design concepts would be incorporated into the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of new and rehabilitated public highways and public transportation projects. The department is required to encourage regional and local entities that apply for funding through the local aid program to adopt a complete streets policy consistent with the bill. | In Committee |
| A1867 | Adds and revises items for nursing homes to submit to DOH in annual financial report. | This bill adds items for nursing homes to submit to the Department of Health (department) in annual financial reports. The bill amends existing law, which requires nursing homes to submit annual financial reports to the department by adding two additional items to be submitted to the department: (1) any person who owns or operates a sister company, holding company, or parent company, or who is a primary owner, a member of the board of trustees, or a member of the board of directors of the long-term care facility; and (2) any person who has ownership interest in a private equity pool or who is primary owner, a member of the board of trustees, or a member of the board of directors of the long-term care facility. Under current law, the following is to be reported by a nursing home: (1) any person who, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns a 10 percent or greater interest in any mortgage, note, deed of trust or other obligation secured in whole or in part by the land on which or building in which the nursing home is located; and (2) Any person who, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns a 10 percent or greater interest in any mortgage, note, deed of trust or other obligation which, although not secured by the land on which or building in which the nursing home is located, is considered an outstanding liability on the books of the nursing home and was executed to finance directly or indirectly the purchase of the nursing home, land, building, lease or sublease pertaining thereto. The bill revises the above interest thresholds from 10 percent to five percent. The bill also adds a new penalty provision to current law, which provides that the Department of Health may curtail the admissions for new residents in the case of a person, firm, association, partnership or corporation who fails to file a statement as required by P.L.1977, c.237 or willfully files a false statement until corrective action is taken by the violator. | In Committee |
| A1865 | Establishes "Mission Critical Long-Term Care Teams"; provides for identification of and intervention at long-term care facilities at risk of operational and financial distress. | This bill provides for the establishment of Mission Critical Long-Term Care Teams, which will be responsible for identifying long-term care facilities for which progressive levels of oversight and direct intervention may be necessary to prevent the decline of health and safety at the facility or the disruption of necessary health care services at the facility. Each Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team will work collaboratively with long-term care facilities to improve the financial and operating results of the facility with a focus on resident health and safety. Each Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team established by the Commissioner of Health is to comprise four individuals with relevant expertise in long-term care administration and management, financial management, nursing care, infection prevention, social work, quality improvement, safety, and continuing professional education. The commissioner will establish specific indicators by which a long-term care facility may be evaluated for: operational and financial soundness, and the thresholds at which it may be considered to be in operational or financial distress or at risk of operational or financial distress; and the facility's capacity to ensure the rights afforded by State law to residents and to deliver the quality of care required by applicable licensing standards for the facility. When a survey or inspection conducted, or complaint received, by the Division of Health Facility Survey and Field Operations in the Department of Health (DOH), or by any other individual in the DOH, identifies a facility at risk based on any of the indicators established by the commissioner, the commissioner may dispatch a Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team to evaluate the facility and advise the facility as to any corrective measures it should take to resolve any identified issues. The commissioner may also dispatch a Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team at the request of facility management. The bill requires that any facility to which a Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team is dispatched cooperate with the team, and that the facility grant both the Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team and the DOH access to all physical plant operations and locations and to all financial, operational, and programmatic information requested | 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 |
| A2036 | Requires various State departments to provide linkages to information on "baby boxes" and safe sleep education on their websites. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to prepare and make available on its Internet website, in an easily printable format, information on the program providing "baby boxes" and safe sleep education to expecting and new parents. DCF would update the information whenever new information on the program becomes available. DCF would also be required to prominently display on its website, and update as necessary, an easily accessible hyperlink to the program providing the "baby boxes" and safe sleep education. Furthermore, DCF would be required to ensure, in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Education (DOE), and, as deemed by the DCF to be appropriate, any other State department that provides services to parents or children, that the information posted on the DCF website is also made available, and that a website link to the program providing the "baby boxes" and safe sleep education is posted, on the websites of the DOH, the DHS, the DOE, and any other appropriate State department providing services to parents or children, and is updated as necessary. As used in the bill, "baby box" means a box made of durable cardboard, filled with essential items for newborns and expecting and new parents, such as diapers, baby wipes, and information on safe sleep techniques, that can serve as a safe sleep environment for the first few months of an infant's life, and meets all applicable tenets of the bassinet standard established by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. New Jersey's program, a partnership between the State's Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board and The Baby Box Company, provides all expecting and new parents with a free "baby box" after the parents complete an online parenting education course. The program is anticipated to distribute approximately 105,000 "baby boxes" throughout the State in 2017. | In Committee |
| A1581 | Provides gross income tax credit for certain expenses paid or incurred for care and support of qualifying senior family member; designated as Caregiver's Assistance Act. | This bill, designated as the Caregiver's Assistance Act, provides a gross income tax credit to qualified caregivers, including resident taxpayers and resident individuals, who pay or incur qualified care expenses for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member. The bill provides that to be allowed a credit qualified caregivers who pay or incur qualified care expenses must have gross income that does not exceed an annual income limitation. The bill specifies that qualified caregivers must have gross income that does not exceed $100,000, or does not exceed $50,000 if married or a civil union partner filing separately or if unmarried, not a partner in a civil union, and not filing or eligible to file as head of household or as a surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes, to be allowed the credit. The bill provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 22.5 percent of the qualified care expenses paid or incurred by the qualified caregiver during the taxable year for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member that are not in excess of $3,000. The bill provides that if multiple qualified caregivers are allowed a credit for qualified care expenses of the same qualifying senior family member, the credit allowed will be allocated in equal amounts unless a different allocation is established by agreement. The bill provides that the credit is in addition to the benefit of the dependent deduction that may be received by the qualified caregiver for claiming the qualifying senior family member as a dependent on the caregiver's gross income tax return. The bill provides that the credit is refundable: the amount of any credit that reduces the qualified caregiver's tax liability to an amount less than zero is required to be refunded to the caregiver as an overpayment of tax. The bill provides that a qualified caregiver is eligible to receive the benefits of the credit, even if the caregiver has gross income below the statutory minimum subject to tax. The bill defines a qualifying senior family member as an individual who: (1) is 60 years of age or older and a relative of the qualified caregiver, or is 50 years of age or older, is a relative of the qualified caregiver, and qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, and (2) has gross income for the taxable year not in excess of the New Jersey Elder Index, as reported by the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.2015, c.53 (C.44:15-1 et seq.) for the most recent calendar year. The bill generally defines qualified care expenses as the expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year for the purchase, lease, or rental of tangible personal property and services that are necessary to allow the qualifying senior family member to be maintained within or at the qualified caregiver's or the qualifying senior family member's permanent place of abode in this State. | In Committee |
| A599 | Establishes maternity care standards for general hospitals providing maternity care. | This bill requires the Department of Health to develop maternity care standards for the use of general hospitals that are licensed to provide maternity care. The training standards are to focus on ensuring the safety of maternity care patients throughout the prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods, with the goal of reducing the number of, and disparities in, adverse maternity care outcomes. | In Committee |
| A1814 | Requires DOH to establish maternity care evaluation protocols. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) to develop comprehensive policies and procedures to be followed by every hospital providing inpatient maternity services, and every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), in the State, for the collection and dissemination of data on maternity care. The bill would require the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a maternity care evaluation protocol that every hospital and every birthing center would be required to follow in order to collect hospital discharge data relevant to maternity care, including, but not limited to de-identified information outlined under the bill. The Department of Health is to evaluate the data collected under the maternity care evaluation protocol for the purposes of: facilitating a data-based review of the provision of maternity care services in the State in order to identify potential improvements in the provisions of such services; generating Statewide perinatal and provider-level quality metrics; establishing Statewide and regional objective benchmarks that promote improvements in maternal health outcomes and the quality of maternity care, and comparing the performance every hospital and birthing center in the State to such benchmarks; identifying data quality issues that may directly impact the performance of hospitals and birthing centers in providing maternity care services; encouraging hospitals and birthing centers that provide inpatient maternity services to participate in quality improvement collaboratives; and researching the association between clinical practices, the quality of maternal care, and maternal health care outcomes. No later than one year after the enactment of the bill, and every year after, the commissioner would report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the findings of the evaluation required pursuant to the bill. The report would include any recommendations for legislative action that the commissioner deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| A1794 | Creates special education unit within the Office of Administrative Law; requires annual report. | This bill would establish a unit within the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) dedicated to special education cases. The special education unit would consist of administrative law judges having expertise in special education law. The number of administrative law judges in the unit would be proportional to the number and complexity of special education cases referred to the OAL. Under the bill, all contested cases concerning special education law referred to the OAL would be assigned to and adjudicated by the administrative law judges in the special education unit. The bill directs the director and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the OAL to prepare an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature regarding: the number of special education cases referred to the special education unit during the reporting period; the number of special education cases resolved by the special education unit during the reporting period; the average number of cases pending before the special education unit during the reporting period; the average time to resolution of the special education cases; a brief description of the outcome of the resolved cases; the number of administrative law judges currently assigned to the special education unit; recommendations as to whether the number of administrative law judges is sufficient to render decisions within federal and State-mandated time periods and, if not, recommendations as to the number of administrative law judges needed to enable the special education unit to render decisions within federal and State-mandated time periods; and other relevant information and recommendations at the discretion of the director of the OAL and the Chief Administrative Law Judge. The bill has a delayed effective date in order to allow the OAL to develop a timeline for training judges and assigning judges to the new unit. The bill would take effect on the first day of the ninth month next following enactment except the director and Chief Administrative Law Judge may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as necessary for the implementation of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1659 | Establishes certain requirements and initiatives related to nurses; transfers oversight of certified nurse aides from DOH to Board of Nursing; appropriates $26.7 million. | This bill implements certain measures to support nurses and the nursing workforce, and transfers oversight over certified nurse aides (CNAs) from the Department of Health (DOH) to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, effective on the first day of the 19th month next following the enactment of this bill. Specifically, the bill establishes requirements for the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) to develop new graduate nursing residency programs; increases State funding for the NJCCN; requires hospitals to establish Nurse Workplace Environment and Staffing Councils; establishes a Nursing School Expansion Grant Program; requires the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW) to establish a program of services and a peer support helpline to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of nurses and their families; establishes annual survey requirements for nurses, homemaker-home health aides (HHAs) and CNAs, as well as for schools that offer nurse training programs and HHA and CNA training programs; and establishes a gross income tax credit for preceptors of certain nursing students. Graduate Nursing Residency Programs This bill establishes a program through which facilities for acute care, long-term care, public health, ambulatory care, home care and hospice providers, and other qualifying facilities or providers may apply to receive financial, material and technical support from the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing ("NJCCN") to implement a residency program for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses, or one of these professions. To manage the operations of the program, the bill appropriates $500,000 to NJCCN. The NJCCN is to appoint an advisory committee of stakeholders for consultation to effectuate the purposes of the bill. Among the stakeholders to be appointed are two NJCCN representatives; one representative of the New Jersey Board of Nursing who is either a licensed practical nurse or a registered professional nurse; one licensed practical nurse or registered professional nurse representing a unionized facility; representatives of various health care facility and provider associations; and two representatives of different academic nursing programs. The bill grants authority to the NJCCN to adjust membership of the advisory committee upon periodic review of the needs of residency programs for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses. The NJCCN is to consult with the advisory committee to 1) establish and update, as necessary, requirements for a residency program and 2) establish criteria for eligibility of facilities and providers to participate in the program created in accordance with the bill. Requirements for a residency program are to include, at a minimum: 1) a 12-month timeline for a residency; 2) a full-time schedule for residents; 3) support for residents by a preceptor or mentor; and 4) collection of data by the facility or provider to send to the NJCCN regarding the number of individuals who completed a residency program with the facility or provider and remained at the facility or with the provider after residency completion for full-time employment. To participate in the NJCCN program, facilities and providers are to file an application that includes information on 1) the number of spots to be offered in the facility or provider's residency program; 2) the type of facility or provider seeking approval; and 3) whether the facility or provider's residency program is newly established or being updated. Approval of an application will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority given to long-term care facilities and home care providers. Upon approval of an application, the New Jersey Board of Nursing will provide funding to the NJCCN to offer the financial, material and technical support to the approved facility or provider, in an amount determined based on various criteria, including, but not limited to, the information submitted in the application on the number of spots in a residency program, the type of facility, and if the residency program is new or being updated. The bill directs that at no time is the New Jersey Board of Nursing to allocate an amount exceeding $4 million annually to the NJCCN for the financial, material and technical support to facilities and providers participating in the program created in the bill. Lastly, a biannual report currently required of the NJCCN to submit to the Governor and Legislature is to now include various data on the residency programs established for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses. New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing Funding The bill amends current law to provide that an amount equal to at least $515,000 of the initial and renewal licensing fees charged by the New Jersey Board of Nursing for professional and practical nurses is dedicated to funding, and annually appropriated to, the NJCCN. Under current law, five percent of the initial and renewal licensing fees charged by the board are dedicated to funding, and annually appropriated to, the NJCCN. Under this bill, the NJCCN will annually receive five percent, or $515,000, whichever amount is greater. Nurse Workplace Environment and Staffing Council Program The bill requires the Department of Health to require each hospital in this State, as a condition of licensure, to establish a Nurse Workplace Environment and Staffing Council, either by establishing a new council or assigning the functions of the council to a similar existing entity within the hospital. Each council will serve the purpose of: (1) providing nurses with representation on matters concerning the establishment of healthy work environments and human resource allocation; (2) creating a forum of participatory leadership; and (3) supporting the equal participation of nurses and hospital management in hospital decisions affecting nurses. The bill requires that at least 51 percent of the members of each council will be registered nurses that spend at least 50 percent of work time in direct patient care. Each council will contain a sufficient amount of members to provide adequate representation of all the nurses working in the hospital. Each council will have a Chief Nursing Officer and a direct care nurse who will serve as the co-chairs of the council. The selection of the registered nurses will be according to the collective bargaining agreement, if there is one in effect at the hospital. If there is no applicable collective bargaining agreement, the members of the council who are registered nurses will be selected by their peers. The members of the council who are hospital administrative staff will be appointed by each council's Chief Nursing Officer. Participation in the council by a hospital employee will be on scheduled work time and compensated at the appropriate rate of pay. Council members will be relieved of all other work duties during meetings of the council. Each council member will be required to complete the curriculum provided by the Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey Nursing Workplace Environment Commission program or a similar process defined in a collective bargaining agreement. Each council will develop an annual plan concerning nurse staffing and the creation of a positive work environment for nurses within the hospital. The plan will be based on the needs of patients and be used as a primary component of the staffing budget. Each council will provide the annual plan to the Chief Nursing Officer for budget planning. The plan will: (a) not diminish other standards contained in State or federal law and rules, or the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any, between the hospital and a representative of the nursing staff; and (b) provide for exemptions for some or all requirements of the plan during a state of emergency, as defined in section 23 of P.L.2011, c.19 (C.5:12-45.3), if the hospital is requested or expected to provide an exceptional level of emergency or other medical services. The Department of Health will be responsible for ensuring that each council is in compliance and will review the plan as necessary. Nursing Education Program Grants The bill establishes the Nursing School Expansion Grant Program, which will be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Under the bill, the program will provide grants to eligible nursing education programs in the State to increase their capacity and improve the supply of the nursing workforce. The bill also appropriates $25 million from the General Fund to the authority for the bill's purposes. Under the bill, an eligible nursing education program may submit an application for grant funding through the program to the Chief Executive Officer. An application is required to include information and data, in such form and in such manner as is required by the Chief Executive Officer, on: (1) the enrollment and graduation rates for the three academic years preceding the date of the application; (2) the projected plan to increase enrollment and graduation targets; (3) the demographic profile of current students, faculty, and staff and specific plans to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce; (4) any plans for faculty expansions in order to meet the needs of an increased student body; (5) any partnerships, connections, or pathways between licensed practical nursing programs, diploma or certificate programs, associate's degree programs, baccalaureate degree programs, and graduate level programs in nursing and nursing education; (6) student pass rates for examinations administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and (7) such other information as the Chief Executive Officer may require. The bill directs the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, to develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants. Based upon the criteria developed, and within the limit of available appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer will award grants to eligible nursing education programs in such amounts as the officer determines. The bill directs the authority to issue grants in the amount of $24,500,000 and provides that no more than $500,000 may be expended by the authority for the administrative costs of the program. Nurse Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Support The bill requires the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW) in the NJCCN to establish a program of services designed to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of nurses, as well as to provide a nurse-to-nurse peer support helpline. Specifically, NJ-NEW will be required to establish a program of services designed to promote the mental health and well-being of nurses licensed in New Jersey and their families and prevent the psychological and physical sequelae of stress. At a minimum, the program will: (1) encourage all health care facilities in the State that employ nurses to access the NJ-NEW Schwartz Rounds program; (2) work to make virtual Schwartz rounds available to all nurses in the State on at least a monthly basis; (3) coordinate with nursing associations, mental health associations, and community organizations to facilitate a Statewide NJ-NEW well-being hub, which will comprise learning collaboratives that offer strategies to prevent work-related stress from causing physical and emotional symptoms, provide educational resources, and provide consultation services for health care organizations in New Jersey to promote emotional well-being for nurses and their families; (4) provide stress first aid training or establish partnerships with stress first aid training providers to support health care organizations in promoting emotional well-being and resiliency for nurses and their families; (5) establish an online repository of Statewide emotional well-being and mental health resources and referrals for nurses and their families; and (6) establish any other evidence-based initiatives that meet the ongoing emotional well-being and mental health needs of nurses and their families. The bill additionally requires NJ-NEW and the University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, or another entity, to provide a toll-free nurse-to-nurse peer support helpline, or a similar helpline. The helpline is to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week, and respond to calls from nurses and their family members. The staff of the helpline will provide counselling and support to callers, seek to identify the nurses and their family members who should be referred for further support and counseling services, and provide informational resources. The helpline is to partner with the Statewide NJ-NEW well-being hub established under the bill to provide callers with resources and skill sets to prevent situations that cause stress and the psychological and physical sequelae of stress. The operators of the helpline are to be trained by University Behavioral Healthcare of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and, to the greatest extent possible, be current or former nurses who are: (1) familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties unique to nurses and their family members; or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and profession-related well-being of nurses and their family members. NJ-NEW and University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, or another entity, are to provide for the confidentiality of the names of the callers, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling; provided, however, that NJ-NEW and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, or another entity, may establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the nurse, family member, or any other person. University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, or another entity, will maintain a list of credentialed resources and behavioral health care providers throughout the State, and provide case management services to ensure that nurses and their family members receive ongoing counseling and a continuum of care in New Jersey. The continuum of services will be required to utilize applicable State and federal guidelines while providing ongoing peer support. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to NJ-NEW the sum of $1,200,000 for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the bill. Of this amount, NJ-NEW will be required to use $300,000 to support the nurse-to-nurse peer support helpline. The bill directs that there be annually appropriated to NJ-NEW from the General Fund such sums as are sufficient to support the operations of NJ-NEW and the initiatives undertaken by NJ-NEW pursuant to the bill. Workforce and Training Program Survey Requirements The bill codifies certain existing surveys for nurses and creates new surveys for homemaker-home health aides (HHAs) and CNAs, as well as for schools that offer nurse training programs and HHA and CNA training programs. Specifically, the survey for nurses, HHAs, and CNAs will solicit information concerning: 1) the person's licensure or certification status; 2) the person's demographic information, including age, race, ethnicity, and gender; 3) the person's educational background; 4) the person's employment status; 5) the person's primary employment setting; 6) the type of position held by the person; and any other information as may be required. Nurses will additionally be asked whether the nurse is licensed under the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact and whether, during the course of the prior year, the nurse provided professional services in other states under the compact. The survey is to be completed by the professional in connection with the professional's initial licensure or certification and in connection with the renewal of the professional's license or certification. The survey for schools that offer training programs for nurses will include programs that offer a diploma, an associate's degree, a baccalaureate degree, or an advanced degree in nursing, as well as licensed practical nurse training programs. The nurse training program survey and the surveys for HHA and CNA training programs will solicit the following information: 1) the number of applicants rejected by the school or program; 2) the total number of available slots at the school or program; 3) the total number of qualified candidates who applied to the school or program; 4) the total number of current enrollees in the school or program; 5) graduation rates from the school or program; 6) in the case of nursing schools, pass rates for program graduates for the National Council Licensure Examination; 7) demographic information concerning current students and faculty, including data concerning age, race, ethnicity, and gender; 8) faculty vacancy rates; 9) the total number of faculty employed; 10) the educational background of faculty members; and 11) such other information as may be required. The survey is to be completed by the school or training program no later than July 1 of each year. The New Jersey Board of Nursing and the DOH will be required to develop and annually review the surveys required under the bill in collaboration with the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) until oversight of CNAs transfers to the New Jersey Board of Nursing pursuant to the bill on the first day of the 19th month next following the enactment of the bill; thereafter, the New Jersey Board of Nursing will develop and review all the surveys required under the bill. The New Jersey Board of Nursing will ensure compliance with the nurse and HHA survey requirements and, following transfer of oversight of CNAs from the DOH, CNAs and CNA training program survey requirements. Until oversight of CNAs transfers to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the DOH will ensure compliance with CNA and CNA training program survey requirements. The NJCCN and New Jersey Board of Nursing will ensure compliance with the survey requirements for schools with nurse training programs and HHA training programs and, following transfer of oversight over CNAs from the DOH, CNA training programs. The New Jersey Board of Nursing and DOH will each be required to take appropriate disciplinary action against entities within their respective jurisdictions that fail to complete the survey. A survey will not be deemed complete unless all survey questions are answered. The New Jersey Board of Nursing will transmit de-identified nurse and HHA survey data, and following transfer of oversight of CNAs from the DOH, CNA survey data, to the NJCCN, which will analyze the data and produce an annual aggregate report. The NJCCN will additionally analyze and produce an annual aggregate report of nursing school and HHA training program survey data, as well as CNA training program survey data following transfer of oversight of CNAs from the DOH. Until oversight of CNAs is transferred to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the DOH will be required to analyze CNA and CNA training program survey data and produce an annual aggregate report; however, the department will be authorized to contract with the NJCCN to analyze the data and produce the report, the costs of which will be offset by the department furnishing the NJCCN with five percent of CNA licensure fees collected for the current reporting period. The reports of survey data for nurses, HHAs, schools that offer training programs for nurses, and HHA training programs will be made available on the Internet websites of the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the NJCCN. The CNA and CNA training program reports will be made available on the Internet websites of the DOH and the NJCCN until transfer of oversight over CNAs transfers to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, at which point CNA and CNA training program reports will be made available on the Internet websites of the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the NJCCN. Transferring Oversight of CNAs to New Jersey Board of Nursing This bill modifies current law governing CNAs by transferring the regulation of CNAs from the New Jersey Department of Health to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, which is part of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. Under the bill, references to CNAs in the law currently governing the profession and references to CNAs in law attributing the oversight of CNAs to the Department of Health are removed and substantively identical language on the regulation of CNAs is added under the law governing the New Jersey Board of Nursing or is added to provisions attributing CNA oversight to the board. The board is authorized under the bill to promulgate regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. Preceptor Tax Credit Program The bill establishes a gross income tax credit for preceptors of advanced practice nursing, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist students. The tax credit would be equal to $1,000 per student primarily supervised by the preceptor. The preceptor is required to supervise the student for at least 100 clinical hours during the taxable year to be eligible for the credit. The tax credit program is limited to $10 million annually, and the tax credits awarded under the program are non-refundable and may not be carried forward. As defined in the bill, a preceptor is an individual who is an advanced practice nurse, physician, physician assistant, or psychologist, who meets the qualifications for precepting under the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Board of Nursing, and who participates in the instructional training of advanced practice nursing, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist students. | In Committee |
| A1601 | Requires school district to establish "School Meal Fund" to assist students with school meal bill in arrears. | This bill requires a school district to establish a "School Meal Fund" for the purpose of accepting donations to assist students with the purchase of school breakfast or school lunch and to fund any arrears in the school breakfast or school lunch bills of students enrolled in the school district. The fund will be established through the adoption of a resolution by the board of education. The board will also adopt a policy that will ensure the fiscal accountability of the fund and will outline the standards that will be applied in making a determination to disburse moneys from the School Meal Fund. The fund will be subject to audit as part of the school district's annual audit required under current law. The bill directs a board of education to provide, through written and electronic means, information to the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school district and to other residents of the school district and community organizations on the establishment of the fund, its purposes, and the procedures to be followed to make a donation to the fund. The information will also be posted in a prominent location on the school district's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A1846 | Establishes New Jersey Healthy Soils Program; establishes grant program for soil testing of urban agriculture sites; establishes Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, to establish the New Jersey Healthy Soils Program. The purpose of the New Jersey Healthy Soils Program is to: improve the health, yield, and profitability of the State's soils; increase biological activity and carbon sequestration in the soils of the State by promoting practices based on emerging soil science, including planting mixed cover crops, adopting no-till or low-till farming practices, and rotation grazing; and promote widespread use of healthy soils practices among farmers and other persons throughout the State. To carry out the purposes of the program, the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, would be required to: provide incentives, including research, education, technical assistance, and, subject to available funding, financial assistance to farmers to implement farm management practices that contribute to healthy soils within the State; provide incentives, technical assistance, and education to persons in the State to maintain and promote healthy soils; and determine whether the program may be implemented in a manner to enhance other State and federal programs that provide financial assistance to farmers. Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, would be required to establish soil management guidelines for how to maintain and promote healthy soils within the State. The guidelines would be required to include, at a minimum, best practices to improve soil health in agriculture, including urban agriculture, and in residential landscaping for homeowners. The guidelines, along with information concerning the New Jersey Healthy Soils Program, would be required to be published on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Protection's Internet websites and updated annually. The bill defines "healthy soils" as soil with the continuing capacity to function as a biological system, increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure and water nutrient holding capacity, and sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Healthy soil is necessary to provide clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes, and proper soil management is essential for soil to perform optimally. The New Jersey Healthy Soils Program would educate farmers and residents throughout the State on best soil management practices while providing farmers and other persons with research, resources, and education to implement best management practices to improve soil health. The bill defines "urban agriculture" as city and suburban agriculture including, but not limited to, backyard, roof-top and balcony gardening, community gardening in vacant lots and parks, and roadside urban fringe agriculture. This bill would also require a grant program to be established within Department of Agriculture with consultation from the Department of Environmental Protection. The grant program would pay for the costs of soil testing for eligible farmers who grow food products on urban agriculture sites. The soil testing provided, pursuant to the grant program, would be required to include, at a minimum: pH, percentage of organic matter, nutrients, micronutrients, petroleum products and petroleum hydrocarbons, and metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and nickel. In establishing the grant program, the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, would be required to do the following: (1) establish eligibility criteria for farmers working on urban agriculture sites; (2) establish guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications; (3) establish soil testing protocols and the amount of a grant to be awarded to each applicant; and (4) publicize on its Internet website the application procedures and awarding of grants. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, during each year in which a grant is awarded, on the effectiveness of the grant program in providing soil testing on urban agriculture sites and improving the soil health of those urban agriculture sites. Due to possible past uses of urban agriculture sites, soil testing is important to learn as much as possible about any contaminants, such as unsafe levels of lead or other heavy metals that may be present in the soil of urban agriculture sites. Elevated levels of lead in particular are fairly common in urban soils, and pose health risks, especially to young children who can ingest soil while playing or helping in gardens. Other contaminants are possible, especially if the urban agriculture site has any industrial or manufacturing history. In order to reduce soil contamination and improve soil health within urban agriculture sites, soil testing is necessary. This bill would improve access to soil testing for eligible farmers who grow food on urban agriculture sites and provide grants to pay for the costs of the soil testing required. The bill also would establish the "Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund." Moneys in the fund would be dedicated to providing grants to eligible farmers for the purposes of paying the costs of soil testing on urban agriculture sites and paying the costs of the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to develop, implement, and administer the grant program. The Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund would be credited with funding in the Global Warming Solutions Fund (GWSF). In addition, the bill would decrease the percentage of moneys provided in the GWSF to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to support end-use energy efficiency projects and new, efficient electric generation facilities from 60 percent to 58 percent and provide two percent of the moneys in the GWSF to the Department of Agriculture to support programs that improve soil health within the State and provide opportunities to increase carbon sequestration in soils. Finally, New Jersey, as the most densely populated state in the nation, is highly urbanized and suburbanized with limited opportunities to use its smaller pockets of open space for agriculture and horticulture. Improving soil testing within urban agriculture sites will allow for those areas to operate effectively and help support the Vision 2025 plan developed by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, the State University. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station's Vision 2025 plan is a system of responsive, innovative, and inclusive programs, farms, stations, and centers that is prioritizing investments in infrastructure, information technology, and equipment designed to enable the expansion and development of cutting-edge programs to support the future of agriculture by engaging with urban and suburban communities, supporting farmers, and assisting with climate resilience and adaptation strategies in agriculture. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station programs, farms, stations, and centers are designed to be national models for research, education, and outreach programs that can address grand challenges of the State and broader society, as well as being known for the sustainable management of the land and natural resources these efforts encompass. | In Committee |
| A1891 | Requires SHBP, SEHBP, Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to cover anti-obesity medications. | This bill requires the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), the State Medicaid program, and the NJ FamilyCare program to provide coverage for anti-obesity medications for subscribers or enrollees. It is the intent of the sponsor of the bill to require these State-supported health benefits programs to cover anti-obesity medications in order to reduce the prevalence of, and medical costs associated with, obesity-related health problems. Health professionals may prescribe anti-obesity medications for use by patients who have obesity-related health problems that have not been mitigated by diet and exercise alone. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies show that anti-obesity drugs are most effective when taken as part of a lifestyle program that also includes physical activity and healthy eating habits. While weight loss among patients taking anti-obesity medications varies by medication and the individual, the average weight loss among patients taking such medications ranges from five to ten percent of the patient's starting weight. According to the NIH, ten Food and Drug Administration approved anti-obesity medications are currently available for adult use in the United States. Obesity is a chronic disease that affected 28.6 percent of New Jersey residents in 2022, according to the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data (NJSHAD). The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines obesity as being a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Individuals with obesity are at increased risk for certain diseases and health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke. | In Committee |
| A1883 | Prohibits social media platforms from using certain practices or features that cause child users to become addicted to platform. | The bill prohibits the owner or operator of a social media platform from using any practice, design, feature, or affordance that would cause child users to become addicted to the platform. Under the bill, the owner or operator of the social media platform would be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $250,000 for each violation. However, the platform would not be deemed to violate the provisions of the bill if the owner or operator of the platform hires an independent third party to conduct an annual audit to determine whether any of its practices, designs, features, or affordances would cause, have the potential to cause, or contribute to the addiction of child users to the platform, and the owner or operator of the platform demonstrates that the platform does not use a practice, design, feature, or affordance that causes, or is likely to cause, the addiction of child users to the platform. If an audit reveals that a practice, design, feature, or affordance has the potential to cause or contributes to child user addiction, the owner or operator of the social media platform would also be required to correct the practice, design, feature, or affordance within 30 calendar days of the completion of the audit. The bill also requires that a social medial platform demonstrate that it does not use a practice, design, feature, or affordance that causes, or is likely to cause, the addiction of child users to the platform. Additionally, certain social media platforms would not be subject to the requirements of the bill. These social media platforms would include any platform that is controlled by a business entity that generated less than $100 million in gross revenue during the preceding calendar year, or any platform whose primary function is to enable users to play video games. The bill also clarifies that the owner or operator of a social media platform would not be subject to liability under this bill for: (1) any content generated, uploaded, or shared by users of the platform; (2) any content that is created by third-party entities and passively displayed by the platform; (3) any information or content for which the platform was not responsible for creating and developing; and (4) any conduct involving child users that would otherwise be protected under certain federal law, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, or Article I, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A1862 | Requires procurement of management support and other services for certain nursing homes. | This bill requires the procurement of management support and other services for certain nursing homes. Under the bill, if the Department of Health identifies a nursing home in substantial violation, or with a pattern and practice of habitual violations, of the standards of health, safety, and resident care established under federal or State law, the department may, with adequate notice and as appropriate, provide or appoint at the expense of the nursing home, or direct the nursing home to employ, contract with, or otherwise provide, a monitor or other vendor for management support services and resources, consultative services, staffing services, or any other support that may be necessary to: (1) remedy the violations or deficient conditions; (2) transition the nursing home to new ownership; (3) facilitate the safe and orderly closure of the nursing home if ordered by the department; or (4) avoid the cessation of operations of the nursing home. A monitor or vendor selected pursuant to the bill's provisions may: (1) attend any meetings of the nursing home's: owners or board, executive committee, finance committee, steering committee, infection control committee, or any other meeting of the nursing home, including meetings held with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if permitted under federal law; (2) hire consultants; (3) undertake studies of the nursing home; (4) access records of the nursing home in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws; (5) convene meetings with the owners of a nursing home; and (6) take actions that are necessary and appropriate to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the nursing home. | In Committee |
| A3259 | Requires landlords to provide tenants with certain notice concerning conditions that may cause damage or hazards on rental property. | This bill provides that when a landlord receives written notice from an entity responsible for work on an adjoining property clearly stating that work will be conducted on the adjoining property, including but not limited to, construction, rehabilitation, or demolition, that may cause damage or hazardous conditions to the landlord's property, the landlord would be required to provide a copy of the notice to tenants of the landlord's property. Under the bill, the landlord is required to provide tenants with notice within five business days of the landlord's receipt of the written notice. If the landlord, either directly or through an agent, intends to conduct hazardous work on a property adjoining a property occupied by the landlord's tenant, then the bill would require the landlord to provide notice to the tenant prior to the work's commencement. The bill specifies that the notice may be provided to each affected tenant by mail, by posting in at least one conspicuous area where the information is most likely to be viewed by tenants, or by electronic delivery. A landlord who fails to provide an affected tenant with the notice would be liable to a penalty of not more than $200 for each offense, recoverable by a summary proceeding under "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part in the county or the municipal court of the municipality in which the landlord's property is located would have jurisdiction to enforce this penalty. Under the bill, a "landlord" is defined as any person who rents or leases, for a term of at least one month, commercial space or residential dwelling units other than dwelling units in a premises containing not more than two such units and seasonal rental units, or in an owner-occupied premises of not more than three dwelling units and seasonal rental units, or in hotels, motels, or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal guests. | In Committee |
| A1860 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; appropriates $20 million. | This bill increases the Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care and mental health services according to the Medicare payment rate for the same services. Under the bill, primary care services means the same as defined under section 1202 of the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," and includes evaluation and management services, which cover the non-procedural services patients receive from a provider, and services related to immunization administration. Mental health services means procedures or services rendered by a health care provider, in a traditional setting as well in an integrated behavioral health setting or via a collaborative care program, for the treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse. Under the bill, commencing on July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Medicaid reimbursement rate for primary care and mental health services is required to be no less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to such services under part B of the federal Medicare program. Primary care and mental health services include those services furnished by: (1) a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; (2) a health care professional, including but not limited to an advance practice nurse or a physician assistant, who is working in the area of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; or (3) a midwife. Mental health services additionally include those services furnished by a health care provider with one of the following specialty designations: licensed clinical social worker, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, or psychiatrist. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require any decrease in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for a primary care or mental health service from the previous fiscal year's reimbursement level for the same service. Moreover, the requirements established under the bill apply whether the services are reimbursed under the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the Medicaid managed care delivery system, and only to services delivered by approved Medicaid providers. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services, no later than July 1, 2024, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature providing information on the implementation of the bill, including data indicating any changes regarding access to primary care and mental health services, as well as the quality of care of these services, for Medicaid beneficiaries following any rate increases associated with the bill. | In Committee |
| A2240 | Requires racial and gender diversity in membership to be considered for appointments to certain boards and commissions established by statute. | This bill provides that, when the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, or any other person is authorized by law to appoint a member to a board, commission, task force, or any other multi-member body or entity established by law, the Governor, President, Speaker, or other authorized person, as appropriate, must make the goal of attaining a membership for such a board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity that reflects the racial and gender diversity of the residents of the State a primary consideration when selecting a person for appointment on or after the effective date of the bill. The goal of attaining a membership that reflects the racial and gender diversity of the residents of the State will be a primary consideration by the appointing authority unless that consideration conflicts with the particular circumstances of the appointment to be made or conflicts with the requirements of the statute that established the board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity. | In Committee |
| A3263 | Establishes the "Safe and Sanitary Rental Housing Act." | Too many residents of the State of New Jersey are currently residing in rental housing units that fail to meet minimum standards of safety and sanitation. Landlords should be held accountable for the health and safety of their tenants with respect to their housing, and should be required to provide safe and sanitary housing accommodations. Accordingly, this bill implements various changes to State rental housing laws in the areas of landlord registration requirements, inspection of multiple dwellings, warranty of habitability, and distribution of certain information.Warranty of Habitability Section 3 of the bill provides that in any action before the court in which a tenant asserts a warrant of habitability violation by a landlord who accepts a rental subsidy, the court is required to notify The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) within two business days. Upon notice to DCA, the Bureau of Housing Inspection (BHI) is required to inspect the property within 10 days. A hearing to determine violation of the warranty of habitability may not be set by the court prior to the completion of the inspection by the BHI. If it is determined by the court that failure to pay rent was due to a significant violation of the warranty of habitability of the premises, the court will direct the deposit of the tenant portion of rental payments with a court-appointed administrator for use in remedying the defective condition. The State or public housing authority, as the case may be, will retain the discretion to withhold any portion of the rental subsidy until a reinspection by BHI determines every significant violation has been remedied. Landlord Registration Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 address issues related to registration of landlords. Current law requires landlords to register with the municipality in which the rental premises is located, or with DCA, depending on circumstances. Section 4 of the bill prohibits the entering of a judgment of possession by any court for a premises covered by section 2 of P.L.1974, c.49 (C.2A:18-61.1) unless the landlord has been registered for at least 90 days. Under section 5 of the bill, landlords are required to include the following additional information in a landlord registration: (1) in the case of a record owner that is a corporation, limited liability company, or other legal or commercial entity, the names and Social Security numbers of residence of the members, directors, officers, and registered agents, as applicable; and (2) for each person required to be named in the registration - a telephone number where someone can be reached at all times; a street address of residence; and an active email address. Section 5 also requires that a landlord who accepts rental subsidies may not be granted State funding, or a tax abatement or exemption, for rehabilitation of a premises unless the landlord has been registered for at least 90 days. "Rental subsidy" is defined as funds paid to a landlord pursuant to federal project-based or tenant-based federal Housing Choice Voucher (section 8) Program rental assistance or paid as a rental assistance grant pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1). Section 6 of the bill requires landlords to annually certify, by July 1, that the certificate of registration is accurate, and contains current information. Under section 7 of the bill, a landlord who fails to register as required by law shall be liable for a penalty of not more than $500 for each offense. Inspections Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 15 of the bill pertain to the inspection, and reinspection, of multiple dwellings. Section 8 of the bill permits the Commissioner of Community Affairs, by rule or regulation, to establish a classification of multiple dwellings in which properties are divided into tiers delineating the frequency of inspections based on criteria set forth in the regulation. Under the provisions of section 9 of the bill, within 30 days of the most recent inspection of a hotel or multiple dwelling, the owner must file with the commissioner an application for a certification of inspection, together with the required fee. A certificate of inspection and the fees would not be required more often than the schedule of inspections set by the commissioner pursuant to section 8 of the bill. Section 10 of the bill pertains to significant violations found following an inspection or reinspection. (A significant violation is defined as a lack of running water, or adequate sewage disposal facilities; infestations, excluding infestations without associated health impacts; structural deficiency; or any other condition that the commissioner may, by rule, identify as a significant violation, that does not constitute an imminent hazard, and which is not caused by, or within the control of, the tenant.) If a significant violation is found following an inspection or reinspection, the commissioner must notify, if applicable, the public housing authority that operates the multiple dwelling within 48 hours of the inspection or reinspection. In the case of a multiple dwelling that participates in federal section 8 housing, the commissioner must notify the Department of Housing and Urban Development New Jersey field officer of the complaint and violation. If the commissioner determines as the result of an inspection of a hotel or multiple dwelling that one or more significant violations exist, the written order served on the owner must identify each violation. If an application for a hearing is filed pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-18), the hearing shall be held within 30 days of the receipt of the application, and the commissioner must render a final decision within 60 days of the date of the hearing. Section 11 of the bill requires the commissioner to establish a program to assist municipalities in making inspection records and landlord information records available to the public on the Internet. Section 12 of the bill requires that the commissioner must promulgate regulations to effectuate the provisions of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). Section 15 of the bill requires that every landlord post in every common area of a tenant-occupied multiple dwelling, and include in a printed notice in the lease, instructions on how to file a tenant complaint with the BHI, and instructions on how to access and use the instructions on how to access and use the comprehensive social services information toll-free telephone hotline service, established pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1991, c.524 (C.30:1-1.1) Eviction Proceedings Section 13 of the bill requires that if a landlord enters any information into a shared database concerning eviction proceedings brought against a residential tenant for non-payment of rent, the landlord must include the following information, which shall be permanently attached to the tenant's record in the database: (1) whether a finding was made on the record that the non-payment of rent was due to a violation of the warranty of habitability of the premises; and (2) the disposition of the proceedings. A landlord or an owner of the shared database who violates this requirement will be liable to a penalty of $500 for each offense. Mail Delivery Section 14 of the bill would permit DCA to mail notices, orders, rules, and decisions, by certified mail, with return receipt requested, and regular mail, and makes other procedural changes to the process of serving those documents. | In Committee |
| A642 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| A835 | Criminalizes certain actions of individuals who offer rental of residential property that they do not own or legally possess. | This bill would criminalize certain actions by "imposter landlords," who rent out or advertise for rent residential dwellings they do not own or lawfully possess. This bill provides that a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and in violation of the New Jersey consumer fraud act ("CFA"), P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), by claiming ownership or possession of a residential dwelling without the permission of the lawful owner or the owner's agent in order to rent the property out or obtain another benefit. The bill provides that a person would also be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and in violation of the CFA, if those actions or representations cause another person to take possession of a residential dwelling in order to collect rent or obtain another benefit, without permission of the lawful owner or the owner's agent. A crime of the fourth degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Violations of the CFA may result in an award of treble damages and court costs in an action initiated by the plaintiff, and authorize the Attorney General to initiate an action on the victim's behalf. These types of frauds are often conducted through the internet, via postings to online marketplaces such as Craigslist. This bill does not apply to tenants, subtenants, lessees, sublessees, or assignees who have a lawful occupancy interest in a property. The bill also would not apply to a real estate professional operating under a good-faith understanding that a client, customer, or potential client or customer, has a lawful interest in a residential dwelling. The bill would not impose any form of criminal or civil liability on an interactive computer service, as defined in federal law under 47 U.S.C. s.230. Finally, a person in violation of the provisions of this bill would not be immune from potential actions for theft, common law fraud, or any other civil or criminal liability not expressly described in the bill. | In Committee |
| A1809 | Establishes central registry for sickle cell trait diagnoses; provides for informational outreach and genetic counseling. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) to establish a central registry of newborn patients diagnosed with sickle cell trait and to provide information about counseling, intervention, and educational services to patients and their parents. Sickle cell trait is the condition of carrying one sickle cell gene, which means the person is at risk for passing the gene on to his children and may be at risk of experiencing certain health complications. A person born with two sickle cell genes has sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder most commonly characterized by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. Currently, all children born in New Jersey are screened for a number of genetic and biochemical conditions at birth, including sickle cell anemia. Under the bill, when a patient tests positive for sickle cell trait, the screening laboratory will be required to notify the physician responsible for the newborn's care and document the diagnosis of sickle cell trait in the central registry established under the bill. The physician is to provide the newborn's parents with information concerning the availability and benefits of genetic counseling performed by a licensed genetic counselor. This genetic counseling is to include, at a minimum, information concerning the fact that one or both of the parents carries sickle cell trait and the risk that other children born to the parents may carry sickle cell trait or may be born with sickle cell disease. The bill requires the commissioner to establish a system to notify the parents of patients who are listed in the registry that follow-up consultations with a physician may be beneficial for children diagnosed with sickle cell trait. Such notifications will be provided: at least once when the patient is in early adolescence, when the patient may begin to participate in strenuous athletic activities that could result in adverse symptoms for a person with sickle cell trait; at least once during later adolescence, when the patient should be made aware of the reproductive implications of sickle cell trait; and at such other intervals as may be required by the commissioner. The bill additionally requires the commissioner to establish a system under which the Department of Health would make reasonable efforts to notify patients who have reached the age of 18 years of the patient's inclusion in the registry and of the availability of educational services, genetic counseling, and other resources that may be beneficial to the patient. The information in the central registry established under the bill will be used for the purposes of compiling statistical information and assisting the provision of follow-up counseling, intervention, and educational services to patients and to the parents of patients who are listed in the registry. Central registry information will be confidential, and a person who unlawfully discloses the information will be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a $1,000 fine, or both. Each unlawful disclosure is a separate and actionable offense. | In Committee |
| A2421 | Establishes "Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program" in Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Camden, and Mercer counties; appropriates $400,000. | This bill establishes the Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program ("pilot program") to assist certain low-income households in the payment of rental security deposits. The bill also appropriates monies from the General Fund to support the pilot program. Under the pilot program, the Commissioner of Community Affairs ("commissioner") would provide insurance for the security deposits of approved households. After entering into a residential lease agreement, an approved household would be required to pay one-twelfth of the security deposit as an added monthly payment. If, prior to paying the full balance of the security deposit, the household violated the lease agreement, then the commissioner would be required to reimburse the amounts owed to the landlord. The reimbursement may not, however, exceed the portion of the security deposit not yet paid by the tenant, or the actual amount of damages that the landlord may collect from the security deposit. Thereafter, the household would be required to refund the commissioner in the amount of the reimbursement. The pilot program would operate in Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Camden, and Mercer counties for a minimum of three years. In addition to other eligibility requirements established by the commissioner, the bill provides that only households qualifying for "very low income housing," as defined in the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-304), would be eligible for the pilot program. Under the bill, the commissioner would provide each approved household with a letter of security deposit commitment, which may be used by the household, within six months of receipt, to enter into a lease agreement in lieu of a full security deposit payment. However, security deposit assistance would only be provided when the monthly rent does not exceed 40 percent of the household's monthly income. Any landlord who refuses rent to a household because of the household's participation in the pilot program would be deemed to violate the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-12). The bill also establishes the "security deposit assistance fund" as a separate, non-lapsing, dedicated account in the General Fund. Under the bill, the security deposit reimbursements provided by the commissioner to landlords would be payable from the "security deposit assistance fund." The bill appropriates $400,000 from the General Fund to the "security deposit assistance fund" to implement the pilot program. Under the bill, the commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before the first day of the 36th month following the commencement of the pilot program, to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program. | In Committee |
| A1857 | Allows gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for purchase of classroom supplies. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. | In Committee |
| A1842 | Excludes certain income earned from health promotion or disease prevention work from income eligibility determination under NJ FamilyCare, WFNJ, and NJ SNAP. | This bill prohibits the Department of Human Services from using the first $5,000 in income earned in supporting a health promotion or disease prevention program as an hourly employee of a community-based organization, local health department, or other similar organization in determining an applicant's income eligibility, or re-determining a beneficiary's income eligibility, for the Medicaid program, the NJ FamilyCare program, the Work First New Jersey Program, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the bill, "disease prevention program" means a program that involves actions or efforts to reduce or eliminate exposure to risks that might increase the chances that an individual or a community will incur disease. "Health promotion program" means a program that engages and empowers individuals and communities to develop behaviors that improve and maintain an individual's health. | In Committee |
| A1872 | Revises reporting requirements for nursing homes concerning financial disclosures and ownership structure. | This bill revises certain reporting requirements for nursing homes. Specifically, the bill requires nursing home owners and operators, as well as applicants for a transfer of ownership of a nursing home and third party entities exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, to provide an organizational chart identifying parent corporations, wholly-owned subsidiaries, related parties, and unrelated parties that provide a service, facility, or supplies to the nursing home that are paid $200,000 or more by the nursing home. In the case of an applicant for a transfer of ownership of a nursing home, these disclosures will be based on expectations with regard to services, facilities, supplies, and payments. The bill defines "related party" to mean any organization, either directly or through contracts with a third party entity exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, providing or expected to provide a service, facility, or supplies to the nursing home or that otherwise, either directly or through contracts with a third party entity exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, does, or is expected to do, business with the nursing home: 1) in which organization an owner or principal of the nursing home, an applicant for transfer of ownership, or a third party managing entity, has an ownership or control interest of five percent or more; 2) which is an organization in which an immediate family member of the owner, principal, applicant, or third party managing entity is an owner or principal; or 3) which is an organization that is under common ownership or control with the owner, applicant, or third party entity. The bill additionally revises the financial disclosures required for nursing home owners and operators, as well as applicants for a transfer of ownership and entities to which substantial management control over the nursing home would be delegated, to require the submission of a consolidated financial statement that: 1) is reviewed or audited by a certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and 2) includes: a balance sheet detailing the assets, liabilities, and net worth that the end of the reporting entity's fiscal year; a statement of income, expenses, and operating surplus or deficit for the annual fiscal period, and a statement of ancillary utilization and patient census; a statement detailing patient revenue by payer, including, but not limited to, Medicare, NJ FamilyCare, and other payers, and revenue center; a statement of cash flows, including, but not limited to, ongoing and new capital expenditures and depreciation; and a combined financial statement that includes all entities reported in the consolidated financial report. For nursing homes that are part of a chain or group of nursing homes owned by the same parent or holding company, the parent or holding company will be permitted to submit a single consolidated financial statement for all nursing homes in New Jersey that are owned, operated, or controlled by the parent or holding company. For applicants for a transfer of ownership and entities seeking to delegate management of a nursing home, this information will be included with certain materials that current law requires be provided to the Department of Health (DOH); in the case of a transfer of ownership application, the information will be made available on the DOH's Internet website, with certain personal identifying and proprietary material excised. For current nursing home owners and operators, the following materials are to be annually posted on the nursing home's internet website, submitted to the DOH, and linked through the DOH's website: 1) the nursing home's ownership information; 2) the financial information for the nursing home, for certain parties providing services to the nursing home, and for a third party exercising substantial management control over the nursing home; and 3) the organizational chart for the nursing home and for any third party exercising substantial management control over a nursing home. Current law provides that the financial disclosures required for a transfer of ownership application vary, depending on whether the transfer involves a controlling interest in the nursing home and whether the prospective new owner has previously owned, operated, or managed a nursing home in New Jersey. The bill revises these requirements to require audited consolidated financial statements for all prospective new owners and operators who will be acquiring an interest of five percent or more in the nursing home. The bill removes an existing requirement for nursing homes to post the cost reports submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on their Internet websites. Current law allows nonprofit nursing homes to submit their Internal Revenue Service Form 990 in lieu of an owner-certified financial statement. The bill removes this language, thereby requiring nonprofit nursing homes to submit the same audited consolidated financial statements as are required of for profit nursing homes under the bill. Current law requires nursing homes to annually disclose certain ownership interests of 10 percent or more in the nursing home's mortgage, note, deed of trust, or other obligation appearing on the nursing home's books. The bill makes these disclosures applicable to ownership interests of five percent or more. The bill additionally requires nursing homes to annually provide to the DOH: 1) a disclosure of any person who owns or operates a sister company, holding company, or parent company, or who is a member of the board of trustees or the board of directors of the nursing home; 2) a disclosure of any person who has an ownership interest in a private equity pool that funds the nursing home; 3) information identifying 100 percent of the current owners of any third party entity exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, including all principals and interested parties and including 100 percent of the owners, principals, and interested parties in a third party entity identified as a principal or interested party; and 4) a copy of any lease agreements for the nursing home's use of land, buildings, facilities, or other real property. Current law establishes certain monetary penalties for nursing homes that fail to make the required disclosures. The bill grants the DOH the authority to additionally curtail new admissions at a nursing home that fails to make the required disclosures or that files false disclosures. The bill grants the Commissioner of Human Services the discretion to accept a consolidated financial statement that meets the requirements of the bill as satisfying the requirement that nursing homes report revenues and expenditures for the purposes of establishing and enforcing a direct care loss ratio, as required under current law. | In Committee |
| A1853 | Requires all prescriptions be transmitted electronically, subject to certain exceptions. | This bill requires that every prescription for a controlled dangerous substance, prescription legend drug, or other prescription item be transmitted electronically using an electronic health records system. This requirement will take effect one year after the date of enactment. The electronic prescription requirement will not apply to: a veterinarian; a practitioner administering a prescription drug or item directly to a patient; a practitioner prescribing a drug or item to be dispensed by an institutional pharmacy or to a patient in hospice care; a situation in which the electronic prescribing system is not operational or is temporarily inaccessible; a situation in which the patient requests the prescription be transmitted to a pharmacy that is unable to receive and process electronic prescriptions; or a practitioner who has been granted a waiver due to technological limitations or other exceptional circumstances. A prescription that is subject to an exception would be issued on a New Jersey Prescription Blank or in such other manner as may be authorized by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill revises various provisions of the statutory law to reflect the mandatory electronic prescribing requirement. | 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 |
| A1856 | Requires driver's manual to include information on driver's rights and responsibilities during police stop. | This bill requires the driver's manual to include information on a driver's rights and responsibilities during a police stop. Under the provisions of this bill, the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General, is required to include in the driver's manual information regarding the rights and responsibilities of a driver when the driver is stopped by a law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| A1689 | Authorizes issuance of electronic copies of vital records. | This bill authorizes the issuance of certified copies of vital records electronically by the State registrar or local registrar. Upon the request of an individual authorized to receive a certified copy of a vital record, including records of a birth, death, fetal death, certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, domestic partnership, civil union or marriage, the State registrar or local registrar will make the certified copy available to the requester in both a paper form and electronically. This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish standards for the furnishing of certified copies of vital records electronically including, but not limited to, protocols for data sharing, authenticating the identity of a requester, establishing a method of data encryption for accessing and transmitting electronic certified copies, and ensuring data privacy and security. | In Committee |
| A899 | Establishes three-year sickle cell disease pilot program; appropriates $10,200,000. | This bill establishes a three-year sickle cell disease pilot program and appropriates $10,200,000. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department), in consultation with the Department of Human Services, is to establish a three-year sickle cell disease pilot program, under which federally qualified health centers are to be selected by the department to develop and implement comprehensive sickle cell disease treatment programs and services. The department is to select federally qualified health centers for participation in the pilot program on a competitive basis based on criteria to be established by the Commissioner of Health (commissioner). First priority is to be given to federally qualified health centers located in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Trenton, Camden, and, subject to the availability of funds, to federally qualified health centers in other municipalities which demonstrate a patient population in that geographic area that is in need of sickle cell disease care. The federally qualified health centers selected for participation in the pilot program are to be eligible for financial support from funds appropriated to the department. The purpose of the pilot program is to: (1) link outpatient sickle cell disease care to sickle cell disease care in inpatient health care settings and other health care settings, which may include, if permitted by law, telehealth services; (2) provide coordinated, comprehensive, team-based medical, behavioral health, mental health, social support, and other services under the supervision of health care professionals who have expertise in treating individuals with sickle cell disease; (3) foster outreach to individuals and families with sickle cell disease and providers of medical, nursing, and social services who serve and treat persons with sickle cell disease; (4) promote sickle cell disease education and awareness; (5) develop initiatives to build a State medical workforce of clinicians who are knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell disease; and (6) establish practices for the collection of in-State data on sickle cell disease to monitor incidence, prevalence, demographics, morbidity, health care utilization, and costs. Federally qualified health centers seeking to participate in the pilot program are to develop comprehensive sickle cell disease treatment programs and services that provide coordinated, comprehensive, team-based medical, behavioral health, mental health, social support, and monitoring services under the supervision of health care professionals who have expertise in treating individuals with sickle cell disease. The department is to coordinate with federally qualified health centers participating in the pilot program and other health care facilities and health care professionals to establish centers of excellence for sickle cell disease research and innovation, as determined by the commissioner. | Dead |
| A1081 | Establishes certain marine firefighting training course requirements. | This bill requires the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to adopt Coast Guard approved basic, advanced, and in-service marine firefighting training courses for land-based firefighters. Under the bill, all firefighters in the State, paid and volunteer, would be required to complete the basic and advanced training courses, and in-service training courses. The bill provides that recruit firefighter training programs would be required to include the basic marine firefighting training course. Under the bill, a firefighter who completed a recruit firefighting training program prior to the bill's effective date would be required to complete the basic marine firefighting training course within one year. The bill provides that all firefighters would be required to complete the advanced marine firefighting training course within two years of completing the basic marine firefighting training course. Thereafter, firefighters would be required to complete in-service training every two years. Additionally, the bill requires the division to adopt a Coast Guard approved training course for qualification as an instructor of marine firefighting for land-based firefighters. A firefighter who has completed the basic and advanced training courses and is in compliance with the in-service training requirement established in the bill, or who otherwise has been certified by the division, would be eligible for marine firefighting instruction training. Upon completion of the training or other certification by the division, the bill provides that a firefighter would be qualified to provide the basic, advanced, in-service, and instruction training courses. | In Committee |
| A1915 | Allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children because of immigration matters to appoint standby guardians. | This bill allows a parent or legal custodian who has been separated from their child as a result of a federal immigration matter to appoint a standby guardian. Specifically, the bill amends P.L.1995, c.76 (C.3B:12-64 et seq.) to allow the parent or legal custodian to petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian of a child or to allow the other parent or legal guardian to designate in writing a standby guardian, under specific circumstances, if the parent or custodian is subject to an administrative separation. Currently, a parent or legal custodian can petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian, and the court may appoint the standby guardian, or another parent or custodian may designate in writing a standby guardian, if the triggering event requiring the appointment is death, incapacity, or debilitation and there is significant risk that the parent or custodian will die, become incapacitated, or become debilitated as a result of a progressive chronic condition or a fatal illness. As used in the bill, "administrative separation" means the separation of a parent or legal custodian from the parent's or legal custodian's child as a result of a federal immigration matter, including, but not limited to, arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal, or receipt of official communication by federal, State, or local authorities responsible for immigration enforcement which gives reasonable notice that the care and supervision of the parent's or legal custodian's child will be interrupted or cannot be provided as the result of the parent's or custodian's impending arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal. Under the provisions of the bill, the petition would state that the triggering event, an impending administrative separation, occurred to require the appointment of a standby guardian and that there is significant risk that the parent or legal custodian will be the subject of such separation. However, the parent or custodian would not be required to submit documentation of an impending administrative separation. If the court finds that that there is a significant risk that the parent or legal guardian will be subject to an administrative separation, a standby guardian would be appointed. Current law does not recognize an administrative separation as a triggering event for the appointment of a standby guardian and does not allow a parent or legal custodian to petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian, and the court to appoint such a guardian, if there is significant risk that the parent or legal custodian will be the subject to an administrative separation. As required under current law for standby guardians who are appointed due to death, incapacity, or debilitation, the bill stipulates that: if the triggering event that causes the appointment of a standby guardian is an administrative separation, the parent's or legal custodian's attorney or legal representative would provide a copy of a determination of administrative separation to the appointed standby guardian, if the guardian's identity is known to the parent's or custodian's attorney or legal representative; and the appointed standby guardian is required to petition the court, including a determination of administrative separation, within 60 days of assuming guardianship duties for confirmation of the appointment. As used in the bill, "determination of administrative separation" means a written determination by federal, state, or local authorities responsible for immigration enforcement regarding the nature, cause, and extent of the parent's or legal guardian's arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal. As mandated by the current law for standby guardians who are appointed due to death, incapacity, or debilitation, the bill also stipulates that if the consent of a child's parent or legal custodian for the execution of a power of attorney delegating another person to exercise the parent's or legal custodian's powers is not appropriate or is unavailable pursuant to N.J.S.3B:12-39, the other parent or legal custodian may execute a written statement to designate a standby guardian in the event of the designator's administrative separation. The written designation would identify the designator, the minor child, and the standby guardian. If the parent or legal custodian has been arrested, detained, incarcerated, or removed from the State as a result of an administrative separation, another person may sign the written designation on the parent's or legal custodian's behalf. | In Committee |
| A2868 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services, and associated transportation services, for adults. | This bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-person partial care behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services and intensive outpatient services by 35 percent, when such services are provided to an adult Medicaid enrollee on an in-person basis. The bill also provides that the aggregate Medicaid reimbursement rate for transportation services and mileage to or from a partial care services provider and intensive outpatient services is to be no less than $10 for each one-way trip, an increase of $3 from the current $7 rate, which is composed of $4.50 for transportation services and $2.50 for mileage. These rate increases will apply to services provided through the fee-for-service or managed care delivery system on or after the effective date of this bill. | In Committee |
| A2880 | Enters New Jersey into Counseling Compact. | This bill enters New Jersey into the Counseling Compact. The Counseling Compact (compact) is an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses. The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. The practice of professional counseling occurs in the state where the client is located at the time of the counseling services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. In addition, the compact is designed to achieve the following objectives: 1) increase public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses; 2) enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety; 3) encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice for licensed professional counselors; 4) support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel; 5) enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information among member states; 6) allow for the use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased access to professional counseling services; 7) support the uniformity of professional counseling licensure requirements throughout the states to promote public safety and public health benefits; 8) invest all member states with the authority to hold a licensed professional counselor accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the client is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of member state licenses; 9) eliminate the necessity for licenses in multiple states; and 10) provide opportunities for interstate practice by licensed professional counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements. The compact is administered by a commission comprising representatives of each of the member states. The commission has certain powers to promulgate rules and bylaws, create a budget, conduct investigations, assess member fees, and to generally enforce the provisions of the compact. The compact sets forth procedures for investigating and disciplining professional counselors for misconduct, as well as for communicating to member states information concerning a professional counselor who is under investigation, has lost the right to practice under the compact, or who has regained the right to practice under the compact. The compact provides that it takes effect when it has been adopted in 10 states. Currently, 16 states have joined the compact: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. | Dead |
| A1710 | Establishes certain protections for persons, providing, receiving, and allowing children to receive gender-affirming health care. | This bill establishes certain protections for persons who provide, receive, or allow a child to receive gender-affirming health care. As defined in the bill, "gender-affirming care" means care that focuses on a transgender person's physical, mental, and social health needs and well-being while confirming the person's gender identity, including but not limited to, psychological or psychiatric care, surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other nonsurgical treatments intended to align certain physical aspects of a person's gender identity. Specifically, the bill amends P.L.2004, c.187 (C.2A:34-53 et seq.), the "Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act" to stipulate that: 1) the presence of the child in this State for the purpose of receiving gender-affirming health care is sufficient for a State court to have jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination for a child, if the child and the child's parents, or the child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this State other than mere physical presence (section 13 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C.2A:34-65)); 2) a court of this State has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this State and the child is unable to receive gender-affirming health care in the child's home state (section 16 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C. 2A:34-68)); 3) a court of this State is the appropriate forum to exercise jurisdiction in a child custody case when the law or policy of the other state that may take jurisdiction limits the ability of a parent to obtain gender-affirming health care for a child (section 19 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C.2A:34-71)); and 4) in making a determination about whether a court in this State can decline to exercise its jurisdiction over a child custody case, the court cannot consider the taking or keeping of the child from the person who has legal or physical custody or visitation rights as a factor weighing against a petitioner in the case, if there is evidence that taking or keeping the child was so that the child could receive gender-affirming health care (section 20 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C.2A:34-72)). The bill also prohibits the Governor from extraditing a person who: is found in this State; was not in the state making the demand for extradition at the time of the commission of the alleged crime and did not flee; and is charged in the state making the demand for extradition with providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State. Under the bill's provisions, an attorney or counselor at law who practices law in the State is prohibited from responding to any subpoena issued by another state or jurisdiction if the subpoena relates to a violation of that state's or jurisdiction's law against a person providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State. The bill also prohibits a State, county, or local law enforcement agency from: 1) knowingly making an, or participating in the, arrest of a person pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant issued by another state or jurisdiction for a violation of that state's or jurisdiction's law against a person providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State; and 2) cooperating with, or responding to, an inquiry from another state or jurisdiction about a person providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State. Under the bill, any law or judicial ruling of another state or jurisdiction authorizing a state agency to remove a child from the care and custody of the child's parent or guardian as a result of the parent or guardian allowing the child to receive gender-affirming health care cannot be enforced by a court of this State. The bill's provisions bar a health care facility licensed pursuant to pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:3H-2 et seq.) and a health care professional licensed pursuant to Title 45 or Title 52 of the Revised Statutes from providing the medical records of any child seeking or receiving gender-affirming health care in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding, based on another state's law, seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: 1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about, the person providing gender-affirming health care to a child that is permitted under the laws of this State; or 2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about, the person providing gender-affirming health care to a child that is permitted under the laws of this State. A health care facility or health care professional would be required to provide the medical records of any child seeking or receiving gender-affirming health care in the furtherance of an investigation or proceeding if the conduct subject to potential liability under the investigation or proceeding would be subject to liability under New Jersey law if committed in New Jersey, or if the provision of such medical records is necessary for a person to engage in conduct otherwise prohibited by the bill in order to comply with a valid order issued by a court with jurisdiction over the person, or to comply with applicable provisions of State or federal law. As defined in the bill: "person" means an individual, any State, county, or local governmental entity or instrumentality, a, partnership, an association, a limited liability company, or a corporation. | In Committee |
| A1680 | Vacant Storefront Registry Program; establishes public database of vacant commercial space for small businesses. | This bill requires the NJ Business Action Center (center), which is in the Department of State, to establish and maintain a public database of vacant commercial space available for purchase or lease by small businesses in this State. The database will include information such as: the square footage of any vacant commercial space; the capital equipment included in any vacant commercial space; and the building systems installed in any vacant commercial space, including, but not limited to, fire alarms, fire suppression systems, security systems, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Under the bill, the center is required, using information provided by commercial property owners, realtors, and municipalities in the State, to update the database on a monthly basis with new information concerning the availability of vacant commercial space. The bill requires the center to make the database available through its Internet web page and to publicize the availability of the database as part of an awareness campaign targeted at business associations, state and local chambers of commerce, and municipalities in the State. Under the bill, the Secretary of State is to require every owner of a commercial property in the State to notify, as necessary, the center when a commercial property belonging to such an owner becomes vacant, if no person or entity is presently scheduled to lease or purchase the property, or when such a property becomes occupied. For many industries, commercial space is often one of the most costly barriers to entry. The expense is compounded by the time dedicated to locating storefronts that are well-suited and appropriate for the needs of a business. The creation of a public database of vacant commercial space will expedite this process and help fill vacancies quickly. | In Committee |
| A1421 | "Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act"; establishes requirements, prohibitions, and programs for regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). | This bill would prohibit the sale of certain products containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), require greater transparency in the labeling of certain products containing PFAS, establish a source reduction program concerning the proper management of PFAS, and appropriate money for PFAS-related research. As defined in the bill, "PFAS" means substances that include any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. Specifically, the bill would require, beginning one year after the bill's effective date, a manufacturer of a product for sale in the State that contains intentionally added PFAS to submit to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a written notification that includes: (1) a brief description of the product; (2) the purpose for which PFAS are used in the product, including in any product components; (3) the amount of each of the PFAS, identified by its chemical abstracts service registry number, in the product, reported as an exact quantity determined using commercially available analytical methods or as falling within a range approved for reporting purposes by the DEP; (4) the name and address of the manufacturer; (5) the name, address, email address, and phone number of a contact person for the manufacturer; and (6) any additional information determined by the DEP to be necessary. A manufacturer would be able to submit the notification information to the DEP for a category of products that are substantially similar, as determined by the DEP, rather than for each individual product. Upon submission of the required notification information, a manufacturer would also be required to pay the $1,000 fee to the DEP imposed pursuant to section 5 of the bill. Beginning two years after the bill's effective date, a manufacturer that has failed to provide the DEP with the required notification information or pay the required fee would be prohibited from selling, offering for sale, or distributing for sale in the State a product containing intentionally added PFAS. If the DEP has reason to believe that a product containing intentionally added PFAS is being offered for sale or distribution in the State in violation of section 6 of the bill, the DEP would be required to direct the manufacturer of the product to, within 30 days: (1) certify, in writing, to the DEP that the product does not contain intentionally added PFAS; or (2) notify persons who sell that product in this State that the sale of that product is prohibited in the State and provide the DEP with a list of the names and addresses of those notified. A retailer would not be prohibited from selling a product containing intentionally added PFAS unless the retailer sells, offers for sale, or distributes for sale a product for which the retailer has received notification from the product's manufacturer or the DEP that sale of the product is prohibited. The bill would also prohibit, beginning two years after the bill's effective date, the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of cosmetics, carpets, fabric treatment, and food packaging that contain intentionally added PFAS. Section 15 of the bill establishes penalties for violations of the bill's provisions, or any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and for any manufacturer who knowingly makes a false certification to the DEP pursuant to section 7 of the bill or violates the provisions of subsection d. of section 11 of the bill by making a false claim on the product label or Internet website for a cookware product. The bill also includes provisions that would allow products containing a trace amount of PFAS to continue to be sold, distributed, and manufactured within the State without the product being in violation of the bill's provisions as long as the trace amount stems from impurities of natural or synthetic ingredients or the manufacturing process, storage, or migration from packaging of the product. The bill's intent is to prohibit the intentional addition of PFAS into these products. In addition, the bill would require, beginning two years after the bill's effective date, manufacturers of cookware sold in the State that contains intentionally added PFAS in the handle of the product or in any product surface that comes into contact with food, foodstuffs, or beverages to list the presence of PFAS on the product label. The bill would require the product label to include a statement, in both English and Spanish, which reads: "This product contains PFAS," and the statement would be required to be placed on the label in a manner that is visible and legible to the consumer. The statement would be required to be included on the cookware product's product listing on the manufacturer's Internet website as well. Beginning two years after the bill's effective date, a manufacturer would be prohibited from making a claim, on the product label or Internet website for the cookware product, that the cookware is free of PFAS if PFAS was intentionally added to the cookware. Certain cookware products that meet the requirements in subsection e. of section 11 of the bill would be exempt from the labeling requirements of the bill. Beginning two years after the bill's effective date, the sale, offer for sale, and distribution of cookware that contains PFAS would be prohibited unless the cookware product and the manufacturer of the cookware has complied with the bill's cookware labeling requirements. A violation of this provision would be an unlawful practice pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), commonly known as the State's "Consumer Fraud Act." As provided by section 1 of P.L.1966, c.39 (C.56:8-13), an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. The bill would also require the DEP to recommend to the Legislature products, in addition to those prohibited from being sold, offered for sale, or distributed pursuant to the bill, by category or use that should not be sold, offered for sale, or distributed for sale in this State if they contain intentionally added PFAS. In determining which additional products containing PFAS should be prohibited for sale or distribution within the State, the DEP would be required to prioritize the prohibition of the sale of product categories or uses that, in the DEP's judgment, pose the greatest risk to public health or are most likely to cause contamination of the State's air, land, or water resources if they contain intentionally added PFAS. Under the bill, the DEP would have the authority to audit or investigate a manufacturer to assess the manufacturer's compliance with bill's provisions. Each year, the DEP may audit, or cause to be audited, a random sample of manufacturers in order to determine compliance. Manufacturers are required to cooperate fully with any audit or investigation conducted, and the DEP may require a manufacturer to pay the costs of an audit conducted. The bill would require the DEP to establish, no later than one year after the bill's effective date, a source reduction program to reduce the presence of PFAS in the State's air, water, and soil by encouraging the proper management of materials that contain PFAS and the use of safer alternatives. The program would be required to include, at a minimum: (1) informational resources targeted to industrial and commercial users of PFAS; (2) education of the general public concerning PFAS and its environmental and health impacts; (3) to the extent funds are available, grants to operators of publicly owned treatment works for the purposes of developing, expanding, or implementing pretreatment standards for PFAS and education of users on sources of PFAS and proper management; (4) to the extent funds are available, grants to municipalities for the purposes of educating solid waste disposal users on sources of PFAS and its proper management; and (5) any other information and efforts that are determined by the DEP to be beneficial in reducing the presence and impact of PFAS in the State. The DEP would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than two years after the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter for 10 years, on the effectiveness of the program in reducing PFAS discharges to air, water, and soil within the State, and educating industrial and commercial users of PFAS and residents of the State on PFAS and its proper management. The bill would also require the DEP to conduct PFAS-related research and comprehensive monitoring and testing of the presence and impact of PFAS on the environmental media within the State, including air, water, biota, and soil. The purpose of the DEP's research would be to gain knowledge surrounding the subject of PFAS, provide insight into the proper management and mitigation of PFAS within the State, and to protect the environment from the adverse impacts of PFAS. The DEP's research would be required to include, at a minimum: (1) the collection of soil samples from throughout the State for monitoring and testing for PFAS; (2) the collection of water samples from throughout the State for monitoring and testing for PFAS; (3) the collection of air samples from throughout the State for monitoring and testing for PFAS; (4) the collection of fish, plant, and animal samples from throughout the State for monitoring and testing for PFAS; (5) the comparison of PFAS samples gathered across the State in an effort to measure levels of PFAS contamination and also determine if there are any hotspots of PFAS contamination in the State; (6) research concerning the impact of PFAS on the State's air, water, and soil quality and ways to mitigate the negative impacts of PFAS; (7) data collection of research findings and mitigation efforts concerning PFAS in other States and countries; and (8) any other data collection and research that the department deems necessary to improve the current foundation of knowledge on the subject of PFAS. No later than two years after the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter, the DEP would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing their research findings and activities and providing recommendations for programs, policies, and legislation to address the presence of PFAS in the State. The bill would appropriate from the General Fund to the DEP the sum of $5 million for the purposes of implementing the source reduction program, conducting PFAS-related research, and monitoring and testing environmental media, such as air, water, and soil, for PFAS pursuant to the bill. Any proprietary information or trade secrets included in any written notification, certification, or any other record submitted to the DEP pursuant to this bill is required to be kept confidential from the general public pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), commonly known as the open public records act. Finally, the bill authorizes the DEP to adopt rules or regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. PFAS are man-made chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms bonded to a chain of carbon atoms. Since the 1930s, PFAS have been widely used in countless consumer products because they repel oil, water, and grease. There are over 12,000 different types of PFAS, and new types are invented on a nearly daily basis. PFAS are commonly found in products such as polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, carpet treatments, fire extinguishing foam, dental floss, shampoos, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and even microwave popcorn. As a result, the presence of PFAS in the environment is widespread, and further exacerbated by multiple sources. The carbon-fluorine bond that forms PFAS is one of the strongest chemical bonds found in nature and does not break down under typical environmental conditions. As a result, PFAS are nicknamed "forever chemicals" because they accumulate, rather than break down, over time. PFAS may enter the environment in the following ways: (1) the disposal of products containing PFAS in landfills, thereby contaminating the surrounding soil, groundwater, and source water; (2) the utilization of PFAS by manufacturing sites, which may result in contamination of the surrounding ground and surface waters; (3) the utilization of sludge byproducts containing PFAS on agricultural land, thereby leading to water and soil contamination; (4) the discharge of PFAS by wastewater treatment plants into source waters that service public drinking water systems; and (5) the contamination of private wells by groundwater containing PFAS. The widespread presence of PFAS in the water, soil, and air, results in the contamination not only of public drinking water systems and wells, but also of the food products humans and animals ingest. Plants, fish, and livestock, are commonly exposed to PFAS-contaminated water or food and are consumed daily by most Americans. Studies have indicated that exposure to PFAS, and the resulting buildup of PFAS in the human body, may be linked to certain harmful health effects in both humans and animals. It is crucial to begin prohibiting the sale and distribution of products containing intentionally added PFAS within the State and to increase transparency with consumers of products that contain PFAS. In addition, there is a need for greater education surrounding PFAS and its impact on the environment and the health of the State's citizens. | In Committee |
| A540 | "Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act." | The bill places certain requirements regarding the use of prior authorization of health benefits on carriers and utilization review entities acting on behalf of carriers. The bill defines "carrier" to include insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The bill also adds a definition of "enrollee" and "medications for opioid use disorder" and adds mental health services and behavioral health services to the definition of "urgent health care service." The bill requires a utilization review entity to make certain disclosures regarding its prior authorization requirements and restrictions, on its website and in writing, including certain statistics concerning approvals and denials, as set forth in the bill. This includes data on whether prior authorization determinations were appealed, approved or denied on appeal, and the time between submission of prior authorization requests and the determination. The bill also requires that a utilization review entity ensure that a physician make any adverse determination and specifies the qualifications the physician is to meet to make the determination. Additionally, questions over the medical necessity of a health care service are to be conveyed from the utilization review entity to the physician of the enrollee who is to receive the health care service and that physician is granted the opportunity to discuss the service with the physician who will determine its authorization for the review entity. The utilization review entity is to also ensure that a physician who is to review an appeal of an adverse determination meets certain requirements delineated in the bill. The bill provides that if a utilization review entity requires prior authorization of a covered service, the utilization review entity shall make a prior authorization or adverse determination and notify the subscriber (also commonly known as a "policyholder") and the subscriber's health care provider of the prior authorization or adverse determination within one calendar day of obtaining all necessary information to make the prior authorization or adverse determination. Necessary information is considered received if it is transmitted to the utilization review entity after being sent by electronic portal, e-mail, facsimile, telephone or other means of communication. The bill provides that a utilization review entity is to render a prior authorization or adverse determination concerning an urgent health care service, and notify the subscriber and the subscriber's health care provider of that prior authorization or adverse determination, not later than 24 hours after receiving all information needed to complete the review of the requested service. The bill further adds that medications for opioid use disorder do not require prior authorization. The bill requires a utilization review entity to adhere to certain practices with respect to authorization of emergency health care services, establishes a presumption that these services are medically necessary in some situations, and deems certain services to be approved under certain circumstances. The bill also prohibits a utilization review entity from:· Requiring a health care provider offering services to a covered person to participate in a step therapy protocol if the provider deems that the step therapy protocol is not in the covered person's best interests; · Requiring that a health care provider first obtain a waiver, exception, or other override when deeming a step therapy protocol to not be in a covered person's best interests; or · Sanctioning or otherwise penalizing a health care provider for recommending or issuing a prescription, performing or recommending a procedure, or performing a test that may conflict with the step therapy protocol of the carrier. Additionally, the bill establishes requirements regarding the prior authorization of certain medications. The bill further provides that a utilization review entity is not to revoke, limit, condition, or restrict a prior authorization if care is provided within 45 business days from the date the health care provider received the prior authorization. A prior authorization is to be valid for purposes of authorizing the health care provider to provide care for a period of one year from the date the health care provider receives the prior authorization. The bill also includes a provision authorizing a utilization review entity to honor a previous prior authorization for the initial 60 days of coverage under a new health plan of an enrollee, grant the entity the right to review the prior authorization during the initial 60 days, and prohibit any change in coverage or approval criteria for prior authorization from impacting an enrollee's access to the service authorized previously if the service was authorized before the effective date of the change for the remainder of the enrollee's plan year. Any failure by a utilization review entity to comply with a deadline or other requirement under the provisions of the bill is to result in any health care services subject to review being automatically deemed authorized. Finally, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance is to promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), including any penalties or enforcement provisions, that the commissioner deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | Dead |
| A2234 | Establishes rebuttable presumption that person who commits domestic violence by strangling victim be detained prior to trial. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person who is charged with aggravated assault by strangling a victim of domestic violence is to be detained prior to trial. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the "Criminal Justice Reform Law," criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or 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. Current law also upgrades the crime of simple assault to aggravated assault if the defendant knowingly or, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, recklessly obstructs the breathing or blood circulation of a person who, with respect to the actor, meets the definition of a victim of domestic violence, by applying pressure on the throat or neck or blocking the nose or mouth of the person, thereby causing or attempting to cause bodily injury. It is a crime of the third degree to commit aggravated assault against a victim of domestic violence. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine up to $15,000, or both. The presumption of non-imprisonment generally applicable to third degree and fourth degree crimes committed by first-time offenders does not apply to persons who commit aggravated assault against a victim of domestic violence. Under this bill, if a court finds probable cause that a defendant committed aggravated assault by strangling a domestic violence victim there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person is to be detained pending trial because no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or combination thereof would reasonably assure the defendant's appearance in court, the safety of any other person or the community, and that the defendant will not obstruct the criminal justice process. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of the preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. If the defendant is unable to rebut the presumption, the court may order pretrial detention, but if rebutted, the prosecutor would still have the opportunity to establish grounds for pretrial detention. In addition, if the defendant is not detained prior to trial there would be a rebuttable presumption that a person charged with one of the enumerated crimes is prohibited from using the 10 percent cash option for posting bail. A rebuttable presumption currently applies under P.L.2014, c.31 when a prosecutor makes a motion for the pretrial detention of a defendant charged with murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. This bill extends that presumption to aggravated assault in situations where the defendant is charged with aggravated assault by strangling a victim of domestic violence | In Committee |
| A2440 | Requires inclusion of information about discriminatory housing practices in Truth in Renting Guide. | This bill would require the Department of Community Affairs to include information in the Truth-in-Renting Guide that it is discriminatory and unlawful for a landlord: to refuse to rent to a person who would be paying with a housing voucher or other lawful rental subsidy; and to advertise that the landlord will not rent to persons with a housing voucher or another lawful rental subsidy. The bill would also require the department to include information in the Truth-in-Renting Guide indicating that State and federal rental housing vouchers are considered a source of lawful income, which is a protected category under the "Law Against Discrimination," and therefore, unlawful for a landlord to refuse to rent to persons who would pay with these rental subsidies. Current law, "The Truth-in-Renting Act," requires the DCA to prepare, make available, and update annually a statement in English and in Spanish of the established rights and responsibilities of residential tenants and landlords in the State. The law requires the department to post this document, known as the Truth-in-Renting Guide, on the department's Internet website. The Truth-in-Renting Guide currently contains information about discriminatory housing practices, which are prohibited under the New Jersey "Law Against Discrimination," but does not specifically inform landlords, tenants, and the general public that it is unlawful to: (1) refuse to rent to persons with Section 8 housing vouchers, and (2) advertise that a landlord will not rent to persons with Section 8 housing vouchers. | In Committee |
| A1977 | Provides any party in case who is limited English proficient and utilizes court translating services option to have social worker translator to help party navigate court system. | This bill entitles any party who is limited English proficient and utilizes translating services in court proceedings to be provided assistance by a licensed social worker who speaks the party's language to provide or translate any information needed to help the party navigate the court system. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to prepare and provide to the Administrative Director of the Courts a list of licensed social workers who are available to serve as translators. The director would develop a registry of approved licensed social workers for the courts' use. In addition, the director also is to establish directives, guidelines, or standards to implement the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| A1837 | Establishes requirements for certain tobacco product retailers to stock and sell nicotine replacement therapy products. | This bill requires any entity that sells, offers for sale, or distributes for commercial purpose any tobacco product to maintain a stock of, and offer for retail sale, at least one type of nicotine replacement therapy drug, device, or combination product that has been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for cessation of tobacco use pursuant to the "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act," 21 U.S.C. s.301 et seq. This requirement will not apply to cigar shops, which are defined under the bill to mean retail establishments wherein the only tobacco products and products related to tobacco use that are available for sale or commercial distribution are cigars and cigar accessories. An entity that is subject to these requirements will have the discretion to determine the number and type of nicotine replacement therapy products that the entity will stock and offer for sale, as well as the quantity of the product that is stocked and offered for sale and whether the entity will stock and offer for sale more than one type of nicotine replacement therapy product. All nicotine replacement therapy products offered for retail sale are to be displayed in a location that is behind the sales counter. An entity that sells out of the entity's full stock of nicotine replacement therapy products will have five business days to place an order for a new stock of nicotine replacement therapy products, and will have 14 days from the date the entity sells its last nicotine replacement therapy product to again stock and offer for retail sale a nicotine replacement therapy product. The entity will be required to additionally display: 1) printed notice that nicotine replacement therapy products are available for retail sale at that location; and 2) the official logo, phone number, and Internet address of the NJ Smoking Quitline or a successor program. The Commissioner of Health may establish requirements concerning how and where these materials are to be displayed, as well as requirements concerning the size and other characteristics of the materials. | In Committee |
| A1945 | Requires teaching staff members and school board members to annually receive training on trauma-informed education. | This bill requires each school district to annually provide information and training to each teaching staff member and board member on the concept of trauma-informed education, as a method to combat the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences on children's cognitive functioning, as well as on their physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Under the bill, the district is directed to avail itself of the guidelines and resources on this topic provided by the Department of Education pursuant to the bill's provisions. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Education to develop and distribute to school districts guidelines concerning trauma-informed education. The purpose of the guidelines will be to provide direction to school districts in fulfilling the professional training requirement established pursuant to the bill's provisions. Under the bill, the guidelines must include, but need not be limited to, research-based information regarding:· the impact of trauma on students' educational experiences and on the school and classroom culture; · how to identify the signs of trauma in students;· best practices for schools and classrooms regarding trauma-informed approaches to education; and· recognition of the impact of secondary trauma on school employees. | In Committee |
| A294 | Establishes "Commission on People with Disabilities." | This bill establishes the "Commission on People with Disabilities" (commission). Under the bill, the commission is to consist of 25 members. The purpose of the commission is to: (1) suggest policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation that help people with disabilities in New Jersey; (2) serve as the point-of-contact between the Governor, the Legislature, people with disabilities, and those providers who serve people with disabilities in order to ensure that the State government is responsive to the needs of people with disabilities; (3) work with State departments, commissions, offices, agencies, and providers to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are met regarding services and programs that are available to those individuals; and (4) work with State departments, commissions, offices, and agencies which oversee the hiring and employment of people with disabilities in the State to ensure that no discrimination takes place. | In Committee |
| A1942 | Establishes pilot program in certain municipalities to make grants available to non-profit organizations to perform outreach regarding VCCO. | This bill requires the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a three-year pilot program to make grants available to non-profit organizations to perform outreach in the community regarding the availability of compensation for crime victims provided by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. Under the bill, the pilot program is to be established in the six urban municipalities with the highest crime index in this State, according to the most recent Uniform Crime Report prepared by the New Jersey Division of State Police. Finally, the bill requires the department to submit a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program to the Governor and the Legislature within 90 days after the completion of the pilot program. The report is to recommend whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or made permanent. | In Committee |
| A1978 | Requires Internet capable room temperature reporting device installation in certain multiple dwellings. | This bill would require the installation of Internet capable room temperature reporting devices in certain multiple dwellings in order to help prevent the deadly fires that are known break out as a result of the use of space heaters. Specifically, the bill would supplement the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," ("HMDL") N.J.S.A.55:13A-1 et seq. to require each residential rental unit of a multiple dwelling containing six or more units of dwelling space to be equipped with an Internet capable room temperature reporting device. As used in the bill, an "Internet capable room temperature reporting device" is a device capable of measuring the indoor air temperature not less than once per hour and recording the temperature, along with the date and time of the reading, for a period of no less than the preceding 90 days. The device would be capable of making such information available through an ordinary Internet connection or other means when no Internet connection is available. The bill directs Internet capable room temperature reporting devices to be installed and maintained in accordance with rules and regulations to be adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The bill requires information made available by an Internet capable room temperature reporting device to be accessible to the property owner and tenant of the unit in which the device is placed. The bill requires devices to be in operation from October 31 through May 31 of each year. The bill provides a residential tenant with the option to refuse an Internet capable room temperature reporting device from being installed in the tenant's unit. If a tenant refuses the installation, then the bill requires the owner to provide notice of this refusal to the Department of Community Affairs in accordance with the rules and regulations to be adopted by the commissioner, so that the owner may avoid any potential penalty for an HMDL violation. The bill directs the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill on or before the first day of the fifth month next following the bill's enactment. These rules and regulations would guide the appropriate provision of notice to tenants regarding installations, instructions on how to access recorded information, and the tenant's right of refusal. The rules and regulations would also guide multiple dwelling owners on the appropriate locations and methods of device installation and maintenance, and provide any other necessary guidance for the effective implementation of the bill. The bill would take effect on the first day of the thirteenth month next following enactment in order to provide the department, and property owners, sufficient time to prepare for the implementation of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1946 | Requires Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance to review and implement strategies and systemic modifications to assist crime victims and expands locations for posting information on crime victims' compensation. | This bill requires the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance to review, develop, and implement strategies and systemic modifications to assist crime victims and their families in applying for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.). The bill also expands the locations where information booklets, pamphlets, and other information concerning the availability of crime victims' compensation is to be posted or disseminated to include courtrooms in each county courthouse and municipal court. The bill also clarifies that the information is to be posted or disseminated in emergency rooms of general hospitals and satellite emergency departments licensed by the Department of Health. | In Committee |
| A1691 | Requires certain correctional facilities to allow service and companion animals to assist inmates with disability; makes appropriation. | This bill empowers the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to establish a program to allow any inmate with a disability to apply to utilize the assistance of an incarcerated person companion animal or service animal on-site at a State correctional facility in a manner and at certain times as are feasible for the inmate population. Pursuant to this bill, the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Operations in the Department of Corrections (Assistant Commissioner) is to implement and manage the program by: (1) interfacing with agencies that provide incarcerated person companion animals and service animals to inmates with a disability; and (2) appointing appropriate staff to provide information to inmates regarding various mental health disorders that impact the inmate population and information regarding the program established pursuant to this bill, which authorizes an inmate with a disability to apply to utilize the assistance of an incarcerated person companion animal or service animal on-site at a State correctional facility. The Commissioner of Corrections (commissioner) is to establish a process by which an inmate, who utilizes the assistance of a service animal prior to being sentenced to a correctional facility, shall be permitted to submit the inmate's service animal for evaluation to determine whether it is feasible or necessary for the inmate to continue to utilize the assistance of the service animal on-site at a State correctional facility in accordance with the provisions of this bill. Further, the Commissioner is to establish a process by which an inmate, who desires to have access to a service animal after being sentenced to a State correctional facility, may submit a written request to the Assistant Commissioner on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner. Thereafter, an evaluation of potential service animal placements shall be conducted to determine whether sufficient need and feasibility exists for the request to be granted. The Commissioner also is to establish a process by which an inmate, who desires to have access to an incarcerated person companion animal after being sentenced to a correctional facility may submit a written request to the Assistant Commissioner on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner. Within 30 days of the Assistant Commissioner's receipt of a written request, an evaluation of potential incarcerated person companion animal placement is to be conducted to determine whether sufficient need and feasibility exists for the approval of the request. Prior to permitting an incarcerated person companion animal or service animal at any correctional facility, an inmate who has an existing service animal, or the agency that is providing access to an incarcerated person companion animal or new service animal, as appropriate, is to provide documentation to the Commissioner that the animal has had all necessary vaccines and immunizations as required by law and the rules and regulations established pursuant to this bill. The Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, are to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this bill, which are to include, but not be limited to, certain logistical procedures relative to having the incarcerated person companion animals and service animals in State-owned correctional facilities. The bill also appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Corrections such funds as necessary for the implementation of the bill, as certified by the Commissioner, respectively, and subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. Service animals have a long history of performing crucial tasks and fulfilling a significant role in the daily activities of many people with disabilities, including but not limited to providing a calming influence and connection to the familiar in unfamiliar or stressful surroundings. And companion animals have been determined to be extremely effective at ameliorating the symptoms of certain mental disabilities. Further, an overarching goal of the criminal justice system is rehabilitation and assisting an inmate's development for successful re-entry into society. The sponsor's position is that allowing inmates with a disability to have access to a service or companion animal on correctional facility grounds will enhance the rehabilitative process and help the inmate reach his or her full potential. | In Committee |
| A564 | Specifies that emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for victim of domestic violence would be funded by "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund." | This bill specifies that the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" would fund emergency, transitional, and permanent housing; food; utilities; transportation costs; and language access services. The "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" is a dedicated fund within the General Fund and administered by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families. The fund is the depository of moneys realized from the civil penalty imposed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.195 (C.2C:25-29.1) on any person found by the court in a final hearing pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) to have committed an act of domestic violence. The penalty ranges from $50 up to $500, and the fund is also the depository of any other moneys made available for the purposes of the fund. Under current law, all moneys deposited in the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" are used for direct services to victims of domestic violence including, but not limited to, shelter services and legal advocacy services. | In Committee |
| A3351 | Requires DHS and DOH to submit federal waivers to cover menstrual products under NJ FamilyCare, SNAP, WIC and establishes State funded benefit if federal waiver is denied; appropriates $2 million for State benefit. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Health to submit an application for a waiver or a state plan amendment to provide menstrual hygiene products among the covered benefits available for eligible recipients through the NJ FamilyCare program, the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The bill stipulates that, if the federal government denies the State's waiver application or state plan amendment, the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, is to establish a program to provide menstrual hygiene products to eligible beneficiaries, in a quantity and through a process determined to be equitable. Under the program, the Commissioner of Human Services would establish a process through which an eligible beneficiary would certify the number of menstruators in the beneficiary's household who are minors and who qualify for the menstrual hygiene products benefit. The bill additionally requires the Commissioner of Human Services to consult and coordinate with the Commissioner of Health on the establishment of an educational and public awareness campaign to inform the public about the provisions of bill and to ensure that eligible recipients of the public assistance programs covered under the bill are aware of the new benefits made available to them, and to post the information provided through the campaign on each of the departments' Internet sites. The bill appropriates $2 million to the Department of Health for the menstrual hygiene products benefit. The provisions of the bill will take effect upon any federal determination regarding the waiver application or state plan amendment submitted by the State, and the acceptance of any federal approval by the Departments of Human Services and Health; however, the departments are authorized to take any anticipatory action in advance of the federal determination as may be necessary to implement the requirements under the bill. As defined in the bill, "menstrual hygiene products" means tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar products designed for a person's hygiene in connection with the human menstrual cycle. | In Committee |
| A558 | Authorizes court to include in domestic violence restraining orders a provision making the order applicable to a pregnant victim's child upon birth of the child. | This bill would permit courts to include in a restraining order imposed when a defendant who is charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence is released from custody before trial, or in an order imposed stating the conditions of sentencing after a defendant is found guilty of a domestic violence crime or offense, or in a final restraining order issued against a defendant whether or not there is a criminal complaint alleging such a crime or offense, a provision indicating that, if the victim named in the domestic violence order is pregnant, the order's protections would apply to the victim's child immediately upon birth, if such protection is requested by the victim. This bill is based in part on the holding in B.C. v. T.G., 430 N.J. Super. 455 (Ch. Div. 2013), in which the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part held that when a victim is pregnant, the court may provide that any protections ordered under the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.) automatically apply to the victim's child upon the birth of the child. The court, noting that the protections in a domestic violence restraining order apply to the victim's immediate family, stated "there is little sense in requiring the victim to have to return to court again immediately after the birth of the child for an emergent hearing in order to add the baby to her final restraining order." Id. at 466. The court additionally noted that, for various reasons, "a new parent may be either unable or unwilling to immediately return to domestic violence court immediately following childbirth." Id. at 467. | Dead |
| A2004 | Establishes the "New Jersey Feminine Hygiene Product Donations Immunity Act." | This bill, which is designated as the "New Jersey Feminine Hygiene Product Donations Immunity Act," provides immunity from civil and criminal liability arising from an injury or death for good faith donors, including hospitals and other health care facilities, of feminine hygiene products that are donated to bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations. It also provides the same immunity to the charitable and nonprofit organizations that distribute these donated feminine hygiene products. | In Committee |
| A460 | Waives pet adoption fees for certain military personnel and veterans. | This bill would provide that the following persons would be entitled to adopt a domestic companion animal without paying a pet adoption fee from a licensed kennel, shelter, or pound: (1) an active member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training; (2) an active member of any branch or department of the Armed Forces of the United States, or reserves component thereof; and (3) a veteran. The bill authorizes the owner or operator of a kennel, shelter, or pound to review and adjust the pet adoption fee to offset any cost increases associated with forgoing the pet adoption fee for eligible military personnel and veterans. | In Committee |
| A2056 | Establishes centralized electronic health information exchange infrastructure to facilitate reentry into civilian life for recently incarcerated persons. | This bill provides for the establishment of centralized electronic health information exchange infrastructure to facilitate reentry into civilian life for recently incarcerated persons. Under the bill, the New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission (commission) is to establish centralized, electronic health information exchange infrastructure, in a manner determined by the commission in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Corrections, for the purpose of electronically storing and sharing a patient's health information which is submitted to or requested of the commission by a health care professional, the Department of Corrections, a jail or prison, a prisoner reentry program or service, or an addiction treatment services provider. The commission is to ensure that the health information exchange infrastructure established pursuant to this bill helps to facilitate the necessary exchange of a patient's health information between a health care professional, the Department of Corrections, a jail or prison, a prisoner reentry program or service, or an addiction treatment services provider at the request of the patient and with the patient's informed consent. The commission is to ensure that its health information exchange infrastructure and protocols for storing and sharing a patient's health information comply with applicable federal and State privacy laws. | In Committee |
| A1847 | Requires DHS to employ Transportation Planning Coordinator to oversee provision of transportation services. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to designate an employee as a Transportation Planning Coordinator to oversee the provision of transportation services provided through the Department of Human Services (department). The bill requires the Transportation Planning Coordinator to be qualified by training and experience, as necessary to perform the duties of the position. The commissioner would have the authority to determine qualifications for the position. The duties of the Transportation Planning Coordinator will include: (1) overseeing the transportation providers who are contracted by or have otherwise entered into an agreement with the department; (2) monitoring and reporting driver or vehicle issues, such as accidents, safety issues, or licensing concerns as that information is made available to the coordinator; (3) soliciting new transportation providers to serve applicable individuals; (4) ensuring that transportation providers provide timely services as provided by contract or agreement; (5) maintaining records of all transportation services provided to individuals under the department's purview; (6) receiving, reviewing, investigating, and resolving complaints filed with respect to applicable transportation services; (7) conducting internal reviews and investigations to identify inefficiencies or other problems occurring within the transportation system, and instituting revised procedures to address identified concerns or issues; (8) analyzing the costs of transportation services offered through the department and recommending more cost effective methods of transportation, where appropriate; and (9) any other appropriate duties assigned by the department. Each year, the Transportation Planning Coordinator is required to submit a written report to the commissioner describing the coordinator's activities over the prior year. The coordinator is also required to summarize the public complaints received during the reporting period and indicate the extent to which and manner in which such complaints were resolved. The bill would take effect on the first day of the 10th month following enactment. | In Committee |
| A1999 | Requires certain libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products and requires State to pay costs. | This bill requires certain libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products in its restrooms. Under the bill, a municipality or county that supports, in whole or in part, library service from municipal or county tax sources, and in which 40 percent or more of its residents reside in households with a household income at or below the most recent federal poverty guidelines multiplied by 1.85, is required to ensure that each library in the municipality or county:· provides direct access to menstrual hygiene products in each women's restroom and each all-gender restroom free of charge; and · provides and prominently displays educational pamphlets addressing topics including, but not limited to, toxic shock syndrome, menstrual disorders, and the proper disposal of menstrual hygiene products, in each women's restroom and each all-gender restroom. Under the bill, any costs incurred by a library in providing an adequate supply of menstrual hygiene products to meet the needs of its patrons will be borne by the State. Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene facilities that affects 500 million people worldwide and an estimated 16.9 million people in the United States. People who experience period poverty are unable to purchase the menstrual hygiene products they need and, in many cases, this means that they cannot go to school or work or otherwise fully participate in daily life. | In Committee |
| A2239 | Requires racial and gender diversity in membership of certain boards of directors. | This bill requires a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation, based in New Jersey, to have a board of directors that reflects the racial and gender diversity of this State. Under this bill, a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation, whose principal executive office is located within this State, will be required to have a board of directors that reflects the racial and gender diversity of this State by December 31, 2021. In order to comply with this requirement, a corporation will be able to increase the number of directors on its board and use information from the most recent decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census. Corporations will also be required to file a list of all directors and each director's terms of service with the Secretary of State. Additionally, by March 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State will be required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that contains the following: (1) A list of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations subject to, and in compliance with, the diversity requirement of this bill during at least one point within the preceding calendar year; (2) The number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations that moved their United States headquarters during the preceding calendar year to New Jersey from another state or from New Jersey to another state; and (3) The number of domestic and foreign corporations that were subject to the diversity requirement of this bill during the preceding calendar year but are no longer publicly traded. | In Committee |
| A3194 | Establishes testing and visitation requirements and employment restrictions for long-term care facilities in response to outbreaks of infectious disease. | This bill, establishes certain requirements concerning operational procedures and visitation at long-term care facilities, which requirements would remain in effect for the duration of the state of emergency and public health emergency declared in response to an outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic involving an infectious disease. Specifically, the bill requires that all staff employed by or providing services at a long-term care facility be tested for active infection with the infectious disease at least once per week and immediately upon showing any signs or symptoms of having contracted the infectious disease. For facilities with more than 100 authorized beds, the test is to be made available on-site. For facilities with 100 or fewer authorized beds, the test may be made available through the county board of health. County boards of health and facilities with more than 100 authorized beds will have seven days from the date a state of emergency or public health emergency, if any, is declared in response to the outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic, or as soon as rapid-result tests become available, to acquire rapid-result testing materials. With regard to county boards of health, in situations where the current or anticipated demand for rapid-result testing resources through the county board of health exceeds the current supply of test resources, the county board of health will be required to give priority to testing staff and residents at facilities with 100 or fewer authorized beds who currently exhibit signs or symptoms of the infectious disease or have been recently exposed to the infectious disease, followed by routine, weekly and medically-indicated testing of staff members of facilities with 100 or fewer authorized beds, followed by first-time visitors to the facility and members of the public, who would be tested on a first-come, first served basis. County boards of health may charge a reasonable fee for the administration of a rapid-result test, which fee may not exceed the reasonable cost to the county board of health of administering and processing the test. In the case of tests provided to staff and residents of long-term care facilities with 100 or fewer authorized beds, the county board of health may only seek reimbursement from the facility, and will be prohibited from charging any testing fee to the staff member or resident. The facility would be permitted to seek reimbursement from the staff member's or resident's health benefits plan for the costs of the test, provided that, in the case of weekly screening tests and tests for individuals showing signs or symptoms of the infectious disease or who were exposed to the infectious disease, the facility will be prohibited from charging staff or residents for any portion of the cost of a test that is not covered under a health benefits plan. The bill requires long-term care facilities to establish designated spaces for the isolation of residents who have tested positive for the infectious disease or who were exposed to the infectious disease, and further requires facilities to take appropriate steps to ensure, to the extent possible, that no more than one resident is housed in each residential room in the facility. The bill allows long-term care facility residents to designate up to two individuals who will be authorized to engage in indoor visitation with the resident. The designation will remain in effect until the outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic is no longer affecting or likely to affect the long-term care facility, a resident may not change the designated visitors during this period except in the case of the death of a designated visitor. Designated visitors will be allowed to visit the resident inside the long-term care facility once per day, at any time, day or night, for any duration of time, provided the individual schedules a visitation appointment with the facility at least 24 hours in advance. Long-term care facilities are to limit in-person visitation to one visitor per resident at a time. Visitation is to take place in the resident's room, if the resident does not have a roommate, or in a designated visitation area, if the resident has one or more roommates. Designated visitation areas are to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use. Facilities will be required to implement protocols and procedures to ensure that visitors to the facility have as little contact as possible with staff and residents of the facility, are kept away from common areas within the facility to the extent possible, and do not touch any surfaces in the facility except as may be otherwise unavoidable. All visitors will be screened for the signs and symptoms of the infectious disease prior to being allowed entry to the facility. In addition, the first time a designated visitor visits the facility, the visitor will be required to undergo a rapid-result test for the infectious disease, which may be provided by the facility or by the county board of health, depending on whether rapid-result tests for the disease are made available through the facility. The entity administering the test may charge the visitor a reasonable reimbursement fee for the test, which fee may not exceed the actual cost of administering and processing the test. For a second or subsequent visit to the facility, designated visitors will be required to submit a written attestation to the facility that, during the period between the individual's last visit to the facility and the current visit, the individual adhered to guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health, and the county or local board of health as may apply with regard to infection prevention and control, including, as applicable, maintaining social distancing, wearing a face mask or facial covering while in public, avoiding large group gatherings, and avoiding contact with others while present in indoor settings. Designated visitors will be allowed bring in food and beverage items for exclusive consumption by the visitor and the resident, which food and beverage items will be screened by the facility and may be excluded by the facility if the food or beverage item presents a risk of transmitting the infectious disease or otherwise violates facility policies concerning outside food and beverages. No visitation in a long-term care facility will be allowed unless the Department of Health has completed an in-person inspection of the facility during the current outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic, made a written determination that the facility is in compliance with the requirements of the bill and all applicable infection prevention and control requirements as are currently applicable to the facility, and expressly approves indoor visitation to take place at the facility. Additionally, residents of a long-term care facility may designate a family member or other individual who may approve the resident's personal physician or a care provider whose services are paid for directly by the resident or the resident's family, to enter the facility for up to four hours per week to provide direct care services to the resident, which care may be provided during multiple visits over the course of the week. The physician or care provider may request approval from the facility to provide more than four hours of direct care services per week, which request is to be granted based on demonstrated medical need. Designated visitors and personal physicians and care providers accessing a facility will be required to comply with current guidance issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or any other guidance required by the Department of Health concerning infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities, including any requirements concerning the use of personal protective equipment. Consistent with applicable guidance and current practices adopted in response to the outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic, the facility may require the individual to acquire the personal protective equipment at the individual's own expense, prohibit the reuse of personal protective equipment, maintain a supply of the personal protective equipment at the facility, and establish and enforce requirements concerning proper doffing and disposal of the personal protective equipment. Residents who travel outside a long-term care facility for medical or non-medical reasons are to be roomed in a separate area of the facility and subject to appropriate procedures and protocols to ensure that those residents are isolated from, and do not have contact with, residents who do not travel outside the facility. Facilities are to further establish separate rooming areas and appropriate procedures and protocols to ensure that residents who travel outside the facility only for medical reasons are isolated from, and do not have contact with, residents who travel outside the facility for non-medical reasons. All residents who travel outside the facility for any reason are to be tested for the infectious disease at least once per week, regardless of whether the resident exhibits any signs or symptoms of having contracted the infectious disease; the resident and the facility will share the costs of any portion of this weekly test that is not covered by the resident's health benefits plan. The bill additionally provides that any person employed by or providing services at a long-term care facility, other than a physician, may only be employed by or provide services at that one facility, and will be prohibited from employment with or providing professional services to any other entity. This restriction will not apply to physicians and care providers authorized to provide care to residents by an individual designated by the resident as otherwise provided under the bill. Any person employed by or providing services at a long-term care facility who exhibits signs or symptoms of the infectious disease is to be immediately removed from patient contact, tested for the infectious disease or referred for testing, and may not return to the facility until the person provides the facility with the results of two tests, administered three days apart, establishing the person is negative for active infection with the infectious disease. Any person employed by or providing services at a long-term care facility who tests positive for active infection with the infectious disease will be required to self-isolate or quarantine at home until the person's symptoms resolve and the person provides the facility with the results of two negative tests for active infection for the infectious disease, which tests are to be administered three days apart. Nothing in the bill will prohibit a person who tests positive for an infectious disease from seeking treatment in a general acute care hospital or from another licensed health care provider. A long-term care facility employing or utilizing the services of a person who is prohibited from attending work under the bill will be required to pay the person the full wages the person would otherwise have earned working at the facility during the period of mandatory exclusion. If the person does not work a regular number of hours at the facility, the wages due will equal the wages due for the average number of hours per week the person typically works at the facility. | In Committee |
| A377 | Clarifies policy analysis and development under "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act"; strengthens investigations; amends definition of harassment, intimidation, and bullying; and allows anti-bullying specialists to receive remuneration. | This bill amends the definition of harassment, intimidation, and bullying and requires school districts to: develop guidance concerning the district's harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy; create a School Safety Committee; and develop a Responsible Use Policy. The bill also permits school districts to pay a stipend to the district's anti-bullying specialists. The bill amends the definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying to apply only to students. Under the bill, a school district will develop and issue guidance surrounding the district's harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy for the anti-bullying specialist and for students. This guidance will be provided to the anti-bullying specialist, the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in grades K through 8, and students enrolled in grades 9 through 12. The bill provides that a school anti-bullying specialist is eligible to receive a stipend in an amount not to exceed $1,000. The bill permits the district to seek reimbursement from the Department of Education for the amounts paid to the district's anti-bullying specialist if the school district can demonstrate that funding the stipend creates a financial burden on the district. Under the bill, the board of education of a school district will create a School Safety Committee to ensure appropriate review and implementation of the district's harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies. The committee, which is to meet at least two times per year, will be comprised of members that include the principal of a school in the district; two teachers, one of whom is a member of a child study team in the district; and two members of the community with relevant experience in harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools. Under the bill, a board of education is to develop a Responsible Use Policy that outlines, in simple and accessible language, the terms of responsible use of the Internet and consequences that may arise when the Internet is misused, and provide a copy of the policy to the parents or guardians of enrolled students. | In Committee |
| A1984 | Requires public institutions of higher education to provide menstrual products in all campus buildings; appropriates $85,000 from General Fund to Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | This bill requires public institutions of higher education to ensure that students and staff have direct access to menstrual products, free of charge, in all public women's restrooms and public all-gender restrooms, and in at least one public men's restroom in all campus buildings, including, but not limited to, lecture halls, residence halls, dining halls, libraries, student centers, athletics buildings, and administrative buildings. For purposes of this bill, "menstrual products" mean tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. Under the bill, public institutions of higher education are required to supply students and staff with a variety of menstrual products, including tampons and sanitary napkins graded regular through super-plus, sanitary napkins ranging from ultra-thin to overnight, and tampons and sanitary napkins that are allergy-friendly, including chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free menstrual products. Also under the bill, institutions will be required to install menstrual product dispensers in all public women's restrooms and public all-gender restrooms, and in at least one public men's restroom in all campus buildings. Institutions will not be required to replace any existing dispensers, as long as menstrual products in the dispensers may be accessed by students and staff free of charge. Institutions may contract with a vendor who will regularly maintain and stock dispensers. The bill also requires that institutions provide educational pamphlets addressing a variety of topics, including the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome and of menstrual disorders, as well as the proper disposal of tampons and sanitary napkins. Institutions will also be required, when feasible, to display posters highlighting proper menstrual hygiene. This bill appropriates $85,000 to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for the provision of menstrual products and educational pamphlets in public institutions of higher education. Any costs incurred by an institution in complying with the provisions of this bill will be borne by the State. At the close of the fiscal year, institutions shall submit expenditures with supporting documentation for reimbursement. | In Committee |
| A1989 | Grants children places in resource family care right to have certain signage displayed in home. | This bill amends the "Child Placement Bill of Rights Act" to grant children placed in resource family care the right to have certain signage displayed in their home. Under the bill, a child placed in resource family care is granted the right to have conspicuous signage displayed in no less than three locations in the home that lists contact information for children who are abused or who require mental health services. | In Committee |
| A1990 | Required Commissioner of Education to develop emergency notification system to alert students and staff of active shooter on school grounds. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an emergency notification system that enables schools to alert the students, the parents and guardians of the students, teachers, and all staff of an active shooter situation in the school or on school grounds. Under the bill, the notification system will: · provide that the parents or guardians of students, students, with the permission of a parent or guardian, teachers, and all other school staff, may register any mobile electronic communications device with the school to receive the notification; · be accessible and compatible with all makes and models of mobile electronic communications devices;· be directly linked to local law enforcement authorities or, in the case of a school located in a municipality in which there is no municipal police department, a location designated by the Superintendent of State Police, and will immediately transmit a signal or message to such authorities upon activation; and· be made available to each public and nonpublic school at no cost to the school. Under the bill, if a board of education or the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school determines to use the notification system, the principal of each school in the school district or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school is required to ensure that the notification system is customized to each particular school and includes the contact information for each person who registered with the school to receive the notification. | In Committee |
| A2023 | Provides equitable relief to government contractors who have sustained unanticipated expenses due to increases for construction materials; appropriates $25 million. | This bill provides equitable relief to government contractors who have sustained unanticipated expenses due to increases for construction materials. The unforeseen emergency of unanticipated increases in construction material costs has imposed substantial inequity upon government contractors awarded contracts after public bidding. Such inequity has threatened the ability of contractors to fulfill the contracts awarded to them. It is in the best interest of the State, its political subdivisions, its authorities, commissions, boards, or instrumentalities, and interstate agencies of which the State is a participant to provide equitable relief to those government contractors who have sustained damage from the unforeseen increases of construction material costs. This bill applies to State agencies, political subdivisions of the State, State authorities, commissions, boards, and instrumentalities, and, under certain circumstances, interstate agencies of which the State is a participant. This bill allows for the terms and conditions for certain contracts to be amended to adjust for the rising costs of construction materials. The determination of the adjustment would be made by the delegated person based upon the available evidence. The bill also provides for adjustments if there are decreases in costs. The adjustments would apply only to contracts valued at $25 million or less awarded by a contracting agency based upon bids submitted prior to December 1, 2021, but only for materials purchased or invoiced after March 1, 2020. This bill also authorizes the termination or suspension of any contract award for the purchase of commodities upon written application for such termination or suspension by the contractor, where extraordinary and unforeseen general market conditions have caused increases in the contractor's costs for construction materials or other physical elements consisting of construction materials to be sold under the contract. Such a determination would be made by the delegated person based upon the available evidence. The bill appropriates $25 million to the Department of the Treasury for the reimbursement of government contract costs to State agencies, political subdivisions, State authorities, commissions, boards, and instrumentalities, and, under certain circumstances, interstate agencies of which the State is a participant. The provisions of this bill would expire on June 30, 2024. | In Committee |
| A2008 | Requires school districts to provide menstrual products for students in grades kindergarten through 12. | This bill requires school districts to ensure that students and staff in schools educating students in grades kindergarten through 12, or any combination thereof, have direct access to menstrual products, free of charge, in all women's restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men's room. Any costs incurred by a school district in complying with the provisions of this bill will be borne by the State. For purposes of this bill, "menstrual products" mean tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. Under the bill, schools are required to supply students and staff with a variety of menstrual products, including tampons and sanitary napkins graded regular through super-plus, sanitary napkins ranging from ultra-thin to overnight, and tampons and sanitary napkins that are allergy-friendly, including chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free menstrual products. Also under the bill, school districts will be required to install, for each school in the district, menstrual product dispensers in all women's restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men's room. School districts will be required to regularly maintain and stock the dispensers, or contract with a vendor who will regularly maintain and stock the dispensers. Dispensers may be operated by tokens, motion sensors, or a personal identification number. The bill requires that schools ensure that all restrooms are clean with properly functioning toilets and hand dryers, as applicable, and equipped with an adequate supply of toilet paper and hand soap. Also under the bill, schools will ensure that all students have access to restrooms, and will not implement overly restrictive bathroom break policies. The bill also requires that schools provide educational pamphlets addressing a variety of topics, including the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome and of menstrual disorders, as well as the proper disposal of tampons and sanitary napkins. Schools will also be required, when feasible, to display posters highlighting proper menstrual hygiene. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will develop guidelines for school districts regarding the production of educational pamphlets and posters. While menstruation typically starts around age 12, it is possible in children as early as age eight. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the average age of puberty has been getting steadily lower since the early 20th century. This bill would require that elementary schools also provide students with access to menstrual products to address the early age that children may begin menstruation. It is the belief of the sponsor of this bill that the intent of Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) necessitates the provision of free menstrual products in all restrooms in order to reduce menstrual-based harassment and disparities in schools. Though Title IX does not explicitly reference menstruation, the intent of Title IX is to reduce disparities in educational equity and opportunity on the basis of sex. Therefore, in order to abide by the intent of Title IX, it is imperative that the State mandate the provision of free menstrual products in all public schools. | In Committee |
| A1155 | Requires restaurants to provide healthy beverages with meals designated for children. | This bill requires restaurants to provide a healthy beverage with any meals designated for children. Under the bill, a restaurant's default beverage for a children's meal could be: (1) water, sparkling water, or flavored water, with no added natural or artificial sweeteners; (2) nonfat or one percent milk or non-dairy milk alternative containing no more than 130 calories per container or serving as offered for sale; or (3) one hundred percent fruit juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water, with no added sweeteners, in a serving size of no more than eight ounces. The bill does not prohibit or preclude a restaurant from selling or offering another beverage as a replacement to the default beverage included with the children's meal. | In Committee |
| A834 | Eliminates conviction of indictable offense as automatic disqualifier for jury service under certain circumstances. | This bill would permit persons with past convictions of indictable offenses to serve on juries under certain circumstances. Under current law, these convictions, whether based on violations of New Jersey law, another state's law, or federal law, are automatic disqualifiers for jury service. Under the bill, a person would still be automatically disqualified for jury service if: (1) the person was ever convicted of murder or aggravated sexual assault; or (2) the person is serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States. | In Committee |
| A2248 | Requires DOT, NJT, and DHS to study and implement transportation mobility and accessibility improvements for persons with autism and developmental disabilities. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT), the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a holistic review of current infrastructure design practices for public highways and public transportation projects. Upon completion of the review, new and revised design practices are to be adopted that will result in projects that promote the ability of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities to travel independently. DOT, NJT, and DHS are also to conduct a study of nationwide best practices that identifies ways to operate public roadway facilities, public transportation services, and mobility programs operated or funded under the DHS in a manner that makes transportation services and mobility programs more accessible for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities The DOT is required to encourage regional and local entities that apply for funding through the local aid program to adopt infrastructure design practices and best practices that are consistent with State practices. | In Committee |
| A1961 | Expands duties of Commission on Human Trafficking to prevent human trafficking in women and children of color. | This bill expands the duties of the Commission on Human Trafficking in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the commission to study issues related to human trafficking of women and children of color, identify strategies to prevent or reduce human trafficking of women and children of color, enhance and facilitate the delivery of support services for such victims, and make recommendations for legislation, if appropriate. The bill clarifies that a majority of the members of Human Trafficking Commission (commission) constitutes a quorum for purposes of the Commission performing any duty or exercising any of its powers. The bill removes the requirement that a majority of the "authorized membership" be required for a quorum so as to prevent, in the absence or vacancy of any members, the interruption of the commission's statutory mandate. | In Committee |
| A2049 | Prohibits discrimination with respect to charging of rates of premiums for disability and accident insurance. | This bill prohibits discrimination against any person or group of persons because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex of the person or group of persons in the issuance, withholding, extension, or renewal of any policy of disability or accident insurance or annuity. Likewise, the bill prohibits discrimination on these bases in the fixing of the rates of, terms or conditions of, or in the issuance or acceptance of any application for disability or accident insurance. Current law does not prohibit discrimination with respect to disability and accident insurance based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex. Massachusetts recently enacted a law (Bill H.482/S.545) prohibiting any distinction, classification, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, or national origin, in the amount or payment of premiums or rate charges, or in the benefits payable, or in any of the other terms or conditions of any group or individual disability or accident insurance. This bill is modeled after the Massachusetts law. | In Committee |
| A2055 | Permits incarcerated person to renew driver's license using existing digitized picture on file with MVC. | This bill permits a person who was incarcerated to renew the person's driver's license for a period not exceeding one year from the date that the person was released from imprisonment using a picture on file with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The bill permits a person who was incarcerated to renew a driver's license if the person presents a New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) identification card or non-driver identification card issued by the MVC. Under the bill, the fee for this extension is $18 but the person is not be required to pay the digitized picture fee required for the renewal of driver's licenses. The bill also amends the "Fair Release and Reentry Act of 2009" to clarify that the Commissioner for the DOC is required to provide to each inmate at least ten days prior to release from a State correctional facility, among other documents and information, a non-driver identification card issued pursuant to State law by the MVC. | In Committee |
| A2015 | Establishes "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" in DOH. | Establishes "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" in DOH. | In Committee |
| A1182 | Requires DOH to develop mobile senior citizen assistance program. | This bill provides that within 180 days following the effective date of this act, the Department of Health shall develop and implement a mobile senior citizen assistance program from available funds. The program shall consist of the periodic deployment of staffed vehicles to locations at or near nursing homes and senior citizen centers, events, gatherings, and low-income senior housing and other residences and forms of senior housing in this State to provide general assistance to senior citizens which shall include, but shall not be limited to, assistance with: completing applications, correspondence, food services, health care services, Internet access and use, legal services, making appointments, tax services, transportation, and the use of computers and mobile devices. This bill is based on the Ocean County MASH Unit-- a program implemented by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners to help seniors in that county through the use of vehicles staffed by Ocean County Senior Services. | In Committee |
| A2324 | Requires hazard mitigation plans to include climate change-related threat assessments and hazard prevention and mitigation strategies. | This bill would require any hazard mitigation plan (HMP) that is adopted or revised on or after the date the bill is enacted into law, either by the State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) or by a county office of emergency management, to address the current and future impacts of climate change, identify the specific hazards and risks associated with climate change, and include strategies to prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the natural hazards identified through the planning process. The bill would require each HMP, among other things, to: (1) identify and analyze the existing and future threats to, and vulnerabilities of, resources of value including buildings, facilities, and equipment, which result from natural hazards that are caused or worsened by climate change; (2) identify the critical facilities, utilities, roadways, and other types of infrastructure that are necessary for evacuation, for sustaining assets and systems that protect life and property during a natural disaster, or for facilitating rapid recovery after a natural disaster; (3) include a social vulnerability assessment that evaluates how, and to what extent, socially vulnerable and underserved communities may be disproportionately impacted by climate change-related natural hazards; (4) include an assessment as to whether, how, and to what extent, identified climate change-related threats and vulnerabilities will impact the State's or county's ability, over time, to successfully implement other components of its HMP; (5) describe the proactive and preventive means, methods, strategies, procedures, protocols, and design and building standards that will be used under the HMP to eliminate or reduce climate change-related threats and vulnerabilities, to mitigate the hazardous impacts of climate change, and to mitigate the impacts of climate change on socially vulnerable communities; and (6) describe the means, methods, strategies, procedures, protocols, and design and building standards that will be used under the HMP to remediate or off-set the effects of natural hazards. The bill requires the climate change-related components of an HMP to be based on the most recent natural hazard projections and best available science. Finally, the bill further requires the provisions of a floodplain management plan, emergency response plan, post-disaster recovery plan, capital improvement plan, or similar plan, which is adopted or revised by the State, a county, or a local government or other local jurisdiction on or after the date the bill is enacted into law, to be consistent with, and to reflect, the natural hazard risks of the applicable HMP. | Dead |
| A1863 | Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman; appropriates $1 million. | This bill expands the scope of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (ombudsman) and appropriates $1 million. Specifically, the bill provides that the office of the ombudsman will oversee all long-term care facility residents, not just the elderly. The bill updates certain statutory references to reflect this change, and additionally removes references to "patients" and "clients" of a facility. Current law provides that, upon completing an investigation, the ombudsman's findings and recommended action are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Health or the Commissioner of Human Services, as appropriate, as well as to any other governmental agency that regulates or operates the facility. The bill revises this requirement to provide that the report be furnished to these entities upon request, and upon substantiation of the report or complaint. The bill further provides that the report may also be provided to the complainant, if the resident or the resident's legal representative consents to the complainant receiving a copy of the report. The bill provides that, in addition to obtaining the name and address of a person on a consent form, the ombudsman is to make reasonable efforts to obtain the person's phone number and email address. The bill revises a requirement for the Legislature to review the development, administration, and operation of the office through certain standing reference committees to instead make the Legislature directly responsible for the review. The bill appropriates to the ombudsman $700,000 for the purpose of employing additional staff; purchasing, renting, or leasing vehicles or other transportation; and such other expenses as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the office. Further, $300,000 is appropriated for the purpose of undertaking a Statewide advertising campaign to promote the ombudsman's Volunteer Advocate program. The bill makes various technical and stylistic changes involving grammar and citation. | In Committee |
| A1947 | Directs State Auditor to conduct performance review audit of VCCO. | This bill directs the State Auditor to conduct a performance review audit of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the performance review audit of the VCCO to analyze whether the VCCO is achieving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in employing available resources and whether the office is in compliance with statutory law and regulations governing the VCCO's operations. The audit is to 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; and recommendations to address any organizational deficiencies that may be revealed by the audit. 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 six months of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1966 | Addresses long-term effects of COVID-19. | This bill addresses the long-term effects of COVID-19. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department), in consultation with county and local health departments shall develop strategies to establish post-COVID-19 health clinics that provide physical and mental health evaluations, physical therapy, and other appropriate services at no cost to patients who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19. The department is to publish informational pamphlets on post-COVID-19 health clinics, which are to be made available in pertinent licensed health care facilities. The department is to establish a public awareness campaign to increase public awareness of the long-term health effects of COVID-19 and methods to address such health effects. The department is to: publish current information on the symptoms of COVID-19 and the long-term health effects therefrom; publish informational pamphlets on the long-term health effects of COVID-19, which are to be made available in pertinent licensed health care facilities; and educate individuals in medically underserved areas and areas with statistically adverse health outcomes resulting from COVID-19 about the long-term health effects of COVID-19. The bill provides for the establishment of the "New Jersey COVID-19 Long-Term Health Effects Task Force." The purpose of the 15-member task force is to study the long-term health effects of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minorities in the State. Further, the bill provides that the department is to: develop continuing education courses for health care professionals on the long-term health effects of COVID-19; develop methods for healthcare professionals to employ to make patients aware of the long-term health effects of COVID-19, including the long-term health effects of COVID-19 on asymptomatic persons; and develop methods for health care professionals to encourage patients to seek further medical care, mental health care, or both, for any condition that may arise as a result of a previous COVID-19 diagnosis. | In Committee |
| A1949 | Establishes State board to oversee implementation and evaluation of State pilot programs. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Pilot Program Review Board" to oversee implementation and evaluation of State pilot programs. Under the bill, the "New Jersey Pilot Program Review Board" is established in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury. The board will be independent of any supervision or control by the Department of the Treasury except as expressly authorized under the bill. The board will consist of nine members as follows: (1) five members will be appointed by the Governor, of whom one will serve as chairperson; (2) one member will be appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) one member will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (4) one member will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and (5) one member will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. Members of the board are required to have knowledge, expertise, and practice in at least four of the following areas: accounting and auditing, State, county, or municipal government, economic analysis, governmental finance and fiscal management, program evaluation, cost benefits analysis, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. Members of the board will serve for a term of four years, except that of the appointments first made to the board by the Governor, two of the appointments will serve for a term of two years, and except that the appointments first made by the minority leaders in each House will be for a term of two years. The term of each member will be deemed to commence on July 1 of the calendar year of the appointment and will expire on June 30 of the second or fourth calendar year thereafter, as the case may be for the first or subsequent appointments. The board is required to: (1) review all pilot programs periodically and not more than a year after the completion of the pilot program to measure the degree to which the pilot program is achieving its desired goals and outcomes and the overall effectiveness of the pilot program; (2) evaluate each pilot program using the objective performance measures established and developed by the implementing department division, or other agency of State government; (3) solicit both written and oral comments on the impact of a certain pilot program from the public, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) provide a written report after each review of a pilot program to the Governor and the Legislature, in which the board shall provide recommendations on whether or not the pilot program is being properly implemented and meeting the programs intended goals and outcomes, and, if so, whether the program should be expanded Statewide and to a permanent status. The Department of the Treasury will provide primary staff support to the board and each department, office, division, or agency of the State is required to cooperate with the board and furnish it with such information, personnel, or assistance as may be necessary for the board to discharge its duties. | In Committee |
| A2000 | Increases penalties imposed on juveniles and adults convicted of motor vehicle theft and related crimes. | This bill increases the penalties imposed on juveniles and adults convicted of motor vehicle theft and related crimes. The bill specifically provides that a person convicted of a first offense of theft of a motor vehicle would be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 180 days without eligibility for parole. A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense would be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year without eligibility for parole. The court may also require a person to pay monetary restitution to any person or entity who has suffered loss resulting from personal injuries or damage to property as a result of the offense. A juvenile adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of theft of a motor vehicle, or the crime of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (joy riding) and operating it in a manner that creates a risk of injury or risk of property damage would be sentenced to incarceration for a term of 30 days for a first offense. For a second offense, the juvenile would be sentenced to incarceration for a term of 60 days followed by a period of time in a nonresidential program operated by a public or private agency. For a third or subsequent offense, the juvenile would be sentenced to incarceration for a term of six months, followed by a period of time in a nonresidential program. If the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of entering and riding in a motor vehicle knowing that the motor vehicle has been taken or is being operated without the consent of the owner, the court would order the juvenile incarcerated for a term of 10 days, followed by a term of community service for at least 30 days. Under current law, the court may require a juvenile to make restitution to a person or entity who has suffered loss resulting from personal injuries or damage to property as a result of the offense for which the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent. Under the bill, the court would not be permitted to order a juvenile who has been adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of theft of a motor vehicle, the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, or joyriding to pay restitution. Finally, the provisions of the bill provide that any person who is at least 18 years of age who knowingly uses, solicits, directs, hires, or employs a person 17 years of age or younger to commit theft of a motor vehicle, the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, or joyriding is to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of between six months and one year for a first offense, and not less than five years for a second or subsequent offense. According to New Jersey officials, as of May 2022 car thefts have increased 37% compared to 2021 and 53% compared to 2020. There were 14,320 vehicles stolen in New Jersey in 2021. Nationally, the National Insurance Crime Bureau has reported an "unprecedented" rise in car thefts and carjackings in recent years, increasing by 16.5% across the country in 2021 compared to 2019 and nearly 29% compared to 2017. In the view of the sponsor, the increasing numbers of car thefts have had many negative impacts on the community, ranging from an increased fear of crime to the loss of transportation when a vehicle is stolen and costs for car insurance. | In Committee |
| A2315 | Establishes "Menstrual Hygiene Products Program," appropriates $200,000. | This bill establishes the "Menstrual Hygiene Products Program" (program) in order to promote and facilitate improved access to menstrual hygiene products to low-income residents of the State. In order to promote and facilitate improved access to menstrual hygiene products to low-income residents of the State, the amended bill requires the Department of Agriculture (department), in consultation with the Departments of Health and Human Services, to develop and implement the program. The department is required to identify, on its Internet website, the food pantries participating in the program, and the times during which each food pantry will be accessible for community residents to obtain menstrual hygiene products. Under the program, the department is required to award annual grants to food pantries for the purchase of menstrual hygiene products. Any costs incurred by a food pantry in providing an adequate supply of menstrual hygiene products will be borne by the State. Pursuant to the bill, the department is authorized to: (1) coordinate and encourage partnerships between food pantries, pharmacies, and other retail stores that participate in the program, in order to facilitate the prompt and efficient delivery of menstrual hygiene products; (2) take appropriate actions to encourage participation in the initiative; (3) develop educational and informational materials for distribution to low-income individuals, which may incorporate information pertaining to the importance of proper menstrual hygiene products, or any other topic that is relevant to the work of the initiative; and (4) take such other actions, including but not limited to adopting rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that the secretary deems necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this bill and any other necessary rules and regulations in consultation with the Departments of Health and Human Services. This bill appropriates $200,000 to the Department of Agriculture to support the Menstrual Hygiene Product Program. Under the bill, each food pantry may apply for a grant of up to $10,000 each year. | In Committee |
| ACR69 | Urges United States President to expand access to menstrual products in schools. | This resolution respectfully urges the President of the United States to expand access to menstrual products in schools throughout the nation. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides equal access to education in federally funded schools and programs. Though Title IX does not explicitly reference menstruation, the intent of Title IX is to reduce disparities in educational equity and opportunity on the basis of sex. Title IX can be expanded through interpretation, regulation, and guidance to provide more protections for individuals who menstruate. Period poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education, affects many school-aged students. More than half of all high school aged students who menstruate are late to school, have to leave school early, or miss school due to a lack of menstrual products. A low-income student may be forced to resort to alternatives to menstrual products such as toilet paper or forced to extend the length of time the student uses a single menstrual product, which may have negative health consequences including infection and toxic shock syndrome. Expanding Title IX to include free menstrual products in all restrooms may reduce educational disparities on the basis of sex and reduce menstrual-based harassment in schools. . Given that providing access to free menstrual products under Title IX is fundamental to equality, it is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge the President to expand access to menstrual products in schools throughout the nation as an imperative under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. | In Committee |
| A1951 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to Department of Law and Public Safety for public awareness campaign of victims' rights and VCCO assistance. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $750,000 from the General Fund to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) in the Department of Law and Public Safety for a public awareness campaign to inform victims of the provisions of the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and of the availability of compensation and other assistance from VCCO. | In Committee |
| ACR68 | Urges Secretary of Higher Education and Educational Opportunity Fund Board to study and modernize program regulations, particularly regulations related to student funding priority levels. | The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program, established by State law in 1968, supports educationally and economically disadvantaged students for undergraduate and graduate study at public and private institutions of higher education in New Jersey. The EOF program, in part, provides direct financial aid to students through Opportunity Grants, which assist students in meeting college expenses, such as fees, books, room, board, and transportation, that are not covered by the State's Tuition Aid Grant program. Current EOF regulations specify that institutions are to award Opportunity Grant funds to students in the following priority order: 1) renewal students who were given awards during the previous academic year; 2) first-time, full-time freshmen; 3) EOF transfer students who received an EOF student grant at another institution, in the preceding academic year; 4) renewal students readmitted or returning to the program who did not receive awards in the prior academic year; and 5) eligible students who do not fall into any of the other four categories. Under this structure, a high school graduate who has, for example, earned an associate degree through participation in a dual enrollment program is not considered a "first-year student" and is thus placed in the lowest EOF funding priority level as opposed to being considered in the second funding priority level if the student had not attained an associate degree. The structure creates a disincentive for students to participate in dual enrollment and other college readiness programs that the Legislature and several administrations have strived to establish and encourage. This resolution urges the Secretary of Higher Education and the Educational Opportunity Fund Board of Directors, who respectively administer and govern the program, to study and modernize current EOF regulations, specifically regulations that negatively impact students who have earned 24 or more college credits while in high school. Dual enrollment programs allow high schools to partner with an institution of higher education to offer coursework that can be applied toward completion of a postsecondary degree. | In Committee |
| A1958 | Requires health insurance coverage of at-home rehabilitation services. | This bill requires health insurance carriers, including insurance companies, health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, and any entity contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program or School Employees' Health Benefits Program, to cover at-home rehabilitation services. For an individual recovering from surgery or suffering from a debilitating disease or disability, the burden of traveling to and from a rehabilitation facility may be too large to overcome. With the rise of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, many individuals have also been unable to visit a rehabilitation facility for treatment or have delayed treatment for fear of contracting the virus. Thus, requiring carriers to cover at-home rehabilitation services would alleviate these issues by providing access to treatment from within the patient's home, without fear of aggravating a disability or contracting a deadly virus. As defined in the bill, "at-home rehabilitation" means the treatment of an individual suffering from a functional physical or mental impairment due to injury or disease through use of medical equipment or other means and within the individual's home. | In Committee |
| A2016 | Establishes crimes against elected public officials and immediate families; provides police protection in instances of crime against elected public official and immediate family. | The bill provides additional protections for elected public officials and members of their immediate family. Under current law, it is a disorderly persons offense to commit assault. However, when the assault is committed against enumerated persons, it is the crime of aggravated assault, a crime of the third degree. The bill adds elected public officials and the immediate family members of elected public officials to the enumerated list of persons who, when assaulted, constitutes the crime of aggravated assault. Further, the bill makes it a third degree crime to commit the crimes of stalking and harassment against an elected official or their immediate family. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The bill defines "immediate family member" as a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union couple, parent, sibling, child, and stepchild, as related by blood or law. Upon the commission of the enumerated crimes of the bill, assault, harassment, or stalking against an elected public official or an immediate family member, the Superintendent of the State Police and the local police in the municipality in which the elected official or immediate family member reside are required to provide police protection to the elected official and the immediate family member of the elected official. The Superintendent of the State Police on a case-by-case basis determines the length of time that police provide protection to the elected public official and the immediate family member of the elected public official. The bill is being prepared in response to the recent assault committed against the husband of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Nancy Pelosi. The bill provides additional measures and protections to ensure the safety of elected public officials and their families. | In Committee |
| A1976 | Prohibits vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging location under certain circumstances. | This bill adds electric vehicle charging locations to the places an operator of a motor vehicle is prohibited from parking under certain circumstances. Under the bill, an individual is prohibited from parking in an electric vehicle charging location if the vehicle is a non-electric vehicle, the vehicle is an electric vehicle that is not connected to the charging equipment, or the vehicle is an electric vehicle that is connected to the charging equipment but the vehicle is fully charged, and where the location is clearly marked 1) as an electric vehicle charging location, 2) as designated for electric vehicle charging only, and 3) to indicate that violators are subject to a penalty. The bill defines "electric vehicle charging location" as a publicly accessible parking space or group of parking spaces, with visible signage designating that the parking space or spaces are available for use by the public for charging plug-in electric vehicles. A violation of the provisions of this bill is punishable by a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or both. The sponsor notes that many electric vehicle drivers report that non-electric vehicles are often parked in electric vehicle charging locations. Occasionally, drivers of the non-electric vehicles may not notice the spot was intended for electric vehicle charging because of unclear or confusing signage, but many times the non-electric vehicle driver simply disregards the designation of the spot. Unfortunately, many non-electric vehicle drivers do not realize how critical these locations are to electric vehicle drivers. Parking in an electric vehicle charging location is equivalent to blocking gas pumps, except that there are far more gas stations than electric vehicle charging locations. The sponsor hopes that this bill will help deter non-electric vehicle drivers from parking in electric vehicle charging locations and will allow law enforcement officers to enforce penalties on individuals who violate the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A2020 | Establishes requirements for removal of students from public school pending mental health clearance. | This bill requires that school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities follow specific procedures when the district, educational services commission, or approved private school for students with disabilities makes a determination to remove a student from school for mental health clearance by a licensed mental health clinician in order to return to school. A mental health clearance is defined as an assessment conducted by a licensed mental health clinician to determine, at the time of the assessment, whether a student is substantially likely to injure themselves or others if returned to school. Under the bill, school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities are required to adopt a policy that complies with the regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education under the bill, and also includes the following: 1) removal for mental health clearance is only used in an emergency in which the student is exhibiting behavior at the time of removal that places the student or others in immediate physical danger; 2) the removal is documented in writing in sufficient detail to be used in the mental health clearance and to enable staff to address student behavior. In the case of a classified student, consultation with the child study team will occur prior to removal; 3) upon the student's return to school, in the case of a classified student, the child study team is to review and update the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), and in the case of a student with a 504 plan, the 504 team is to review and update the 504 plan. In the case of a general education student, the student is to be evaluated to determine if the student is eligible for special education programs and services or a 504 plan; 3) the student's parent or guardian is immediately notified by telephone or electronically when the decision is made to remove the student. A full written report of the incident is to be provided to the parent or guardian within 48 hours of the removal decision; 4) appropriate instruction is provided to a student who is removed from school for more than five days. In the case of a student with an IEP or a 504 plan, the instruction is to be consistent with that plan; 5) the family will bear no cost for the mental health clearance except in certain circumstances; and 6) every reasonable effort is made to ensure the student's prompt return to school. The policy is to be provided to the parent or guardian of a student who is removed from school, and be posted on the website of the school district, educational services commission, or approved private school for students with disabilities. The website also is to include a list of employees who will serve as a point of contact on the removal of students for mental health clearance. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, is directed to promulgate regulations that are to include: 1) a definition of what constitutes cause for the removal of a student for mental health clearance; 2) any limitations on the use of removal of a student for mental health clearance, including other interventions that are required before removal, and that the removal is consistent with the IDEA; 3) the maximum period of time that a student may be removed from school awaiting the mental health clearance before the student is returned to school or an alternate educational placement is provided; 4) the establishment of criteria that a mental health clearance is to meet and the school district, educational services commission, and approved school for students with disabilities is required to accept as an appropriate evaluation; 5) the development of a Statewide list of licensed mental health clinicians available to conduct mental health clearances that meet the criteria; 6) the actions to be taken by the school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities if the student's evaluation indicates that the student should not return to school, including the standards for a hearing that will provide the student and the student's parent or guardian with an opportunity to challenge the decision; and 7) the actions to be taken by the school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities upon the return of the student to school, and the resources to be provided to the student and the parent or guardian. A school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities is required to provide the parent or guardian of a student removed from school for mental health clearance with the Statewide list of licensed mental health clinicians available to conduct the evaluation of the student as developed by the State board under its regulations. The school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities is to also provide the parent or guardian with a list of licensed mental health clinicians employed by, or under contract with, the school district, educational services commission, or approved private school for students with disabilities available to conduct the mental health clearance. A parent or guardian may select a licensed mental health clinician who is not on either of these lists to conduct the student's mental health clearance, but in this case the parent or guardian will bear the cost of the clearance. The bill directs the department to annually collect data on the number of students that were removed from school for a mental health clearance, the duration of the student's removals, the number of students who were returned to school with a mental health clearance, and the number of students who were not cleared for return to school. The department is required to publish the data on its website in a manner that protects student privacy. The data is to be disaggregated by general education students and students with disabilities, by county, and by race, gender, and age of the student. | In Committee |
| A1968 | Provides for restricted use driver's license as alternatives for license suspension in municipal court. | This bill would allow the municipal court to provide restricted use driver's licenses to drivers whose licenses have been suspended. Under the bill, a person whose driver's license is suspended or revoked may apply to the municipal court for a restricted use driver's license. The court would consider the extent of financial hardship the person would suffer without a license and the probability that the person would repeat the offense when making the determination to provide for a restricted use driver's license. If the court determines that a restricted use driver's license is appropriate, the court would order that a restricted use driver's license be issued. The court would then forward the order to the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission who would issue the license. A restricted use driver's license would authorize the licensee to operate a motor vehicle during certain hours and between certain points solely for the purpose of traveling either to and from his place of employment or place of education. In addition, a restricted use driver's placard would be issued to each approved licensee. The placard would be required to be prominently displayed in the rear window of any vehicle being driven by a restricted use licensee. The fee imposed would be not more than $100 for the restricted use driver's license and placard. A restricted use driver's license issued under the bill would expire when the person's driver's license is restored following the period of suspension. The bill defines a "restricted use driver's license" as a license to operate a motor vehicle exclusively for employment-related or education-related purposes in compliance with the terms of this act. The license shall be of a color that makes it readily distinguishable from other driver's licenses issued by the State. This bill is based on Recommendation No. 10 of the Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees, issued August 2018. | In Committee |
| A3123 | Requires public and nonpublic schools with lunch programs to provide free lunch to increasing numbers of income-eligible students and, after five-year phase-in, to provide free lunch to all students, regardless of income or federal eligibility. | This bill, would require school districts and nonpublic schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide free lunch to gradually increasing numbers of income-eligible students over a five-year phase-in period and, at the end of that five-year phase-in period, to provide free lunch to all students enrolled in the district or at the nonpublic school, regardless of each student's household income or federal eligibility for free or reduced price school meals. The bill would additionally clarify that both school districts and nonpublic schools that offer school breakfasts under the federal School Breakfast Program will be required, pursuant to existing law at section 12 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-14a), to provide such breakfasts, free of charge, to students who are federally eligible for free or reduced price school meals, as well as to students who are federally ineligible for free or reduced price school meals, but who have an annual household income amounting to not less than 186 percent, and not more than 199 percent, of the federal poverty level. However, the bill would not expand the categories of students who are eligible for free breakfast under that existing law. Under existing federal law, a student is federally eligible to receive free or reduced price school lunch under the National School Lunch Program, or free or reduced price school breakfast under the federal School Breakfast Program, only if the student is determined to be categorically eligible for such benefits (i.e., is determined to be a homeless child, a migrant child, a runaway child, a foster child, or a Head Start Child, or is a participant in certain public benefits programs) or can demonstrate that the student lives in a low-income household (i.e., a household with an annual income that is not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level). Through the recent enactment of the "Working Class Families' Anti-Hunger Act," P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-3.2 et al.), the State of New Jersey has also provided for the expanded provision of free school lunches and breakfasts to students in the State who reside in certain middle-income families (i.e., those families having an annual household income of up to 199 percent of the federal poverty level). This bill would further expand the existing State law on this issue by providing for the continued, but gradual, expansion of subsidized school lunch eligibility (but not subsidized school breakfast eligibility) to students in higher income brackets, over the course of a five-year phase-in period, until all students are eligible for free school lunch, regardless of the students' income and federal eligibility therefor. Specifically, under the bill's provisions, school lunches are to be made available, free of charge, to enrolled students who are federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, in accordance with the following schedule: (1) during the 2023-2024 school year, and consistent with the provisions of the "Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act," to each enrolled student who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, but who has an annual household income that is not less than 186 percent, and not more than 199 percent, of the federal poverty level (FPL); (2) during the 2024-2025 school year, to each enrolled student who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, but who has an annual household income that is not less than 186 percent, and not more than 249 percent, of the FPL; (3) during the 2025-2026 school year, to each enrolled student who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, but who has an annual household income that is not less than 186 percent, and not more than 299 percent, of the FPL; (4) during the 2026-2027 school year, to each enrolled student who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, but who has an annual household income that is not less than 186 percent, and not more than 349 percent, of the FPL; (5) during the 2027-2028 school year, to each enrolled student who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, but who has an annual household income that is not less than 186 percent, and not more than 399 percent, of the FPL; and (6) during the 2028-2029 school year, and during each school year thereafter, to each enrolled student who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, regardless of the student's annual household income. All students who become newly eligible for free school lunch, under the bill's provisions, would also be eligible to continue receiving such free lunches through a summer meals program. Eligible public school students would additionally be able to continue receiving free lunches through an emergency meals distribution program that is activated during a period of school closure resulting from COVID-19. The bill would require the State to provide funding to each participating school district and nonpublic school, as may be necessary to reimburse the costs associated with the provision of free lunches thereby to expanding groups of State-eligible students who are federally ineligible for such meals under the National School Lunch Program. It would further require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to establish a standardized means by which to review the State reimbursement amounts being allocated under the bill in order to determine whether, and the extent to which, participating school districts and nonpublic schools have received adequate reimbursement, from the State, sufficient to account for each participating school's actual costs of meal delivery, including, but not limited to, food, labor, and other related costs. The bill would require each report that is annually submitted, to the Governor and Legislature, on the State's school lunch and breakfast programs to identify, as appropriate, for each participating school district and nonpublic school in the State: (1) the number and percentage of students receiving subsidized school meals who have been determined to be, respectively, federally eligible for free school lunch or breakfast, federally eligible for reduced price school lunch or breakfast, income-eligible for free school lunch or breakfast on the basis of State-level income eligibility requirements, or statutorily eligible for free school lunch, as provided by the bill, without regard to income; and (2) the number and percentage of such students who reside in low-income families with household incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level, middle-income families with household incomes between 186 and 399 percent of the federal poverty level, and upper-income families with household incomes at or above 400 percent of the federal poverty level. In addition to expanding eligibility for subsidized school lunches, the bill would also require school districts and nonpublic schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program to take steps to minimize or offset program costs, to the extent that such costs can be minimized or offset without compromising the nonpublic school's or district's ability to comply with minimum nutritional standards and other program requirements. To facilitate such legally compliant cost minimization activities, the bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to: (1) monitor, inspect, and oversee school meals programs operating in the State to ensure that school meals served thereunder continue to satisfy minimum nutritional standards; (2) develop and publicize best practices, protocols, and model plans to help participating school districts and nonpublic schools effectively minimize and offset program costs without compromising the nutritional value of meals being served; and (3) work cooperatively with each participating school district and nonpublic school to review the program costs being expended thereby, identify various means and methods by which those program costs can be reduced, curtailed, or eliminated without sacrificing nutritional value or legal compliance, provide relevant financial recommendations, and undertake or recommend other appropriate actions to prevent the State's school meals programs from becoming overly bloated with unnecessary expenses and from otherwise becoming financially burdensome. | In Committee |
| A1981 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on menstrual health and hygiene as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires that schools include age appropriate instruction on menstrual health and hygiene for students in grades four through 12 as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under this bill, instruction on menstrual health and hygiene would include: the proper use of menstrual hygiene products; the symptoms and effects of menstrual disorders; the effects of period poverty; and when and how to seek medical advice. Parents and guardians would be notified of the topics of instruction and requirements of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education prior to the beginning of a unit of instruction in menstrual health and hygiene. | In Committee |
| A2103 | Establishes "Resiliency and Environmental System Investment Charge Program." | This bill establishes the "Resiliency and Environmental System Investment Charge Program" (RESIC), which creates a regulatory mechanism that enables water and wastewater utilities (utilities) to recover the costs of investment in certain non-revenue producing utility system components that enhance water and wastewater system resiliency, environmental compliance, safety, and public health. The bill authorizes a utility to petition the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) concerning RESIC activities by submitting a foundational filing. A utility that offers more than one regulated service may file a joint foundational filing for a RESIC that includes infrastructure investments for multiple regulated services or separate foundational filings to establish a separate RESIC for each regulated service offered by the utility. If a utility files separate foundational filings, each RESIC approved by the BPU would be subject to a separate revenue recovery cap. Under the RESIC program, after approval of the foundational filing, a utility may charge customers for the costs of installing, rehabilitating, improving, or replacing utility system infrastructure in accordance with the bill. However, the bill provides that the total revenues recovered through the RESIC rate may not exceed the RESIC-cap, which equals five percent of the utility's total annual revenues, as adjusted for certain approved charges. Under the bill, the utility would also be required to identify the amounts owed by each customer, based on the RESIC rate, separately on the customer's utility bill. | Dead |
| A2012 | Establishes "Automobile Accident Injury Fund." | This bill establishes the "Automobile Accident Injury Fund" in the Department of Banking and Insurance. Over the past several years, there has been a rise in automobile thefts in the State, with 14,320 vehicles reported stolen in 2021, a 22 percent increase compared to 2020. In a number of these thefts, unsuspecting individuals have sustained physical injury from being hit by a stolen automobile. With almost 700,000 residents without health insurance, and with one in every eight drivers in the State without automobile insurance, there are individuals in this State who, if injured by a stolen automobile may incur the full cost of a medical bill. The purpose of the "Automobile Accident Injury Fund" is to cover the medical costs of eligible individuals injured in an automobile accident in which the automobile was stolen at the time of the accident and the medical costs of the eligible individual are not covered by the individual's health insurance policy or automobile insurance policy, if any. The bill requires the department to establish by regulation a procedure for payments from the fund. In addition, the department is required to establish regulations that provide for the process for eligible individuals to apply for payment pursuant to the bill and the criteria by which the commissioner shall determine the value of the payment provided to each eligible applicant. Finally, the department will be required to issue payments pursuant to the bill without regard to whether the stolen automobile was adequately insured pursuant to State law. | In Committee |
| A2825 | Directs Juvenile Justice Commission to establish arts education pilot program for juvenile offenders. | This bill directs the Juvenile Justice Commission to establish an arts education pilot program for juvenile offenders in the State. In establishing the pilot program, the bill requires the commission to consult with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to oversee the development, operation, administration, and evaluation of the program. The pilot program is to involve the development of three model arts education programs to deliver innovative arts-based programming for juvenile offenders in detention and correction facilities during a five-year period. The model programs are to be developed through organizational partnerships including, but not limited to, State and local arts organizations, community-based agencies, philanthropic entities, and the private sector, and are to be self-funded. The commission is to select three programs to participate in the pilot program, based upon the organization's ability to successfully implement model arts-based programming. Under the bill, the commission is required to include an evaluation component in the pilot program. The evaluation is to be based on best practices for assessing arts-based programming for juvenile offenders and youth and, specifically, their educational outcomes and student progress in problem solving, comprehension, critical thinking and reasoning, and positive development. During the initial four years, each model program is required to undergo an annual evaluation conducted by the commission. After the program's fourth year, the commission is to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an evaluation of the pilot program and a recommendation concerning whether the program should be continued and expanded within the State. | In Committee |
| A1413 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firefighting foam containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; requires DEP to establish collection and disposal program; appropriates $250,000. | This bill would prohibit, beginning two years after the bill's effective date, the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of any class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS within the State. As defined in the bill, "perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS" means substances that include any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom and "class B firefighting foam" means foam designed to prevent or extinguish a fire in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases. The bill would authorize a temporary exemption for the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams by certain facilities that have fixed foam fire suppression systems for class B fires and establish certain provisions governing the exemption, and provide that manufacturers and distributors of class B firefighting foam may manufacture, distribute, or sell class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS to facility owners and operators that are allowed to continue using the foam on a temporary basis. Additionally, the bill would authorize a temporary exemption for the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams by oil refineries and petroleum terminals, and establish certain provisions governing the exemption. The bill would require manufacturers of PFAS-containing firefighting foams to notify persons that sell the manufacturer's products in the State about the provisions of the bill, and require manufacturers who manufacture, sell, or distribute PFAS-containing firefighting foams in the State after one year after the bill's effective date to issue a product recall for the firefighting foam no later than 27 months after the bill's effective date and to establish certain provisions governing the recall. The bill's provisions would not apply to the sale, manufacture, distribution, or use of class B firefighting foam for which the inclusion of PFAS is required by federal law or regulation, including, but not limited to, 14 C.F.R. s.139.317. If a federal requirement to include PFAS in class B firefighting foam is revoked, the bill's provisions would apply one year after the requirement is revoked. A violation of the bill's provisions would be an unlawful practice pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), commonly known as the State's "Consumer Fraud Act." In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. In addition, the bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a voluntary program to collect class B firefighting foams containing intentionally added PFAS from fire departments in the State and dispose of the foam in an environmentally sound manner. The bill would appropriate $250,000 from the General Fund to the DEP in order to provide the initial funding for the collection and disposal program. | Dead |
| A1974 | Requires school districts to permit students excused absences while experiencing symptoms of menstrual disorder. | This bill entitles a student experiencing a menstrual disorder to ten excused absences from school while the student is experiencing symptoms. The absences will be considered State-recognized excused absences. Under the bill, menstrual disorders shall include, but are not limited to, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhea, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The absences would not count toward the 10 percent of days missed before a student is considered "chronically absent" and cannot be used to exclude a student from any awards or recognition on the basis of attendance. As an excused absence, students are required to be given the opportunity to make up any school work that was missed while the student was experiencing symptoms of a menstrual disorder. In order to have the absence recognized as an approved menstrual disorder absence the student may be required by the school district to provide any medical documentation which the superintendent or administrative principal of the school district deems necessary. This bill requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to provide school districts with criteria for defining an excused absence related to a menstrual disorder. This bill aims to address period poverty, the term used to describe the circumstance surrounding an individual's inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and education, including, but not limited to, access to menstrual products. Menstruating students of color, as well as students from low-income communities, are more likely to experience period poverty. Menstrual disorders, and the pain and discomfort associated with them, are often cited as the reason menstruating students miss school days. Menstrual disorders are also fairly common; one in five menstruating students experience menorrhagia, and nearly 70 percent of menstruating students experience dysmenorrhea. Students who attend class while experiencing a menstrual disorder often report classroom performance or concentration being negatively affected. Additionally, nearly one third of students who menstruate report missing at least one day of school while experiencing menstruation. Recent studies have shown that students are significantly more likely to be absent from school on days when they are experiencing menstruation relative to other school days. | In Committee |
| A521 | Requires owners of certain buildings to test drinking water for Legionella bacteria. | This bill would require owner of certain buildings to test the drinking water of the building for the presence of Legionella bacteria. Specifically, the bill would apply to acute care facilities, assisted living facilities, boarding houses, county correctional facilities, hospitals, multiple dwellings, nursing homes, units of public housing that have received funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, rooming houses, and State correctional facilities. The bill would require the building owner to test water from a tap in the building, at least once per year. The water sampling and testing would be required to be performed using a set of best practices developed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), under the bill. In addition, the water testing would be required to be performed by a laboratory accredited by the DEP. The bill would also require the building owner to transmit the test results to the DEP. If the test results reveal the presence of excessive Legionella contamination, according to a standard to be developed by the DEP under the bill, the building owner would be required to immediately notify residents and other users of the building. If the drinking water in the service line connected to the building has been tested for Legionella in the previous month, and the test result was negative, the bill would require the building owner to begin remediation of the Legionella contamination within 30 days, and the remediation would be required to be completed within six months. A violation of the bill's provisions would be considered a violation of the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.), which could result in civil administrative penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. | In Committee |
| A1980 | Requires AOC to establish program that collects certain information concerning bail reform. | The bill requires the Administrative Director of the Courts to establish a program to conduct research and data analysis regarding the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act, P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.). The act reformed the system of bail and pretrial detention in New Jersey. The program is required to conduct research and analysis and issue an annual report regarding: 1) the number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act; 2) whether there was an increase in the number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act; 3) the number of new crimes committed by persons released from pretrial detention pursuant to the act; and 4) whether the rate of crime has increased or decreased since the implementation of the act, including an analysis of crime rates in urban, suburban, and rural communities. The Criminal Justice Reform Act, which took effect on January 1, 2017, required a number of changes to this State's criminal justice system, including the elimination of monetary bail as a requirement for pretrial release for certain eligible defendants. Under the act, courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a person pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a person who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or presents concerns with obstructing further criminal proceedings. The sponsor intends for this legislation to provide information regarding certain changes that may have occurred following the implementation of the act and changes to the State's system of bail and pretrial detention. | In Committee |
| A1967 | Directs referral of certain persons under 18 for determination of status as socially or economically disadvantaged youth. | This bill would provide an affirmative defense to any person under the age of 18 who commits an act of juvenile delinquency which if committed by an adult would be prostitution. The bill is intended to address situations where disadvantaged youth are taken into custody for conduct which stems from the person's background, their environment, lack of support or systemic racism or bias. Under the bill, a person under the age of 18 shall not be considered to commit an act of juvenile delinquency which, under N.J.S.A.2A:4A-23, would be a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:34-1 if committed by an adult but shall be referred by law enforcement to the Department of Children and Family Services for a determination of whether the person is a "socially or economically disadvantaged youth." Under the bill, a "socially or economically disadvantaged youth" means shall mean those persons below 18 years of age from socially disadvantaged or lower income families and whose conduct resulting in the referral likely stemmed from the social or economic disadvantage. | In Committee |
| A1965 | Requires DCF and DOE to establish policies and procedures relating to child abuse and neglect and child abuse prevention during certain public health emergencies. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish policies and procedures, as outlined in the bill, to detect and investigate incidents of child abuse and neglect and to promote child abuse prevention techniques that is to be employed for the duration of a public health emergency that necessitates the use of social distancing and other restrictions on person-to-person contact. Under the provisions of the bill, the DCF, in consultation with the Department of Education (DOE), is required to establish a public awareness campaign to inform the general public about: protecting children from child abuse and neglect during a public health emergency that requires social distancing, remote learning, or other restrictions on person-to-person contact; and the policies and procedures established in the bill. The bill also requires the DCF to prepare a fact sheet on the information provided through the public awareness campaign, to make the fact sheet available to the public, and to post the fact sheet on its Internet website and the internet websites of the DOE and the Departments of Health and Human Services. The DCF is to collect and analyze data on all records of child abuse reports made during the public health emergency declared in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and issue a report, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill, to the Governor and the Legislature providing: a summary of the data on child abuse reports compiled by the DCF; comparative information about child abuse reports made prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic; and any recommendations for legislation or regulatory changes in the reporting of cases of child abuse and neglect during a public health emergency that requires social distancing or other restrictions on person-to-person contact. The bill requires the DOE and the DCF to develop, and make available to all school districts in the State free of charge, an online training program for school employees on the detection and prevention of child abuse, inclusive of how to do so during a public health emergency that requires remote learning, social distancing, or other restrictions on person-to-person contact. The bill also stipulates that the DOE require every school district in the State, in consultation with the DCF, to develop and implement a training program for school employees on the detection and prevention of child abuse during a public health emergency that requires remote learning, social distancing, or other restrictions on person-to-person contact. The DOE, in consultation with the DCF, is also to require every school district in the State, during a public health emergency that requires remote learning, social distancing, or other restrictions on person-to-person contact to: (1) allow students and their families to remotely access information the DCFs' Family Helpline and other similar telephone hotlines; and (2) provide a behavioral health assessment, remotely, to every student who is deemed at-risk of child abuse or neglect as determined by a school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker. | In Committee |
| A563 | Provides that crime of official misconduct involving disclosure of domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information is second degree crime. | This bill provides that any crime of official misconduct involving the disclosure of a domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information is a crime of the second degree. Under current law, a public servant is guilty of official misconduct when, with purpose to obtain a benefit for himself or another or to injure or to deprive another of a benefit: he knowingly commits an unauthorized exercise of his official functions; or he knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed upon him by law or is clearly inherent in the nature of his office. Official misconduct generally is a second degree crime, unless the benefit obtained or sought to be obtained, or of which another is deprived or sought to be deprived, is of a value of $200 or less, then it is a third degree crime. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under this bill, any crime of official misconduct involving the disclosure of a domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information would be a crime of the second degree, regardless of the amount of the benefit obtained or sought to be obtained, or of which another is deprived or sought to be deprived. | In Committee |
| A557 | Requires State agencies update demographic data collection methods on Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian and Indian Diaspora residents of this State. | This bill requires State agencies to update demographic data collection methods on Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian and Indian Diaspora residents of New Jersey. Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), Middle Easterners and North Africans (MENA), and South Asian and Indian Diaspora peoples are significant and important communities in New Jersey. Nearly one million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders reside in the State. The number of residents who would classify as Middle Eastern and North African or as South Asian and Indian Diaspora peoples cannot be determined under current data collection methods. Since 2000, the United States Census Bureau has separated the broader AANHPI label into two distinct categories labeled "Asian" and "Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders." The Census Bureau currently reports data for more than 20 different ethnicities within these two categories. Middle Eastern and North African and South Asian and Indian Diaspora categories do not currently exist. There is speculation that the 2030 United State Census may include a category for Middle Eastern and North African. This bill requires each State agency that directly or by contract collects demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of residents of the State of New Jersey to use separate collection categories and tabulations for these groups. The groups would be broken down by the following categories: (1) each major Asian group; (2) each major Pacific Islander group, including Native Hawaiian; (3) each major Middle Eastern and North African group; (4) each major South Asian and Indian Diaspora group; and (5) other Asian or Pacific Islander group. This bill also requires each State agency collecting demographic data to use separate collection categories and tabulations for: (1) the primary language spoken at home; and (2) the ethnic group or ancestry. The data collected would be included in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of residents of the State of New Jersey. The data would be made public, except for personal identifying information, by posting the data on the internet website of the State agency. | Dead |
| AJR57 | Designates March 30th of each year "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day." | This joint resolution designates March 30th of each year as "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey. Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (MTSS) is a preventable illness commonly caused by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Clostridium bacterial infection. MTSS still affects over 17 in 100,000 women between the ages of 13 and 25 every year, which marks little progress since the 1980s in reducing the number of MTSS cases. Risk factors for MTSS include the use of highly absorbent tampons, diaphragms, or contraceptive sponges, the presence of surgical wounds or untreated infections, or a history of recent childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Symptoms of MTSS include headache, muscle ache, sore throat, cough, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, lightheadedness, dizziness, faint upon standing, confusion, disorientation, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, seizures, rash, redness of eyes, lips, and tongue, dysfunction of the digestive and circulatory systems, and the shedding of skin around the hands and feet. In extreme cases, MTSS can result in organ damage, the loss of limbs, or death. Increased awareness of MTSS can help the citizens of the State of New Jersey identify and avoid suffering from this easily preventable illness. | In Committee |
| A2831 | Establishes pilot program to create student mental health assistance programs in selected school districts. | This bill establishes a four-year pilot program in which the participating school districts will establish a mental health assistance program for students in grades kindergarten through 12. The purposes of the pilot program are to identify issues affecting student mental health and the possible impact of those issues on academic performance, and to provide intervention, support, and referral services in a confidential setting to help students who may be experiencing mental health difficulties. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit an application and proposal to the Commissioner of Education, and the commissioner will select up to 15 school districts for participation. Each participating school district will create a mental health assistance program which, among other things: identifies students who may be experiencing personal, school, or family difficulties impacting the student's mental health, regardless of whether the difficulties are associated with alcohol or other drug-related concerns; establishes procedures for the referral of students to the program; provides mental health education, support, and intervention services for students served by the program in order to foster risk reduction and positive asset development; and provides referrals, where appropriate, to community agencies and resources that may help address the particular needs of the student. In order to facilitate the mental health assistance program, each participating school district is required to appoint one or more student assistance counselors or contract with one or more third party mental health care providers, who will act as a resource for the entire school community and will work with students or groups in a confidential setting to carry out the work of the program. The student assistance counselors or the mental health care providers must receive specialized prevention and intervention training, and participate in ongoing professional development, in order to best serve the needs of the school district's students and schools. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the bill requires each participating school district to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education containing certain information on the district's mental health assistance program as well as voluntary feedback collected from students, staff, and parents regarding the program. The bill directs the commissioner, after receiving the reports from the participating districts, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program and the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State. | In Committee |
| A2003 | Establishes Automobile Theft Prevention Authority; appropriates $2 million. | This bill establishes the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority in the Department of Law and Public Safety. Under the bill, the authority is to be governed by a board of directors. The bill provides that the purpose of the authority is to establish, coordinate, and fund activities to prevent, combat, and reduce automobile theft; improve and support automobile theft law enforcement and administration; and improve and support automobile theft prosecution. Under the provisions of this bill, the board of directors is to consist of the following seven members: 1) the Attorney General or a designee who is to serve ex-officio; 2) a law enforcement officer employed by the Division of State Police with experience in investigating automobile theft appointed by the Governor; 3) a county prosecutor with experience in prosecuting automobile theft cases appointed by the Governor; 4) a representative of an insurance company doing business in this state which is authorized to write automobile insurance appointed by the Governor; and 5) three public members appointed by the Governor. The bill provides that except for the Attorney General, the members of the board of directors are to serve for a term of four years. Vacancies are to be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The board of directors is to select a chairperson from among its members and a secretary who need not be a member of the board. Under the bill, a majority of the board of directors is to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the exercise of a power or function of the authority. However, action may be taken by the board at a meeting upon a vote of the majority of its members present. In addition, the bill provides that the authority is to have the powers and duties necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes of the bill, including but not limited to, the power to: 1) employ administrative, professional, clerical, and other personnel as required to effectuate the provisions of the bill; 2) make, execute, and deliver contracts, conveyances, and other instruments necessary for the exercise of its powers and make and amend bylaws; 3) procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property, assets, or activities; 4) apply for, solicit, receive, establish priorities for, allocate, disperse, contract for, administer, and spend any funds made available to the authority from any source consistent with the purposes of the bill; 5) make grants and provide financial support for government agencies and community, consumer, and business organizations consistent with the purposes of the bill; 6) invest any funds held in reserve and any money not required for immediate use or disbursement at its discretion and to name and use depositories for its money; 7) assess the scope of the problem of automobile theft, including identification of those areas in this State where the problem is greatest, and review State and local criminal justice policies, programs, and plans dealing with automobile theft; 8) develop and sponsor the implementation of Statewide plans, programs, and strategies to combat automobile theft; improve the administration of the automobile theft laws; and provide a forum for identification of critical programs for those persons dealing with automobile theft; 9) coordinate the development, adoption, and implementation of plans, programs, and strategies relating to interagency and intergovernmental cooperation with respect to automobile theft law enforcement; 10) promulgate rules or regulations related to the expenditure of any money held in a fund in order to assist and support agencies, units of government, and other organizations charged with the responsibility of reducing automobile theft or interested and involved in achieving this goal; and 11) audit, at its discretion, the plans and programs that it has funded in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the plans and programs and withdraw funding if the authority determines that a plan or program is ineffective or is no longer in need of further financial support from the authority. The bill also provides that the authority is to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the authority's activities in the preceding year. The report is to be made available to the public on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. In addition, the bill establishes in the Department of Law and Public Safety a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "Automobile Theft Prevention Authority Fund." The fund is to be administered by the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority established by the bill and dedicated for the purposes set forth in the bill. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety $2,000,000 for the provision of that amount to the "Automobile Theft Prevention Authority Fund" for the purposes set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| A2021 | Requires notification to appropriate departments if drug court participant tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. | This bill requires notification to appropriate departments if a drug court participant tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. Under current law a drug or alcohol-dependent person may be admitted into drug court if the person was convicted of a crime that has a presumption of incarceration or a minimum period of parole ineligibility, and also meets certain eligibility criteria. The probation department or other appropriate agency designated by the court to monitor or supervise the person's special probation is required to periodically report to the court the person's progress in treatment and compliance with court-imposed terms and conditions. The treatment provider is required to promptly report to the probation department or other appropriate agency if a person fails to comply with any court-imposed term or condition of special probation or required treatment, including but not limited to, a positive drug or alcohol test, the unexcused failure to attend any session or activity, or any act that would constitute an escape. Under the bill, in notifying the probation department or other appropriate agency of a person's positive drug test, the treatment provider is required to specify if the person tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. Under the bill, if a person tests positive for marijuana or cannabis, the probation department or other appropriate agency is also required to promptly notify the appropriate division within the Department of Law and Public Safety. | In Committee |
| A1785 | Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $20 million from General Fund to DOE to support school facility cleaning and sanitization. | This bill makes an FY 2020 supplemental appropriation of $20 million to the Department of Education to provide up to $20 million in funds, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, to be awarded by the commissioner to school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools for the purpose of increasing the frequency and intensity of the cleaning and sanitizing of school facilities in the event that the school is provided a written directive by either the New Jersey Department of Health or the health officer of the jurisdiction to institute a public health-related closure on March 9, 2020 or any day thereafter due to suspected exposure to the COVID-19 epidemic. The funds will be used for the purchase of disinfectants and other cleaning supplies, and for any increase in personnel costs associated with the enhanced cleaning schedule. The Commissioner of Education is directed to establish an expedited application, approval, and disbursement process for the funds. The commissioner will allocate the funds in proportion to the number of students enrolled in the school district, and in the charter schools and nonpublic schools located in that school district as compared to the total number of students enrolled in all school districts, and charter schools and nonpublic schools that have reported their enrollment to the commissioner. | In Committee |
| A1956 | Provides that disability-owned businesses be included in certain business development programs, direct loan programs, and certification processes; requires Chief Diversity Officer compile information on awarding of State contracts to disability-owned businesses. | This bill provides that disability-owned businesses be included in certain State programs, the certification process by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, and for monitoring by the Chief Diversity Officer of the State. The bill incorporates disability-owned businesses within the Office of Minority, Disabled Veterans, and Women Medical Cannabis Business Development The bill incorporates disability-owned businesses into the requirement that, when the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) undertakes direct loans to certain qualified businesses located in certain urban centers, the EDA include disability-owned businesses within such an undertaking if the business is unable to obtain funding from conventional sources. The bill incorporates disability-owned businesses into the certification process managed by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the Department of the Treasury. Finally, the bill incorporates disability-owned businesses within the requirement that the Chief Diversity Officer of the State monitor the State's public contracting process for the purpose of compiling information on the awarding of contracts to minority-owned, disability-owned, and women-owned business enterprises, the total value of all contracts and the percentage of the value of those contracts awarded to minority-owned, disability-owned, and women-owned business enterprises. | In Committee |
| A1993 | Concerns collection of data relating to Haitian migrants in NJ. | This bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to collect manage the collection of data on Haitian migrants in New Jersey, no matter their documentation status, from various sources such as federal, State, and local governments, and non-profit organizations. Haitian migrants in New Jersey have fled political unrest and financial trouble to live a safe and prosperous life in this State. Their journeys, whether they be by boat or on foot, are long and dangerous, sometimes leading to injury or death. New Jersey has the fourth largest Haitian-American population in the United States, as about 69,000 Haitian-Americans live in this State. As some of the Haitian migrants living in New Jersey are undocumented, it is difficult to know how many need assistance. Collecting data on Haitian migrants living in New Jersey, no matter their documentation status, will allow the State to help them more efficiently. This bill would take effect on the 60th day following enactment. | In Committee |
| A544 | Requires municipality to provide free beach access to certain veterans. | This bill prohibits a shore municipality from charging and collecting any fees for access to beaches and bathing and recreational grounds, and for use of bathing and recreational facilities, by veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, and who either served at least 90 days in active duty or were discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability. Current law permits shore municipalities, by ordinance, to provide free or reduced fee beach access to qualifying veterans. This bill would require shore municipalities to provide free beach access to these qualifying veterans. | In Committee |
| AR52 | Recognizes 75th anniversary of establishment of State of Israel. | April 25, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. This House commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between New Jersey and Israel for seven decades. This House recommits to working with Israel in its quest for peace with its neighbors and the countries in the region. | In Committee |
| AJR49 | Recognizes 75th anniversary of establishment of State of Israel. | April 25, 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. New Jersey commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between New Jersey and Israel for more than seven decades. New Jersey recommits to working with Israel in its quest for peace with its neighbors and the countries in the region. | Dead |
| A581 | Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location and to make available certain informational brochures. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide all vehicle and licensing services at each commission agency location and to allow these services to be completed in person at each agency. The bill also requires that, at each commission agency location, the commission provide in-person service to certain walk-in customers and to the extent practicable accommodate all walk-in customers, including at all times in which a location experiences a no show appointment or is not booked to full capacity. The bill requires the commission to provide for emergency printing services, and to provide additional regional service center services where space and staff permit. The bill also requires the commission to adopt a permanent online scheduling system for commercial motor vehicle drivers to use and requires that certain commercial motor vehicle tests be available at each commission agency location. Finally, the bill requires the commission to create and make available informational pamphlets listing all commission services and instructions pertaining to those services for consumers. | In Committee |
| A1954 | Increases size of Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission; broadens reporting duties. | This bill increases the membership of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission, and expands the duties of the commission. The CSDC was established in 2009 by P.L.2009, c.81 and is charged with conducting a thorough review of the criminal sentencing provisions of New Jersey law for consideration of possible recommendations for revisions to the laws governing the criminal justice system. Under the bill, the membership of the commission increases from 13 to 17 members. The additional members shall include the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus or his designee and the Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, or his designee. The bill adds two additional public members, for a total of four public members, not more than two of whom shall be of the same political party. The bill broadens the scope of the annual report from the CSDC to the Governor and the Legislature concerning disparity issues in the criminal justice process, to add such areas as policing, access to criminal defense legal representation, and jury selection processes to the existing reporting area of charging and plea decisions. | In Committee |
| A2014 | Requires DOH to prepare resource guide on preeclampsia and gestational diabetes for distribution to pregnant persons. | This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to prepare a resource guide which provides information on preeclampsia and gestational diabetes to all pregnant persons in the State. Specifically, the resource guide is to be distributed to each pregnant person receiving perinatal treatment and care, by the personnel at a hospital that provides inpatient maternity services or birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), as part of the hospital or birthing facility's patient intake process. The resource guide is to be in a language the pregnant person understands and is to include, but not be limited to, information on: (1) the symptoms and early warning signs of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes; (2) the effects of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes on a pregnant person and the pregnant person's baby; and (3) effective strategies that will help a pregnant person advocate for, or communicate to a health care provider any concerns the person has about, the person's health and the health of the person's baby. Under the provisions of the bill, the DOH is to: distribute the resource guide, at no charge, to all the hospitals and birthing facilities in the State; update the guide as necessary; make additional copies of the guide available to hospitals and birthing facilities upon request; and make the information contained in the guide available on its Internet website, both in print and in an easily printable format. | In Committee |
| A1207 | Requires health insurance coverage of prescribed anti-obesity medication. | This bill requires health insurance coverage of prescribed anti-obesity medication. Specifically, under the bill, health insurance carriers (including insurance companies, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) will be required to cover prescribed anti-obesity medication that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is the intent of the sponsor of this bill that access to obesity medication be expanded and that greater attention be placed on obesity as a disease. Since 2013, the American Medical Association has recognized obesity as a disease requiring treatment and prevention efforts. According to the World Health Organization, obesity leads to a range of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, various forms of cancer, and various mental health issues. It is estimated that almost one-third of American adults and 17% of American children ages two to 19 are obese. Globally, more than one billion people are considered to be obese, with an additional 167 million people expected to become obese by 2025. By expanding access to FDA-approved anti-obesity medication such as "Wegovy," more individuals will be able to affordably access this effective treatment. | In Committee |
| A565 | Adds new civil penalties and increases surcharges imposed on domestic violence offenders; establishes "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." | This bill would impose new civil penalties on domestic violence offenders and increase the surcharges imposed on these offenders under current law. The additional revenue would be appropriated to organizations that provide for direct legal services to domestic violence victims. Final Hearing: New Civil Penalty. Currently, N.J.S.A.2C:25-29.1 provides that a person found by the court in a final hearing to have committed an act of domestic violence must pay a civil penalty of $50 to $500. The monies are forwarded to the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund," established by N.J.S.A.30:14-15, which uses the monies for services to domestic violence victims. This bill adds an additional civil penalty of $1,500, payable at $500 per year for three years. The monies from the new penalty would be deposited into a new fund created by the bill, the "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." Inability to Pay. Under the bill, if the court finds that the person does not have the ability to pay the penalty for the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" in full on the date of the hearing or, in the case of the new penalty for the "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund," the ability to make the first payment in full on the date of the hearing and the ability to make the two subsequent payments on the dates they are due, the court may order the payment of the penalties in installments for a period of time to be determined by the court. If the person defaults on the payment then the court may: (1) reduce, suspend or modify the installment plan; (2) order community service; (3) impose any other alternative in lieu of payment; or (4) waive the penalties in cases of extreme hardship. Criminal Conviction: Increased Surcharge. The bill also increases the current surcharge imposed on persons convicted of a crime or offense involving domestic violence. Under N.J.S.A.2C:25-29.4, a person convicted of an act of domestic violence is subject to a surcharge in the amount of $100 payable to the State Treasurer for use by the Department of Human Services to fund grants for domestic violence prevention, training, legal assistance services and assessment. This amount would be increased to $500 under the bill. The monies realized by the increase in the surcharge would be deposited into the new "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." Technical Correction. The bill also makes a technical correction to N.J.S.A.2C:25-29.4 concerning the reference to the department, changing it to the Department of Children and Families to reflect the current structure. Violation of Restraining Order: New Civil Penalty. In addition, the bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:25-30 to create a new civil penalty for persons convicted of violating a domestic violence restraining order. The bill would impose a civil penalty of $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation. This civil penalty would also be deposited into the new fund established by the bill. New Fund. The "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund" established by the bill would be a dedicated fund within the General Fund and administered by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families. All monies deposited in the new fund would be appropriated to organizations that provide for direct legal services to victims of domestic violence, including but not limited to medical and legal advocacy services, information and referral, and community education. The fund would be the depository of moneys realized from the increases in the surcharge and the new civil penalties imposed by the bill, and would also be the depository of any other moneys made available for the purposes of the fund. | In Committee |
| A1940 | Requires domestic violence orders to be issued in other languages in addition to English under certain circumstances. | This bill would: (1) require law enforcement officers, after responding to a domestic violence incident, to provide information to domestic violence victims in English, Spanish, and up 10 additional high demand languages spoken in the State, regarding their right to file for temporary restraining orders and to file criminal complaints; and (2) task the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) with preparing standard templates for temporary and final restraining orders in English, Spanish, and other identified high demand languages for use by law enforcement, municipal courts, and the Superior Court when issuing such orders. Under current law, the information disseminated by law enforcement officers is provided in writing in both English and Spanish. The AOC currently implements, via its Directive #10-22 (September 30, 2022), a revised Judiciary Language Access Plan, which plan includes translating into several other languages information contained in restraining orders among other court documents, policies, and standards used when interacting with persons who are limited in their ability to speak or understand English or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Regarding the dissemination of information in English and Spanish by law enforcement officers, the current law simply states that it "shall be written" in a notice. The bill would specifically assign responsibility for the written materials to the Attorney General and, as previously mentioned, the writing would be made available in English and Spanish, and up to 10 additional "high demand languages spoken in the State." Regarding the issuance of restraining orders by courts, a domestic violence victim is currently permitted to file a domestic violence complaint seeking a temporary restraining order with the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part or, at times when the Family Part is closed, with a judge of the Family Part or judge of the municipal court assigned to accept such complaints and issue a temporary order. See section 12 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-28). To assist these courts as well as law enforcement regarding the issuance of the orders and their service on the alleged abuser, the AOC would prepare standard templates in English, Spanish, and other high demand languages identified in its Language Access Plan, as approved by the Supreme Court, to be provided to the victim and defendant. As to any subsequently issued permanent restraining orders, which are only issued by judges of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part upon a finding of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence, see section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29), multiple standard templates would be prepared by the AOC using the same, above described language criteria to be provided to the victim and defendant. | Dead |
| AR65 | Urges Congress to provide aid to Haitian migrants. | This resolution urges Congress to provide aid to the migrants of Haiti. Haiti has been through political and economic turmoil and has suffered from natural disasters for years. However, following the assassination of the Haitian President, the country fell into an even greater crisis, the rise in gang activity. This organized criminal gang activity has resulted in civilian casualties and displaced thousands of people in and around Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. As a result of political instability and ongoing natural disasters, the Biden administration has stated that Haiti is "grappling with a deteriorating political crisis, violence, and a staggering increase in human rights abuses." Given the political turmoil and the financial distress, Haitians have started to migrate more to the United States via boats or land corridors from the Americas. Haitians are among the numerous migrants from Caribbean, Central, and Latin countries who undergo treacherous journeys northward in search of safety and opportunity in the United States. This resolution urges Congress to provide support to frontline organizations that work to aid Haitian migrants who were dislocated, detained, and expelled as they sought asylum and safety at the U.S. border. Aid to the migrants should include funding to provide shelter, food aid, and medical assistance and further, to organizations that provide legal services. | In Committee |
| A2006 | Requires Director of Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to develop training program for first responders regarding protocols for responding to emergency in war zone. | This bill requires the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to develop a training program for first responders regarding protocols for responding to an emergency in a war zone. Within 180 days of the effective date of this bill, the director is required to develop a training program for first responders on protocols and response procedures to follow when dispatched to an emergency that is the result of an act of war. The training program is required, at a minimum, to provide comprehensive training regarding what to expect when dispatched to the scene of an emergency resulting from an act of war; strategies for treating wartime injuries; hazards particular to a war zone, such as hazardous materials that may be released during a military attack or the risk of injury due to continued attack; methods to protect against attack and exposure to hazardous materials that may be released during a military attack; and the psychological impact of responding to the scene of an emergency resulting from an act of war. The bill requires the director to consult with the New Jersey National Guard, Armed Forces of the United States, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management county coordinators, and seek input from the New Jersey Hospital Association, EMS Council of New Jersey, and other emergency medical responders and emergency medical response entities operating in this State. First responders are required to complete this program biannually. The sponsor notes that due to the events taking place in Ukraine and the growing tension between China and Taiwan, it is of the utmost importance that New Jersey's first responders be prepared for the possibility of a military attack on this State. First responders are the first to arrive to the scene of an emergency and should receive the training necessary to protect themselves and others when dispatched to the scene of an emergency resulting from an act of war. | In Committee |
| A2001 | Prohibits sale of crayon and chalk products containing lead. | This bill would prohibit the sale, distribution, or manufacture of a chalk product or crayon product that is intended for use by a child under the age of six and is made with or contains lead. The Director of Consumer Affairs or a manufacturer or distributor of a chalk product or crayon product intended for use by a child under the age of six who discovers that the product is made with, or contains lead, would be required to issue an immediate recall for that product. Within 48 hours of receiving notice of the recall, the retailer of the chalk product or crayon product would be required to remove the product from display and make it unavailable for purchase. Within 14 business days, retailers of a recalled chalk product or crayon product would be required to return all inventory of the product to the manufacturer or distributor from which it was obtained, at the expense of the manufacturer or distributor. The manufacturer or distributor would then have 60 business days to destroy the recalled chalk product or crayon product in such a way that renders it useless, and to dispose of the remnants in a manner and location designed to remove them from access by the general public. The bill specifies the following penalties for violations: 1) the knowing sell, offer for sale, distribution, or manufacturing of a chalk product or crayon product, which is intended for use by a child under the age of six and is made with or contains lead, would constitute an unlawful practice under the State's consumer fraud act; 2) the failure to remove a recalled chalk product or crayon product from retail display and make it unavailable for purchase, or the failure to return the product to the manufacturer or distributor within the requisite timeframe, would each constitute an unlawful practice under the State's consumer fraud act; and 3) the failure of a manufacturer or distributor to issue an immediate recall or to destroy and dispose of a chalk product or crayon product returned as a result of a recall, as required, would constitute a crime of the fourth degree in the case of a first offense, a crime of the third degree in the case of a second offense, and a crime of the second degree in the case of a third or subsequent offense. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of $10,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of $15,000, or both, and a crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A2013 | Requires non-invasive prenatal testing for pregnant persons and health insurance coverage for non-invasive prenatal testing. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person, to administer to every pregnant person a non-invasive prenatal test.. As defined in the bill, "non-invasive prenatal test" means a blood test performed beginning at ten weeks of pregnancy that is used to screen for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Under the bill's provisions, the testing is to be based on industry best practices and guidance, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body designated by the commissioner. A hospital, licensed birthing center, or federally qualified health center providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant person or a person, would, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner: (1) provide the person with information on Downs syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and the risk factors associated with such abnormalities based on an educational program developed by the commissioner; (2) inform the person of the benefits of undergoing non-invasive prenatal testing, and that the person is required to be tested, unless the person provides a written refusal to be tested; (3) and perform a non-invasive prenatal test unless the person provides written refusal to be tested. The person would be required to acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, federally qualified health center, physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable, regarding the benefits of undergoing non-invasive prenatal testing. The bill requires the commissioner to develop a standardized form to be used to acknowledge receipt of the information, which form may also be used to provide written refusal to undergo non-invasive prenatal testing. The commissioner will also be required to develop, in consultation with the New Jersey Perinatal Associates and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, a non-invasive prenatal testing educational program for pregnant persons. The educational program would include information on Downs syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and the risk factors associated with such abnormalities. Upon receipt of the results of a non-invasive prenatal test conducted pursuant to the provisions of the bill, the hospital, licensed birthing center, federally qualified health center, or physician or health care practitioner, as applicable, is to discuss the results with the person and, if the person receives a positive test result, make a referral to a genetic counselor for further consultation. The bill also requires health insurers to cover the costs for conducting non-invasive prenatal tests for a pregnant person. Specifically, certain health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, the State Health Benefits Program, the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the State Medicaid Program) are to provide health benefits coverage for expenses incurred expenses incurred in conducting a non-invasive prenatal test for a pregnant person. | In Committee |
| A2190 | Requires State Board of Education to reduce clinical practice requirements for certain teacher candidates. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to reduce certain clinical practice requirements for a teacher candidate to be eligible for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing. A "certificate of eligibility with advanced standing" is defined as a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and test requirements for teacher certification and complete an educator preparation program. The bill defines "clinical practice" as a field-based experience or internship in a kindergarten through grade 12 environment where a teacher candidate demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to be an effective educator. Under current State Board of Education regulations, a teacher candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing is required to complete clinical practice that (1) occurs during at least two semesters; and (2) includes the completion of at least 175 hours prior to one full-time semester, of which at least 100 of the 175 hours are to be completed in the semester immediately preceding the semester of full-time clinical practice. This bill authorizes the State Board of Education to reduce these clinical practice requirements. This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop recommendations for reducing the clinical practice requirements and those recommendations are required to be submitted to the State board. In developing the recommendations, the commissioner is required to consult with representatives of the education community including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. It is the intent of this bill to reduce the 175 hours of clinical practice in order for a teacher candidate to fulfill the clinical practice requirements in only one semester. Reducing the amount of clinical practice hours will help eliminate the burden of a costly and redundant second semester of clinical practice. | In Committee |
| A1982 | Permits students experiencing menstrual disorder to attend school remotely. | This bill permits a student enrolled in a school district to attend school through virtual or remote means while experiencing symptoms of a menstrual disorder. The student's parent or guardian will submit a written request for accommodation no later than the start of the school day the accommodation is required. Under the bill, menstrual disorders include, but are not limited to, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhea, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. A parent or guardian will provide medical documentation, as required by the principal of the school in which the student is enrolled, to prove the student meets the requirements for virtual or remote instruction related to menstrual disorders. Under the bill, a day of virtual or remote instruction will be considered the equivalent of a full day of school attendance for the purposes of meeting State and local graduation requirements or the awarding of course credit. Also under the bill, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will provide school districts with criteria for defining an excused absence from school related to a menstrual disorder. Menstrual disorders, and the pain and discomfort associated with them, are often cited as the reason menstruating students miss school days. Menstrual disorders are also fairly common; one in five menstruating students experience menorrhagia, and nearly 70 percent of menstruating students experience dysmenorrhea. Students who attend class while experiencing a menstrual disorder often report classroom performance or concentration being negatively affected. Additionally, nearly one third of students who menstruate report missing at least one day of school while experiencing menstruation. | In Committee |
| A2002 | Requires health insurance coverage of standard fertility preservation services for individuals with certain menstrual disorders resulting in infertility. | This bill requires health insurance coverage of standard fertility preservation services for individuals with certain menstrual disorders resulting in infertility. Under the bill, health insurance carriers (which include hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, group health insurance policies, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) will be required to cover standard fertility preservation services when an individual is diagnosed with a menstrual disorder that may result in infertility. For the purposes of this bill, a "menstrual disorder" is an abnormal condition related to the menstrual cycle, which shall include, but is not limited to, menorrhagia, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. | In Committee |
| A2005 | Authorizes use of county inmate welfare funds for certain reentry services. | This bill authorizes county correctional facilities to use inmate welfare funds to provide or coordinate reentry services for inmates incarcerated in the facility. The sources of income of inmate welfare funds are sales at the prison commissary, interest on welfare fund savings, gifts from individuals, corporation and charitable foundations, and income from inmate trust fund investments. The funds are maintained by local boards of trustees. State regulations require the funds to be used for amenities for the use, benefit, and general welfare of the inmate population as a whole. These amenities include, but are not limited to: recreation and sports equipment; television services; awards for academic, vocational, and sporting achievements; library books, movies, magazines, and other subscriptions; annual licensing fees for a film blanket license visit; recreation, holiday, and inmate incentive program decorations and food; stipends for referees and guest speakers; and equipment to enhance the law library that is not otherwise required for legal access. This bill expands the use of these inmate welfare funds to include reentry services for county inmates to assist them in successfully transitioning into the community after they are released from incarceration. The bill specifically authorizes the use of these funds to pay salaries of employees in the facility whose duties include assisting inmates in accessing available federal, State, or other benefits or services, such as Medicaid, welfare, housing, and substance abuse treatment. | In Committee |
| A2009 | Concerns worker leave. | This bill amends the State's family leave, earned sick leave, temporary disability insurance, and family leave insurance laws to provide paid, protected, leave for each covered employees for: 1. time needed by the employee for an intrauterine insemination or other assisted reproductive technology procedure, or related diagnosis, for the employee or the spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner, whether or not the procedure is successful; 2. time needed to place a child with the employee by adoption or foster care, even if the placement is not finalized because it is contested by another party; 3. time needed by the employee, in connection with a pregnancy loss, unsuccessful intrauterine insemination or other assisted reproductive technology procedure, a failed adoption or surrogacy arrangement, or other event impacting pregnancy or fertility, to receive any needed procedures, medications, mental health supports, or culturally responsive supports; 4. time needed, up to three working days, for any instance of bereavement for the death of a family member, or for pregnancy loss; 5. time needed to provide care for a spouse, domestic or civil union partner, or gestational carrier during pregnancy and recovery from childbirth, whether or not the childbirth is successful; or 6. time needed for an employee to provide care for a spouse or domestic or civil union partner experiencing pregnancy loss, an unsuccessful assisted reproductive technology procedure, a failed adoption match or surrogacy arrangement, or other event impacting pregnancy or fertility; The bill permits an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either temporary disability benefits or family leave benefits to have the options of using either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of temporary disability benefits or family leave benefits, or both earned sick leave and disability or family leave benefits, and of selecting the order in which the different kinds of leave are taken. The bill eliminates the current seven-day waiting period for temporary disability benefits, to make those benefits more accessible to employees, including for the purposes to which benefits are extended under the bill. It also facilitates greater access to use of the benefits by eliminating the provisions of the Family Leave Act which exclude employees of companies employing less than 30 employees from that law's provision of the right to be reinstated after leave. The bill also directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to: 1. develop and disseminate to the public, directly or in collaboration with governmental or non-governmental entities, information regarding pregnancy loss, medically appropriate treatment options, and benefits made available pursuant to the bill; 2. develop and disseminate to perinatal health care workers, current information regarding pregnancy loss and treatment, including both physical and mental health care; and 3. expand and coordinate programs to research causes of, and treatment for, pregnancy loss, and collect and assess data regarding pregnancy loss, including demographic information. The bill provides that all costs of the publicity and studies are regarded as a cost of administration of temporary disability and family leave insurance and charged to the administration account of the State disability benefit fund, and modifies the formula for determining the maximum assessment for those costs by updating the wage data on which they are assessed to reflect recent changes in the determining benefit amounts under those programs. | In Committee |
| AJR68 | Designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey. Poor menstrual hygiene undermines the opportunities, health, and overall social status of millions of women and girls around the world, often preventing them from reaching their full potential. It is the sponsor's intent that designating an annual "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will help recognize and promote efforts taking place at the local, State, and global levels to promote good menstrual hygiene, ensure equitable access to feminine hygiene products, end period poverty, and eliminate stigmas associated with menstruation. Designating May 17 as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will also help celebrate the achievements of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, an inventor who pioneered a useful menstrual hygiene product that was overlooked solely because Ms. Kenner was Black. Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner's birthday was May 17, and so designating the day as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will afford her a measure of long-deferred but richly deserved recognition. This resolution calls on the Governor to annually issue a proclamation and call upon public officials, private organizations, and all citizens of New Jersey to observe "Menstrual Empowerment Day" with appropriate awareness activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A1944 | Extends grace periods for rental late charges for certain tenants who receive public assistance payments. | This bill extends the grace period for rental late charges for certain persons who receive public assistance payments. Under current law, certain tenants are entitled to a grace period of five business days following the date in which rent is due and payable. During this grace period, a landlord may not impose delinquency or other late charges on unpaid rent. This law currently applies to the following tenants, to whom rent is payable on the first of each month: senior citizens receiving Social Security Old Age Pensions, Railroad Retirement Pensions, or other governmental pensions in lieu of Social Security Old Age Pensions; and recipients of Social Security Disability Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or benefits under Work First New Jersey (i.e., "qualified tenants"). This bill extends the current grace period to include the period of time before a qualified tenant receives a monthly public assistance payment. For example, if the rent of a qualified tenant is due on the first day of the month, but the tenant receives payment of public assistance on the 10th day of the month, then the landlord may only impose late charges after the fifth business day following the 10th day of the month. Under the bill, the lease agreement of a qualified tenant would be required to set forth the dates on which the qualified tenant is scheduled to receive public assistance for each month in which rent is due and payable. As used in the bill, "public assistance" is defined as payments received pursuant to Social Security Old Age Pensions, Railroad Retirement Pensions, other governmental pensions in lieu of Social Security Old Age Pensions, Social Security Disability Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or Work First New Jersey. The provisions of this bill apply to the same persons who are currently entitled to the grace period, except that the grace period would be provided for any qualified tenant, regardless of whether rent is due on the first of the month. The bill would take effect on the 90th day after enactment of the bill and would apply to any lease or other agreement that is entered into or renewed thereafter. | In Committee |
| A2019 | Concerns motor vehicle stops by law enforcement officers. | This bill concerns motor vehicle stops by law enforcement officers. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer is prohibited from initiating a motor vehicle stop solely for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes with exceptions for certain violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes which pose a risk to public safety. Instead, the law enforcement officer may issue a citation for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes observed by the law enforcement officer by first class mail to the registered owner of the motor vehicle on form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. The bill provides that any photographs or video from a law enforcement officer's mobile video recording system depicting the alleged violation are to be made available to the registered owner of the motor vehicle. If a citation is issued, the citation is required to be issued and sent by the law enforcement agency to the registered owner of the motor vehicle within seven days from the date on which the alleged violation occurred. In addition, photographs of the alleged violation and information regarding how to access video of the alleged violation also are required to be sent with the citation. Under the bill, law enforcement officers may initiate a motor vehicle stop for the following motor vehicle violations: 1) racing on a highway; 2) improper passing on right or off the roadway; 3) improper passing in a no passing zone; 4) tailgating; 5) reckless driving; 6) use of a handheld cellphone or electronic communication device while driving; 7) speeding when the driver exceeds the posted speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more; 8) leaving the scene of an accident; and 9) driving while intoxicated. In addition, the bill provides that a law enforcement officer may initiate a motor vehicle stop following an observed motor vehicle violation if: 1) there is a risk to public safety; 2) there is an outstanding warrant for the arrest of the registered owner of the motor vehicle or the law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe the driver of the motor vehicle has committed a crime; or 3) the motor vehicle matches the description of a motor vehicle that a law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe is involved in a kidnapping, human trafficking, or any other crime for which failure to immediately apprehend the suspect is reasonably likely to result in death or serious bodily injury to a person other than the suspect. The provisions of the bill define "risk to public safety." Further, under the bill, there is a rebuttable presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle which was involved in a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes was the person who committed the violation, with the exception of certain offenses as provided in the bill. The bill also provides that a registered owner of a motor vehicle who receives a citation by mail under the bill's provisions, but was not the person who committed the violation is to be permitted to contest it electronically or by remote access, rather than requiring the owner to appear in court. The Administrative Director of the Courts is required to develop and implement a system that allows for this and is required to adopt guidelines, which are to include the types of proof that the registered owner of the motor vehicle may submit to the court to rebut the presumption that the registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the violation was the person who committed the violation. In addition, after initiating a motor vehicle stop for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer is prohibited from asking an operator or occupant of a motor vehicle for consent to search the motor vehicle, the contents of the motor vehicle, or the person of the operator or occupant unless the law enforcement officer has reasonable, articulable suspicion that criminal behavior, other than a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, was occurring or was about to occur. The bill also provides that the odor of cannabis, either burned or raw, by itself, does not establish probable cause for a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer to search a motor vehicle or the operator or occupants of a motor vehicle. Under the bill, after initiating a motor vehicle stop, a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer is not to use a drug-detection canine, unless the law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that there is a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog, other than marijuana or cannabis, in the motor vehicle or on the person of the operator or occupant of the motor vehicle. Under current law, the Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards is required to prepare semi-annual reports on State Police traffic enforcement activities and procedures. This bill requires the reports to also include aggregate statistics on the number of citations issued by mail by the State Police for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and the number of motor vehicles stops that are initiated by the State Police due to the exceptions provided under the bill. Finally, the bill provides the provisions of the bill are to preempt any law, ordinance, resolution or regulation adopted by the governing body of a county or municipality authorizing a law enforcement officer to engage in any conduct that is prohibited under the bill or otherwise inconsistent with the bill's provisions. The bill also provides that nothing in the bill's provisions or Title 39 of the Revised Statutes is to be construed to preempt or prohibit any law, ordinance, resolution, or regulation from being adopted by the governing body of a county or municipality that imposes restrictions in addition to those set forth under the bill on the role of law enforcement officers in the enforcement of violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to assigning the enforcement of violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes to local officials or personnel rather than law enforcement officers or imposing additional limitations on the actions of law enforcement officers during a motor vehicle stop for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes. According to the sponsor, contactless policing would be beneficial to the community and law enforcement officers. It would allow law enforcement officers to police crime and not people. Contactless policing would result in the elimination of millions of motor vehicle stops each year. As the average police stop takes up to 15 minutes, this would free up a law enforcement officer's time to police crime and engage in community policing. For example, law enforcement officers now know if a driver's registration and insurance are valid before initiating a motor vehicle stop by performing a simple registration check. As a result, it would not be necessary for a law enforcement officer to initiate a motor vehicle stop in order to issue a citation, but rather the search would reveal the infraction and the officer would be able to issue a citation by mail without initiating an interaction with the driver. The intent of this is to reduce the loss of all lives at the hands of law enforcement officers by using technology to reduce pretextual stops, during which a driver is detained for a minor infraction while law enforcement seek evidence of a more serious crime. According to the sponsor, community policing creates opportunities for interaction between community members and law enforcement officers, not only in the context of an officer responding to a crime. This results in more interaction in general, but more importantly, more positive interaction. Effective community policing requires altering a law enforcement department's policies, practices, and guiding philosophies. According to the sponsor, in analyzing police data of motor vehicle stops, multiple studies have found support for the "veil of darkness" theory: as the sun sets and it becomes more difficult to determine the race of the driver, the percentage of black drivers stopped by law enforcement officers for motor vehicle violations decreases significantly, with a 10 to 15 percent decrease in many jurisdictions. Often, these motor vehicle stops of black drivers are pretextual. Sandra Bland was stopped for failing to signal a turn. Philando Castile was stopped because his brake light was out, the last of his 52 stops by police. Eric Garner was stopped for selling loose cigarettes. Duante Wright was stopped for expired tags. None of these individuals survived their encounters with law enforcement. This disproportionate targeting of black drivers by the police is the State action that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted to address. | In Committee |
| A1959 | Requires New Jersey Supreme Court to issue order dismissing certain charges, complaints, and arrest warrants filed with or issued by municipal courts and unresolved for five years or more; requires AOC to conduct certain studies. | This bill would require the New Jersey Supreme Court to issue an order dismissing certain unresolved charges, complaints, and arrest warrants filed with or issued by any municipal court five years or more prior to the date of enactment of the bill. The bill would apply to disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses. In January 2019 the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a similar order, dismissing over 700,000 unresolved complaints and open warrants in minor municipal court matters that were more than 15 years old (those dating from before January 1, 2003). In its order, the Supreme Court noted that the existence of such old outstanding complaints and open warrants in minor matters "raise questions of fairness, the appropriate use of limited public resources by law enforcement and the courts, the ability of the State to prosecute cases successfully in light of how long matters have been pending and the availability of witnesses, and administrative efficiency." In the view of the sponsor, this bill is a necessary supplement to the 2019 New Jersey Supreme Court order, which only focused on minor municipal matters. This bill would allow the court system to remove a significant portion of its backlog by dismissing unresolved complaints and arrest warrants for charges that do not reach the severity of indictable offenses. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Public Health Emergency currently in effect in New Jersey resulted in the closing of the court system for months, and our courts have still not resumed full operations. It is the view of the sponsor that, in this context, New Jersey must focus on minimizing unnecessary contact and allowing individuals every opportunity to regain their financial footing. Removing the possibility of being summoned into court or arrested on an old warrant for a low-level offense will go a long way towards allowing New Jerseyans, especially those from communities of color, a chance to recover. Specifically, the bill applies to the following unresolved charges, complaints, and arrest warrants that are at least five years old: a. Petty disorderly persons offenses, as defined in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:1-4, including but not limited to: (1) Simple assault committed in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, as set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:12-1; (2) Shoplifting if the value of the merchandise is less than $200, as set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:20-11; (3) Disorderly conduct, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:33-2; and (4) Harassment, as set forth in subsections a., b., or c. of N.J.S.2C:33-4; and b. Disorderly persons offenses, as defined in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:1-4, including but not limited to: (1) Simple assault, other than assault committed in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, as set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:12-1; (2) Lewdness, as set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-14; (3) Bad checks in an amount of less than $200, as set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:21-5; (4) Obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function other than by obstructing the detection or investigation of a crime or the prosecution of a person for a crime, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:29-1; (5) Resisting arrest, as set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:29-2; (6) Disorderly conduct, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:33-2; (7) Use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:36-2; and (8) Possession of 50 grams or less of marijuana, including any adulterants or dilutants, or five grams or less of hashish, as set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:35-10. This bill would not apply to any violations of municipal ordinances, providing deference to municipalities to enforce their own laws and continue their collection of revenue. In addition to the provisions discussed above, the bill also provides that, within six months following the effective date of the bill, the Administrative Office of the Courts would submit two reports to the Legislature: (1) A study to determine the feasibility of expanding the municipal court conditional dismissal program set forth in P.L.2013, c.158 (C.2C:43-13.1 et al.) and the conditional discharge program set forth in N.J.S.2C:36A-1 to carry out the provisions of the bill in dismissing and recalling unresolved charges, complaints, and arrest warrants; and (2) A study to determine the feasibility of an initiative similar to the federal "Fugitive Safe Surrender Program," whereby persons charged with non-violent criminal offenses are encouraged to voluntarily surrender in a faith-based or other neutral setting and seek favorable consideration from the courts. | In Committee |
| A2361 | Requires calculation of national average time needed to approve applications for initial credential in profession or occupation and use of average time as standard in New Jersey. | The bill requires the boards created under Title 45 in current law to collect, from each state in the country, the amount of time, or the average amount of time, required or necessary to approve an application for an initial credential for each profession or occupation in which the New Jersey board also issues a credential. A board may contact a national or regional association to obtain data regarding average approval times in other states. Based on the data collected, a national average of the time required or necessary for application approval is to be calculated for each profession and occupation and used by the corresponding board in New Jersey as the amount of time it has to approve an application for an initial credential. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, or a designee, is to review and approve the calculated national averages of times prior to their use by the boards. After one year of using the calculated national average of times by the boards, the division is to review if the boards are meeting the requisite calculated average times for approval of applications for initial credentials. If the review demonstrates a board is not meeting the calculated time, licensing fees collected by the board are to be used to contract with a third-party, with expertise in the professions or occupations regulated by the specific board, to determine best practices that the board is to implement to meet the calculated average time for application approval. Upon completion of the review by the third-party, the board is to implement the best practices immediately. The division is to review the data on the approval of applications for initial credentials by the board six months after the implementation of best practices to ensure the calculated national average time is met. The boards have six months after the effective date of the bill to complete the initial collection of data and calculate the national average time. Additionally, an annual review of the calculated national average time is to be performed by each board, in collaboration with the director or a designee, to determine the accuracy of the calculations. The bill stipulates that each board is entitled to retain all funds collected as a result of fees paid for an initial credential and for the renewal, reactivation, and reinstatement of a credential in order to administer the provisions of this bill, until the board is meeting or surpassing its calculated national average time for application approval. | In Committee |
| AJR65 | Designates annual Lunar New Year in NJ. | This joint resolution recognizes the date corresponding with a certain new moon following each year's winter solstice as Lunar New Year in New Jersey. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new calendar year as measured by the cycles of the moon. Lunar New Year varies from year to year as the date corresponding with the second new moon following each year's winter solstice, or the third new moon following winter solstice if an intercalary month intervenes. Lunar New Year has been celebrated for thousands of years in many countries. The holiday remains a culturally and historically significant celebration for many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Lunar New Year is traditionally an important time to visit family, enjoy food together, and welcome good fortune in the new year. New Jersey schools currently have the option of recognizing Lunar New Year as a Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist holiday. Commemorating Lunar New Year recognizes the importance of this day for many New Jersey residents and the value of those who celebrate the occasion to this State. | Dead |
| A2649 | Requires annual review of all released sex offenders to determine if they were registered and tiered. | This bill requires the Attorney General, on or before March 30th of each year, to conduct a review of all persons who were released from incarceration or involuntary commitment in the previous calendar year and who are required to register as a sex offender. The review is to determine whether such persons actually did register and whether they were tiered by the county prosecutors. | In Committee |
| A3186 | Provides for student recipients of educational opportunity funds to be exempt from 20 hour weekly work requirement ordinarily required for student SNAP participation. | This bill would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to authorize a student of higher education who is the recipient of an award from the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund to obtain nutrition assistance benefits under the State's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), regardless of whether the student satisfies the 20 hour weekly work requirement established by federal law at 7 CFR 273.5(b)(5), which is ordinarily required for students of higher education to participate in SNAP. The Educational Opportunity Fund provides financial assistance to needy students in order to enable them to attend institutions of higher education. Because SNAP was established pursuant to federal law, and because the program is subject to compliance with certain minimum federally-established work requirements and eligibility criteria, the bill's relaxation of work requirements for Educational Opportunity Fund award recipients will not take effect until such time as the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approves the change in, and authorizes a waiver of, existing federal student work requirements for the students identified in the bill. The bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services, within 90 days after the bill's effective date, to: 1) apply to the FNS to secure any appropriate federal approvals or waivers that may be necessary to implement and enforce the bill's provisions; and 2) take any additional action as may be necessary to ensure that the State's implementation of the bill is done in compliance with all applicable provisions of federal and State law and regulation. Following the receipt of the necessary federal approvals and waivers, the DHS will be required to implement and enforce the bill's expanded SNAP eligibility requirements for Educational Opportunity Fund award recipients. In so doing, the DHS would be required to institute a public awareness campaign that is designed to inform high school seniors and students of higher education about the new SNAP eligibility criteria applicable to these award recipients. | In Committee |
| A1835 | Requires pharmacy practice sites to document reasons for not filling certain prescriptions. | This bill requires pharmacy practice sites to document reasons for not filling certain prescriptions. Under the bill, if a pharmacy practice site determines that a patient's prescription is unlawful, the pharmacy practice site is to cite the law that it determines was violated, briefly explain and record this determination in the pharmacy practice site's patient profile system, and make the determination available to the patient and the patient's prescribing physician or health care professional within 72 hours of the pharmacy practice site's decision to not fill the patient's prescription. Nothing in the bill is to be construed as granting a pharmacy practice site the power to supersede the lawfully exercised authority of a patient's prescribing physician or health care professional, or as granting a pharmacy practice site the authority to promulgate internal operating procedures or rules that are less or more stringent than what is prescribed by State law. | In Committee |
| A2030 | Requires AG to collect and report law enforcement detention data; creates Racial and Identity Profiling Elimination Advisory Council. | This bill requires the collection and reporting of all law enforcement detentions and establishes a council to make recommendations to eliminate racial and identity profiling in policing. This bill would require the Attorney General to direct law enforcement agencies to collect data on all detentions and to report the aggregated, de-identified data on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. Currently, the Department of Law and Public Safety collects data on motor vehicle stops. Under the bill, law enforcement agencies would have to report data on all stops, which the bill defines as any detention of an individual by a law enforcement officer based on no more than an articulable suspicion of wrongdoing for the purpose of investigation on the spot. The bill also establishes the Racial and Identity Profiling Elimination Advisory Council in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The council will be charged with analyzing the data published by the Attorney General's office and making recommendations to advance the progress of eliminating identity profiling in policing. The council shall be composed of 12 members including: the Attorney General, or a designee; the Superintendent of the Division of State Police, or a designee; a member of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey; a member of the Office of the Public Defender; two appointees of the Governor who are representatives of New Jersey based community justice organizations focused on civil rights; four members of the public with experience in reducing racial and identity bias who will be appointees of the Governor upon recommendation of the Senate President, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the General Assembly, and Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and a university professor with demonstrated expertise in criminal justice and experienced in the study of evidence based methods of reducing racial and identity profiling, who would be appointed by the Governor. | In Committee |
| A1950 | Requires AG to establish public awareness campaign concerning Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and VCCO. | This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign concerning the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights" and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). Under the bill, the public awareness campaign is to foster community-wide discussions and promote awareness of the rights established under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights" and the availability of compensation for crime victims provided by the VCCO. The public awareness campaign is to include, but not be limited to: community outreach; training for appropriate agencies, entities, and organizations; and providing information to the public regarding the services and benefits provided by the VCCO, including information regarding the crimes for which the office may order compensation, the documents required to file a claim with the office, the time requirements for filing a claim, and the specific benefits provided by the office. | In Committee |
| A3122 | Revises law establishing Office of Food Security Advocate, and establishes certain conditions for use of monies appropriated to emergency food organizations. | This bill would amend and supplement P.L.2021, c.483 (C.52:27J-1 et seq.), which established the Office of the Food Security Advocate. The bill would establish, in statute, certain conditions concerning the use of monies appropriated to emergency food organizations pursuant to an annual appropriations act. The bill defines "emergency food organization" as a food bank which receives funding for Food and Hunger Programs pursuant to an annual State appropriations act. P.L.2022, c.49, i.e., the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023, provided that the amount appropriated for Food and Hunger Programs would be directly distributed as follows: 53 percent to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey; 15 percent to the Food Bank of South Jersey; 15 percent to Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean; 11 percent to the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank; three percent to Norwescap; and three percent to the Southern Regional Food Distribution Center. The bill would require 10 percent of each emergency food organization's funding allocation to be expended on New Jersey agricultural products, including expenditures related to agricultural capital investment and innovation, up to 30 percent to be expended for the administrative and staffing costs and the purchase of capital investments or infrastructure, including the purchase of necessary technology, vehicles, and storage, and no less than 60 percent to be expended in order to support local distribution agencies. Support for local distribution agencies would include the purchasing of food that fulfills local distribution agencies' stated needs, the awarding of cash funds to local distribution agencies, or the reimbursement of local distribution agencies based on costs incurred by each agency. Emergency food organizations will be permitted to apply to the Office of the Food Security Advocate for a waiver to utilize these funds to fill a demonstrated need for a program that supports local distribution agencies. The bill would require the Office of the Food Security Advocate, in consultation with emergency food organizations, to develop a process for eliciting and gathering data about local distribution agencies' food and capacity needs, and would require each emergency food organization to use that process and data to develop a data-informed plan for the equitable support of local food distribution agencies (i.e., food pantries, soup kitchens, and religious organizations that provide free food), which would be tailored to the service area and needs of the specific emergency food organization. In addition, the bill would require each emergency food organization, on a monthly basis, to prepare and submit a State funding expenditures report to the Office of the Food Security Advocate. Funding for emergency food organizations would be contingent, under the bill, on their successful implementation of a data-informed plan, as required by the bill, and their satisfaction of the fiscal and programmatic requirements and other contractual obligations detailed in their contracts. | Dead |
| A1943 | Requires specialized in-service training regarding crime victims for police departments in certain high-crime areas. | This bill requires that a reasonable percentage of law enforcement officers in each police department located in a high-crime area in this State receive in-service training on the specialized needs of crime victims and available services. In New Jersey, all law enforcement officers are required to undergo a basic training course which consists, in part, of training regarding the knowledge and understanding of the rights and the needs of crime victims and witnesses, the role of law enforcement officers in providing victim assistance, and the resources and services available to assist the victim. In addition, current law requires that in-service training is to be made available for police officers concerning the specialized needs of crime victims and available services. However, the law does not require that law enforcement officers complete this in-service training. This bill requires a reasonable percentage, as determined by the Attorney General, of law enforcement officers in every State, county, and municipal police department located in the six urban municipalities in this State with the highest crime index, according to the most recent Uniform Crime Report, to successfully complete the in-service training concerning crime victims and available services. The bill requires the Attorney General to: (1) determine a reasonable percentage; and (2) ensure that the required number of law enforcement officers in each police department in these municipalities have successfully completed the required in-service training. The Division of Criminal Justice is required to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies in implementing the training requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1491 | Directs BPU to conduct study to determine feasibility, marketability, and costs of implementing large-scale geothermal heat pump systems in State. | This bill, directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to conduct a study of the feasibility, marketability, costs, and benefits of implementing large-scale geothermal heat pump systems (GHPs), as these systems are defined in the bill. The bill requires the BPU, in conducting the study, to assess the challenges and obstacles for the installation of large-scale GHPs in the State, and to consult with the United States Department of Energy, other states, geothermal experts and public and private entities with experience installing GHPs, and public utilities concerning the feasibility, costs, and benefits of the use of geothermal energy and large-scale GHPs. This bill requires the BPU, as part of the study, to: determine whether establishing a financial incentive system, or using other available means and methods, is necessary to encourage and incentivize the development and successful deployment of geothermal energy and large-scale geothermal heat pump systems; evaluate the costs of using geothermal energy and large-scale geothermal heat pump systems; conduct an assessment to compare the energy efficiency and costs of common energy sources to that of geothermal energy in commercial and residential buildings; and evaluate the marketability of geothermal energy and large-scale geothermal heat pump systems and consider methods to promote their use. The bill also requires the BPU to evaluate the costs and savings to ratepayers, government entities, electric public utilities, and the State associated with the implementation of the study findings and recommendations, and provide a recommendation on the feasibility of, need for, and design of, a pilot program in the State for the installation of large-scale GHPs. Finally, this bill requires the BPU, within one year after the bill is enacted into law, to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing the findings from the study, and providing recommendations for the feasibility, need for, and design of a pilot program, and for legislative, executive, and other actions. | Dead |
| A1481 | Directs DEP to take certain actions concerning identification and testing of microplastics in drinking water, and requires DEP and BPU to study and promote use of microplastics removal technologies. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Drinking Water Quality Institute, to establish a definition of the term "microplastics," and a standard methodology to be used by public water systems in the testing of drinking water for microplastics. The DEP would be required to establish requirements for the testing and reporting of the concentration of microplastics in drinking water for a four year period by public water systems, and the public disclosure of test results. In addition, the DEP would be required to establish criteria to accredit qualified laboratories in New Jersey to analyze microplastics. The bill also requires the DEP and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to commence a study to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of the use of microplastics removal technologies by system owners or operators to remove microplastics from drinking water and wastewater in the State. In conducting the study, the DEP and BPU would cooperatively engage in a stakeholder engagement process, which shall include consultation with, and the solicitation of testimony and information from: (1) experts in the operation of water supply, water treatment, or wastewater collection or treatment systems; the operation of water filtering systems or removal technologies; the proper handling or disposal of microplastics; or the study or remediation of water pollution or contaminants; (2) marine biologists, oceanographers, water quality specialists, environmental scientists, toxicologists, public health experts, and other members of appropriate scientific fields; and (3) representatives of the plastics manufacturing industry; (4) members of the public; and (5) other relevant and interested parties. The bill would also require the DEP and BPU to authorize system owners or operators in the State to engage in pilot microplastics removal projects, with associated pilot project data to be included in the study. The bill would require the DEP to solicit and approve applications for, and take other appropriate action to facilitate, the implementation of pilot projects. No later than three months after completion of the study, the BPU would be required to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature, identifying the findings from the study, and providing recommendations for legislative, executive, and other actions that can be taken to facilitate, encourage, and promote the increased use of microplastics removal technologies in the State. At a minimum, the report would include a strategic plan for the deployment and use of microplastics removal technologies. Following the submission of the report, the DEP and BPU would be required to engage in an ongoing, cooperative public education and awareness campaign in order to inform system owners or operators and members of the public about the dangers posed by microplastics, the importance of removing microplastics from drinking water and waste water, the technologies available on the market to remove microplastics from water, and the goals and primary elements of the strategic plan. | Dead |
| A2058 | Directs the suspension, by operation of law, of certain offenders' child support obligations. | This bill requires the suspension, by operation of law, of certain offenders' child support obligations. Under the bill, unless otherwise provided in a court order or judgment, the obligation to pay current and past due child support, and the judicial enforcement of the obligation, is to be automatically suspended by operation of law for any period exceeding 180 consecutive days in which the person ordered to pay support is incarcerated or placed in detention. This suspension applies to all child support orders monitored by the State IV-D agency or Probation Division, and child support orders for which the State has jurisdiction to modify the order. A suspension under the bill would not affect any existing arrearages that accrued prior to the date of the suspension; the arrearages would remain due and would be subject only to the administrative enforcement remedies provided by law. The bill requires the Child Support Program to provide at least one notice to both parties at their last known addresses when the obligation is automatically suspended. The notice is required to include information regarding the date of the suspension and the date the obligation or arrears repayment is expected to be reinstated. The notice also is to include information on the right of a custodial parent to reinstate payment by the obligor if that person is found to have the ability to pay. Either party is authorized to file a motion or application with the court seeking payment or judicial enforcement of an obligation suspended automatically under the bill if the person ordered to pay support has the ability to pay while incarcerated or placed in detention. Cases eligible for relief under the bill may be reviewed by the court to ascertain the obligor's ability to pay and determine whether to suspend or continue the obligation for the period of incarceration or detention exceeding 180 days. The bill requires the obligation to pay child support and judicial enforcement of the obligation to automatically resume 90 days following the release of the obligor from incarceration. The Department of Human Services Child Support Program, in consultation with the Probation Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts, is required to develop forms to implement the provisions of the bill. In addition to other notice requirements to be provided to an incarcerated person by the Department of Corrections during intake, the DOC also is required under the bill to inform the defendant that every order for child support is to be suspended, by operation of law, for any period exceeding 180 consecutive days in which obligor is incarcerated unless otherwise provided in a court order or judgment. Finally, the bill requires the Juvenile Justice Commission, in addition to any other information to be provided during the intake process for a juvenile adjudicated delinquent and placed in detention, to advise the juvenile of any child support orders and judgments entered against them, provide information on how to petition the court for a temporary modification of the financial obligations, and inform the juvenile that every order for child support is to be suspended, by operation of law, for any period exceeding 180 consecutive days in which the obligor is in detention unless otherwise provided in a court order or judgment. The Administrative Office of the Courts is required to provide sample forms and instructions on how to file an application to modify child support to the Juvenile Justice Commission for self-represented litigants. | In Committee |
| A1952 | Requires members, officers, and employees of Legislature to undergo implicit bias and cultural competency training. | This bill requires implicit bias and cultural competency training for members, officers, and employees of the Legislature. Implicit bias is a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. Cultural competency is the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from different cultures or belief systems. An online tutorial must be completed by April 1 of every even-numbered year and training must be done annually. Successful completion of both the online tutorial and the annual training must be communicated to the Legislative Counsel and such communications will be considered public information. Every day, the Legislature creates laws that impact people of all backgrounds and cultures. In doing this important work, it is critical for all members, officers, and employees of the Legislature to understand their own biases as well as cultures and belief systems different from their own. | In Committee |
| A1397 | Allows students to use certain grant awards during summer session. | This bill provides that a student may elect to use a portion of a tuition aid grant (TAG) award, or an opportunity grant funded through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), during the summer session following the academic year for courses that fulfill graduation requirements or award credits in the student's academic major. The student would be responsible for notifying the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in the case of TAG, or the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, in the case of EOF, of the intent to use a portion of the award during the summer. HESAA or the secretary, as appropriate, would adjust the amount of the student's award that will be disbursed during the academic year, and notify the student that using a portion of the grant during the summer session will reduce the amount of the award that will be disbursed during the academic year. HESAA or the secretary, as appropriate, would also be required to annually report the number of students who did and did not use a portion of a grant award to enroll in courses during the summer, and the number and percent of these students who graduated within 100 percent and 150 percent of normal completion time. This bill implements a recommendation of the College Affordability Study Commission which released its final report in September 2016. | In Committee |
| A2022 | Requires school districts to include instruction on bullying awareness and prevention as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill directs each school district to incorporate age-appropriate bullying awareness and prevention education in grades preschool through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The education is to include, but not be limited to, information on the: (1) definitions of bullying; (2) various types of bullying; (3) permanence of social media posts and the harm that may be caused through online harassment or bullying; (4) ways to seek help for yourself or others who may be affected by bullying; and (5) potential consequences of bullying on the perpetrator. Under the bill, the education is to be designed to develop an awareness and sensitivity to the ways in which bullying may be exacerbated by intolerance of persons of different races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, genders or gender identities, abilities, or who have other distinguishing characteristics. Finally, the Commissioner of Education is required to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources. | In Committee |
| A1986 | Prohibits issuance of warrant for failure to pay fines and fees associated with non-moving motor vehicle violation. | This bill prohibits the issuance of a warrant for failure to pay fines and fees associated with a non-moving motor vehicle violation. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a municipal court is prohibited from issuing a warrant for the arrest of a defendant for failure to pay fines and fees arising from a non-moving motor vehicle violation. Under the bill, a "non-moving motor vehicle violation" is defined as any violation of the motor vehicle laws of this State for which motor vehicle points are not assessed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1982, c.43 (C.39:5-30.5). | In Committee |
| A2902 | Establishes geriatric parole for certain eligible inmates. | This bill establishes geriatric parole for inmates 65 years of age or older who have served a minimum of one-third their sentence and for inmates 60 years of age or older who have served one-half of their sentence. The appropriate board panel reviewing a request for geriatric parole is to consider the inmate's risk to public safety. Inmates who are serving a sentence for a sex offense as defined in Megan's Law or for committing or attempting to commit the following offenses are not eligible for geriatric parole: murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, second degree arson, or terrorism. Additionally, inmates are not eligible for geriatric parole if serving a sentence for theft by deception, racketeering, or misapplication of entrusted property by a fiduciary in which the inmate caused the victim to suffer a loss of personal monetary savings as a result of fraud, misrepresentation, or violation of a fiduciary duty. The bill requires the board panel to notify the appropriate sentencing court, county prosecutor or Attorney General, and any victim or member of the family of a victim who are entitled to notice regarding parole. The sentencing court, county prosecutor or Attorney General, and any victim or member of the family of a victim would be afforded the opportunity to submit comments to the board panel. Under the bill, a denial of a request for geriatric parole does not preclude an inmate's eligibility for parole under current law. | In Committee |
| A1206 | Establishes Working Group on End-of-Life Care and Palliative Care in DOH. | This bill establishes the 24-member Working Group on End-of-Life Care and Palliative Care in the Department of Health (DOH). The working group's membership would include: the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, and Banking and Insurance, and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or their designees, who would serve ex officio; and 20 public members appointed by the Commissioner of Health who would include one representative each from the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Health Care Association of New Jersey, the Medical Society of New Jersey, the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, AARP of New Jersey, the Home Care and Hospice Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Palliative Advance Practice Nurse Consortium, the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, the NJ Sharing Network, and the ARC of New Jersey; two physicians licensed to practice in this State who have expertise in issues relating to pain management or end-of-life care, at least one of whom is an oncologist; one registered professional nurse licensed to practice in this State; one person who is employed as a patient advocate by a health care facility in this State; one person who represents a faith-based organization; and four members of the general public, two of whom are to have expertise or interest in the work of the working group and not be licensed health care professionals, and two of whom are to be family members of patients who have received palliative or end-of-life care services. The purpose of the working group would be to develop a plan to: implement the legislative, administrative, and policy recommendations for State agencies, policy makers, and third party payers which are presented by the New Jersey Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care in its 2018 report to the Governor and Legislature; report on the performance goals and benchmarks developed by the New Jersey Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care to measure the ability of the DOH or other relevant State entities to provide patient access to, and choice of, high quality, cost-effective palliative care and end-of-life care, and assist patients and their families in making informed health care decisions with regard to such care; and study and make recommendations on strategies to further improve the end-of-life care provided to the citizens of the State. The bill stipulates that upon the completion of the working group's plan, the working group would report on its activities to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Assembly Health Committee, or their respective successors, and include a copy of the plan and any recommendations for legislative action the working group deems appropriate. The Commissioner of Health would also be required to post the plan on its Internet website. In the event the plan is not established within one year, the chairperson of the working group will be required to appear before the committee of first reference in which the bill was considered in each House, or before another standing reference committee as may be determined by the Speaker of the General Assembly or the President of the Senate, as appropriate, to explain why the bill has not been implemented in accordance with its provisions, and the steps the chairperson is taking to ensure implementation. Thereafter, for such time as the plan remains undeveloped, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Senate President will have the authority to require the chairperson to appear before any appropriate standing reference committee to explain why the bill has not been implemented and the steps that are being taken to ensure implementation. The bill expires upon the completion of the plan by the working group. | In Committee |
| A3153 | Establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers; allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times. | This bill establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers. Under current law, Class Two special law enforcement officers only have full police powers while on duty and are required to return their firearms to the officer in charge of their station at the end of each workday. This bill authorizes all Class Two special law enforcement officers who successfully complete the statutorily required training programs to exercise full police power and carry their firearms at all times when in this State. The bill also allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times while in this State. In addition, the bill establishes new requirements for Class One and Class Two special law enforcement officers. Specifically, the bill requires all special law enforcement officers to be between 21 and 75 years of age and to submit to a drug test at the time of appointment. The bill also waives the training requirements to become a Class Two special law enforcement officer for persons who previously served as a full-time corrections officer, sheriff's officer, or law enforcement officer. This bill also clarifies that Class Two special law enforcement officers are granted the same protections as all law enforcement officers. Under current law, a simple assault is upgraded to an aggravated assault if committed against a law enforcement officer while clearly identifiable as being engaged in official duties or due to law enforcement status. Current law also makes it a fourth degree crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer and a second degree crime to knowingly take or attempt to exercise unlawful control over a law enforcement officer's firearm. This bill clarifies that the same penalties for the crimes of assaulting, impersonating, or disarming a law enforcement officer apply if committed against a Class Two special law enforcement officer. The bill also specifically extends to Class Two special law enforcement officers the same immunity from civil liability granted to regular full-time law enforcement officers. Under the bill, Class Two special law enforcement officers would be permitted to act as security at polling place on the day of an election to ensure that qualified voters are not obstructed from voting. The bill authorizes the automatic expungement of criminal charges that are filed against any law enforcement officer, including any Class Two special law enforcement officer, in the course of official duties if the officer is found not guilty. Class Two special law enforcement officers also would be entitled to paid leave to attend any State or national convention of the Special Police Organization. Under current law, paid leave is only granted to members of an organization affiliated with the New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association, Inc., the Fraternal Order of Police, the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association or the Professional Fire Fighters Association. Currently, special law enforcement officers are prohibited from working more than 20 hours per week except: 1) during periods of emergency, 2) in resort municipalities, 3) or to provide public safety and law enforcement services to a public entity. This bill requires counties and municipalities in which special law enforcement officers work more than 20 hours per week to purchase liability insurance for acts or omissions committed by special law enforcement officers acting in the course of their official duties. The bill also allows a department, commission, or agency to dismiss a complaint filed by a private citizen or an inmate against a regularly appointed, full-time law enforcement officer or Class Two special law enforcement officer without full investigation if it determines that the complaint does not constitute a violation of law or departmental rule or regulation. A complaint filed by a private citizen or an inmate also may be dismissed if the complainant failed to substantially comply with the complaint procedure prescribed by the employing department. Finally, the bill expands the list of retired law enforcement officers who are eligible to receive a permit to carry a handgun to include retired arson investigators and Class Two special law enforcement officers who retire after four years of service. Under current law, certain retired law enforcement officers may annually apply for a permit to carry a handgun, until those officers reach age 75, at which time they are no longer eligible. The permit allows a retired law enforcement officer to carry a handgun at all times. Under this bill, retired arson investigators and Class Two special law enforcement officers who retire after four years of service would be eligible to receive a carry permit. | In Committee |
| A2018 | Establishes First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program; appropriates $20 million. | This bill establishes the First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program in the in the Division of Workers' Compensation. The bill provides supplemental benefits to first responders determined to be eligible for workers' compensation because they have contracted COVID-19 in the course of employment. The supplemental benefits are provided for the time in which an eligible first responder qualifies for regular workers' compensation equal to 70 percent of the weekly wages received at the time of injury subject to the stated minimum and maximum compensation levels. The supplemental benefits do not commence until all benefits which are equal to the responder's full salary have ended. The supplemental benefits are provided as long as the responder is unable to work due to COVID-19 but not more than 180 weeks. The amount of the supplemental benefit is such that the sum of the weekly regular workers' compensation plus the weekly supplemental benefit equals 100 percent of the responder's weekly wage, except that that sum shall not exceed $1,800. If the responder is a volunteer paid the maximum weekly workers' compensation rate, the supplemental benefits shall also be such that the sum of the weekly regular compensation plus the weekly supplemental benefit equals 100 percent of the responder's weekly wage up to the maximum of $1,800, except that for the volunteers the maximum workers' compensation rate shall continue to apply, even if it exceeds 100 percent of the weekly wage. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to issue annual reports of available information regarding the number of claims by first responders entitled to the supplemental benefits, the total amount of benefits awarded, the total anticipated and the accrued costs of the benefits, and an estimate of what portion of the funds appropriated for the program will be needed to pay all of the benefits, and a request to the Governor and the Legislature for any additional appropriation which may be required to make the payments. The supplemental benefits are not to be considered in determining the annual surcharge levied on policyholders and self-insured employers for the Second Injury Fund or the experience ratings of individual employers. The bill establishes the First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program Advisory Council in the Division of Workers' Compensation to advise the division and provide recommendations concerning the administration of the program. The council is comprised of the following 12 members: the Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development, Human Services, and Health; one representative each selected by the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, Inc., the Fraternal Order of Police, the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, the EMS Council of New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Firemen's Association; and three public members appointed by the Governor with experience as first responders. The advisory council will be dissolved, and the annual reports by both the council and the commissioner will cease, upon a determination that that all eligible first responders have received all supplemental benefits to which they are entitled. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Second Injury Fund $20,000,000 for the First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program, to be used for the provision of the supplemental benefits and any necessary expenses of the advisory council. The purpose of this legislation is to assist first responders, whose public service has rendered them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, by alleviating long-term economic hardships due to COVID-19. The support provided by the bill is especially important in cases where first responders become unable to work for long periods of time because of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19, colloquially known as "long COVID." | In Committee |
| A1995 | Establishes 10 year Menstrual Leave and Remote Work Pilot Program. | This bill establishes a 10 year Menstrual Leave and Remote Work Pilot Program. The purpose of this program is to provide medically necessary leave and remote work options to employees suffering from menstrual disorders, which can be severe, debilitating, and embarrassing. To be eligible for the program, an employee is required to obtain documentation from the employee's treating physician that the employee suffers from a qualifying menstrual disorder and requires an accommodation of leave or a remote work option, as appropriate. The pilot program is divided into the following two components: (1) a medical leave program into which an employer may voluntarily enroll to provide up to two full working days per month of fully paid medical leave, in addition to any other leave required by law, to employees suffering from qualifying menstrual disorders, including, but not limited to: (a) Uterine fibroids; (b) Endometriosis; (c) Polycystic ovary syndrome; and (d) Adenomyosis; and (2) a remote work program into which an employer may voluntarily enroll to provide up to two full days per month that an employee may work remotely to accommodate symptoms arising from qualifying menstrual disorders, including, but not limited to: (a) Uterine fibroids; (b) Endometriosis; (c) Polycystic ovary syndrome; (d) Adenomyosis; (e) Premenstrual syndrome; (f) Premenstrual dysphoric disorder; (g) Dysmenorrhea; and (h) Menorrhagia. Under each program, a participating employer will be entitled to tax credits for wages paid to employees. For the medical leave program, employers will be entitled to a dollar for dollar tax credit for wages paid to employees in the program up to two full days each month. For the remote work program, employers will be entitled to a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the wages paid to employees in the program up to two full days each month. Any personnel action or discrimination taken by an employer against an employee for using or requesting medical leave in accordance or working or requesting to work remotely in accordance with this bill, will be regarded as a violation of the earned sick leave law and subject to the penalties in that law. | In Committee |
| A1962 | Requires AG to address human trafficking in underserved communities. | This bill requires the Attorney General to address human trafficking in underserved communities. Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to allocate and utilize resources in the Department of Law and Public Safety to perform functions designed to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities related to human trafficking which are experienced by members of underserved communities, particularly girls and women of color. The bill provides that the functions to be performed include, but are not limited to: (1) coordinating with State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies to investigate cases related to human trafficking in underserved communities; (2) coordinating with relevant government entities, including, but not limited to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office and the Commission on Human Trafficking, and community-based organizations to create and administer programs to connect victims to appropriate and effective information and resources; and (3) collecting and maintaining data related to human trafficking cases and trends concerning members of underserved communities. | Dead |
| A1964 | Directs use of 21st Century Improvement Fund to establish individualized account access system. | The 21st Century Improvement Fund, section 14 of P.L.2014. c.31 (C.2B:1-9), is a dedicated, nonlapsing fund annually credited with a sum equal to the yearly revenue derived from the incremental amounts of certain fees payable to the court. One of the dedicated purposes of the fund is the development, maintenance and administration of the Statewide digital e-court information system. Presently, the e-court system broadly includes public access to digital court matters. This bill would expand the public access function to include access to court matters generally, including an individualized account access and notification system for individuals using email addresses and telephone numbers about pending court matters including but not limited to violations and court dates. The bill further amends section 14 of P.L.2014. c.31 (C.2B:1-10) to ensure that a portion of the funds allocated for the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system shall be used for expanded purpose. It is the sponsor's view that enhanced notification technology can lead to increased access and accessibility to the court system which, in turn, can prevent such issues as missed court dates and failure to settle matters, arrests, warrant issues and arrests for individuals. The use of notification technology at the account is used in such areas as online banking and notifications about health and self-care appointments, and should be available to individuals involved at all levels the justice system. | In Committee |
| A2340 | Requires long-term care facilities to meet with residents and residents' families to review emergency contact information and to offer residents opportunity to update information. | This bill requires long-term care facilities to offer residents the opportunity to update emergency contact information. Under the bill, consistent with federal and State privacy laws, a long-term care facility is to meet, at a minimum, once annually with each resident and the resident's family to discuss and review the emergency contact information for the resident on file with the long-term care facility. Moreover, in addition to the meeting required with the resident's family, a long-term care facility is to offer each resident the opportunity to update the resident's emergency contact information with the long-term care facility, at a minimum, twice annually. Under the bill, emergency contact information is to include a primary and a secondary contact Finally, the bill provides that its provisions are not to be construed to prohibit a long-term care facility from sharing information regarding a resident to an individual not on file as an emergency contact. | In Committee |
| A3126 | Requires certain nonpublic schools to provide meals to all students under "Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act"; authorizes limited expansion of income eligibility to qualify public and nonpublic school students for free lunch. | This bill would require school districts and nonpublic schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide free lunch, during the 2024-2025 school year, to students who are federally eligible for free or reduced price school lunch, as well as to students who are federally ineligible for free or reduced price school meals, but who have an annual household income of not more than 249 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). The bill would additionally amend existing law at section 12 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-14a) to clarify that both public and nonpublic schools offering school breakfasts to students in the State, pursuant to the federal School Breakfast Program, will be required to provide such breakfasts, free of charge, both to federally eligible students and to students who are federally ineligible for free or reduced price school meals, but who have an annual household income amounting to not less than 186 percent, and not more than 199 percent, of the FPL. Under existing federal law, a student is federally eligible to receive free or reduced price school lunch under the National School Lunch Program, or free or reduced price school breakfast under the federal School Breakfast Program, only if the student is determined to be categorically eligible for such benefits (i.e., is determined to be a homeless child, a migrant child, a runaway child, a foster child, or a Head Start Child, or is a participant in certain public benefits programs) or can demonstrate that the student lives in a low-income household (i.e., a household with an annual income that is not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level). Through the recent enactment of the "Working Class Families' Anti-Hunger Act," P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-3.2 et al.), the State of New Jersey has also provided for the expanded provision of free school lunches and breakfasts to students in the State who reside in certain middle-income families (i.e., those families having an annual household income of up to 199 percent of the FPL). This bill would further amend and supplement the Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act to expressly apply the provisions of that existing law to nonpublic schools that elect to participate in the National School Lunch Program, and to additionally expand the income eligibility standards applicable to students in the 2024-2025 school year. All students who become newly eligible for free school lunch, under the bill's expanded, but term-limited, income eligibility provisions, would be eligible to continue receiving such free lunches through a summer meals program, and, if enrolled at a public school, would also be able to continue receiving free lunches through an emergency meals distribution program that is activated during a period of public school closure resulting from COVID-19. Consistent with the reimbursement requirements established under the Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act, the bill would require the State to provide funding to each school district and nonpublic school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, as may be necessary to reimburse the costs associated with the provision of free lunches thereby, in school year 2024-2025, to students who are federally ineligible for such meals, but who satisfy the bill's expanded, State-level income eligibility requirements for that year. The bill would further require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to establish a standardized means by which to review the State reimbursement amounts being allocated under the bill, and under the existing Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act, in order to determine whether, and the extent to which, participating school districts and nonpublic schools are receiving adequate reimbursement, from the State, sufficient to account for each participating school's actual costs of meal delivery, including, but not limited to, food, labor, and other related costs. The bill would require each report that is annually submitted, to the Governor and Legislature, on the State's school lunch and breakfast programs to identify, as appropriate, for each participating school district and nonpublic school in the State: (1) the total number and percentage of students receiving subsidized school meals who have been determined to be, respectively, federally eligible for free school lunch or breakfast, federally eligible for reduced price school lunch or breakfast, income-eligible for free school lunch or breakfast on the basis of State-level income eligibility requirements, or neither categorically eligible nor income-eligible for free or reduced price lunch or breakfast; and (2) the number and percentage of such students who reside, respectively, in low-income families and in middle-income families. In addition to providing for the term-limited expansion of income eligibility requirements necessary for students to qualify for subsidized school lunches, the bill would also require school districts and nonpublic schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program to take steps to minimize or offset program costs, to the extent that such costs can be minimized or offset without compromising the ability of the district or nonpublic school to comply with minimum nutritional standards and other program requirements. To facilitate such legally compliant cost minimization activities, the bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to: (1) monitor, inspect, and oversee school meals programs operating in the State to ensure that school meals served thereunder continue to satisfy minimum nutritional standards; (2) develop and publicize best practices, protocols, and model plans to help participating school districts and nonpublic schools effectively minimize and offset program costs without compromising the nutritional value of meals being served; and (3) work cooperatively with each participating school district and nonpublic school to review the program costs being expended thereby, identify various means and methods by which those program costs can be reduced, curtailed, or eliminated without sacrificing nutritional value or legal compliance, provide relevant financial recommendations, and undertake or recommend other appropriate actions to prevent the State's school meals programs from becoming overly bloated with unnecessary expenses and from otherwise becoming financially burdensome. Finally, the bill would require the Office of the Food Security Advocate to establish a Working Group on School Food Security to identify and develop best practices, policies, and plans, and to take other appropriate action, to promote and facilitate the effective functioning of the State's school meals programs and the expanded provision, thereunder, of free school meals to students in the State. Within one year after its formation, and on a regular basis thereafter as deemed by the food security advocate to be appropriate, the Working Group on School Food Security would be tasked with: (1) conducting a study on school food security issues, in accordance with the bill's provisions, and recommending further State-level action to facilitate the provision of free school meals to enhanced numbers or categories of students in the State; and (2) develop and publish a plan to facilitate and promote the adoption, by the United States Congress and President, of federal legislation authorizing the nationwide provision of free school meals to all students in the country, and providing federal reimbursement for all such meals served by schools and school districts in the states. | Dead |
| A1998 | Establishes Safe Remote Learning Program in DOE to support provision of remote instruction facilities by public schools. | This bill establishes the Safe Remote Learning Program in the Department of Education to support the provision of remote instruction facilities by school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools that implement a partial or full-time program of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the program, the department would be required to establish guidelines concerning the establishment and maintenance of remote instruction facilities. At a minimum, these guidelines would require each facility to be: (1) used for the delivery of remote instruction to students in accordance with health and safety standards set forth by the department, in consultation with the Department of Health; (2) equipped with such online instruction equipment as is necessary for every student who attends the facility to participate in remote instruction activities; and (3) staffed by appropriately qualified persons during all hours of operation. When a school district, charter school, or renaissance school implements a partial or full-time program of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school may establish one or more remote instruction facilities, without prior approval from the department, provided that the facility complies with the department's guidelines. Under the bill, these facilities could be established by repurposing space within an existing school facility or acquiring space within a facility owned by a non-profit organization or an institution of higher education. Within the limits of available space, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that establishes a remote instruction facility would be required, upon written request from the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of a student, to permit the student to participate in remote instruction activities at the facility. The bill also provides that if a student is enrolled in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that has not established a remote instruction facility, or if a student is unable to attend a remote instruction facility due to insufficient space, then the student may attend any nearby remote instruction facility. However, if the school district, charter school, or renaissance school lacks sufficient space to allow all students to attend a remote instruction facility, the school would be required to give preference to: (1) students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program; and (2) students whose parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody is considered an essential worker by the department. The department, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, would also be required to establish eligibility criteria for persons who may staff remote instruction facilities. However, the bill provides that a student who is enrolled in an educator preparation program at a public institution of higher education in the State would be eligible to staff a remote instruction facility and receive credit for such service toward the educator preparation program. The bill also requires the State to reimburse school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools for the full costs incurred in establishing and maintaining remote instruction facilities. To the extent permitted by federal law, the department would be required to reimburse these costs from the monies allocated to the State under the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act" or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if insufficient federal funding is available to defray these costs, the State would be required to appropriate such additional amounts as are necessary to reimburse each school, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| AJR88 | Establishes working definition of antisemitism in NJ. | This joint resolution adopts a working definition of antisemitism for the State of New Jersey.Antisemitism, as well as discrimination, harassment, bias, and bigotry against those who are or who are perceived to be Jewish or have Jewish heritage remains prevalent throughout the world, including throughout the United States and in New Jersey and has both historical and contemporary contexts. According to data compiled by the New Jersey State Police, as of April 2022, anti-Jewish bias was cited as a motivation for 298 reported bias incidents in 2020 and 347 reported bias incidents in 2021. According to the Anti-Defamation League, one in four Jews in the United States reported having been impacted by antisemitism in 2021. In recent months, the country has witnessed a disturbing trend of public figures making comments, supporting viewpoints, and meeting with individuals that are widely regarded as antisemitic.Antisemitism is closely linked to other forms of bigotry and hatred. New Jersey law criminalizes acts of bias intimidation, defined as certain offenses committed with the purpose to intimidate or with the knowledge that the offense would intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of, among other protected characteristics, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. New Jersey law prohibits discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation on the basis of, among other protected characteristics, actual or perceived religion, ethnicity, ancestry, or national origin. Despite these prohibitions, many acts and occurrences of bias and bigotry go unreported or unaddressed. It is the responsibility of the State of New Jersey to reject and speak out against bias and bigotry, including condemning antisemitism in all its forms. A critical component of combatting antisemitism is understanding what antisemitism is. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance ("IHRA") is a thirty five-member intergovernmental organization created to focus on antisemitism and Holocaust-related issues. The IHRA has adopted a non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism, illuminated by useful examples, illustrations, and distinctions, to help guide and empower governments to understand and address the rise in hate and discrimination against Jews and those with Jewish heritage. The working definition of antisemitism may be used as an education and training tool for public officials, law enforcement offices, educators, and other public and private employees so that they may effectively raise awareness of and call out antisemitism and understand its impact. 38 countries including the United States have adopted or endorsed the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, as have several state and local governments.The working definition, as adopted by the IHRA on May 26, 2016, reads: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities". The IHRA also notes, in the context of defining the concept of antisemitism, that criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.This working definition of antisemitism is intended as an analytical and educational tool and is not legally binding, and thus is not intended to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A1819 | Restricts use of restrictive employment covenants for physicians and nurses. | Except as provided below, this bill provides that any contract or agreement that creates or establishes the terms of a partnership, employment, or other form of professional relationship with a licensed physician, which includes any restriction of the right of the physician to practice medicine in any geographic area for any period of time after termination of the partnership, employment, or professional relationship, is to be void and unenforceable with respect to the restriction. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to render void or unenforceable: (1) a restrictive covenant that prohibits a physician from leaving a hospital system or a group practice comprising 30 or more physicians to join any other hospital system or group practice comprising 30 or more physicians within a given geographic area; (2) a restrictive covenant that prohibits a physician from leaving a hospital system or a group practice comprising 30 or fewer physicians to join any other hospital system or group practice comprising 30 or fewer physicians within a given geographic area; (3) a restrictive covenant that prohibits a physician from leaving a federally qualified health center to practice medicine within a five mile radius of federally qualified health center for a period of time that is no longer than four years; (4) a restrictive covenant that prohibits a physician from leaving a hospital system or a group practice when the hospital system or group practice provided the physician a unique incentive to join the hospital system or group practice, which incentive is expressly identified in the contract between the physician and the hospital system or group practice; or (5) any remaining provisions of the contract or agreement that do not establish a restriction on the right to practice medicine in a geographic area. | In Committee |
| A2231 | Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for certain children, youth and family services organizations. | This bill stipulates that on or after the effective date of the bill, the terms of a contract entered into between the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and a children, youth, and family organization include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization. The cost of living adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor, and DCF would be required to announce the rate of the increase on October 1 of each year. As used in the bill, a "children, youth, and family organization" means an organization that provides programs and services to children, youth, and families through contracts entered into with DCF including, but not limited to, programs partially or fully funded by the State Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.). DCF contracts with children, youth, and family organizations to provide child protective and treatment services through a competitive bidding process whereby a fixed rate is established for the provision of services. The fixed rate includes all the costs associated with the delivery of services including, but not limited to, salary, wages, and compensation for the staff of the organizations who provide the direct services to children, youth, and families. Such staff members continually face increases in their living expenses, but the rates provided to children, youth, and family organizations contracted with DCF are not adjusted for cost of living increases. One-time cost of living adjustments provided to the organizations by the Legislature do not keep pace with rising costs and inflation. This bill would establish a statutory mechanism for providing annual cost of living adjustments to children, youth, and family organizations contracted with DCF to ensure that the provision of essential services are fully funded and sustainable, and the staff providing such services are appropriately compensated. | In Committee |
| A2007 | Requires police misconduct training course be included in police basic training curriculum. | This bill requires the Police Training Commission to develop or identify course materials concerning police misconduct to be included in the police basic training curriculum. The highest priority of New Jersey's law enforcement officers is to safeguard the life, dignity, and liberty of all persons, without prejudice toward anyone. Law enforcement officers are required to be guided by the principle of reverence for human life in all investigative, enforcement, and other contacts between officers and members of the public. Law enforcement officers have a moral, ethical, and constitutional obligation to protect and serve the citizens of this State, regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual and gender identities, mental and physical disabilities, and religious beliefs. The injury and death of unarmed African American men and women, and other people of color, due to police brutality and excessive use of force violates a law enforcement officer's most basic obligation towards the citizens of this State. Not only have the communities of the victims of police misconduct suffered, but these incidents continue to inflict intergenerational harm and trauma to families. Police misconduct has sparked protests in all 50 states and many countries around the world. Far too many individuals have sustained severe injury or died as a result of the illegal actions and mistakes of law enforcement officers. The purpose of this bill is to educate law enforcement officers regarding the dangers and consequences of improper or illegal police practices by modifying the basic training curriculum to instruct recruits on police misconduct using real life examples and case studies to instruct recruits regarding these tragic events and the impact these events have had on victims, families, communities, and law enforcement practices nationwide. Under the bill, the Police Training Commission is to develop or identify course materials concerning misconduct in policing to be taught by an instructor with an advanced degree in sociology, or another related field, and included in the basic training course for police officers. The police misconduct training course is to provide three credits towards the total credit requirement of the police basic training curriculum. The police misconduct training course is required to include, but not be limited to the following subjects: (1) analysis and discussion of real life examples of the injury or death of unarmed African American men and women, and other people of color, due to police brutality and excessive use of force by law enforcement and how those tragic events could have been avoided; (2) policing in the age of smartphones, including how smartphones have aided citizens in proving instances of police misconduct, resulting in law enforcement officers and police departments increasingly being held accountable for misconduct; (3) a law enforcement officer's duty to intervene when witnessing law enforcement misconduct, even if the misconduct is being perpetrated by a superior officer, and using the murder of George Floyd as a case study; (4) the consequences of poor policing, using the murder of Breonna Taylor as a case study to illustrate how mistakes may erode trust in the community and result in civil unrest, which impacts law enforcement practices nationwide; (5) understanding the impact of bias in policing and the impact bias had in the murder of George Floyd; and (6) how law enforcement officers should prepare for and cope with civil unrest and protests resulting from police misconduct. | In Committee |
| A841 | Requires BPU, electric power suppliers, and gas suppliers to publish certain information related to filing of customer complaints. | This bill requires electric power suppliers and gas suppliers (energy suppliers) to provide, in addition to all other requirements under current law, the phone number and website for filing complaints with the Board of Public Utilities, Division of Customer Assistance (BPU), and an explanation of the practice known as "slamming," which is the unauthorized change of a customer's electric power supplier or gas supplier, with customer contract summaries. The bill also requires energy suppliers, electric power utilities, and gas utilities to provide, in addition to all other requirements under current law, the phone number and website for filing complaints with the BPU on customer bills. The bill also requires the BPU to publish on its website, on a quarterly basis, a detailed report regarding customer complaints that does not include the names or other personal information of the customers who complained, but includes the names of the electric and gas public utilities, energy suppliers, private aggregators, and energy agents against which the complaints were filed. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A1985 | Establishes Legislative Enactment Oversight Committee to ensure implementation of enacted laws and joint resolutions. | This bill establishes a Legislative Enactment Oversight Committee within the Department of State to review the implementation of enacted laws and resolutions. The committee will monitor the implementation of laws and joint resolutions to ensure that they are implemented by the appropriate public entity effectively and efficiently, in a timely manner, and in accordance with their specific provisions. The committee will consist of 15 persons who will be New Jersey residents, and will serve for a term of five years. Each member will receive an annual salary fixed and established by the Governor. The salary for the chair will not exceed $120,000, and the salary for the remaining members will not exceed $90,000. The committee will annually adopt a schedule of regular meetings, and special meetings may be held at the call of the chair. The appointed members will be members of the State's unclassified service. The committee, in its discretion, may divide its membership into subcommittees in the course of carrying out its duties. The committee will submit periodic reports, no less than twice a year, concerning its findings and actions related to its duties. | In Committee |
| A1963 | Requires certain employers to provide paid leave to employees serving in elective office. | This bill provides that employees, including employees working for an employer with 20 or more full-time employees or a public employer, who serve in elective office at the municipal, county, and state level shall be entitled to no more than 15 days per calendar year of paid time off and a leave of absence without pay from regular, full-time employment to fulfill elective duties upon providing written application to the employer. Any leave of absence or paid time off taken under this provision will not affect or interrupt the net credited services, privileges, and benefits offered by the employer to the employee. However, the employer is not under any obligation to pay a portion of the employee's benefits during a leave of absence, only when an employee uses the allotted 15 paid days. The bill provides that an employer shall not prohibit an employee from returning to regular employment before the end of the approved leave period. The leave of absence and paid time off described in this provision do not apply to a person running for elective office or not yet in an elected position. This provision applies to all employers who employ 20 or more full-time employees at a time, regardless of location. | In Committee |
| A2017 | Establishes "Purple Alert System" to assist in finding missing persons. | This bill establishes an emergency "Purple Alert System" to notify the public of a missing person. Under the bill, the emergency alert plan would be a voluntary, cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and the broadcast media. Upon notice by the lead law enforcement agency, the participating broadcast media would transmit an emergency alert to inform the public of the disappearance of a person. The Missing Persons Unit in the Division of State Police, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, will develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information on the missing person. This legislation is modeled on the Silver and Amber Alerts in current law. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), which is funded by the United States Department of Justice, more than 600,000 people go missing annually. Approximately 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year. Further, according to NamUs, in this State there are 358 open missing persons cases and 426 open unidentified persons cases in 2022. According to the sponsor, this bill will help reduce the number of missing persons within the State. In addition, the bill will encourage the public to assist in locating a missing person and report any information that is known to law enforcement. | In Committee |
| A2011 | Prohibits towing companies from requiring owners of stolen motor vehicles to pay fee to release vehicles from storage facilities under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits towing companies from requiring the owner of a stolen motor vehicle to pay a fee to release the vehicle from a storage facility. With the rise of motor vehicle thefts in the State, every effort should be made to assist owners in recovering their stolen vehicles. Unfortunately, owners facing a financial hardship cannot pay for the release of a recovered vehicle from a towing company's storage facility because they cannot afford the fee charged by the towing company. Under this bill, the "Predatory Towing Prevention Act" is amended to prohibit a towing company from charging this fee to the owner of a stolen motor vehicle so long as the owner provides a copy of the stolen vehicle police report to the towing company. If the owner of a stolen motor vehicle has been contacted by law enforcement regarding the recovery of the owner's vehicle, the owner of the recovered vehicle will have 72 hours to retrieve the vehicle from a storage facility without incurring a direct fee. If 72 hours have passed and the owner of the recovered vehicle has not retrieved the vehicle, the towing company may charge the owner a fee for the days the vehicle has been kept at the storage facility beyond the 72-hour period. Notwithstanding any fee incurred by the 72-hour requirement, any fee to release the recovered vehicle from a storage facility will be paid by the insurance carrier insuring the vehicle or, if the vehicle is not insured, by the State Motor Vehicle Commission. The insurance carrier of the recovered vehicle may pay the fee to release the recovered vehicle directly to the towing company or may reimburse the vehicle owner for the cost. | In Committee |
| A1960 | Requires Attorney General to perform outreach and provide services to victims of human trafficking under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that the Attorney General is to utilize the resources of the Department of Law and Public Safety to perform outreach in the community and deliver services to victims of human trafficking in conjunction with other governmental entities, the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, and other victims' rights organizations through means as the Attorney General deems appropriate. In addition, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to establish, within the limits of available funds, a pilot program to award grants to service providers to perform outreach and deliver services to victims of human trafficking in urban municipalities with the highest crime index in this State and in municipalities that are located near major maritime transportation hubs and have significant minority populations, as determined by the Attorney General. The bill provides that upon completion, any pilot program is to be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program, with a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or made permanent. | Dead |
| A1933 | Appropriates $15,564,293 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $15,564,293 to the New Jersey Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects contained in the bill and associated administrative expenses. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund" was established by section 9 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The funding contained in this bill will be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust to provide capital preservation grants for 37 projects, totaling $12,181,724 (listed in subsection b. of section 1 of the bill), and historic site management grants, including heritage tourism initiatives, for 35 projects, totaling $1,592,569 (listed in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill). In addition, of the funding, $25,000 will be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust for a special project initiative concerning heritage tourism and $100,000 will be used for emergency intervention. Lastly, the bill appropriates $1.665 million to the New Jersey Historic Trust for administrative expenses incurred in the implementation of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Capital preservation grants fund the restoration, preservation, repair, and rehabilitation of historic sites for new or continued use by nonprofit organizations or local governments. There are three levels of capital preservation grants: Level I grants of $5,000 to $150,000; Level II grants of $150,001 to $750,000; and Multi-Phase Level II grants range of $500,000 to $750,000. Historic site management grants help fund preservation planning projects, such as condition assessments, historic structure reports, archaeological investigations, construction documents, and heritage tourism initiatives to improve visitors' experiences at historic sites. All of the grants require a match from the recipient. All of the properties are listed or eligible to be listed in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, either individually or within designated historic districts. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" authorizes the use of monies in the "Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund" for emergency intervention and defines "emergency intervention" as an immediate assessment or capital improvement necessary to protect or stabilize the structural integrity of a historic property. The projects listed in this bill have been approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also provides that any transfer of any funds to another project, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in the bill would require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. The bill further provides that, to the extent there are funds remaining after the projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the New Jersey Historic Trust, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, may use those funds to provide additional funding for historic preservation projects, provided those projects were previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws or approved for funding pursuant to this bill. | Dead |
| A1618 | Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses. | Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields. This information will help New Jersey in its commitment to increasing the participation of female and other underrepresented students in computer science fields. This bill will require each school district to issue a report to the Commissioner of Education by April 30 of each school year on the computer science courses offered in the district. The report will include, but not be limited to, (1) the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses; (2) the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered; (3) the total number of computer science teachers in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and (4) the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level. This bill also requires the commissioner to compile the information reported by the school districts and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year. | In Committee |
| A1979 | Requires Commissioner of Education to develop emergency notification system to alert students and staff of active shooter on school grounds. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an emergency notification system that enables schools to alert the students, the parents and guardians of the students, teachers, and all staff of an active shooter situation in the school or on school grounds. Under the bill, the notification system will: · provide that the parents or guardians of students, students, with the permission of a parent or guardian, teachers, and all other school staff, may register any mobile electronic communications device with the school to receive the notification; · be accessible and compatible with all makes and models of mobile electronic communications devices;· be directly linked to local law enforcement authorities or, in the case of a school located in a municipality in which there is no municipal police department, a location designated by the Superintendent of State Police, and will immediately transmit a signal or message to such authorities upon activation; and· be made available to each public and nonpublic school at no cost to the school. Under the bill, if a board of education or the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school determines to use the notification system, the principal of each school in the school district or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school is required to ensure that the notification system is customized to each particular school and includes the contact information for each person who registered with the school to receive the notification. | In Committee |
| A1988 | Requires school districts to maintain restrooms in good working order. | This bill requires school districts to maintain all restrooms in good working order. Under current law, each school district is required to, in part, provide suitable educational facilities for all children who reside in the district and attend the public schools, and for all children living outside of the district who are entitled or permitted to attend the schools of the district pursuant to law. This includes proper school buildings and furniture and equipment and courses of study suited to the ages and attainments of all pupils between the ages of five and 20 years. The bill would amend current law to require school districts, in providing suitable educational facilities, to ensure that all restrooms are maintained in good working order and updated or renovated as needed. Restrooms would be required to be cleaned and sanitized daily and contain the following:· properly functioning toilets and sinks free of leaks or other plumbing issues;· toilet paper holders fully stocked with toilet paper;· stall doors that are able to open, close, and lock while occupied;· properly functioning hand dryers or fully stocked paper towel dispensers;· trash bins to be emptied by maintenance staff at regular intervals; and· menstrual product disposal units to be cleaned and emptied by maintenance staff at regular intervals. | In Committee |
| A1975 | Requires DOC to assign transgender inmate to State correctional facility based on inmate's gender identity and use inmate's preferred gender pronoun. | Establishes crime of possessing digital instructions to illegally manufacture firearms and firearm components. | In Committee |
| A2427 | Prohibits use of education, occupation, and credit score as rating factors in automobile insurance underwriting. | This bill prohibits automobile insurers from assigning an insured or prospective insured to a rating tier based upon that person's: (1) educational level; (2) employment, trade, business, occupation or profession; or (3) credit score, or any information derived from an insured's credit report. The bill also prohibits automobile insurers from inquiring of an insured or applicant for insurance, or of a third-party concerning an insured or applicant, as to these factors. | In Committee |
| A1971 | Requires long-term care facilities to annually review residents' proxy directives. | This bill requires long-term care facilities to annually review residents' proxy directives. A "proxy directive" is defined to mean a written document, executed in accordance with applicable law, that designates an adult with decision-making capacity to act as the declarant's representative in the event that the declarant is determined by a court or authorized practitioner to lack decision-making capacity following the execution of the document. Under the bill, a long-term care facility will be required to meet with each resident at least once annually to determine whether the resident's proxy directive, if any, is accurate and current. Nothing in the bill's provisions would be deemed to require a resident to have a proxy directive. | In Committee |
| A1410 | Requires each government entity in this State to conduct review of cybersecurity infrastructure and make recommendations. | This bill requires each government entity in this State to conduct a review of the entity's cybersecurity infrastructure and make recommendations. The bill requires the head of the entity or the entity's governing body, as the case may be, at a minimum, to: (1) evaluate the efficiency and security of the current cyber infrastructure of the government entity; (2) identify any high-risk cybersecurity issues facing the government entity; (3) offer strategies on how the government entity can improve and modernize its cybersecurity infrastructure, including its computer systems, networks, and software and hardware programs; and (4) provide any proposed changes to laws, regulations, or policies concerning cybersecurity in this State that the government entity finds appropriate to modify. The bill also requires the head or governing body of each government entity, as the case may be, to report the findings and recommendations from the internal review to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 45 days following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A2277 | Requires AOC to release domestic violence central registry records to certain health care practitioners. | This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to release domestic violence central registry records to certain health care practitioners. Under current law, the AOC is required to maintain a central registry of all persons who have had domestic violence restraining orders entered against them, all persons who have been charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence, and all persons who have been charged with a violation of a court order involving domestic violence. All records maintained pursuant to the registry are to be kept confidential and are only to be released to the following:· A public agency authorized to investigate a report of domestic violence;· A police or other law enforcement agency investigating a report of domestic violence or conducting certain background investigations; · A court, upon finding that access to the records may be necessary for determining an issue before the court; · A surrogate, in the surrogate's official capacity as deputy clerk of the superior court, in order to prepare documents that may be necessary for a court to determine an issue in an adoption proceeding; or· The Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families when the division is conducting certain background investigations. A person who is authorized to receive the records, but discloses or disseminates them for a purpose other than the purpose for which the records were received is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under the bill, the records maintained in the central registry also are to be released to any individual who is licensed in the State of New Jersey to practice psychology, psychiatry, medicine, nursing, clinical social work, or marriage and family therapy, whether or not compensation is received or expected, who has incurred the statutory duty to warn and protect a patient who is a potential victim of violence. | In Committee |
| A2245 | Requires DHS to establish quality-based reimbursement system for registered family child care providers participating in Grow NJ Kids. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to provide registered family child care providers who participate in the State's subsidized child care assistance program and are rated under the Grow NJ Kids initiative, with enhanced reimbursements under the tiered, quality-based reimbursement system established pursuant to the State's child care quality and improvement system, Grow NJ Kids. This bill additionally directs the commissioner to apply for any State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the reimbursement system established therein and to ensure continued federal financial participation for subsidized child care programs for qualified low-to-moderate income families. | 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 |
| A2317 | Requires certain public schools to advertise availability of free menstrual hygiene products. | This bill requires a public school that provides menstrual hygiene products to students free of charge to prominently display information about the availability of such products throughout the school building in locations that include, but are not limited to, the school nurse's office, a bathroom, and a locker room. This bill defines menstrual hygiene products as tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. | In Committee |
| A617 | Authorizes creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates. | This bill authorizes the creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The license plates are to cost $50 for the initial application and $10 annually thereafter for renewal, in addition to other registration fees. Monies collected from the license plate program are to be deposited in a special fund called the "Juneteenth License Plate Fund." The monies deposited in the fund are to be appropriated annually to the New Jersey Historical Commission and are to be used by the New Jersey Historical Commission to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth. The bill provides that public funds are not to be used for the initial costs of establishing the Juneteenth license plate program. Prior to deposit in the Juneteenth License Plate Fund, monies from the license plate program are to be provided to the MVC to offset the costs of implementing the license plate program. In addition, prior to designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Juneteenth license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, the following requirements are required to be met: (1) an individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission must provide the MVC with the non-public monies necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the Juneteenth license plate program; and (2) a liaison appointed by the New Jersey Historical Commission pursuant to the bill is required to provide the MVC with not less than 500 completed applications for Juneteenth license plates. Juneteenth is a State and federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans and is often observed as a celebration of African-American culture. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865. | In Committee |
| A3022 | Requires entities to remove abandoned lines and mark information on certain lines. | This bill establishes several requirements concerning the maintenance and removal of certain telecommunications and cable lines, including the removal or correction of abandoned lines, the removal of copper telephone lines, and the marking of new and existing lines. Removal of Abandoned Lines The bill requires certain entities, including utilities, corporations, municipalities, and persons that own above-ground telecommunications or cable lines that are found to be abandoned, to either correct the condition that causes the line to be abandoned or remove the abandoned line from all points of attachment after receiving a request for removal submitted in accordance this bill. The bill also provides that when an entity ceases to do business in this State, the entity would be required to remove its lines from all points of attachment, except for any lines for which ownership was transferred to another entity and which is not otherwise deemed to be abandoned. Under the bill, the owner of a pole, building, or other structure to which a suspected abandoned line is attached may submit a request for removal to the entity owning the line. The bill also permits any person, municipality, utility, or corporation to submit a request for removal of a suspected abandoned line to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which request would be transmitted to the entity that owns the line within five business days. In either case, the bill requires the BPU to prescribe the form and manner for the submission of these requests, except that the bill requires the BPU to allow these requests to be submitted through the official Internet websites of the entities and BPU, respectively. Within 30 calendar days after receiving a request to remove a suspected abandoned line, the bill requires each entity to investigate and determine whether the line is abandoned. If the line is deemed to be abandoned, the bill requires the entity to either correct the condition causing the line to be abandoned or remove the line from all points of attachment within 30 calendar days. Under the bill, an abandoned line would include any above-ground telecommunications or cable line that: (1) is not terminated at both ends to equipment or to a customer's premises; (2) is not maintained in a safe condition; (3) is not intended for future use; or (4) has not been in operation for a period of at least 24 consecutive months, and the owner of a structure to which the line is attached has submitted a request for removal of the line. However, the bill provides that any line that is overlashed would not be deemed to be abandoned. Additionally, the bill requires each entity to submit a written report to the BPU every 90 calendar days beginning after the effective date of the bill, which report is required to describe all notifications, complaints, and requests received by the entity concerning a suspected abandoned line. The bill also requires each entity to provide annual written notice to its customers concerning the provisions of the bill and including an explanation of the processes through which the customer may submit a request for removal of a suspected abandoned line. The bill requires the BPU to prescribe a form and manner for the provision of this notice, except that the notice would be provided to each customer using the same method as the entity provides a bill to the customer, and the notice would be made available in both English and Spanish. This bill also provides that during the course of the employee's employment, each employee of an entity who is responsible for installing lines or providing service calls or in-person technical assistance would have an affirmative duty to investigate any line owned by the entity to determine whether the line is abandoned. If the employee of an entity discovers an abandoned line during the course of the employee's employment, the employee would be required to either remove the abandoned line, if authorized by the entity, or report the abandoned line to the entity for further action. Within 90 calendar days of receiving the report, the entity would be required to transmit a copy of the report to the BPU. Marking of Entity Lines The bill provides that when an entity installs certain new lines, which lines are attached to a building or structure and owned by the entity, the entity would be required to mark certain information on the end of the line that is attached to the building or structure. This information would include the initials of the entity's name, abbreviation of the entity's name, corporate symbol, or other distinguishing mark or code by which ownership may be readily and definitely ascertained. The bill also provides that when an entity owns or maintains an existing line that is attached to a building or structure, which line was installed before the effective date of the bill and does not contain the marking required under the bill, the entity would be required to mark this information on the end of the line that is attached to the building or structure after the entity discovers that the line does not contain the markings. Penalty Provisions Under the bill, an entity that fails to comply with the requirements of the bill concerning the removal of abandoned lines or the marking of lines may be subject to a fine after the BPU has submitted a written notice of an alleged violation to the entity. Specifically, the bill provides that if the entity fails to cure the alleged violation within 30 calendar days after receiving the notice, the BPU may impose a fine of $100 for each day in which the violation exists, beginning on the 31st calendar day after the submission of the notice. The bill also sets forth various factors that the BPU may consider when determining whether to impose a fine, and if appropriate, the amount of the fine. Removal of Copper Telephone Lines The bill requires any entity owning one or more above-ground copper telephone lines, which lines are no longer in operation, to remove the lines from all points of attachment. Specifically, the bill requires each entity to submit a written plan to the BPU, within 12 months after the effective date of the bill, for the removal of all copper telephone lines. At a minimum, the bill requires each entity to remove all copper telephone lines owned by the entity within 10 years following the submission of the plan, except that no less than 10 percent of the lines may be removed during any year of this period. If an entity fails to comply with any requirements of the bill concerning the removal of copper telephone lines, the bill provides that the entity may be subject to a fine, in such amounts as the BPU deems appropriate. | Dead |
| A2028 | Requires certain health care facilities to develop certain doula policies and procedures. | This bill requires hospitals that provide maternity services and birthing centers licensed in this State to adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient to select a doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth. Under the provisions of the bill, each hospital and birthing center will be required to provide a written copy of those policies and procedures to: each health care provider providing maternity services at the facility; each patient receiving maternity services at the facility; and any other person, at the request of the patient. Each hospital and birthing center will be required to post a summary of the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the bill on the facility's Internet website. Each hospital and birthing center will designate a staff member to serve as a liaison between the facility and doulas and doula organizations in order to provide information concerning the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the bill. | Dead |
| A2278 | Requires employers to adopt domestic violence policies and protocols established by DOLWD. | This bill requires all employers in this State to adopt domestic violence policies and protocols established by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence, is required to develop culturally competent workplace policies and safety protocols concerning workplace responses to domestic violence. The policies and protocols are required to include, but not be limited to: training standards and information for all employees; procedures for employers to respond to employees impacted by domestic violence; strategies for the education of employees on bystander intervention; and information concerning resources for victims of domestic violence. The policies and safety protocols are required to be posted on the website of the department. The bill requires all employers in this State to adopt written domestic violence policies and safety protocols in accordance with the policies and protocols established by the commissioner within one year of the effective date of the bill. The employers are required to disseminate the policies and protocols to employees at least once each year. | In Committee |
| AJR72 | Establishes commission to study effects of COVID-19 on small businesses. | This resolution establishes a commission to study the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on small businesses. COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, has caused a global pandemic leading to an unprecedented and overwhelming public health crisis. In response to the devastating effect COVID-19 has had throughout the country, the President issued a declaration of a National State of Emergency on March 13, 2020 and announced social distancing measures in an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19. The State of New Jersey, the state with the second highest incidence of COVID-19 in the United States, also enacted policies that required residents to remain at home and practice social distancing. Social distancing, while effective at slowing the spread of COVID-19, has caused considerable economic disruption throughout the State and throughout the country, with many businesses forced to close or operate at reduced capacity. These disruptions have caused financial hardships for both small business owners, who have seen a reduction in income, and small business employees, who have faced layoffs, reduced hours, and furloughs. Furthermore, the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 has resulted in a ripple effect that has affected not only small businesses and their employees, which have historically economic generators on their own, but also larger corporations who rely on their small business counterparts act as customers and business counterparts. Small businesses, those firms employing fewer than 100 employees, should be better equipped with information and access to resources to better handle similar future scenarios. A study focused on collecting data to review the number of small businesses that received grants and loans, such as those from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, along with information pertaining to the number, size, and degree to which the business was affected by the COVID-19 outbreak would greatly aid small businesses across the State. | In Committee |
| A2967 | Establishes Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program in DHS; appropriates $8 million. | This bill establishes a Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program in the Department of Human Services for persons with severe and persistent mental illness living in the community. The purpose of the program is to provide these individuals with accessible medication management services to enable them to live healthfully in the community. The program shall provide licensed freestanding and hospital-based public or private nonprofit provider organizations under contract with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the department with the resources to: --educate, counsel, and support consumers of mental health services living in the community so that early signs of problems are identified quickly and addressed; --enable physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, consumer peers, consumers, and consumers' families to work together to find a medication regimen that minimizes side effects and truly encourages good health; and --achieve continuous quality improvement goals. The bill provides that a licensed freestanding or hospital-based public or private nonprofit provider organization under contract with the division may apply to the Commissioner of Human Services for a grant to operate a medication management program. The grant shall assist in the hiring and retention of clinical staff including, but not limited to, psychiatrists, advance practice nurses, social workers, mental health counselors, and caseworkers as may be appropriate for the delivery of more intensive medication management, outreach, after-hours coverage, early intervention, crisis management, and support services as needed by consumers of mental health services living in the community who are served by the provider organization. The bill also provides that the commissioner shall seek to secure the use of such funds or other resources from private nonprofit or for-profit sources or the federal government to effectuate the purposes of the bill, as may be available. The bill appropriates $8,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human to effectuate the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| A2074 | Supplemental appropriation of $3.6 million to DHS to increase adult medical day care Medicaid per diem rate from $89.55 to $93.10. | This FY 2024 supplemental appropriation provides $3.6 million to the Department of Human Services to increase the adult medical day care Medicaid per diem rate by four percent from $89.55 to $93.10. Adult medical day care services provide medically necessary services in an ambulatory care setting to individuals who are nonresidents of the facility, and who, due to their physical or cognitive impairment, require such services in order to live in the community. Under the annual Appropriations Act, the adult medical day care per diem rate was increased from $78.50 to $82 in FY 2021, from $82 to $86.10 in FY 2022, and from $86.10 to the current rate, $89.55, in FY 2024. Prior to these increases, the per diem rate was static at $78.50 since FY 2012. Despite these rate changes, the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced many providers of adult medical day care services to close their centers due to a reduction in income. It is the sponsor's goal that this additional funding will stabilize these essential service providers in order to ensure that New Jersey's most vulnerable residents can access the medical supports they need to continue to thrive in a community setting. | In Committee |
| A1058 | Authorizes creation of Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Domestic Violence Awareness license plate is to display an image of a purple ribbon and the words "Domestic Violence Awareness" below the image. The chief administrator, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, is to select the design and color scheme of the Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Domestic Violence Awareness License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Department of Children and Families (department) and are to be used to provide grant funding to organizations and nonprofit agencies that support victims of domestic violence. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plates exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families appoint a liaison to represent the department in all communications with the commission regarding the Domestic Violence Awareness license plate. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Domestic Violence Awareness license plate program. The bill requires an individual or entity designated by the department to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the department to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, until: (1) the individual or entity is designated by the department has provided the commission with the money necessary of offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the department liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th moth after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A2500 | "Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services. | This bill, which is designated as the Mental Health Access Act, increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services under the State Medicaid program. Specifically, the bill requires that reimbursement rates for evidence-based behavioral health services are to be no less than the Medicare reimbursement rate for the service, provided that the service is limited to individual or group counseling provided in an outpatient setting and the billing provider is a licensed behavioral health treatment facility or licensed health care professional. The bill defines "evidence based" to mean a treatment provided by licensed mental health professionals that meets criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, for evidence-based treatment. | In Committee |
| A555 | "Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services. | This bill, designated as the Mental Health Access Act, would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services under the State Medicaid program. Under the bill, reimbursement rates could be no less than the Medicare rate for the service, provided that the service meets certain criteria. Specifically, the bill would provide for increased reimbursement to licensed providers for individual or group counseling programs that are included in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices published by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or meet other criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, for evidence-based treatment. The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, and would apply to all services provided on or after the effective date. | In Committee |
| A935 | Provides gross income tax credit to certain taxpayers who pay for certain in-home services through health care service firm. | This bill provides a refundable gross income tax credit to a taxpayer who has gross income of less than $150,000 for the taxable year and who pays a health care service firm to have an individual employed, placed, or arranged to be placed at the residence of the taxpayer to provide in-home companion services, health care services, or personal care services. This credit is only available to those taxpayers who are permanently and totally disabled or who are age 65 or older. In calculating the credit amount, the credit is limited to 20 percent of relevant expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, and expenses that have been reimbursed or paid by an insurance company are to be excluded and cannot be claimed. | In Committee |
| A2244 | Requires State provider subsidy payments for child care services to be based on enrollment. | This bill provides for the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to require that subsidy payments issued to child care providers licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) or a family day care provider registered by a family day care sponsoring organization pursuant to the "Family Day Care Provider Registration Act," P.L.1987, c.27 (C.30:5B-16 et seq.) for child care services be based on enrollment instead of attendance, as currently provided by regulation. The subsidy payments are to be based on the number of children enrolled with providers on October 15 and April 15 of each year. The bill further provides that at no time is a subsidy payment to be based on the number of eligible children who are actually in attendance. Under the bill, "child care services" means those services provided to eligible children, as certified by the Division of Family Development, for which the division receives and administers State and federal funding to provide subsidy payments to licensed child care providers or registered family day care providers. It is critical that the State ensure adequate funding for licensed child care providers and registered family day care providers who serve low-income families, particularly as they face higher operating costs and reduced enrollment due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In order to ensure the continued success of these child care providers, it is the sponsor's intent to provide relief to financially struggling licensed child care providers and registered family day care providers who care for, educate, and support the State's low-income families. By basing subsidy payments issued to licensed child care providers and registered family day care providers on enrollment, rather than attendance, the bill offers a more reliable source of income for these child care providers. | In Committee |
| A2223 | Establishes the "Female Inmates' Rights Protection Act." | This bill establishes the "Female Inmates' Rights Protection Act." Under the provisions of this bill, the Commissioner of Corrections is required to ensure that any prohibited acts that subject an inmate to disciplinary actions or sanctions are gender appropriate and is required to establish separate prohibited acts for male and female inmates. In addition, the bill requires the commissioner to implement gender appropriate disciplinary actions and sanctions for any prohibited acts committed by an inmate. Further, the bill requires the commissioner to annually submit a report to the Legislature providing a summary of all disciplinary actions and sanctions imposed on inmates, which is to contain each inmate's gender. In addition, the commissioner is required to institute mandatory in-service training for every correctional police officer assigned to the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women regarding gender responsive policies. The commissioner is to ensure that every newly appointed correctional police officer completes the training upon assignment to the facility and every correctional police officer currently assigned to the facility completes the training within two years of the bill's effective date. This bill also requires the commissioner to establish a nursery program allowing newborn children to remain with their incarcerated mothers if the female inmate gave birth to the child while incarcerated in a State correctional facility. Under the bill, an inmate is not eligible to participate in the program if: (1) the inmate has been previously convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or is currently serving a sentence imposed for any crime enumerated under the No Early Release Act; (2) a search conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families of its child abuse registry, at the request of the commissioner, reveals that an incident of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated by the division against the inmate ; (3) the inmate has outstanding warrants; (4) the inmate has committed any prohibited act required to be reported to the prosecutor pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Corrections during the current period of incarceration, or has committed any serious disciplinary infraction, designated in regulations promulgated by the commissioner as a prohibited act that is considered to be the most serious and results in the most severe sanctions, within the previous two years; (5) the inmate has been previously convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or is currently serving a sentence imposed for a crime committed against a person under the age of 16; or (6) there is evidence of the use of a controlled dangerous substance during the inmate's pregnancy. An inmate that is eligible to participate in the program is to be transferred to a residential community release program while participating in the program. Unless there is a court order regarding child custody providing otherwise, a child in the program is to remain in the residential community release program until the child is two years of age or until the inmate is released, whichever occurs sooner. In addition, the commissioner is required to provide accommodations for parenting time with the child's other parent as agreed upon by the inmate and the child's other parent or in accordance with a court order. The commissioner is also required to provide support services for female inmates participating in the program, including parenting classes. The inmate is required to participate in all available prenatal and parenting classes. In addition, prior to being admitted into the program, an inmate is required to submit to a mental health evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist licensed in New Jersey, who, based upon the evaluation, is to make a recommendation to the commissioner regarding the inmate's participation in the program. Finally, the bill requires the commissioner to provide doula services to pregnant inmates. A person providing doula services is to be permitted to attend and provide assistance during labor and childbirth. In addition, the bill requires the commissioner to allow an inmate to have a support person present during labor and childbirth. The bill defines "doula services" as services provided by a trained doula for physical, emotional, or informational support to a pregnant woman before, during, and after the delivery of a child, including, but not limited to, support and assistance during labor and childbirth, prenatal and postpartum education, breastfeeding assistance, parenting education, and support in the event that an inmate has been or will become separated from the inmate's child. | In Committee |
| A2221 | Requires DHS to develop incentives to encourage private investment in child care deserts. | This bill, requires the Commissioner of Human Services to develop financial incentives, to be implemented within 90 days of the effective date of the bill, to encourage private investment in child care facilities located in New Jersey's identified child care deserts. The bill defines a "child care desert" as a community or geographic area in which the demand for quality child care services surpasses the available supply of such services, as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to develop the program of financial incentives in conjunction with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, and the Commissioner of Children and Families. Moreover, the commissioner is required to consider a variety of potential incentives to encourage private investment in child care facilities, including, but not limited to: tax credits, tax exemptions, loan guarantees, and assistance with recruiting, hiring and training new employees. The Commissioner of Human Services is required to apply for any State plan amendments or federal waivers needed to ensure continued federal financial participation for the State's subsidized child care program. The provisions of the bill will take effect on the 180th day after enactment; however, the commissioner is authorized to take any anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for implementation of the act. According to the Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), approximately 40 percent of New Jersey municipalities are classified as child care deserts; of these, the majority are urban or rural communities. | In Committee |
| A2220 | Establishes Task Force on Child Care Deserts in New Jersey. | The bill establishes the Task Force on Child Care Deserts in New Jersey. The purpose of the task force is to identify, and study child care deserts and evaluate why child care deserts exist in the State. The task force will consist of 15 members as follows: the Commissioner of Human Service, the Director of the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families, and the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, or their designees, who will serve ex-officio; one member of the Advisory Council on Child Care; one member of a family day care sponsoring organization; one member of a child care resource and referral agency; four members appointed by the Governor with experience, training, and interests in child care issues; two members appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate, respectively, both residing in a child care desert located in an urban area of the State; and two members appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, respectively, both of residing in a child care desert located in a rural area of the State. Under the bill, the task force is to study and evaluate aspects of the provision of child care that may contribute to the existence of child care deserts in New Jersey. The task is to: review existing research, studies, and data concerning child care deserts; and identify specific policies for eliminating child care deserts throughout the State including, but not limited to, analyzing the relationship between the existence of child care deserts and: the geographic proximity of licensed child care centers and family day care homes to families accessing child care services; parental labor force participation; the demographic characteristics of families accessing child care services such as race, ethnicity, and employment status; public investments in child care and early education; child care tuition rates and child care subsidy reimbursement rates; and the lack of investment in child care infrastructure including, but not limited to, facility upgrades which address the health, safety, and educational development of children enrolled in child care centers. The bill defines "child care desert" as a geographic location that lacks any child care options or a geographic location where there is an insufficient number of licensed child providers resulting in more than two-thirds of the children, who live within that location, unable to receive child care. The task force is to issue a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than six months after the task force organizes, containing the task force's findings and recommendations, and expire 30 days after the report's issuance. | In Committee |
| A2284 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services by $4. | This bill would increase the Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services by $4. PDN services are individualized nursing services that are provided by licensed nurses, on a continuous and non-intermittent basis, to certain beneficiaries in the home setting. Under the State FY 2023 Appropriations Act, the current Medicaid reimbursement rate for PDN services is $61 per hour when the services are provided by a registered nurse and $49 per hour when the services are provided by a licensed practical nurse. These rates supersede the rates established under current Department of Human Services regulations, which establish a rate of $60 for PDN services provided by a registered nurse and a rate of $48 for services provided by a licensed practical nurse. The bill increases the Medicaid reimbursement rate for PDN services to at least $65 per hour when provided by a registered professional nurse and to at least $53 per hour when provided by a licensed practical nurse. The increased reimbursement rate will apply regardless of whether services are provided under the fee for service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| A3187 | Requires Division of Developmental Disabilities, during public health emergency, to develop guidance for in-person visitation at community-based residential settings for individuals with developmental disabilities and require providers to allow such visitation. | This bill would provide for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in the Department of Human Services (DHS), acting in consultation with the Department of Health during a declared public health emergency, to develop guidance for, and to require the operator of a DHS-licensed community-based residential program or group home to allow, in-person visitation between a resident of the community-based residential program or group home and the resident's immediate family members and legal guardian. A "community-based residential program" includes a developmental center, supervised apartment, community care residence, nursing home, or other residential setting for individuals with developmental disabilities, which is licensed and regulated by the DHS. A "group home" is a living arrangement that is operated in a residence or residences leased or owned by an individual licensed by the DHS; which provides the opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to live together in a home, sharing in chores and the overall management of the residence; and in which staff provides supervision, training, or assistance in a variety of forms and intensity as required to assist the individuals as they move toward independence. | In Committee |
| A2488 | The "Liberty State Park Protection Act"; establishes Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park. | This bill, to be known as the "Liberty State Park Protection Act," would preserve Liberty State Park as a public urban green open space with authority for limited privatization by establishing certain requirements concerning actions by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) related to Liberty State Park and establishing a Liberty State Park Advisory Committee (committee). The bill would prohibit the DEP from considering any proposal to commercialize, develop, or privatize Liberty State Park, except as provided in the bill. The bill would restrict the DEP from conveying, leasing, or otherwise transferring any property rights within the 235-acre natural restoration area in the interior of Liberty State Park, and at Caven Point Peninsula. The bill would require the DEP, within five years after the bill is enacted into law, and after consultation with the committee, to develop a management plan for Liberty State Park. The DEP would be required to consult the committee for review and recommendations: (1) prior to entering into any agreement for a concession, conveyance, or lease or any other transfer of property rights; and (2) prior to the extension or renewal for a term of one year or longer any lease in effect on the date the bill is enacted into law. In addition, the bill directs the DEP to develop and implement, in conjunction with the committee, a public participation process to allow public citizens and civic organizations to provide public input on any proposed changes in land use at Liberty State Park or to the management plan developed pursuant the bill, and to also, at least once each year, hold a public forum to receive input from the public concerning plans, improvements, preservation, conservation, and management of the park, in addition to any public hearings that may be required pursuant to law. The bill also directs the DEP to develop a map depicting Liberty State Park. Under the bill, the DEP would only approve an agreement for a concession, conveyance, lease, or other agreement with a private entity to provide small-scale commercial activities if the agreement enhances the experience of a visitor to Liberty State Park, such as a bicycle or kayak rental concession, food concession, temporary winter skating rink, commercial boat tour operating from an existing boat slip, and use of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal ("CRRNJ Terminal"), and other uses identified in the management plan developed pursuant to the bill. In addition, whenever the DEP proposes to enter into a concession, lease, or other agreement for a duration of one year or longer, the DEP would be required to present the proposal to the committee for review and recommendations and provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposal, including holding two public hearings at Liberty State Park, with one hearing being held on a weekday evening and one on the weekend, and providing a 30-day public comment period. In addition, the DEP would be required to take these same actions when it intends to convey lands acquired or developed by the State with Green Acres funds, or acquired or developed by the State in any other manner and administered by the department, located within or adjacent to Liberty State Park. The Liberty State Park Advisory Committee established by the bill would be charged with assisting the DEP in conserving, preserving, protecting, and improving Liberty State Park. In carrying out its responsibilities, the committee would give due consideration to the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources and the local, State, and national significance of Liberty State Park. The committee's responsibilities would include: assisting the DEP in developing the management plan required by the bill, and advising the DEP on the ecological restoration of the 235-acre interior portion of the park and means to increase public access and public enjoyment of the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources of the park; reviewing and making recommendations concerning concessions, leases, or other transfer of property rights with a duration of one year or longer; and submitting to the DEP Commissioner any recommendations the committee deems necessary to improve, protect the park. In addition, this bill would amend the "State Park and Forestry Resources Act," P.L.1983, c. 324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.), which, in part, allows the DEP to enter agreements with private entities for the construction, operation, and maintenance for private profit of any facility, utility, or device in State parks and forests as the DEP finds proper for the use and enjoyment of the lands by the public. This bill would amend the law to reflect the provisions of this bill concerning agreements related to Liberty State Park. Lastly, the bill would amend the "Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act" to delete the provision that provided the commission, i.e., the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which under current law is also referred to as the "Meadowlands Regional Commission," with certain authority concerning Liberty State Park. | 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 |
| A2276 | Establishes program in DOH for health care provider evaluation and response for patients who are victims of domestic violence. | This bill establishes a program in the Department of Health for health care providers to identify and respond to patients who may be victims of domestic violence. According to the New Jersey Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board, numerous victims in this State who were killed by their domestic abusers had contact with health care professionals prior to their deaths. According to a report of the review board, there is a need for more health care providers to accurately assess the presence of domestic violence when treating a patient. It is the sponsor's intent to provide health professionals in this State with the necessary tools to identify signs of domestic violence and provide victims with resources to seek help in order to reduce the devastating consequences of domestic violence. In implementing the program established under the bill, the commissioner is required to develop and implement the following:· an educational program for all health care professionals regarding the causes and nature of domestic violence, risk factors, and preventive measures; and available resources for victims of domestic violence;· a training program for health care professionals to screen patients during the course of a medical examination or treatment to determine whether the patient may be a victim of domestic violence; conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assessment to identify indicators that a patient may be a victim of domestic violence; appropriately document in a patient's medical record any indicators of domestic violence; and provide patients who may be victims of domestic violence with information regarding resources that are available in the community; and· educational materials for health professionals to make available to patients seeking medical care regarding the causes and nature of domestic violence, risk factors, and preventive measures; and the availability of resources for victims of domestic violence. The provisions of the bill require the commissioner to seek to establish public-private partnerships to promote outreach and increase awareness among health care providers and community-based organizations, and coalitions who offer assistance to victims of domestic violence. The commissioner also is required to establish procedures for coordinating and collecting data for the purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of the program in reducing the incidence of domestic violence and overall health care costs, and compile an annual report to be submitted to the Governor and Legislature. Under the bill, the commissioner also is required to seek to secure the use of funds or other resources from private nonprofit or for-profit sources or the federal government that may be available, which are to be used to supplement, and not supplant, State funds used to carry out the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| A2152 | Authorizes grants to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for homeless veterans. | This bill would amend the "New Jersey Housing Assistance for Veterans Act," P.L.2017, c.258 (C.52:27D-516 et seq.) to expand the purposes of the pilot program established by that act to include the purchase and rehabilitation of abandoned homes for homeless veterans. Currently, the pilot program established by this law authorizes grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to rehabilitate existing primary residences of disabled or low-income veterans. Under the bill, a nonprofit veterans' organization that has experience in rehabilitating housing for homeless veterans, or others, would be eligible to receive a grant to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for homeless veterans. The bill would afford a preference in awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that serve communities that are in the greatest need of homeless services. The bill would allow the administrator of the current pilot program to give preferences in awarding grants in order to achieve a fair distribution among homeless veterans in different geographical regions of the State. Finally, this bill adjusts the existing law, through defining "rehabilitation" and other language changes, to clarify that pilot program funds may be expended for a broad range of project types, including repairs, renovations, reconstruction, as well as the installation of appropriate new fixtures and other alterations. | Dead |
| A1957 | Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities. | This bill creates a State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities. This bill would add a new three percent set-aside program for disability-owned business enterprises which is in addition to other State set-aside programs. The three percent set-aside would represent three percent of all contracts awarded by contracting agencies. "Disability-owned business enterprise" would be defined to mean a business which has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated and at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by persons with disabilities and is certified by nonprofit organizations focused on business disability inclusion, including Disability:IN, as a disability-owned business enterprise. Disability-owned business enterprise is a commonly used term by several non-profit organizations focused on business disability inclusion, such as Disability:IN, to recognize such businesses. The term "disability" would be defined to mean a physical or mental disability that substantially impairs a major life activity. | In Committee |
| A1955 | Establishes recruitment and referral program for certain individuals and extends certain provisions of law concerning affirmative action in public works contracts to workers with disabilities. | Current law requires affirmative action goals, workforce analysis, and data collection in public works contracts for racial and ethnic minorities. However, there are no comparable requirements applicable to individuals with disabilities. This bill adds a definition of affirmative action to statutes concerning public works contracting. Affirmative action is defined as "good-faith steps taken to ensure equal opportunity employment for women and minority workers and workers with disabilities; but does not include employment quotas, except where otherwise permitted and appropriate under applicable laws." The bill also adds disability-owned business enterprises to the list of requirements for each prospective bidder on a public works contract to include in their affirmative action program submitted to the State Treasurer, and instructs the State Treasurer to include individuals with disabilities in demographic data and rules and regulations pertaining to public works contracting. Finally, the bill directs the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services to adopt a recruitment and referral program connecting private sector employers with college students, recent graduates, and others with disabilities for summer or permanent jobs. | In Committee |
| A1953 | Requires cultural diversity and implicit bias training be included in police basic training curriculum. | This bill requires the Police Training Commission in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety to include cultural diversity and implicit bias training in the basic training course for police officers appointed to a police department or force. Current law requires the Department of Law and Public Safety to develop or identify a uniform cultural diversity and implicit bias training course, including an on-line tutorial, which includes instruction promoting positive interaction with all members residing in the community, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. The training course is available to every State, county, municipal, and campus police department or force for in-service training of its officers. This bill would require this cultural diversity and implicit bias training to be administered to police officers during their mandated basic training. The bill defines "implicit bias" as having attitudes towards people or associating stereotypes with them without conscious knowledge. Finally, the bill requires instructors at basic training academies for police officers to receive specialized training in cultural diversity and implicit bias in policing. | In Committee |
| A1991 | Requires certain court documents to be translated into languages other than English. | This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to develop and implement policies that will provide translations of pertinent court documents in the primary language of defendants, witnesses, or persons with decision-making authority. The policies established are intended to help those with limited English proficiency (LEP) knowingly and intelligently participate in the proceeding before the court. The bill requires the AOC to develop policies for the translation of nine languages that are widely spoken in New Jersey. These include Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Haitian Creole, and French. Further, the bill requires the AOC to develop policies that require courthouses to post signs notifying LEP individuals of language services, including translation and interpretation. It is the intent of the sponsor to provide assistance to certain litigants when English is not their primary language to ensure the judicial system upholds litigants' civil rights. Finding ways to effectively bridge language barriers is necessary to preserve the integrity of the legal system. There is agreement among federal and state courts that in criminal proceedings, LEP defendants are entitled to the assistance of an interpreter under the U.S. Constitution. Access to courts and administrative proceedings is critically important. Whether cases involve child custody, domestic violence, eviction, foreclosure, wage claims or criminal prosecution, the stakes are too high for individuals to be effectively excluded from courtroom participation because of their English proficiency. LEP individuals should not lose custody of their children because of their English ability, nor should LEP victims of domestic abuse have to rely on family, friends, or abusers to interpret in the courtroom, and lastly, LEP defendants should not be interpreted by prosecutors. Regardless of English proficiency, individuals need to understand and have access to judicial proceedings and court operations. Citizens of this country are all considered equal under the law and ensuring equal treatment and access in the judicial system are priorities of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. There are over 25 million people in the United States who are considered limited English proficient individuals, a population that has almost doubled since 1990. Our justice system is a cornerstone of our democracy and our constitutional right to due process. Meaningful language access is not just necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our judicial system; it is required by law. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, entities that receive federal financial assistance cannot discriminate on the basis of national origin, and failing to provide language access in courts violates Title VI. Posting and maintaining signs as required by this bill in areas such as waiting rooms, reception areas, and other initial points of entry will inform applicants and beneficiaries of their right to free language assistance services. The signage is required to invite LEP individuals to identify themselves as persons needing such services. It is critically important during court proceedings that plaintiffs and defendants receive court documents in the language they speak. | In Committee |
| A1894 | Expands exemptions from drug paraphernalia laws to also exempt certain harm reduction supplies. | This bill exempts certain supplies from State criminal drug paraphernalia laws. Current law establishes criminal penalties for possessing, manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or advertising drug paraphernalia, which items used in connection with the production, distribution, and use of illicit drugs. Current law provides certain exceptions from the definition of "drug paraphernalia" for fentanyl test strips and hypodermic needles and syringes that are sold by a pharmacy. This bill expands the current exceptions from the definition of "drug paraphernalia" to include: 1) equipment, products used for testing and analyzing a controlled dangerous substance; 2) testing equipment other than fentanyl test strips, used or intended for use identifying, or in analyzing the strength, effectiveness or purity of controlled dangerous substances or controlled substance analogs; 3) dilutants and adulterants, such as quinine hydrochloride, mannitol, mannite, dextrose and lactose, used or intended for use in cutting controlled dangerous substances or controlled substance analogs, which are provided by an entity authorized to provide harm reduction services; 4) blenders, bowls, containers, spoons and mixing devices used or intended for use in compounding controlled dangerous substances or controlled substance analogs, which are provided by an entity authorized to provide harm reduction services; 5) objects used or intended for use in ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cocaine, nitrous oxide or the fumes of a toxic chemical, other than marijuana or hashish, into the human body, which are provided by an entity authorized to provide harm reduction services; and 6) "harm reduction supplies." Under the bill, "harm reduction supplies," means any materials or equipment used or intended for use in preventing, reducing, or mitigating the adverse effects associated with the personal use of controlled dangerous substances, controlled substance analogs, or toxic chemicals, which adverse effects may include, but are not limited to, disease transmission and overdose. "Harm reduction supplies" includes, but is not to be limited to: naloxone hydrochloride and other opioid antidotes; test strips and other supplies or equipment designed to identify or analyze the presence, strength, effectiveness, or purity of controlled dangerous substances, controlled substance analogs, toxic chemicals, or other substances used to potentiate or enhance the effects of controlled dangerous substances, controlled substance analogs, or toxic chemicals; and supplies or equipment provided by an entity authorized to provide harm reduction services in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-25 et al.). | Dead |
| AR64 | Urges Supreme Court to establish payment kiosks for court-ordered obligations. | This resolution urges the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court to establish payment kiosks for the processing of court-ordered assessments. | In Committee |
| A2272 | Establishes Department of Early Childhood. | This bill establishes as a new principal department within the Executive Branch, the Department of Early Childhood. The bill transfers the functions of the current Division of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Education to the Department of Early Childhood. In addition, the bill transfers to the new department:· all responsibilities of the Department of Education relating to students in grades preschool through three including, but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: teacher licensing; IDEA part B; Title I services; regional achievement centers; migrant and homeless education services; bilingual education services; parent training and information centers; and the New Jersey Council for Young Children;· all responsibilities of the Department of Human Services relating to children from pregnancy to age eight, including but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: subsidized child care programs and services; child care development block grants; wraparound care; New Jersey First Steps Infant Toddler Initiative; child care resource and referral agencies; childcare workforce registry; New Jersey School-Age child care; and New Jersey Inclusive Child Care; · all responsibilities of the Department of Children and Families relating to children from pregnancy to age eight including, but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: New Jersey Home Visitation Program; Help Me Grow Initiative; Project LAUNCH; New Jersey Strengthening Families Initiative; Project TEACH (Teen Education and Child Health); Parent Linking Program; and Family Success Centers; and· all responsibilities of the Department of Health relating to children from pregnancy to age eight, including but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Program; New Jersey WIC Breastfeeding Services; services for perinatal mood disorders; home visitation programs; early intervention system under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and NJ Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative Project (NJ ECELC). The bill transfers all the functions of the Department of Children and Families regarding the licensing of child care centers and the registration of family child care providers to the new Department of Early Childhood. The bill requires the Commissioner of Early Childhood, in consultation with the Commissioners of Education, Human Services, Children and Families, and Health, to develop a schedule for the orderly transfer of programs relating to early childhood and child nutrition to the new department. | In Committee |
| A1994 | Requires DOC to provide reunification therapy to inmates and immediate family members prior to inmate's release. | This bill requires the Department of Corrections to provide reunification therapy to inmates and members of their immediate family prior to the inmate's release from incarceration. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Corrections is required to provide any inmate in this State who is scheduled to be released from incarceration within six months the opportunity to virtually participate in counseling sessions with members of the inmate's immediate family. The commissioner is required to advise an inmate who is scheduled to be released from incarceration within nine months that the inmate is entitled to participate in the counseling sessions. Upon the inmate's request, the counseling sessions are to be conducted with the inmate participating virtually and the inmate's immediate family members being physically present at one of the following locations: (1) the private office of a mental health care provider who is contracted by the Department of Corrections to provide mental health counseling under the bill; (2) a nonprofit inmate reentry service provider contracted by the Department of Community Affairs; or (3) any other location designated by the commissioner. The commissioner is required to provide individual counseling sessions to an inmate who wishes to participate in the mental health counseling offered under the bill, but whose immediate family members decline to participate. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to establish public-private partnerships to effectuate the purposes of this bill among mental health care providers and nonprofit inmate reentry service providers. The commissioner is further required to seek funding and other available resources from private nonprofit or for-profit sources or the federal government to effectuate the purposes of the bill, which are to be used to supplement, and not supplant, State funds used to carry out the purposes of the bill. In addition to any other requirements under current law related to providing information and services to inmates, the commissioner also is required to provide an inmate who participates in the counseling sessions with information concerning organizations and programs which provide assistance and services to inmates reentering society after a period of incarceration. Finally, the bill requires funds to be appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Corrections in an amount necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. According to the sponsor, incarcerated parents face a unique set of challenges, which often require them to navigate both the child welfare and corrections systems. Ninety-two percent of incarcerated parents in the United States are fathers, a population that has increased four-fold since 1980. Each year, nearly 700,000 prisoners are released from state and federal correctional facilities, in addition to those released from local jails. As these inmates return to their families and communities, they often have difficulties establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, acquiring job skills and obtaining employment, locating safe and stable housing, meeting their child support obligations, receiving adequate health care, and understanding their voting and general citizenship rights. Many of the approximately 10 million children in the United States who are affected by incarceration suffer from stress, trauma, and stigmatization, and often exhibit a broad variety of behavioral, emotional, health, and educational problems. It is the sponsor's intent to enable inmates who participate in the reunification therapy program established under the bill to improve their knowledge and understanding of the impact of incarceration on their children and families and how to respond to their needs; learn strategies to help them focus on parenting and relationships; develop employment skills; and prepare for other challenges these inmates may face when released from incarceration. | In Committee |
| A1483 | Establishes disaster relief grant program to provide municipalities with training, supply stockpiles, and technology to assist residents with certain applications; appropriates $5 million. | This bill establishes a disaster relief program within the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (division) in the Department of Community Affairs for the purposes of establishing a grant program to provide municipalities with training, supply stockpiles, and technology to be used to assist residents with disaster relief applications and other paperwork, and appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the division for the purposes of the program. The Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with the division, would establish: (1) an application process for municipalities to access grant monies for the purpose of providing training, technology, and supply stockpiles; (2) guidelines for priority in disbursals according to the Office of Emergency Management's risk assessment score for each municipality; (3) training guidelines for municipal employees who will assist residents with disaster relief paperwork and other paperwork, as appropriate; and (4) guidelines for supply stockpiles as appropriate for each municipality according to its municipal master plan. The division would disburse grant monies to municipalities based on the criteria established by the division. Each municipality receiving a grant would be required to submit a report one year after the initial disbursement to the division, the Office of Emergency Management, the Governor, and the Legislature regarding how grant funds were utilized, the current risks foreseen by the municipality, and data on how the grant money has improved the emergency preparedness and response capacity of the municipality. | In Committee |
| A1969 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain database of Educational Opportunity Fund student admissions. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain a database of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student admissions. The database will detail the number of student openings in the EOF programs of each participating institution which are available for an eligible student. The database must be made available to campus EOF directors in order to improve communication about potential placements between campus directors and eligible students. The bill provides that in the event that an eligible student has not secured a placement in an EOF program of a participating institution, the campus EOF director must provide that student with information about student openings in the EOF programs of other participating institutions. Under the bill, each participating institution must notify the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education when a student opening in an EOF program is filled. The office must update the database within one business day of receiving the notification. | In Committee |
| A2010 | Revises eligibility for Educational Opportunity Fund grants and campus-based Educational Opportunity Fund programs. | This bill amends current law to clarify that any student enrolling at an institution of higher education who has previously earned an associate degree or college credits or who has participated in or completed a dual degree program while enrolled in high school is eligible for an Educational Opportunity Fund grant if the student meets all other eligibility requirements for the grant. The bill also provides that a student who has previously earned an associate degree or college credits or who has participated in or completed a dual degree program while enrolled in high school, and who is otherwise eligible to participate, shall not be excluded from participating in a campus-based Educational Opportunity Fund program at any institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| A3047 | Requires certain notice when redirecting consumers to website for ticket resale and establishes certain requirements for websites offering tickets for resale. | This bill requires additional disclosures for ticket brokers who operate a website to resell tickets. Brokers will be required to clearly and conspicuously provide notice: (1) that the website is for the secondary sale of tickets; (2) that tickets offered through the website for secondary sale do not mean that tickets for primary sale are no longer available; (3) that the price of a ticket offered for sale may exceed the face value price or the price set by the place of entertainment; and (4) of any refund policy of the ticket broker that is in place with regard to the postponement or cancellation of an event. The broker is to require a purchaser to confirm having read the information on these notices prior to completing a transaction. A ticket broker is to also clearly and conspicuously disclose the price charged by the place of entertainment that is printed or endorsed on the face of each ticket prior to the purchaser completing any transaction. The same disclosures and requirements of a ticket broker are also made applicable to ticket resale websites in the bill. Additionally, the bill requires a website operator with a ticket website for the sale or selling tickets to inform a consumer when the ticket website is redirecting the consumer to another website for the resale of tickets. The notice to consumers is to be in a clear and conspicuous location on the ticket website and in a minimum of 12-point, boldface font and is to disclose that the redirection to a website for the resale of tickets does not mean that 1) tickets offered through the ticket website for the sale or selling of tickets are sold out or 2) the prices for tickets on the ticket website for the resale of tickets are less expensive than the face value of the ticket or than the ticket website for the sale or selling of tickets. | In Committee |
| A2057 | Requires inmate to participate in Medicaid enrollment session 60 days prior to release. | This bill implements certain recommendations included in the 2019 New Jersey Reentry Services Commission Report entitled "Barriers, Best Practices, and Action Items for Improving Reentry Services." Specifically, this bill requires an inmate of a State prison or county correctional facility, at least 60 days prior to the release from the State prison or county correctional facility, to participate in a Medicaid enrollment session. During the session, county welfare agency staff or designated State prison or county correctional facility personnel, who have received training from the Department of Human Services regarding the screening and enrollment process for Medicaid, are to provide the inmate with assistance, either in person or via telephone, in completing a Medicaid application and to ensure that the inmate's application is submitted to the Department of Human Services or another Medicaid eligibility determination agency for processing. Under the bill, an inmate who opts out of a Medicaid enrollment session is required to indicate such a decision in writing, in a manner and format determined by the Commissioner of Corrections. Furthermore, a State prison or county correctional facility staff member is required to provide guidance to an inmate who opts out of a Medicaid enrollment session, both verbally and in a written format, of the health care benefits provided under Medicaid, as well as the process to apply for Medicaid, should the inmate decide to enroll following release from the State prison or county correctional facility. | In Committee |
| A374 | Requires Medicaid coverage of social day care services for senior citizens. | This bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to provide social adult day care services for Medicaid beneficiaries, regardless of whether the beneficiaries are enrolled in the State's Medicaid Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program. This benefit, however, would be limited to those Medicaid beneficiaries who are aged 60 years or older and who also meet the clinical, income, and asset requirements established for the MLTSS program by the Commissioner of Human Services. The bill defines social adult day care services as a community-based group program designed to meet the non-medical needs of senior citizens with functional impairments through an individualized plan of care. Social adult day care services are provided in a protective setting when participants' caregivers are at work or are otherwise unavailable. Pursuant to the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is to apply for any federal Medicaid waivers or State plan amendments necessary to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. The bill additionally stipulates that the provisions therein are to remain inoperable until the Commissioner of Human Services receives federal approval of the requisite federal Medicaid waivers or State plan amendments. Under current law, only Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in the MLTSS program are eligible for social adult day care or medical day care services. Beneficiaries enrolled in a medical day care program receive preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services under medical and nursing supervision in order to support their ability to live in the community. To qualify for the MLTSS program, individuals must be enrolled in the State Medicaid program, reside in the community, require a nursing home level of care, and meet the program's income and asset limits. | In Committee |
| A2958 | Requires Commissioner of Human Services to request authorization for SNAP benefits to be used to pay delivery charges for online grocery purchases. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to request that the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) permit "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," (SNAP) benefits, available through a beneficiary's SNAP electronic benefits transfer card, to pay the delivery charge for home delivery of the beneficiary's SNAP-eligible grocery purchase. Currently, the USDA does not allow the use of SNAP funds to pay the fee charged for home delivery of grocery purchases. In March 2020, the USDA opened its pilot program for online grocery purchasing to New Jersey's SNAP participants. Individuals participating in New Jersey SNAP may purchase groceries online through Amazon, and at 17 participating retailers Statewide, including major supermarket chains, membership warehouse clubs, and big-box stores. The SNAP is a nutrition assistance entitlement program for low-income households regulated by the Food and Nutrition Service within the USDA, pursuant to the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.). At the State level, the program is administered by the county welfare agencies, under the supervision of the Division of Family Development (DFD) in the Department of Human Services. | Dead |
| A1143 | Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for programs providing mental health, substance use treatment, or services to persons with developmental disabilities. | This bill stipulates that on or after the effective date of the bill, the terms of a contract entered into between the Divisions of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS) and a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization. The cost of living adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor, and the DHS would be required to announce the rate of the increase on October 1 of each year. As used in the bill, a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities shall include State programs partially funded or fully funded by Medicaid and licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Human Services or other appropriate State licensing agencies. | In Committee |
| A1187 | Specifies additional services for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence; makes $1,000,000 appropriation. | This bill would establish a safe haven program in fire stations throughout the State for the purpose of ensuring that victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence receive firefighter referrals for appropriate services, such as emergency shelters, legal assistance, victim advocacy, and community resources. Specifically, the bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, Commission on Human Trafficking, and Advisory Council on Domestic Violence, to establish the safe haven program, which would include, but not be limited to, the following: - specific training and educational requirements for firefighters concerning emergency housing, victim advocacy, the role of law enforcement in assisting victims, legal assistance, and community resources that are available to victims; - victim evaluation criteria and requirements for firefighters who make referrals and assist in the coordination of the aforementioned services for victims; - anti-discrimination requirements that ensure victims obtain the benefits and services required by the program without regard to their citizenship status; and - specific training requirements for firefighters who assist victims, which would enable the firefighters to serve as referral sources for, and facilitate access of victims to, appropriate resources and services. The bill would appropriate $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" created by section 2 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-238) in order to establish and implement the safe haven program as set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| A2071 | Establishes competitive grant program for new child care facility construction, using $30 million in federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" monies appropriated to EDA pursuant to P.L.2022, c.49. | This bill establishes a grant program to finance the construction of new child care facilities by nonprofit, community-based child care providers. The grant program will be financed with the $30 million in federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" monies, appropriated, pursuant to the FY 2023 Appropriations Act, to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) for the creation of a Child Care Facilities Fund. It is the sponsor's intent that the grant program spur the creation of new child care slots, for children ages five years and younger, in the State's child care deserts. Within 60 days of the bill's effective date, the Chief Executive Officer of the NJEDA will seek applications and, from those received, select a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) to: 1) manage the grant application, review, and award processes; 2) disburse grants awarded to child care providers; 3) provide technical assistance to grant recipients; 4) help grant recipients prepare their new facilities for evaluation under the Grow NJ Kids program; and 5) compile and report any program benchmarks or outcomes data that the NJEDA may require. Under the bill, the designated CDFI is required to have experience in early childhood facilities financing, in order to ensure the equitable disbursement of grant funds and encourage the participation of nonprofit, community-based child care providers. The bill requires the CDFI, within 120 days of designation, to award one-time, competitive grants to child care providers for the construction of new child care facilities. The bill also stipulates that the grant program will expire once the available funding has been expended. The bill provides that an eligible grant applicant: 1) is a nonprofit, community-based organization; 2) has at least five years' experience in providing child care for children ages five years and younger; 3) will commit to participate in, and prioritize enrollment of children eligible for, the State's child care subsidy program; 4) will agree to participate in the Grow NJ Kids program; and 5) will consent to collect any de-identified data that the NJEDA requires. The CDFI is required to give preference to applicants that: 1) have experience in providing services to children and families who require additional socio-economic supports and services; 2) will commit to locating a new child care facility in a child care desert; and 3) will operate a child care facility that has a minimum capacity of 60 children, of whom 25 percent will be children who receive child care subsidies. The bill also prohibits the use of grant funds for the purchase of land or buildings. Of the $30 million in federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" monies appropriated to the NJEDA for the creation of a Child Care Facilities Fund, pursuant to the FY 2023 Appropriations Act, the bill awards to the designated CDFI: 1) $26 million for competitive grant awards; 2) $1.0 million for the provision of technical assistance to grantees; and 3) $3 million for the grant program's administrative costs. | In Committee |
| AJR17 | Designates August 27 of each year as "Billy Cray Day." | This joint resolution designates August 27 of each year as "Billy Cray Day." According to the latest annual report of the Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and their families, the high frequency with which the ombudsman's office receives reports about abuse and neglect in group homes signals a persistent problem. "There is no question that abuse and neglect occur in some of our congregate settings. I cannot tell you how prevalent it is or why it occurs, but families share their horrifying pictures and stories on a regular basis," stated the ombudsman in the office's latest annual report. The ombudsman suggested that the State convene a "frank discussion" on abuse and neglect, implement a "zero tolerance with teeth," and raise the standards and wages for direct support professionals who work in congregate settings. William "Billy" Cray, a 33-year-old man with developmental disabilities, was found dead on the floor of his bedroom closet in a congregate setting on August 27, 2017. Billy's mother, Martha Cray, had been at odds with the congregate setting in the months preceding her son's death due to unexplained bruises and other injuries suffered by Billy. "The loss of a child, is best described as a state of purgatory and hell wrapped up in one," said Martha Cray, as she wept while testifying before the New Jersey Legislature. In 2020, New Jersey introduced legislation dedicated to Billy Cray, which, if enacted, would require congregate settings to install electronic monitoring devices. According to this legislation, currently pending before the Legislature in the 2022-2023 legislative session as Assembly Bill No. 2483 and its identical counterpart Senate Bill No. 1897, Billy Cray's death is a reminder of why the State needs to strengthen oversight of congregate settings and further enhance the ability of congregate setting residents and their family members or guardians, to take affirmative steps to protect the rights and safety of residents and promptly respond to injuries and other concerning incidents occurring in congregate settings In honor of Billy Cray, and in light of other confirmed reports of abuse and neglect suffered by individuals with developmental disabilities in congregate settings, it is altogether fitting and proper to designate August 27 of each year as "Billy Cray Day" to bring awareness to any abuse, neglect, and exploitation that may be occurring in congregate settings and to further protect the safety of congregate setting residents in this State. | 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 |
| A1217 | Establishes Vaisakhi and Bandi Chhor Divas as public holidays in this State. | This bill designates Vaisakhi and Bandi Chhor Divas as public holidays in this State. Sikhism is represented by the central principles of truthful living, service to humanity, and devotion to God. Founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab region of India during the 15th century, the Sikh spiritual tradition is rooted in the belief that every person, regardless of race, gender, sex, or creed, is equal before God. Sikhism is the world's fifth-largest religion with nearly 30 million adherents. Approximately one million Sikhs call the United States home, some of whom have families that began immigrating to the United States over 100 years ago. Sikh spiritual tradition and the founding principles of the United States contain significant similarities, such as the belief of the equality of persons before God and a commitment to public service to one's neighbor and nation. Vaisakhi is a Sikh day of gathering and celebration that originated more than 300 years ago. It is a harvest festival that marks the day in which the tenth in a line of gurus, or spiritual leaders, unified Sikhs and formalized many aspects of the faith. Vaisakhi typically falls on April 13 or April 14 of each year and marks the first day of the month Vaisakh in the Sikh calendar. It was on Vaisakhi that the mandatory outward identity was established, ensuring that Sikhs may stand out and be called upon for help. Vaisakhi is often celebrated by Sikhs attending their local gurdwara to worship, meditate, and to participate in langar, which is a free community meal prepared and served by volunteers at gurdwaras. Bandi Chhor Divas, meaning liberation of prisoners day, is a Sikh day of gathering and celebration which commemorates Guru Hargobind Sahib's release from Gwalior Fort prison in the 17th century. The sixth guru refused to be released unless other innocent princes were also freed and returned to the holy city of Amritsar. Emperor Jahangir, his captor, said that those who clung to the guru's coat would be able to go free. This was meant to limit the number of prisoners who could be released. In response, Guru Hargobind had a coat made with 52 tassels attached to it so that all of the princes could leave prison with him. This story reminds Sikhs of freedom and human rights, and on Bandi Chhor Divas, these principles are celebrated. This day, which typically falls in the autumn, is celebrated by the lighting of homes and gurdwaras, a celebratory street procession called nagar kirtan, langar, and fireworks displays. Gifts, especially dried fruits and sweets, are often exchanged during this day. | In Committee |
| A2486 | Establishes Office of New Americans in Department of Human Services. | This bill establishes the Office of New Americans in the New Jersey Department of Human Services. This bill codifies the existing Office of New Americans established in 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 74 of 2019. The commissioner will appoint the director, and the director will be the administrator and head of the office. The bill requires the office to be a centralized location for expertise and data on New Americans and to engage in programs, initiatives, and policies focused on successful integration for immigrants, refugees, and their children. The office will also provide technical assistance and training to other offices and departments in the Executive Branch on issues pertaining to effective and equitable engagement with New Americans. The bill also requires the Department of Human Services, through the Office of New Americans, to: administer services for New Americans; engage directly with immigrant and refugee communities and service providers to understand and address their concerns and the obstacles they face in accessing services and resources; and support and advise State departments and agencies, as well as other organizations, on community engagement and outreach to promote best practices and improve the accessibility of State programs and information by New Americans. Additionally, the bill requires the office to use data for informing the State's efforts only as authorized under State and federal law to advance integration for immigrants. The office will not use or share data for the use of civil immigration enforcement. | In Committee |
| A2762 | "Food Desert Elimination Act"; provides incentives to supermarkets and grocery stores that locate in "food deserts." | This bill, the "Food Desert Elimination Act," establishes the Food Desert Elimination Program (program) and requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) to administer the program. The bill further requires the authority, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to initially designate no more than 75 physical boundaries of food desert communities in the State. The program provides tax credits to certain supermarkets and grocery stores that newly open in food desert communities. Under the program, a taxpayer that opens the first supermarket or grocery store in each designated food desert community after the bill's effective date will be allowed a credit against certain taxes due, in an amount equal to the total amount the taxpayer is assessed in property taxes by the municipality in which the supermarket or grocery store is located, during the first full tax year for the property where the supermarket or grocery store is open for business to the public, and for the three subsequent tax years after opening. Under the program, the authority will also be required to direct the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control in the Department of Law and Public Safety to issue a special retail distribution permit to the first supermarket or grocery store that is established in each food desert community after the bill's effective date. The permit holder would be entitled to sell alcoholic beverages in original containers for consumption off the premises of the supermarket or grocery store. The permit would be restricted to the premises of the supermarket or grocery store for which the permit was issued, and will not be transferrable for use in connection with another premises. The bill provides that the special retail distribution permit is to be used in a manner consistent with a plenary retail distribution license issued pursuant to current law, and is to be subject to any other fees and regulations promulgated by the director. Under current law, a municipality may only issue one plenary retail distribution license for every 7,500 persons residing in that municipality. This limitation on the number of plenary retail distribution licenses would not apply to the issuance of a special retail distribution permit under the program. In addition, current law prohibits a person from holding an interest in more than two retail licenses unless that person held more than two retail licenses prior to August 3, 1962. This limitation also would not apply to the issuance of a special retail distribution permit. The special retail distribution permit's initial issuance fee is based upon the average sales price of plenary retail distribution licenses during the five years preceding the bill's enactment in the municipality in which the supermarket or grocery store is located. If less than three licenses have been sold in the municipality within the previous five years, the municipality is required to obtain an appraisal, at the applicant's expense, to determine the appropriate fair market value of the permit. The initial issuance fee is to be reduced by the fair market value of the limitation on the permit's transferability. The bill takes effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment, but the authority and the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control are permitted to take administrative action in advance of the effective date, as necessary to effectuate the bill. | In Committee |
| A2828 | Requires DOC to ensure inmates have opportunity to participate in Medicaid pre-enrollment and enrollment sessions at least 60 days prior to release; requires applicable inmates to receive Medicaid card at release. | This bill implements certain recommendations included in the 2019 New Jersey Reentry Services Commission Report entitled "Barriers, Best Practices, and Action Items for Improving Reentry Services." Specifically, the bill directs the Commissioner of Corrections, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Human Services, the county welfare agencies, and the county administrators of the county correctional facilities, to ensure that an inmate of a State prison or county correctional facility has the opportunity to participate in: (1) a peer-led Medicaid pre-enrollment session at least 60 days prior to the inmate's release from the State prison or county correctional facility. The session is required to include, at a minimum, information regarding the benefits of Medicaid, the Medicaid application process, and pertinent differences between the managed care plans available under the program; and (2) an enrollment session no more than five calendar days following the peer-led Medicaid pre-enrollment session. During the session, county welfare agency staff or designated State prison or county correctional facility personnel, who have received training from the Department of Human Services regarding the screening and enrollment process for Medicaid, are required to provide the inmate with assistance, either in person or via telephone, in completing a Medicaid application. The Commissioner of Corrections, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Human Services, the county welfare agencies, and the county administrators of the county correctional facilities, is also required to establish a process by which the Department of Human Services or another Medicaid eligibility determination agency notifies an inmate, who completes a Medicaid application during a Medicaid enrollment session, of the inmate's eligibility determination prior to release from the State prison or county correctional facility and, if applicable, provides the inmate with a Medicaid identification card at the time of release from the State prison or county correctional facility. Although federal Medicaid law, particularly 42 U.S.C. s.1396d(a), prohibits coverage to inmates (except as patients in a medical institution), the federal law does not prevent the enrollment of those individuals who are otherwise qualified for coverage, which can thereafter take effect upon the individual's release from incarceration. | In Committee |
| A2235 | Establishes Restaurant Meals Program in DHS; permits certain individuals to use SNAP benefits at approved restaurants; requires participation by certain restaurants operated by institutions of higher education. | This bill establishes a Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), within the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly the Food Stamp Program), in the Department of Human Services. The RMP is to be administered by the department, in conjunction with the State's county welfare agencies, in a manner consistent with federal statue and regulation, including those requirements outlined in 7 U.S.C. s.2020(e)(25). Generally, federal law prohibits SNAP benefits from being used to purchase prepared food at restaurants. However, through the RMP, states have the option to allow eligible homeless, disabled, or elderly individuals to use SNAP benefits at approved restaurants that offer food at low or reduced prices. The goal of this program is to provide certain vulnerable SNAP participants, who may not have the means to store and prepare food, access to meals. Under the bill, the department is required to: 1) annually issue guidance to all county welfare agencies indicating which counties are eligible to participate in the RMP, and instructions for participating in the RMP and appealing a non-eligible determination; and 2) provide that the electronic benefit distribution system used by SNAP recipients to purchase food can also be utilized by participants in the RMP at all approved food vendors. Under the oversight of the department, each county welfare agency located in an eligible county that elects to participate in the RMP is responsible for determining the number, type, and location of restaurants to include as approved food vendors in the program. County welfare agencies must consider the agency's administrative capacity, the location of participating restaurants, and SNAP recipient demand within the county in making this determination. Each public or private institution of higher education in the State that is located in an eligible county that elects to participate in the RMP must apply to become an approved food vendor in the program, if the institution operates any qualifying on-campus restaurants. Furthermore, the institution must annually: 1) provide all on-campus restaurants not operated by the institution with information regarding the RMP and the manner in which to apply, and 2) inform enrolled students about the program if an on-campus restaurant has been approved as a food vendor in the RMP. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to issue a report no later than six months following the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to the Governor and to the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, the following information regarding the RMP: the counties eligible for participation and those that elect to participate; the names and addresses of all approved food vendors in each participating county; and the number of SNAP recipients participating in the program by county. The report must also specify approved food vendor and participant information regarding the program's implementation at institutions of higher education throughout the State. | In Committee |
| A3162 | Requires DHS to use funds awarded from performance bonuses to increase staffing for processing certain applications and providing certain services. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to use funds received by the Department of Human Services (DHS), as a result of a performance bonus awarded to DHS, for the purpose of increasing the number of trained personnel available to process applications for nutrition assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and public assistance under the Work First New Jersey program, and for providing services to certain individuals served by DHS. If the bonus was awarded for performance in providing assistance under SNAP, the funds are to be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to timely process SNAP applications. Similarly, if the bonus was awarded for performance in providing public assistance under the Work First New Jersey Program, the funds would be used to increase personnel for timely processing of applications under that program. In the case of performance bonuses awarded for providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness, the funds from the bonuses would be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to staff facilities for theses individuals. | In Committee |
| A856 | Establishes Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as principal department in Executive Branch and specifies functions, powers, and duties of department. | This bill establishes the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) as a new principal department within the Executive Branch. The bill specifies the commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. The commissioner serves as the administrator and chief executive officer of the DDEI. The functions, powers, and duties of the commissioner are set forth in this bill and will include consulting and assisting on efforts by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of Treasury to attempt to use underrepresented financial businesses to provide brokerage and investment management services; consulting and assisting on diversity, equity, and inclusion in investments by the State, and its political subdivisions, in the allocation of loans and grants for business formation, and in the provision of low interest loans and down payment support for homeowners; and consulting and assisting on diversity, equity, and inclusion in procurement by the State and its political subdivisions. The bill transfers certain State offices, units, and responsibilities to the DDEI. The functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Small Business Registration and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Services Unit in the Department of the Treasury would be transferred to the DDEI. Additionally, the DDEI would be responsible for the operation and continued development of the central registry, known as the Selective Assistance Vendor Information (SAVI II) database, which lists businesses certified as eligible to perform contracts under any State set-aside program. The bill requires Statewide and State agency-specific strategic plans for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in State government workforce. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in consultation with the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, and Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission must establish a coordinated Statewide initiative to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the State government workforce. Under the bill, the head of each State agency must, no later than 45 days following the issuance of the Statewide diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategic plan, and annually thereafter, develop and submit to Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategic plan. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to issue guidance on and State agencies to address: (1) paid internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships; (2) strengthening partnerships and recruitment with diverse communities and institutions; (3) pay equity (4) data collection (5) ensuring accessibility for State employees with disabilities; (6) evaluating the existence of any barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face in accessing State employment opportunities; and (7) the availability and use of diversity training programs. This bill establishes a requirement, to be overseen and enforced by the new department, that any entity which receives a development subsidy or financial assistance from the State submit and implement a strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The plan is intended to assist corporations and not-for-profit entities in better understanding the State's demographics, while affording minority-owned and women-owned businesses more opportunities to participate in the procurement of goods and services to the public and private sector. The bill specifies what information an entity is required to include in the strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan. Each recipient of a development subsidy or financial assistance is required, for the duration of the subsidy or five years, whichever is longer, to submit annual reports on the progress of the recipient towards achieving its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals for the reporting period. This bill also transfers the Division on Civil Rights to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The division currently is in the Department of Law and Public Safety and is under the direction of the Attorney General, in conjunction with a commission consisting of seven public members appointed by the Governor. Under the bill, the commissioner of the department assumes the responsibilities of the Attorney General. The public member commission continues in its current capacity. | In Committee |
| A897 | Establishes MOM Project oral health three-year pilot program in DOH; appropriates $4,150,000. | This bill establishes the MOM Project oral health three-year pilot program (program) in the Department of Health (department) and appropriates $4,150,000. Under the bill, "community oral health center" or "center" means the following in-State entities: a federally qualified health center, a dental home, or an acute care hospital licensed by the department that provides dental services to individuals who reside in a medically underserved area. "Dental home" means a licensed dental practice that administers services in manner that is accessible, culturally-sensitive, and family-centered. A "dental home" does not include a licensed dental practice if less than 75 percent of the dental practice's patients are individuals who are low income and who reside in a medically underserved area. "Eligible mother" or "mother" means a State resident who is pregnant, low-income, and not enrolled in, eligible for, or determined presumptively eligible for coverage under any Medicaid program. "Maternal and child health consortium" or "consortium" means a nonprofit organization licensed as a central service facility by the department, and incorporated under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Under the bill, the department is to administer the program in conjunction with at least one consortium. Within 90 days following the effective date of this bill, each participating consortium is to begin to provide the following program services: (1) Each consortium is to implement an outreach plan to identify eligible mothers, who reside in the area served by the consortium, and register the mothers in the program. Upon registration and in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws, the consortium is to endeavor to collect the following information from eligible mothers: whether the mother has or had access to a dental home during a current or prior pregnancy; the mother's oral hygiene routine, including the use of fluoride toothpaste; the mother's dietary habits; and the result of previous pregnancies. (2) Each consortium is to establish an oral health education program. Prior to the commencement of the oral health education program, each consortium is to require eligible mothers to complete a pre-education assessment that includes testing the mother's understanding of oral health and oral hygiene. (3) Each consortium is to provide eligible mothers a minimum of three hours of oral health education that includes the following: oral hygiene routines for mothers, infants, and children; nutritional counseling; education regarding the correlation between cariogenic disease and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and gastric changes; the impact of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol on a mother's oral health and the unborn child; recommendations and resources for routine oral health care for mothers, infants, and children; and education regarding available educational support. Oral health education program educators are to be compatible with the language and cultural needs of the eligible mothers enrolled in the oral health education program. (4) Following the eligible mother's completion of the oral health education program, the consortium is to require the eligible mother to complete a post-education assessment that includes testing to assess the mother's understanding of oral health and oral hygiene routines. Under the bill, within 90 days following the effective date of this bill, a community oral health center seeking to participate in the MOM Project is to file an application with the department, in a manner to be determined by the department. The department is to require an eligible community oral health center to enter into an agreement with a consortium to implement the following: (1) Following an eligible mother's completion of the oral health education program, the center is to develop a customized oral health treatment plan and nutritional recommendations for the mother, infant, and child, as applicable. (2) Following an eligible mother's completion of the oral health education program, provide the mother, infant, and child, as applicable, oral health treatment for one year. The dental care shall include the following: (a) a dental visit for cleaning, cavity risk assessment, periodontal charting, and to establish a one-year treatment plan; (b) comprehensive dental care and restorative treatment as needed; (c) a cleaning and treatment plan review approximately six months and one year following the date of the initial dental visit; (d) two dental visits for the infant or child; and (e) identification of a dental home for the child or infant before the infant receives his or her first tooth. Under the bill, within 180 days following the effective date of this bill, each consortium and health center is to compile and report relevant data to the department, as determined by the department. The department is to contract with a third-party to assist with data analysis and project evaluation activities. The department and the third-party hired are to informally convene an advisory panel to design an oral health model to be potentially included in the Medicaid program. The department is to prepare and submit a report of its findings to the Governor and to the Legislature. The bill appropriates $4,150,000 to the department to effectuate the purposes of the bill, as detailed in section 4 of the bill. | In Committee |
| A874 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| A927 | Expands child tax credit eligibility to resident taxpayers with children ages six to 11. | This bill would expand eligibility for the child tax credit to resident taxpayers with children ages six to 11. Under current law, a resident taxpayer with New Jersey taxable income of $80,000 or less is allowed a credit against the State income tax for each child under age six. The amount of the credit is $1,000 per child for taxpayers with incomes of $30,000 or less and is incrementally reduced as certain income thresholds above $30,000 are met. The credit is completely phased out once a taxpayer's income exceeds $80,000. Beginning in tax year 2023, the bill would expand eligibility for the child tax credit to resident taxpayers with children between ages six and 11 by specifying that the credit is available to taxpayers with children who have not attained the age of 12. | In Committee |
| A1778 | Establishes "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" in Department of Education. | This bill would establish the four-year "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program," to provide grants to assist school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools in enhancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education programs for students and to increase access to STEM education programs. Applications for grant awards under the pilot program would be submitted to the Commissioner of Education, who would allocate the awards on a competitive basis. The grant awards would be distributed so that school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools can build upon existing STEM education programs or create new education programs along three distinct areas of concentration: project-based learning, afterschool STEM, and out-of-school STEM. This bill also establishes within the Department of Education a fund to be known as the "STEM Scholars Grant Fund," for the provision of grants to school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools under the pilot program. The fund is to be annually credited with money appropriated by the Legislature and any moneys received by the State from corporate donors or other private sector support. No State funds may be used to support a grant under the pilot program unless there is an appropriation for the pilot program in the annual appropriations act for the respective fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A3264 | Establishes "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." The purpose of the task force is to study recent trends in eviction actions against residents of this State, identify the impact of evictions on renters, landlords, local governments, and the State, and make recommendations for legislation and strategies to create more effective and efficient policies regarding housing and evictions in the State. The task force will consider: (1) the causes and consequences of eviction at the State and local level; (2) the prevalence of eviction actions throughout the State; (3) the unmet legal needs of New Jersey residents facing eviction, including the costs associated with legal assistance and any funding mechanisms that may be utilized for the provision of legal assistance; (4) existing laws, rules, or regulations in this State that govern housing in general, and the eviction process in particular; (5) pending legislation in this State that addresses the eviction process; (6) pending legislation and existing programs in other states or jurisdictions that address the eviction crisis in the United States; (7) how affordable housing issues may exacerbate the eviction epidemic in this State; (8) how the eviction crisis may impact rates of homelessness in this State; (9) how the eviction process can be made more transparent, fair, and equitable for both residents and landlords; and (10) any other considerations the task force deems appropriate towards improving the eviction crisis in this State. The task force will be comprised of 23 members as follows: (1) the Commissioners of Community Affairs, Human Services, and Health, and the Attorney General, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; (2) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who will each be of different political parties; and two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who will each be of different political parties; (3) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, including one who is the dean of a law school located in this State; and (4) 13 public members, to be appointed by the Governor no later than the 60th day after the effective date of this bill, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Apartment Association; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Share Housing Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Legal Services of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Tenants Organization; one person upon the recommendation of the Bergen County Housing, Health, and Human Services Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness; one person upon the recommendation of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of Family Promise of New Jersey; and three members of the public who have a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the commissioner's designee will serve as chairperson of the task force. The members will service without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force. The task force may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs to provide staff support to the task force. Finally, the task force is to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, along with any legislation that it desires to recommend for adoption by the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the date of organization of the task force, at which point the task force will expire. | In Committee |
| A2856 | Requires induction loop listening system installation in certain buildings open to public upon new construction or substantial renovation. | This bill would require the installation of induction loop listening systems in certain public spaces upon new construction or substantial renovation. An "induction loop listening system" refers to a hardwired assistive listening system in which a loop of wire around an area of a building, or hardwired countertop version, produces a signal received directly by hearing aids and cochlear implants used by persons with hearing loss. Induction loop listening systems magnetically transmit sound to hearing aids and cochlear implants that are equipped with telecoil features, and have an effect of filtering out background noise. Under the bill, induction loop listening system installations would be required in a newly constructed area of public assembly or service, unless the associated building permit application was initially submitted on or before the effective date of the bill. The bill would also require any area of public assembly or service to install induction loop listening systems during renovations that cost $40,000 or more. Additionally, the bill would require the posting of prominently-visible permanently-mounted signage to indicate to visitors that the induction loop listening system is available in an area of public assembly or service. Following initial installation, the bill would require the owner, on a biennial basis, to complete a self-certification form, attesting that the induction loop listening system continues to function. Under the bill, an "area of public assembly or service" means a building or structure, or space within a building or structure, that is regularly open for public gatherings, consisting of an auditorium, theater, meeting room, courtroom, community center, library, pharmacy counter, information desk at a medical facility, a waiting area for a medical office, bank teller area, car rental business, restaurant, bar, or other food or beverage counter service location, coat check area, grocery store check-out area, ticket payment location, or other category of space designated by the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") as an area of public assembly or service. Under the bill, the owner of an area of public assembly or service would not be required to install and maintain an induction loop listening system if a code enforcing agency determines that the installation of the system would be impractical, following an assertion of the impracticality of the installation by the building permit applicant. The bill directs DCA to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including the establishment of standards for: (1) the installation of an induction loop listening system; (2) the conditions that would render installation impractical; (3) the placement and appearance of the required signage; and (4) the frequency and criteria of public access that would cause a space to be designated as open to the public, in relation to the definition of an area of public assembly or service. The provisions of the bill would be enforced as part of the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," ("UCC") P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). The owner of an area of public assembly or service who violates the provisions of the bill would therefore be liable for any penalty imposed by an enforcing agency pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-138), or any other applicable penalty under the UCC. In order to provide DCA with time to prepare for the enforcement of the bill, the bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment. | In Committee |
| A911 | Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply and develop policy governing use of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies. | This bill requires institutions of higher education to maintain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies and permits emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray by licensed campus medical professionals and designated members of the higher education community. Under the bill, institutions of higher education would obtain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray pursuant to a standing order issued by a health care practitioner to be maintained in secure and easily accessible locations throughout the campus to respond to an opioid overdose emergency. Institutions also would be required to develop a policy concerning the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies occurring on campus. The policy would be required to: (1) designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee the institution's program for the maintenance and emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on campus; (2) permit a licensed campus medical professional to designate members of the higher education community to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to any person whom the member in good faith believes is experiencing an opioid overdose on campus; and (3) require the transportation of an overdose victim to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, even if the person's symptoms appear to have resolved. A member of the higher education community designated to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray by a licensed campus medical professional would only be authorized to administer the spray after receiving required training. The bill also directs the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and appropriate medical experts, to establish guidelines for the development of a policy by an institution of higher education for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray. Institutions of higher education would be required to implement the guidelines in developing a policy pursuant to the substitute. Specifically, the guidelines would include a requirement that a licensed campus medical professional and members of the higher education community designated by the licensed campus medical professional receive training on standard protocols for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to a person experiencing an opioid overdose on campus. The guidelines would further specify an appropriate entity or entities to provide the training. The bill provides immunity from liability for licensed campus medical professionals, designated members of the higher education community, pharmacists, or authorized health care practitioners who issue a standing order for naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to an institution of higher education for any good faith act or omission consistent with the provisions of the bill. The bill also provides that in the event that a licensed athletic trainer, who is designated to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, administers the spray, it will not constitute a violation of the "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | In Committee |
| A2938 | Requires landlords of certain properties providing child care services who refuse lead service line replacements to install and maintain water filters. | This bill would require a landlord of a residential or nonresidential building, in which space is rented by a child care services provider, to install and maintain certain water filters in the building if the landlord has previously denied a public community water system access to the property-owner side of a lead service line for the purposes of enabling the complete replacement of the lead service line. Specifically, the bill would require the landlord to install and maintain point-of-use filters certified by an accredited third-party certification body to meet NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53 at all fixtures that are used, or are intended for use, by the child care services provider, to supply water for the purposes of drinking, food preparation, or making baby formula. As defined by the bill, "NSF/ANSI standard" means a water treatment standard developed by the National Sanitation Foundation, International, and the American National Standards Institute. The landlord would also be required to annually certify, to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), that the landlord has installed and is properly maintaining and replacing the filters. The bill would authorize the DEP to issue a civil administrative penalty of up to $500 per day for landlords who fail to install or maintain the filters or who fail to properly certify this fact to the DEP. The bill would also authorize a tenant of a landlord who violates the bill's provisions to file an action of rent escrow to pay rent into a court-administered escrow account until the necessary filters are installed. The bill would authorize the court to order that some or all of the money in the escrow account be paid to the landlord or the landlord's agent, to the tenant or the tenant's agent, or to any other appropriate person or agency for the purpose of installing the required filters or replacement cartridges, as applicable. If the landlord still fails to install the required filters or replacement cartridges following the authorization of rent escrow, the bill would authorize the tenant to file a civil action seeking damages and other appropriate relief, including injunctive and other equitable remedies. The bill would stipulate that, if the landlord's violation causes a tenant or secondary user of the property, such as a child or a child care employee, to have elevated blood lead levels, then there would be no limit or ceiling to the civil liability of the landlord. | In Committee |
| A2586 | "The Desegregate New Jersey Act'; promotes equitable residential development throughout State. | The bill, named the "Desegregate New Jersey Act," promotes equitable residential development throughout the State. This bill provides that on a developable site in an area in which a municipal zoning ordinance permits single-family residential development, the municipality would permit an accessory dwelling unit to be added to the site and no such accessory dwelling unit is to be required to be part of a municipality's affordable housing requirement set by the Council on Affordable Housing in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill provides that a municipal zoning ordinance may require a principal dwelling unit with an accessory dwelling unit to be subject to the same dimensional controls and other controls as are required for the same principal dwelling unit without the accessory dwelling unit, as long as such restrictions do not prohibit the construction of these developments. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance would be prohibited from requiring: (1) a passageway between an accessory dwelling unit and a principal dwelling unit; (2) an exterior door for an accessory dwelling unit, except as required pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.); (3) any more than one parking space for an accessory dwelling unit or fees in lieu of parking; (4) a familial, marital, or employment relationship between occupants of a principal dwelling unit and an accessory dwelling unit; (5) a minimum age requirement for occupants of an accessory dwelling unit; (6) a separate billing of utilities otherwise connected to, or used by, the principal dwelling unit; or (7) periodic renewals for permits for accessory dwelling units. Under the bill, nothing would exempt an accessory dwelling unit from: (1) applicable municipal building code requirements; (2) the ability of a municipality to require owner occupancy or to prohibit or limit the use of an accessory dwelling unit for short-term rentals or vacation stays; or (3) other sewerage system related requirements where a private sewerage system is being used, provided that approval for an accessory dwelling unit shall not be unreasonably withheld. The bill provides that the municipal agency reviewing a permit application for an accessory dwelling unit shall make a decision regarding the application no later than 65 days after receipt of such application, except that an applicant may consent to one or more extensions of no more than an additional 65 days or may withdraw the application. Under the bill, a municipal agency would not condition the approval of an accessory dwelling unit on the correction of a nonconforming use, structure or lot, or require the installation of fire sprinklers in an accessory dwelling unit if such sprinklers are not required for the principal dwelling unit located on the same developable site. The bill provides that a municipality, sewer utility, or water utility, would not consider an accessory dwelling unit to be a new residential use for the purpose of calculating connection fees or capacity charges for utilities, including water and sewer service, unless an accessory dwelling unit was constructed with a new single-family dwelling unit on the same developable site, or requires the installation of a new or separate utility connection directly to an accessory dwelling unit. A municipality, sewer utility, or water utility, would not impose a related connection fee for connection of an accessory dwelling unit. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-62) would grant permitted use, would allow without requiring a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-70), and would not require minimum parking requirements if there are mixed use developments with at least four dwelling units, mixed use developments with at least four live work units, and multifamily housing with at least four dwellings units that are: (1) at a minimum density of fifteen units per acre; and (2) in at least 50 percent of the lot area served by water and sewer infrastructure and within a one-half-mile radius of a municipality's primary transit station. Under the bill, "Live work unit" means a building, or space within a building, that may be used jointly for commercial and residential purposes by a person or persons living within such building or space and where the commercial purposes are not authorized as customary and incidental accessory home occupation use. The bill provides that a municipality may dedicate up to 50 percent of this area between a one-half-mile radius and a one-mile radius of a municipality's primary transit station only if the dedicated land area for these developments is located only a public right of way that directly connects to a municipality's primary transit station with adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, and other similar pedestrian facilities. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance would grant permitted use, would not require a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-70), and would not require minimum parking requirements if there are multifamily housing or at least two types of multiple dwellings: (1) in any municipality with: (a) a population of at least 500 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census; or (b) a minimum population of 7,500 in the preceding calendar. (2) in at least 50 percent of the lot area within a one-quarter-mile distance from at least one main street corridor. The bill defines "Main street corridor" to mean a portion of any public road, not less than one-quarter of a mile and not more than three-quarters of a mile in length that satisfies at least two of the following: (1) encompasses an intersection of two state routes; (2) encompasses a state route and a federal route; (3) has at least 50 percent of the frontage along such portion being used for office, retail, service, mixed use development or general commercial purposes; and (4) is served by public transportation. If a municipality does not have a clearly identifiable main street corridor, a municipality would permit the use of multifamily housing or at least two types of multiple dwellings through the municipal zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-62), in contiguous land encompassing an area of one-quarter square miles. Under the bill, any development or housing that includes 10 or more dwelling units, at least one out of every 10 newly developed dwelling units would be used to meet the affordable housing obligations of a municipality in which these dwelling units are developed. If a municipality has satisfied the total number of affordable housing units required in that municipality by the Council on Affordable Housing in the Department of Community Affairs, then there would be no additional affordable housing requirement for that municipality as required under the bill. The bill provides that for any development or housing constructed under the bill, the municipal agency reviewing such an application would make a decision on the application for the development or housing no later than 65 days after receipt of the application, except that an applicant may consent to one or more extensions of no more than an additional 65 days or may withdraw such application. | In Committee |
| A5954 | Bans carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame resistant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds from certain hair products. | Bans carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame resistant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds from certain hair products. | Introduced |
| A5953 | Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to claim credit with filing status of married filing separately. | Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to claim credit with filing status of married filing separately. | Introduced |
| A5952 | Establishes "Health Care for Child Care Program"; appropriates $10 million. | Establishes "Health Care for Child Care Program"; appropriates $10 million. | Introduced |
| A5951 | Establishes Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Program in DHS. | Establishes Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Program in DHS. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | New Jersey General Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee | Chair | 1 |
| Detail | New Jersey General Assembly Health Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | New Jersey General Assembly Regulated Professions Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | New Jersey Legislature Legislative Services Commission | 8 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 29 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2018 |