Legislator
Legislator > Yvonne Lopez
State Assemblymember
Yvonne Lopez
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 19
In Office - Started: 01/09/2018
contact info
Perth Amboy Office
211 Front St.
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: 732-638-5057
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Passed |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | Passed |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Passed |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Passed |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | 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 |
| A5492 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| AR186 | Honors life of Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. | This resolution honors late Congressman Pascrell. Congressman Pascrell, a tireless advocate for public health and safety who served New Jersey for decades, leaves behind a legacy of distinguished public service. Congressman Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, an initiative that has played a critical role in advancing national policy, research, and resources for individuals affected by brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur due to a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, while acquired brain injuries (ABI) result from internal causes such as strokes, aneurysms, or tumors. Individuals who suffer from TBI or ABI often experience long-term disabilities ranging from minor impairments to severe and life-altering conditions, which affect their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Over the years the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has worked to increase awareness of brain injuries, support groundbreaking research initiatives, promote rehabilitation services, and address the long-term effects of brain injuries on individuals, families, and communities. As a co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Congressman Pascrell advocated for research initiatives focused on treatment, rehabilitation, and potential cures for TBI. Brain injuries impact thousands of New Jersey residents in every congressional district, affecting children, veterans, athletes, seniors, and survivors of accidents and medical conditions, all of whom need strong legislative advocacy and support at both the State and federal levels. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force remains a bipartisan effort, currently co-chaired by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio from Pennsylvannia and Republican Congressman Morgan Luttrell from Texas, and continues to advance Congressman Pascrell's legacy of championing policies that improve brain injury awareness, prevention, research, and treatment. It is vital that New Jersey's congressional delegation continues Congressman Pascrell's legacy by joining and supporting the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to ensure that our State remains a leader in brain injury advocacy and policy. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5844 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | This bill modifies certain requirements concerning the capital reserve study, 30-year funding plan, and capital reserve fund of an association of a planned real estate development (association), required by recently enacted law, P.L.2023, c.214 (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.). Specifically, the bill requires a proposed 30-year capital reserve funding plan or plans within a capital reserve study, required pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2023, c.214 (C.45:22A-44.3), to allow a capital reserve fund of an association to reach a dollar balance of zero during the 30-year funding plan projection. The bill permits a capital reserve study to provide additional funding plans that have a minimum fund balance greater than zero, or funding plans with escalating annual contributions, provided the reserve fund balance is not projected to fall below zero dollars. Further, the bill defines the terms "adequate" and "adequacy" to mean a sum of money, however invested or held by an association of a planned real estate development, that, in accordance with the professional standards applied by the reserve specialist, architect, or engineer performing or overseeing the study, is sufficient so that the balance in the association's reserve fund will not fall below zero dollars as set forth in the association's 30-year funding plan, prepared as part of a reserve study. The bill requires an association of a planned real estate development, instead of a covered building owner, to ensure that a capital reserve study is reviewed by a licensed architect, engineer, or credentialed reserve specialist and that a capital reserve study is conducted and reviewed at least once every five years. The bill further requires:· an association existing as of January 8, 2024 to fund the reserve fund either: in accordance with the most recent reserve study and funding plan; or in an amount equal to 85 percent of one of the association's reserve funding plans;· if the association chooses to fund the reserve fund in an amount equal to 85 percent of the association's reserve funding plan, the association to provide certain notice to the unit owners and provide the year in which a special assessment or loan is anticipated as a result of the reduced funding of the reserve fund, and the amount of the anticipated special assessment or loan; and· the seller of a unit within an association that has elected to fund the reserve fund at 85 percent to provide to the buyer a copy of the most recent notice provided to the unit owners of the association concerning the association's decision to fund the reserve fund at 85 percent. The bill prohibits an association from funding the reserve fund at 85 percent for more than five fiscal years and specifies that an association created after January 8, 2024 is to fund the association's reserve fund in accordance with the capital reserve funding plan set forth in the association's most recent reserve study. Lastly, the bill removes certain language concerning an association's reserve fund from existing law. | In Committee |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Passed |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Passed |
| 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 |
| A5395 | Requires cancellation option for any subscription service and establishes certain standards pertaining to use of negative option features. | Requires cancellation option for any subscription service and establishes certain standards pertaining to use of negative option features. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Crossed Over |
| A5802 | Establishes State Longitudinal Data System. | This bill establishes the State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS). The SLDS is to serve as the State's centralized longitudinal data system for education, workforce, and related data collected by State departments, agencies, and other entities. The system is to provide policymakers and other stakeholders with data analysis that improves individual outcomes and informs policy and program decisions. Under the bill, the SLDS is to be owned by the State, with oversight provided by the SLDS Governing Board established by the bill. The SLDS is to be maintained and operated by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, the State University. The purpose of the SLDS is to utilize existing administrative data for evidence-based policymaking that, among other public purposes: (1) enables New Jerseyans to secure and retain employment and receive better pay after completing training or postsecondary degrees; (2) enables New Jerseyans to meet the education and job skill demands of business and industry; (3) identifies areas of potential workforce gaps, as presented in the annual Teacher Workforce Report; (4) identifies the effectiveness of support programs that help New Jerseyans enter or return to employment; and (5) encourages the sharing of data and learning across government entities. The bill provides that the SLDS is to include data provided for the system by: the Department of Education; the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education; the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority; the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and any other State department, agency, or entity that enters into the SLDS as a formal partner or through a pilot project, subject to the approval by the SLDS Governing Board and the submission of all necessary agreements. The bill provides that the Motor Vehicle Commission is to serve as an intermediary to support data linkage across agencies. The bill establishes the SLDS Governing Board. Membership on the board is to be comprised of, at a minimum: (1) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee; (2) the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee; (3) the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee; (4) the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or a designee; and (5) the Executive Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, the State University, who is to serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member. Members representing additional State departments, agencies, or entities that elect to participate in the SLDS as a formal partner or through a pilot program may be appointed to the governing board, subject to the approval of the board and the submission of all agreements that may be necessary. The responsibilities of the governing board are to: · identify critical research and policy questions that need to be addressed by the State's education and workforce programs;· identify reports and other information that should be available to education and workforce entities and other public stakeholders;· develop a data sharing agreement to be entered into by all partner departments, agencies, or entities of the SLDS; · adopt a data access and use policy;· adopt acceptable use guidelines to ensure the privacy of all individuals; and · perform other advisory functions that are necessary for the successful continuation and management of the SLDS.The bill clarifies that nothing in the bill is to be construed to hinder, or otherwise prevent, an individual State department, agency, or entity from maintaining control of their data. The bill directs the governing board to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. Finally, the bill directs the Legislature to annually appropriate $2,000,000 to the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development to support the infrastructure and maintenance of the SLDS. The sponsor notes that the SLDS will be based on an existing system and continue to be housed and maintained by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University. The agencies participating in the current system have worked collaboratively to establish the operational system and secure funding from several federal opportunities to expand and enhance the capacity of the State's existing technology infrastructure for the purposes of developing the data system. The system will continue to be NIST-certified and follow rigorous data security guidelines, with only aggregate-level data released from the secure environment. | In Committee |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism". The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. Nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. This bill also appropriates $100,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for the creation of a public awareness campaign to promote bias crime reporting. Through extensive community outreach, the citizens of New Jersey will be empowered to identify and report bias crimes using the existing bias crime reporting hotline within the New Jersey Bias Crimes Reporting Unit. This appropriation represents an investment in safety and collective action against bias crimes, including acts considered anti-Semitic. | In Committee |
| A5076 | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Crossed Over |
| A4928 | Establishes eligibility requirements for State small business set-aside program. | This bill establishes requirements for eligibility when the State implements a small business set-aside program. The State currently has a small business set-aside program. This bill clarifies that only businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard established by federal regulations are required to have a certain maximum number of employees. This bill also alters the definitions of gross revenue from a standard of three years in business to a standard of five years in business. The requirements established in this bill will be in addition to any and all rules or regulations, except that these requirements will supersede the rules and regulations adopted as N.J.A.C. 17:13-2.1(a). | Crossed Over |
| A2255 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2415 | Requires Silver Alert System receive same broadcast alerts as Amber Alert System. | This bill requires media outlets that participate in the "Silver Alert System" to issue the same broadcast alerts used when an "Amber Alert" is initiated following a child's abduction. The "Silver Alert System" is a Statewide program for the dissemination of information regarding a missing person believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment. Under current law, the program is a cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and print, radio, and television media outlets. This bill requires participating media outlets, when responding to a "Silver Alert," to broadcast a distinctive sound tone and the statement: "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert." The alert is to include a description of the missing person and other information the enforcement agency deems appropriate. In addition, the alert is to be broadcast as often as possible for the first three hours that a "Silver Alert" is in progress. After the initial three hours, the alerts are to be rebroadcast at intervals that the lead law enforcement agency and participating media deem appropriate. | Crossed Over |
| A4618 | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A5424 | Promotes housing availability and prevents speculation by imposing fee for institutional ownership of certain unproductive residential property. | Promotes housing availability and prevents speculation by imposing fee for institutional ownership of certain unproductive residential property. | Crossed Over |
| A5442 | Requires BPU members to have certain experience and complete certain training. | Requires BPU members to have certain experience and complete certain training. | Crossed Over |
| A5432 | Establishes standards for determining an unconscionable rent increase; excludes from public access landlord tenant records in certain circumstances. | Establishes standards for determining an unconscionable rent increase; excludes from public access landlord tenant records in certain circumstances. | 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 |
| A5572 | Establishes quorum standards for professional licensing entities under certain circumstances. | Establishes quorum standards for professional licensing entities under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A3282 | Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action. | Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action. | 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 |
| A5426 | Requires State domestic violence public awareness campaign to add information on coercive control; requires annual reporting on activities of campaign and expands range of languages. | Requires State domestic violence public awareness campaign to add information on coercive control; requires annual reporting on activities of campaign and expands range of languages. | Crossed Over |
| A4947 | Clarifies that bribery statute applies to unlawful gratuities received either before or after official acts. | This bill amends the bribery statute to clarify that it is an offense to receive any benefits as consideration for past official acts as well as any benefits as consideration for future official acts. Under current law, a person is guilty of bribery if he directly or indirectly offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: (a) any benefit as consideration for a decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or exercise of discretion of a public servant, party official or voter on any public issue or in any public election; (b) any benefit as consideration for a decision, vote, recommendation or exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; (c) any benefit as consideration for a violation of an official duty of a public servant or party official; or (d) any benefit as consideration for the performance of official duties. Under current law, the term "benefit as consideration" means any benefit not authorized by law. Recently, in Snyder v. United States, 144 S. Ct. 1947 (2024), the United States Supreme Court held that the federal bribery statute only applies to criminalize instances when a benefit is given or promised before an official act, but does not apply to instances where a benefit is conferred after the official act. This bill amends State law to make it clear that New Jersey's criminal bribery statute penalizes all instances where a person directly or indirectly offers, confers, or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept from another any benefit as consideration regardless of whether the benefit was received before or after the official act. | Crossed Over |
| A4468 | Replaces certain fixed interest rate award in eminent domain cases with interest rate based on just compensation awards. | This bill replaces the fixed interest rate award in eminent domain cases with an interest rate based on just compensation awards. Under current law, interest rate awards in certain eminent domain cases are either (1) fixed at 6 percent or (2) set at an applicable "legal rate." This bill eliminates those fixed rates and provides that the interest will be fixed and determined by the court in a summary manner after final determination of compensation. Under the bill, in making its determination, the court may consider any relevant factors, including but not limited to: prevailing commercial interest rates, the prime rate or rates, the applicable legal rates of interest, and an appropriate interest rate on a just compensation award that justly indemnifies the condemnee for the loss of the use of the compensation to which the condemnee was entitled. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A5626 | Creates "Census Complete Count Trust Fund" in Department of State for funding efforts to achieve full count of State's population each federal decennial census. | This bill creates a "Census Complete Count Trust Fund" in the Department of State for the funding efforts to achieve a full count of State's population during each federal decennial census. Under the bill, the State would appropriate into the fund from the State General Fund the sum of $1 million annually. Moneys in the fund would be invested and all interest or other income or earnings derived from such investment or reinvestment would be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund would be used by the department to fund State, local, and community efforts to achieve the full count of the State's population in each federal decennial census. The Legislature may prescribe by law the complete count activities that would be eligible to receive funds in the years and months preceding the census day. | In Committee |
| A5667 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | This bill modifies certain requirements for the preparation and adoption of a municipal master plan pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-28). Specifically, the bill requires a municipal master plan to include a housing plan element, and specifies that the housing plan element is to evaluate the need for, and establish a plan for, the provision of housing in the municipality, which is to include affordable housing. The bill amends section 19 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-28) to require the housing plan element to include certain factors, currently provided in section 10 of P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-310), which the bill removes from section 10 of P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-310), and retains and reallocates to paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 19 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-28), in order to clarify a municipality's obligations with respect to a housing plan element. The bill requires a municipality's land use plan element to: (1) describe the land use plan element's relationship to, and how it is designed to effectuate, the housing plan element; and (2) show adopted redevelopment plans for areas designated in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation pursuant to the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law", P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.), and the status of redevelopment projects in those areas. | In Committee |
| A5666 | Requires senior housing applications be made available by mail and email. | This bill requires applications for age-restricted senior housing to be made available by mail or email, upon request. Housing access is essential for New Jersey seniors, but online applications and hard copies which must be collected in person are not accessible to many seniors. Applications available in requested formats will facilitate access to dedicated age-restricted housing for New Jersey seniors. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill. The bill is to take effect on the first day of the second month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| A5610 | Adds training concerning coercive control to domestic violence training for judges and law enforcement officers. | This bill adds training concerning coercive control to the existing domestic violence training requirements for judges, court personnel, and law enforcement officers. Under current law, N.J.S.A.2C:25-29, indicators of coercive control by an abuser include, but are not limited to: (1) isolating a person from friends, relatives, transportation, medical care, or other source of support; (2) depriving a person of basic necessities; (3) monitoring a person's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic resources, or access to services; (4) compelling a person by force, threat, or intimidation, including, but not limited to, threats based on actual or suspected immigration status; (5) threatening to make or making baseless reports to the police, courts, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) within the Department of Children and Families, the Board of Social Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or other parties; (6) threatening to harm or kill an individual's relative or pet; and (7) threatening to deny or interfere with an individual's child custody or parenting time, other than through enforcement of a valid custody arrangement or court order. Under the bill, the Attorney General and the Administrative Director of the Courts will be required to update the domestic violence training curriculum as necessary to implement the bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A4598 | Makes certain for-profit debt adjusters eligible for licensing to conduct business in State. | Makes certain for-profit debt adjusters eligible for licensing to conduct business in State. | In Committee |
| A5531 | Establishes "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act." | This bill establishes the "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Accesses Act." The bill provides that the reimbursement rate for prescription drug services paid to a pharmacy providing prescription drug services to a beneficiary of the Medicaid program, whether such services are provided in the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or through the Medicaid managed care delivery system, will be no less than the national average drug acquisition cost of the drug plus a Medicaid fee-for-service professional dispensing fee of $10.92. The bill provides that each Medicaid managed care contract executed in this State will include pharmacy choice as a required benefit for any enrollee as outlined under the bill. To ensure that enrollees have access to a competitive selection of providers, each Medicaid managed care organization will permit the enrollee to choose any qualified pharmacy provided that the qualified pharmacy is a contracting provider and provide that no pharmacy will be denied the right to participate as a contracting provider, under the same terms and conditions currently applicable to all other contracting pharmacies, provided that the pharmacy accepts the terms and conditions of the Medicaid managed care contract. The bill requires the State Auditor to perform an audit of pharmacy pricing practices within the Medicaid program to determine the amount of savings the State should accrue from all pharmacies as a result of the provisions of the bill. In conducting this audit, the State Auditor will audit the flow of funds in the State's Medicaid program from managed care organizations to pharmacy benefit managers to pharmacies. In recent years, drug pricing has escalated at unprecedented rates. Restrictive practices that segregate certain drug types and disadvantage patients' choice and access are contributing factors, particularly in Medicaid programs. According to evaluation data found in the Governor's Budget Recommendations, total Medicaid prescription drug spending increased by approximately $700 million, or 3.3 percent, from $2.1 billion in FY 2019 to $2.8 billion in FY 2024. It is the sponsor's belief that ensuring that Medicaid establishes the Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act will provide greater transparency and cost management within the program to reduce waste and cost increases. | In Committee |
| A5529 | Requires DOC to report incidents of suicide and self-harm among inmates housed in Restorative Housing Units. | This bill would require the Department of Corrections to publicly report data concerning acts of self-harm or suicide by inmates housed in Restorative Housing Units (RHUs). RHUs house prison inmates who have been removed from the prison's general population as a disciplinary measure. This bill embodies an October 2024 recommendation by the Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson. | In Committee |
| A5528 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to exempt certain disabled veterans from E-ZPass tolls. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to establish and maintain an electric toll collection exemption program (toll exemption program) for certain disabled veterans who have an account with the New Jersey electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass). The toll exemption program is to be available for a vehicle that is owned or leased by a disabled veteran; is registered in the State of New Jersey and displays a license plate bearing the term "Disabled Vet" that was issued for the motor vehicle; and has an active New Jersey E-ZPass account. To qualify for the toll exemption program, a disabled veteran is required to have applied and been approved for a license plate bearing the term "Disabled Vet" before applying for the toll exemption program. The NJTA and the SJTA are then required to approve an application by a disabled veteran who is in possession of and approved for a license plate bearing the term "Disabled Vet" for the toll exemption program. | In Committee |
| A5532 | Establishes "Business Growth Protection Act"; revises law concerning temporary help service firms and temporary laborers. | This bill establishes the "Business Growth Protection Act" and revises the law concerning temporary help service firms and temporary laborers. The bill limits its applicability to temporary laborers working in the State. Under current law, New Jersey residents who are temporary laborers working outside the State are covered, which was causing third party clients in other states to reduce their use of temporary laborers from New Jersey. The bill changes what information is required to be provided in itemized statements by temporary help service firms to temporary laborers from a daily commission rate to the option of calculating hours worked, for itemized statements and placement fee calculation, based on total hours worked during a weekly or other pay period. The bill protects proprietary information of temporary help service firms by providing that the firms do not have an obligation to disclose pay rates to third party clients or third party client bill rates to temporary laborers. The bill revises the law to change the pay equity provision from equal pay and benefits to just equal pay. The bill provides that equal pay means temporary help service firms are required to pay temporary laborers a wage not less than the client's current entry level pay rate for client employees with the minimum qualifications for the position. The bill revises the surety bond requirement for temporary help service firms. Specifically, the bill reduces the bond requirement from not less than $200,000 to a minimum of $50,000 and a cap of $200,000, depending on the revenue of the temporary help service firm. The bill changes the rebuttable presumption of retaliation under the law with respect to termination of an assignment. The bill provides that no presumption of retaliation will be raised based solely on the termination of a scheduled temporary assignment. | In Committee |
| A5530 | Requires DOC to establish standards of habitability for prison housing units. | This bill would require the Department of Corrections to establish standards of habitability for all prison housing units, including but not limited to all Restorative Housing Units ("RHU"s). RHUs house certain prison inmates who have been removed from the prison's general population as a disciplinary measure. RHU inmates' activities, possessions, and privileges are restricted. According to the New Jersey Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson, the RHU at Northern State Prison experiences frequent health and safety problems including, among others, sewage spills, lack of basic sanitation, poor drainage, plumbing, and ventilation, and inconsistent heating. In a report issued in October 2024, the Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson recommended that legislation be enacted to set minimum standards for habitability of prison housing units. This bill embodies this recommendation. | In Committee |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3881 | Requires State Police to establish online portal allowing persons to obtain status of expungement orders. | An Act concerning criminal history background information and expungements and supplementing chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5501 | Requires standards for maximum development costs per unit for project supported by affordable housing trust fund. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to establish standards for the maximum development costs per unit to be permitted for a project developed with the assistance of the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund." The standards established by the commissioner are to be comparable to the maximum per-unit development cost standards administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency for the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The bill directs the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations to implement the requirements of the bill on or before the first day of the fifth month following the bill's enactment. The bill is to take effect on the first day of the sixth month following the bill's enactment, and is to apply to funding commitments made on or after that date. | 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 |
| A4653 | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2308 | Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. | Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. | In Committee |
| A4051 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | In Committee |
| A4757 | Permits amusement games licenses to be issued to certain nonprofit organizations. | An Act permitting amusement games licenses to be issued to certain nonprofit organizations and supplementing the "Amusement Games Licensing Law," P.L.1959, c.109 (C.5:8-100 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4948 | Allows unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for City of Perth Amboy - Convery Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge to be used by municipality for pedestrian safety infrastructure projects. | An Act to Supplement the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5174 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for planned real estate developments in certain circumstances. | This bill modifies certain requirements concerning the capital reserve study, 30-year funding plan, and capital reserve fund of an association of a planned real estate development (association), required by recently enacted law, P.L.2023, c.214 (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.). Specifically, the bill requires a proposed 30-year capital reserve funding plan or plans within a capital reserve study, required pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2023, c.214 (C.45:22A-44.3), to allow a capital reserve fund of an association to reach a dollar balance of zero during the 30-year funding plan projection. The bill permits a capital reserve study to provide additional funding plans that have a minimum fund balance greater than zero, or funding plans with escalating annual contributions, provided the reserve fund balance is not projected to fall below zero dollars. The bill defines the terms "adequate" and "adequacy" to mean a sum of money, however invested or held by an association of a planned real estate development, that, in accordance with the professional standards applied by the reserve specialist, architect, or engineer performing or overseeing the study, is sufficient so that the balance in the association's reserve fund will not fall below zero dollars as set forth in the association's 30-year funding plan, prepared as part of a reserve study.Further, the bill requires that an inadequacy in a reserve fund--for which the increase in the association's budget line item for reserve funding to render the fund adequate as set forth in the reserve study would require an increase of more than 10 percent of the previous year's common expense assessment--to be made adequate within the earlier of: (1) 30 fiscal years, instead of 10 years; or (2) the projected date predicted by the reserve study by which absent increased funding, the balance in the association's reserve account would fall below zero. The bill also requires an association of a planned real estate development, instead of a covered building owner, to ensure that a capital reserve study is reviewed by a licensed architect, engineer, or credentialed reserve specialist and that a capital reserve study is conducted and reviewed at least once every five years. | Crossed Over |
| A3810 | Requires adoption of policy addressing job-related issues of pregnant firefighters. | This bill provides that within 180 days after the bill's effective date a paid or part-paid fire department or force will adopt, review, and update, if needed, at least annually, a policy that addresses the job-related issues of any pregnant member of that department or force. These include, but not limited to, disclosure of a pregnancy, issuance of a medical certificate by the member's physician in regard to any limitations on job-related duties, and the availability of any light-duty or non-hazardous assignments. The policy will also provide that a pregnant firefighter will be given information as to when certain job-related tasks may not be appropriate for the member; the use of leave time for pregnancy, and the continuation of employee benefits. In creating this policy the department or force will be guided by the standards of the National Fire Protection Association, or of another such professional organization, that apply to the job-related issues affecting pregnant firefighters. | Crossed Over |
| A4175 | Concerns use of force by law enforcement officers under certain circumstances and requires certain reporting of use of force incidents. | Concerns use of force by law enforcement officers under certain circumstances and requires certain reporting of use of force incidents. | 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 |
| A5303 | Requires AG to review Statewide policy regarding investigation of human trafficking. | This bill requires the Attorney General to review the Statewide policy regarding the investigation of human trafficking. Currently, Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2012-2 sets forth standards and procedures for the investigation of human trafficking. Under the provisions of this bill, upon the review of the policy, the Attorney General is required to consider and address: 1) whether the use of audio or video recording by law enforcement officers conducting undercover investigations of human trafficking would protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure the proper treatment of victims of human trafficking; 2) the implementation of strict policies for dissemination of the audio or video recording, if used, in order to protect victims of human trafficking; 3) the involvement of county prosecutors at the beginning of and throughout human trafficking investigations conducted by county or municipal law enforcement officers in order to address legal challenges as they arise; and 4) any other areas, as determined by the Attorney General. This bill is in response to a recommendation contained in a report issued by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation in October 2024 entitled "An Inquiry into Human Trafficking Activity in the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Industry in New Jersey." | Crossed Over |
| A4755 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | In Committee |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A2145 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | This bill establishes employment protections for paid first responders who are diagnosed with certain cases of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the bill, an employer would be prohibited from discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee, or threatening to do so, with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, duties, or privileges of employment on the basis that the employee took or requested any leave related to a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD. The bill provides that if an employer violates its provisions, an employee or former employee would be authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief. All remedies available in common law tort actions would be available to a prevailing plaintiff. Additionally, the bill provides that a court would be authorized to order any or all of the following relief: (1) an assessment of a civil fine of $5,000 and $10,000 for each subsequent violation; (2) an injunction to restrain the continued violation of any of the provisions of the bill; (3) reinstatement of the employee to the same position or to a position equivalent to that which the employee held prior to unlawful discharge or retaliatory action; (4) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights; (5) compensation for any lost wages, benefits and other remuneration; (6) payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees. | In Committee |
| A4692 | Establishes certain requirements for State and local governments awarding contracts or grants to nonprofit organizations. | This bill establishes certain requirements for the State and local governments awarding contracts or grants to nonprofit organizations. This bill establishes a de minimis indirect cost rate of 15 percent of the modified total direct costs to nonprofit organizations that have been awarded a contract by a State agency or local government agency. This rate will apply when the source of funding is from federal funds or State funds. Any State agency or local government agency will be prohibited from limiting reimbursements of indirect, administrative, or overhead costs for nonprofit organizations participating in a contract or grant with such agency on or after the effective date of this bill. The Department of the Treasury will be required to oversee and manage the development and maintenance of a database which can be used by nonprofit organizations that intend to participate in contracts or grants offered by State agencies or local government agencies. All such organizations can submit to the database any general documents specified under this bill that are required for State or local contracts or grants. The State Treasurer can permit the submission of other documents relevant to bids for and awards of public contracts and grants as the State Treasurer determines to be appropriate for the purpose of the database. The information maintained in the database will exclude personal identifying information of individuals to prevent compromising personal privacy and security. State agencies or local government agencies seeking to award a contract or grant will be required to utilize the documentation submitted to the database by a nonprofit organization, unless the documentation is not available, in which case the agency can request the document from such nonprofit organization. This bill also requires State agencies and local government agencies to review and adopt the cost principles and federal grant reforms contained in the federal Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Guidance standards with regard to nonprofit organizations to the extent permitted by law. This bill permits the State Treasurer and local government agencies to create a list of common terminology relevant to contracts or grants for nonprofit organizations to define services, processes, and client populations and a list of common terminology for contracts or grants to be accessible to all State and local agencies. This bill also requires the amount of any contract, awarded by a State agency or local government agency, determined for the prior calendar year to be adjusted annually in direct proportion to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index over a 12-month period beginning November 1 and ending October 31. This bill also requires a contract awarded by a State agency or local government agency to be automatically extended for a period of three months if the extension or renewal process is not completed within 10 days of expiration of such contract. This bill prohibits any unilateral change of contract language or terms by a State agency or local government agency for a contract awarded to a nonprofit organization. This bill requires the State Treasurer and local government agencies to develop procedures to reduce redundant monitoring of nonprofit organizations that have been awarded contracts or grants by standardizing and integrating reporting procedures across all State or local agencies. This bill also requires that, if goods and services are rendered, a State agency or local government agency will be required to pay a nonprofit organization 30 calendar days from the date specified in the contract. If no required payment date is specified in the contract, then the required payment date is 30 calendar days from the receipt of a properly executed State agency or local government agency contract, or 30 calendar days from the receipt of goods or services, whichever is later. This bill requires interest on required payments that are not made on or before the required payment date pursuant to a properly executed State agency or local government agency to be paid at a rate of 1 percent of any amount approved and unpaid. Interest can be paid by separate payment to a nonprofit organization, but must be paid within 30 days of the late payment. This bill defines "local government" to mean a municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the State. This bill defines "nonprofit organization" to mean a private nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3). This bill defines "State agency" to mean any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of the State Government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission, or other instrumentality within or created by such department and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality, or agency which is authorized by law to award contracts or grants. | In Committee |
| A5342 | Requires Office of Homelessness Prevention to contract with county agencies or nonprofits to issue certain identification and birth certificates to individuals experiencing homelessness; appropriates $2 million. | This bill requires the Office of Homelessness Prevention (OHP) in the Department of Community Affairs to contract with a county agency or nonprofit in each county of the State that administers homelessness programs to issue personal identification, in a form and manner as determined by the director, and to coordinate provision of copies of birth certificates to individuals experiencing homelessness. A county agency or nonprofit is to be permitted to directly access and issue a birth certificate maintained by the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry and shall notify the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry of each issuance. This bill appropriates $2 million from General Fund, which shall be divided among the contracted county agencies or nonprofits pursuant to the bill, prorated based on the homeless population of each county, to the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs, to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4370 | Concerns development of accessory dwelling units and related municipal land use regulations. | This bill permits an accessory dwelling unit on a lot that contains a single-family dwelling. Municipalities are to adopt or amend existing land use regulations to authorize a person to develop an accessory dwelling unit on a lot owned by the person, and located within an area meeting the requirements of the bill. 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, except for residential density controls, as are required for the same principal dwelling unit without the accessory dwelling unit, as long as the restrictions do not prohibit the construction of an accessory dwelling unit on any individual lot that contains a single-family dwelling, Land use regulations adopted or amended pursuant to the bill are to provide that an accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use as of right on a lot if a primary dwelling exists or is being proposed on the lot, and the lot is located within a zone in which a single-family dwelling or a two-family dwelling is permitted under the municipal land use regulations. The bill requires that a municipal zoning ordinance is to be prohibited from requiring: 1) a passageway between an accessory dwelling unit and a principal dwelling unit; 2) an exterior door for an attached accessory dwelling; 3) more than one parking space for an accessory dwelling unit; existing and available on-street parking are to satisfy this requirement; no parking space is to be required if the accessory dwelling unit is located within one half-mile of public transportation service; 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; 7) a minimum floor area for any dwelling unit that is greater than the minimum floor area set pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act" and any regulations adopted thereafter (UCC); or 8) periodic renewals for permits for accessory dwelling units. Nothing in the bill is to be interpreted to exempt an accessory dwelling unit from: 1) applicable building code requirements pursuant to the UCC; 2) the ability of a municipality to prohibit or limit the use of an accessory dwelling unit for short-term rentals or vacation stays; or 3) sewerage system related requirements where a private sewerage system is being used, provided that approval for an accessory dwelling unit is not to be unreasonably withheld. A municipal agency is not to 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 sprinklers are not required for the principal dwelling unit located on the same lot. An accessory dwelling unit is not to be considered a new residential use for the purpose of calculating or imposing connection fees or capacity charges for a purveyor of water and sewer service, unless the accessory dwelling unit is constructed together with a new single-family dwelling unit on the same lot, or requires the installation of a new or separate utility connection directly to the accessory dwelling unit. The bill provides that if a garage or other covered parking structure or any parking space within the structure is removed in conjunction with the construction of an accessory dwelling unit or converted to an accessory dwelling unit, the municipality is not to require that those off-street parking spaces be replaced. A municipality may include an owner-occupancy requirement in its enabling ordinance that requires the main unit or the accessory unit to be occupied by the property owner, but may not dictate which unit is to be owner-occupied. The ordinance may provide for penalties and remedies for non-compliance. The bill provides that a municipality may not impose additional standards beyond those provided for in this bill related to the regulation of accessory dwelling units. The bill provides that an application to develop an accessory dwelling unit is to be considered and approved as a ministerial action without a public hearing, and without review beyond that necessary to determine compliance with the provisions of the bill or, if the municipality has adopted land use regulations consistent with those provisions, the municipality's land use regulations. If the municipal agency does not act upon a complete application within the 60-day time period, the bill provides that the application is to be deemed approved unless an applicant agrees to toll the 60-day time period allowed for a municipal agency to render a decision on an application. A municipal agency may charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs associated with reviewing and approving an application to develop an accessory dwelling unit. Lastly, the bill provides that a municipality is not to interpret and apply a provision of any other municipal ordinance, policy, or regulation so to delay or deny approval of an application to develop an accessory dwelling unit. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A2792 | Concerns development of accessory dwelling units and related municipal land use regulations. | Concerns development of accessory dwelling units and related municipal land use regulations. | In Committee |
| A2437 | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Crossed Over |
| A4841 | Concerns housing discrimination based on source of lawful income. | Concerns housing discrimination based on source of lawful income. | Crossed Over |
| A4571 | Makes various changes to powers and duties of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | An Act concerning the authority of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and amending P.L.1985, c.334, P.L.2013, c.93, and P.L.2023, c.63. | 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 |
| S684 | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients's admission to long-term care facility. | An Act allowing for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients' admission to certain long-term care facilities and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2345 | Prohibits public officials from accepting virtual currency and non-fungible tokens as gifts. | This bill amends definitions to provide that a gift includes all forms of virtual currency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Under this bill, a public official would be prohibited from accepting any form of virtual currency or NFTs as a gift. | In Committee |
| A5190 | Prohibits sale of certain lithium-ion devices; establishes restrictions on sale, lease, or rental of certain bicycles and scooters; creates fire risk awareness campaigns. | This bill makes it unlawful to assemble, recondition, or sell a lithium-ion battery using cells removed from used storage batteries. Additionally, the bill prohibits the sale, lease, or rental of a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, motorized scooter, or storage battery for a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or motorized scooter unless certain standards concerning the storage battery and electrical system of the bicycle and scooter are met. Failure to comply with certain of the bill's provisions will result in the issuance of a written warning for the first violation, and a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the second and each subsequent violation issued for the same offense on a different day within two years of the date of a first violation. The bill also requires businesses who use a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle for commercial purposes to provide its employees that operate these bicycles with fire safety materials. The Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety (division) is required to publish the fire safety materials on its Internet website and provide the materials to each employee who operates a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle. The division is required to develop an informational campaign to educate the public on the fire risks posed by low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, and motorized scooters and the safety measures that can be taken to mitigate such risks. The campaign is to address both commercial and personal use of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, and motorized scooters and include information on the purchasing of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, motorized scooters, and battery equipment that meet established fire safety standards, as well as the proper maintenance and storage of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, motorized scooters, and lithium-ion batteries. The division is also to engage in an outreach campaign to certain business entities relating to fire risks posed by the devices and the safety measures to mitigate fire risk. Finally, the division is required to submit reports to the Governor and to the Legislature. The reports are to include information on all fires that were reported during the prior calendar year in which a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or motorized scooter was determined to be the cause of such fire and a review of existing fire and administrative code provisions governing the purchase, use, storage and charging of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, or motorized scooters, and an evaluation of additional measures that could mitigate fire risks. | In Committee |
| A560 | Requires transportation network company drivers to complete anti-human trafficking training course. | This bill requires transportation network company (TNC) drivers and applicants to complete an anti-human trafficking training course, which is to be approved by the Attorney General. A TNC is required to provide the anti-human trafficking course prior to the approval of an applicant and to current TNC drivers within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The anti-human trafficking training course may be provided via web based video or digital format and is required to include: (1) an overview of human trafficking, including how human trafficking is defined; (2) guidance on the role TNC drivers play in reporting and responding to human trafficking; and (3) information on how to report suspected human trafficking. Upon completion of the anti-human trafficking training course, a TNC driver is required to certify to any TNC whose digital network the driver uses that the driver completed an anti-human trafficking training course. If a driver fails to provide a TNC with the required certification, the TNC is required to prohibit the driver from utilizing the TNC's digital network to provide rides until the driver submits the required certification. The bill also requires each TNC to create a list of drivers who did not provide the required certification. Completion or failure to complete the anti-human trafficking training course will be noted in the individual record of each TNC driver and maintained by the TNC. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A4475 | Establishes standards for court-ordered counseling for domestic violence offenders. | This bill establishes standards for court-ordered counseling for domestic violence offenders. Under current law, the court may order a defendant charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence who has been released pending trial, or as part of a final restraining order issued by the court in a domestic violence matter, to receive professional domestic violence counseling from either a private source or a source appointed by the court. If ordered to participate in this counseling, the defendant would be required to provide the court with documentation of attendance. Under the bill, any domestic violence counseling program in which a defendant participates based on a court order issued in a domestic violence matter would be required to facilitate defender accountability and include the following components: (1) risk assessments that identify dynamics of domestic violence and escalating risk factors, and include information provided by the courts; (2) information and education concerning the tactics of power and control and the understanding of domestic violence as a domination and control issue; (3) a protocol to demonstrate the defendant's attendance in programming, and additional reporting as requested by the court to support a prompt and effective review by the court for noncompliance; and (4) regular reviews of the program and compliance by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families for Batterers' Intervention Programs funded by the Department of Children and Families. This bill implements Recommendation #28 of the June 2023 report of the Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice. | Crossed Over |
| A5160 | Provides PERS members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of PERS. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5158 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| A5180 | Increases FY2025 Grants-in-Aid appropriation to DCA for "NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program" by $5 million. | This bill amends the FY 2025 Appropriations Act to increase the Grants-in-Aid appropriation to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program by $5 million, from $5.5 million to $10.5 million, to fund utility assistance for homeowners and tenants of residential property throughout the State suffering financial difficulties. The bill directs the commissioner to design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with the bill in order to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner to enable them to comply with their utilities obligations. To be eligible for a grant under this program a homeowner or tenant may not be eligible for, or a recipient of funding from, private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity. The bill authorizes the commissioner to implement this program through the award of contracts, or through the delegation of its authority to award grants, to private nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or both. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A2334 | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5149 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of date on which primary elections will be held if date coincides with period of religious observance. | This bill reschedules the June 3, 2025 primary to take place on June 10, 2025, the following Tuesday, in order to accommodate a period of religious observance. The bill requires the Secretary of State to inform all county clerks, county boards of election, superintendents of elections, municipal clerks, and members of the public at large in this State of the rescheduled primary election day no later than seven days following the effective date of this bill. The Secretary of State will also be required to make all necessary adjustments to all deadlines required to be met ahead of a primary election pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, and publish a calendar containing the adjusted dates to be used for the 2025 primary election pursuant to the bill This bill also requires the Secretary of State to reschedule the date of primary elections in any future year if the date of the primary elections coincides with a period of religious observance that limits significantly the usual activities of the followers of a particular religion or that would result in significant religious consequences for such followers. In such a scenario, the secretary must inform all county clerks, county boards of election, superintendents of elections, municipal clerks, and members of the public at large in this State of the rescheduled primary election no later than the first working day in January of the year in which the rescheduled election is to occur. Whenever the date of a primary election is rescheduled, the Secretary of State will be required to make all necessary adjustments to all deadlines required to be met ahead of a primary election pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, and publish a calendar containing the adjusted dates to be used for that primary election pursuant to the bill. The bill defines "a period of religious observance" as any day or portion thereof on which a religious observance imposes a substantial burden on an individual's ability to vote in person on election day. | In Committee |
| S871 | Establishes eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions. | An Act establishing eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions, and supplementing P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4626 | Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. | Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. | In Committee |
| A3388 | Facilitates construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing built in part through sweat equity by eventual occupant. | Facilitates construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing built in part through sweat equity by eventual occupant. | 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 |
| A5042 | Requires public entities purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency; requires Division of Purchase and Property establish training protocols for all purchasing agents; grants Central Nonprofit Agency right of first refusal. | Under current law, State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State that are authorized to purchase goods and services are required to make a good faith effort to purchase five percent of such goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency, an agency established by the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." Under the bill, such State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State will be required to purchase five percent of goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The bill clarifies reporting and oversight requirements. Under the bill, the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury must submit a report of purchasing data to the Central Nonprofit Agency for the Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside program no more than six months after the effective date of this bill, and on a quarterly basis thereafter. In addition, the Department of the Treasury will be required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the compliance of State and local government entities and political subdivisions with the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Division of Purchase and Property, in collaboration with the Central Nonprofit Agency, must establish training protocols for all purchasing agents employed by State or local government entities or political subdivisions required to meet the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Central Nonprofit Agency will have a right of first refusal for all goods and services that may otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog so long as the Central Nonprofit Agency can deliver the goods or services that would otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog at a price that is within 15 percent of fair market value. The "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" assists persons who are blind or have a severe disability with achieving maximum personal independence through productive employment by assuring a continuous market for their goods and services, which are produced at qualified rehabilitation facilities and distributed through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The Central Nonprofit Agency is designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to facilitate the distribution of orders received from various State agencies as provided in the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." This bill furthers the goals of the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" to assist in the productive employment of individuals with special needs. | In Committee |
| S3670 | Provides for mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida. | An Act to provide mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection in response to the remnants of Hurricane Ida and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4871 | Provides for mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida. | Provides for mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida. | In Committee |
| A2286 | Establishes eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions. | Establishes eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4872 | Prohibits certain coordination among residential rental property owners who restrict competition with respect to residential dwelling units. | Prohibits certain coordination among residential rental property owners who restrict competition with respect to residential dwelling units. | In Committee |
| A4873 | Authorizes residential tenant action in cases of alleged unconscionable rent increase; appropriates $2 million. | This bill authorizes residential tenant action in cases of alleged unconscionable rent increases. The bill provides that a residential tenant who receives a notice of rent increase from a landlord and believes the increase in rent to be unlawfully unconscionable, may, within 10 days of receipt of the notice of rent increase, request the landlord to provide in writing the rationale for the amount of the rent increase and request a new notice of rent increase in a lesser amount. Within 10 days of a residential tenant's request, the landlord would be required to provide rationale for the amount of the rent increase and would be permitted to begin a negotiation with the tenant by offering a new notice of rent increase in a lesser amount. The landlord is required to include in their written rationale provided to the tenant the following information:§ the change in the Consumer Price Index since the last increase in rent, the start of the present least term, or within the past two years, whichever is most recent;§ the landlord's expenses, containing specific financial data, which contributed to the rent increase;§ the landlord's profitability, containing specific financial data, and the landlord's anticipated profitability, containing specific financial projections; § a description and comparison of how the existing and proposed rent compares to rents charged at similar rental properties in the geographic area;§ the length of time since the last rent increase;§ a description of the condition of the property, including but not limited to, whether there were maintenance requests or claims related to habitability, and whether there were any, or currently are, code violations for the tenant's unit or common areas; and § a description of why the landlord believes that the proposed rent increase is not unconscionable. If a residential tenant and landlord are unable to negotiate a rent amount within 30 days from the date that a new lease term begins, then the residential tenant would be authorized to bring an action against the landlord in a court of competent jurisdiction for raising rent by an unconscionable amount. To determine whether a rent increase is unconscionable, the court would be required to consider: the amount of the rent increase proposed in the most recent notice of rent increase; the landlord's expenses and profitability; the financial circumstances of the residential tenant; how the existing and proposed rent compare to rents charged at similar rental properties in the geographic area; the relative bargaining position of the parties; whether the rent increase would shock the conscience of a reasonable person; the length of time since the last rent increase by the current owner against the residential tenant, the length of tenancy, and the length of property ownership; and the condition of the property. If the court finds that the landlord offered an increase in rent in an unconscionable amount, that the landlord did not include in the notice of rent increase the required statement specified by the bill, or provide the rationale required by the bill, the court would require the landlord to offer the residential tenant a 12-month lease for the property occupied by the residential tenant in an amount no greater than the amount of rent charged under the previous lease agreed upon by both parties, plus inflation, and would require the tenant to pay any arrears, based upon relevant factors considered by the court during the case. If the court finds that the landlord's most recent notice of increase offered an increase in rent in a conscionable amount, the court would require the tenant to pay the landlord any arrears accrued by the tenant while the tenant's action was pending in court, including the amounts disputed. A landlord would be prohibited from bringing certain eviction actions against a residential tenant pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1974, c.49 (C.2A:18-61.1) during the period of time in which the residential tenant's action is pending in court, unless the eviction action is unrelated to the disputed rent increase. The bill provides that its provisions would not be applicable to rent increases that are subject to and compliant with a local rent control ordinance. The bill also provides that any court records concerning an action brought by a residential tenant against a landlord are required to remain confidential and be excluded from public access. The bill also requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to: 1) develop and implement a public awareness campaign to inform residential tenants and landlords of the policies and processes established by the bill, and 2) to conduct a required training for judges who will hear cases of alleged unconscionable rent increase brought by a tenant against a landlord and court staff. The bill appropriates $1 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts for each of these purposes. The bill would take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment except that the Administrative Office of the Courts may take anticipatory administrative action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4946 | Concerns safety measures at apartment complex swimming pools. | This bill exempts apartment complexes that operate swimming pools from the first aid personnel and lifeguard requirements under certain conditions. Under the bill, "apartment complex" means one or more apartment buildings located on the same premises and owned by a person or entity that receives monthly rental payments from tenants who occupy the premises. The category of "specially exempt facility" (as defined in section 1 of P.L.1991, c.135; C.26:4A-4) is expanded to include an apartment complex which restricts the use of its pool to tenants who occupy the premises and their invited guests. Pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1991, c.135 (C.26:4A-6), a "specially exempt facility," which does not voluntarily comply with the first aid and life guard requirements of N.J.A.C.8:26-5.1 et seq., is required to post a sign not less than three feet by four feet in size; to be prominently displayed at the entrance to its pool; and stating: "No lifeguard on duty. Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No swimming alone." Under the bill, this existing statutory provision would also apply to an apartment complex. | In Committee |
| A4949 | Requires DHS and DCF to employ Director of Medical Services; appropriates $480,000. | This bill requires the Departments of Human Services (DHS)and Children and Families (DCF) to each create the new position of, and hire a full-time, salaried, Director of Medical Services in the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) in the DHS and the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit in the DCF, respectively. The directors are to serve as advisors to the office, unit, or any other investigative entity responsible for the investigation of incidences of abuse, neglect, or death pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2010, c.5 (C.30:6D-75) or allegations of child abuse or neglect pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.11) when complex medical issues or conditions exist and meet the educational and professional requirements and carry out the duties and responsibilities outlined in the bill. The bill also appropriates $480,000 from the General Fund of which $240,00 is allocated to both the DHS and the DCF to hire a new Director of Medical Services in the OPIA and the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, respectively. | In Committee |
| A4950 | Mandates Division of Developmental Disabilities service providers to complete workforce survey. | Under this bill, in any year the Division of Developmental Disabilities participates in the National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Survey or a similar survey, the division would also be required to distribute the survey to each of the division's eligible provider of services for developmental disabilities. The eligible provider would be required to complete the workforce study or be subject to a fine of $5,000 per year of non-compliance. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4722 | Requires State agencies to make good faith effort to increase awarding of contracts procured without advertisement to minority- and women-owned businesses. | This bill requires State agencies, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property, and the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction, as the case may be, to make a good faith effort to achieve a goal of increasing the awarding of goods and services contracts procured without advertisement to certified minority-owned and women-owned businesses by 30 percent in the aggregate within five years of the effective date of this bill. The State Treasurer will develop guidelines and directives for State agencies and directors that will be used toward the effort to achieve such goal. Each State agency will submit a report to the State Treasurer detailing the efforts made by that agency to achieve such goal every 30 days. The State Treasurer will submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature detailing the efforts made by all State agencies and the directors to achieve such goal every six months. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2100 | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A4732 | Requires defibrillators in certain multiple dwellings; establishes Affordable Housing Defibrillator Fund. | This bill would require a multiple dwelling of 30 units or more located within a municipality with a population of 50,000 or greater to have an automated external defibrillator (defibrillator) accessible on the property. The bill includes certain signage and notification requirements and specifies certain legal protections in the case of use of a defibrillator. The bill also establishes a fund in the Department of Community Affairs to provide grants to the owners of multiple dwellings affected by the bill which provide affordable housing. The bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. This bill would increase the availability and use of defibrillators in emergencies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are reported annually in the United States, and in 70 to 90 percent of cases the person dies before reaching a hospital. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use increases the rate of survival. This bill would increase access to these life-saving devices in certain multiple dwellings. | In Committee |
| A4694 | Establishes "Female Incarcerated Person's Rights Protection Act." | This bill establishes the "Female Incarcerated Person's Rights Protection Act." Under the bill, the Commissioner of Corrections is required to establish a gender responsive risk and needs assessment as part of the institutional classification process based upon certain principles. In addition, the commissioner is required to establish a system of community supervision and reentry with comprehensive, collaborative services and prioritize increased direct supervision and oversight by correctional staff in order to identify potential issues and respond proactively before the issues escalate. The bill also provides that the commissioner is required to institute a mandatory in-service training for every correctional police officer that supervises female incarcerated persons regarding gender responsive policies and ensure that every correctional police officer that supervises female incarcerated persons completes this training annually. Further, the bill establishes in the Department of Corrections the Division of Women's Services. The division is to develop policies, programs, and services to address: 1) the specific needs of female incarcerated persons including treatment for physical or sexual abuse or other trauma; parenting issues; and child reunification; 2) the establishment of a system of structured incentives for female incarcerated persons; 3) the implementation of procedures which encourage female incarcerated persons to congregate in common areas rather than isolated cells, and 4) any other areas deemed appropriate by the commissioner. There is also established a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Compliance Unit within the division that is responsible for ensuring the department is in compliance with the federal PREA. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to provide doula services to incarcerated females who are pregnant and provide support services to incarcerated mothers, including but not limited to parenting classes. In addition, the commissioner is required to make parenting classes and family reunification programs available to any incarcerated person in the State who is scheduled to be released from incarceration within six months. The bill also provides that the commissioner is required, upon request of an incarcerated person, to provide any incarcerated person in this State who is scheduled to be released from incarceration within six months the opportunity to participate in counseling sessions and provide resources from approved nonprofit incarcerated person reentry services. The bill also establishes within the Department of Corrections a special victim's unit which is to be under the Special Investigations Division. The unit is to have the powers necessary or proper to investigate allegations of sexual assault or other sexual misconduct at State correctional facilities. The unit is required to investigate every allegation of sexual assault or other sexual misconduct in a State correctional facility made by a victim or third party through a verbal, written, telephonic, electronic, or anonymous report in accordance with State and federal law. In addition, every investigator is required to receive ongoing specialized training regarding investigating sexual assault or sexual misconduct allegations, including best practices for conducting gender informed and victim centered investigations. The bill also provides that as part of the mandatory in-service training for correctional police officers, the officers are to receive training regarding relevant terminology set forth in PREA; the methods available to report incidents of sexual abuse or sexual harassment of an incarcerated person; confidentiality requirements related to reports of sexual abuse or sexual harassment of an incarcerated person; and how to access emotional support services for incarcerated persons who are victims of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Finally, the bill requires certain information as set forth in the bill regarding sexual abuse and sexual harassment of incarcerated persons to be provided to every incarcerated person at orientation upon in-take and periodically thereafter. | In Committee |
| A4693 | Reduces membership of State Real Estate Appraiser Board and prohibits discriminatory practices in property appraisals. | This bill reduces the membership of State Real Estate Appraiser Board and prohibits discriminatory practices in property appraisals. Under the bill, the State Real Estate Appraiser Board will be reduced from its present composition of 11 members to seven members. The form in which appointments to the board are handled will change as well, with the Governor appointing the public members, real estate appraiser members, and representatives of the appraisal management company industry only upon recommendation of the Senate President and Speaker of the General Assembly. The Senate President and Speaker of the General Assembly will each be able to recommend the appointment of three board members. The bill also prohibits discriminatory practices in property appraisals and requires the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and resolve complaints against a real estate appraiser or appraisal management company. The bill additionally provides that the department direct the State Real Estate Appraiser Board to take disciplinary action against any real estate appraiser or appraisal management company found by the department to have discriminated in the appraisal of real estate. The board will be directed by the department to void any appraisal found to be discriminatory and require that the violating appraiser or appraisal management company make restitution of the cost of the discriminatory appraisal. The board will also be directed to require a violating appraiser, for their first violation, to attend an anti-bias seminar and, depending on the number of violations committed, suspend the license, certificate, or registration of the appraiser or appraisal management company for a certain period of time. An appraiser or appraisal management company with multiple violations will also be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a second violation occurring within five years of the first, and $10,000 for a third and subsequent violation. | In Committee |
| A4716 | Requires State colleges to close on Election Day. | This bill requires State colleges to close on Election Day. Under the provisions of the bill, a State college is required to observe the date of a general election in this State as a holiday on its academic calendar and no academic classes are to be held on that date. The provisions of the bill are to take effect in the first full academic year next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A4695 | Creates Office of Nonprofit Ombudsperson in Department of Treasury; appropriates $329,000. | This bill creates the Office of the Nonprofit Ombudsperson in but not of the Department of the Treasury. The purpose of the ombudsperson is to provide information and assistance to, and act as an advocate for, nonprofit organizations interacting with State agencies. The office will be independent of any supervision or control by the Department of the Treasury or any board or officer thereof, or any other cabinet-level department, board, or officer thereof. Under the bill, the Governor will appoint a Nonprofit Ombudsperson, who is qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office, and be a person of recognized judgment, integrity, and objectivity who is skilled in communication, conflict resolution, and professionalism. The ombudsperson will organize and direct the work of the office, including creating and maintaining a website, and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The ombudsperson will: 1) participate in, monitor, and report on the participating State agencies' compliance with the nonprofit information center portal established in the Department of State that provides information accessible on the internet for nonprofit organizations regarding various resources available to assist them in their daily operations; 2) communicate and consult regularly with nonprofit organizations operating in the State and associations representing these nonprofit organizations; 3) provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations to assist in compliance with the regulations of State agencies; 4) investigate complaints from nonprofit organizations about State agencies, and assist these nonprofit organizations in seeking a resolution; 5) report nonprofit organizations' concerns and recommendations to the heads of the various State agencies; and 6) develop and share innovative procurement and contracting practices to increase opportunities for nonprofit organizations. The bill also amends the law that created the nonprofit information center portal in the Department of State to provide information accessible on the internet for nonprofit organizations. The bill requires the Office of the Nonprofit Ombudsperson to participate in the nonprofit information center portal and monitor the designated home website of each department and agency participating in the nonprofit information center portal. The bill requires the Office of the Nonprofit Ombudsperson to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the activities and compliance issues of State agencies with respect to the requirements of the law establishing the nonprofit information center portal. Finally, the bill appropriates $329,000 from the General Fund to the Department of the Treasury to support the costs of establishing and operating the Office of the Nonprofit Ombudsperson. | In Committee |
| AJR189 | Designates September 14 of each year as "Latino Business Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution declares September 14 of each year as "Latino Business Day" in the State of New Jersey. Latino-owned businesses present an opportunity for intergenerational upward mobility and wealth accrual, with growing revenues among Latino owned businesses increasing the assets of subsequent generations. The rapid growth of this industry outpaces the growth of the overall Latino population, as well as the number of business created by other demographic groups. Each year, Latino owned businesses supply the American economy with $800 billion in revenues. The Latino community also represents a prominent consumer base and economic force, contributing $3.2 trillion to U.S. markets. Over the last ten years, Latino-owned businesses have grown ten times faster than white-owned businesses, experiencing a 57 percent growth rate, compared to five percent for non-Latino-owned firms. This rate has slowed in recent years but the trend of demographic outperformance persists; between 2020 and 2023, Latino-owned businesses noticed an 8.7 percent growth rate, against 5.6 percent for white-owned businesses. Latino-owned business are expected to occupy 20 percent of the national labor market in five years, and 29 percent by 2050. Latino entrepreneurs currently account for 17 percent of the U.S. workforce; the 4.7 million Latino-owned businesses in America employ 3.5 million workers across the country. Between 2007 and 2019, the number of jobs created by Latino owned businesses grew from 1.9 million to 2.9 million, a 53.6 percent growth rate. Researchers estimate that unemployment rates would have risen above 10 percent if not for Latino business creation. September 14 is National Support Latino Business Day, recognizing the contributions of Latino-owned businesses to the New Jersey economy as well their positive impact on communities. With this context in mind, it is in public interest to recognize the economic strength of Latino business on September 14. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3385 | Concerns deadline for municipality to report certain non-residential development fee information. | An Act concerning deadline for certain non-residential development fee reporting and amending P.L.2008, c.46. | 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 |
| A4602 | Concerns deadline for municipality to report certain non-residential development fee information. | This bill provides that municipalities that are authorized to retain and expend non-residential development fees have 180 days following the enactment of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.) on March 20, 2024 to provide the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) with an accounting of all such fees that have been collected and expended since the inception of the municipal authorization to collect and retain the fees. The bill reflects the intent of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.) regarding the reporting of non-residential development fee expenditures, and harmonizes an inconsistency within that enactment. The bill takes effect immediately, and applies retroactively to the enforceability of penalties for noncompliance with the submission deadline. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4599 | Exempts personal information from redaction and nondisclosure requirements in certain public filings and records. | Under current law, certain public officials and employees, such as judges and law enforcement officers, are entitled to have their home address redacted or subject to nondisclosure when a public agency has possession of such information. However, there are certain exceptions when an individual's information may still be disclosed, even if they are otherwise entitled to redaction or nondisclosure. This bill would add to the list of exceptions: (1) recall petitions circulated and signed in this State; (2) any report of campaign contributions or expenditures filed by any individual, candidate, campaign, committee, or other entity under "The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act," or any report or list of such contributions submitted by an entity seeking or holding a public contract; (3) any financial disclosure statement made by a candidate for Governor; and (4) any report of activities required to be submitted by a lobbyist or governmental affairs agent in this State. This bill would also require the director of the Office of Information Privacy to identify and display all exceptions on the secure portal where individuals can request the redaction or nondisclosure of their information. | 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 |
| A4564 | Requires State Parole Board to submit report to Governor and Legislature regarding dispositions of cases. | This bill requires the State Parole Board to issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that contains a summary of the disposition of its cases. Pursuant to this bill, the first report is to provide a summary of dispositions for the 10 immediately preceding years, excluding any years during which the board's operations are deemed by the chairman to have been substantially impaired by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the board's first submission of the report, the board is to subsequently submit the report on an annual basis. This bill also requires that each report submitted by the board include disposition statistics, racial and ethnic demographic information for parolees or inmates who have been denied parole, and recommendations for improvement to the board's case management and services. The board is to annually notify the public upon submission of the report to the Governor and the Legislature, and include a link to the report on the board's Internet website in the notification. | In Committee |
| A4470 | Amends rent receivership statute to provide that court shall appoint receiver under certain conditions; establishes mandatory appointment requirement. | Amends rent receivership statute to provide that court shall appoint receiver under certain conditions; establishes mandatory appointment requirement. | In Committee |
| A2258 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events. | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events. | In Committee |
| A2356 | Establishes advertisement grant program for emerging businesses in science and technology. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) to establish a "New Jersey Emerging Business Advertising Grant Program" to provide funds to emerging businesses in science and technology to support advertising and marketing expenses. The bill defines "emerging business in science and technology" to mean a company with fewer than 225 employees, of whom at least 75 percent are filling a position in New Jersey, which company is doing business, employing or owning capital or property, or maintaining an office in this State. An "emerging business in science and technology" is additionally a business that conducts technology commercialization in this State in at least one of the following industries: advanced computing, advanced materials, biotechnology, electronic device technology, information technology, life sciences, medical device technology, mobile communications technology, or renewable energy technology. To qualify for the grant program, the business is required to be an emerging business in science and technology. The authority may establish any other eligibility requirements that it deems appropriate. The authority is required to determine the amounts of each grant awarded under the program. The bill also requires grant recipients to submit an audited financial statement to the authority to demonstrate compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant program on a yearly basis until all monies have been expended. If a recipient improperly uses the grant, the authority is required to convert the grant to a loan. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2364 | Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | In Committee |
| A4427 | Promotes trauma-informed care in State to mitigate negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (department) to develop and implement a program to promote trauma-informed care in order to mitigate the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress in this State. In implementing the program, the department will, at a minimum: a. develop a trauma-informed care toolkit of resources that provide trauma awareness and self-care education for State employees, increase recognition of signs of adverse child experience exposure, and offer effective interventions to mitigate trauma and build resilience, which toolkit is to be shared across all State agencies and organizations for use at service delivery access points; b. promote a Trauma Awareness Month in New Jersey with appropriate events to be held across the State; c. share information with State employees and community partners on educational and professional development opportunities related to adverse childhood experiences and building resilience; d. create a recognition program for individuals who work in the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum, which may include individuals, divisions within an agency, and community partners, such as schools and school districts; e. identify gaps in available services or service capacity along the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum for children and their caregivers Statewide; f. develop a comprehensive plan focused on early intervention for children and their caregivers exposed to adverse childhood experiences in order to help prevent, and remedy the impact of, abuse and neglect; and g. coordinate the collection, evaluation, and reporting of adverse childhood experience data in the State. The bill requires each State agency that provides services for children and adults to implement best practices for providing trauma-informed care, which will include, but not be limited to: offering regularly scheduled training to staff to increase their knowledge about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress on short-term and long-term health outcomes; promoting strategies to enhance staff resilience and self-care; using trauma-specific language in requests for proposals and in service contracts with providers, when appropriate; and implementing evidence-informed services to prevent and respond to toxic stress and build resilience in children, adults, and communities. | In Committee |
| A4320 | Establishes NJ Task Force on Coordination Among Nonprofit Social Service Organizations. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Task Force on Coordination Among Nonprofit Social Service Organizations. The purpose of the task force is to develop recommendations, through collaboration among representatives of State government and social service organizations in the State, to support efforts to effectively coordinate and streamline services provided by social service organizations in the State by:? promoting shared services to reduce administrative costs;? forming alliances among social service organizations to eliminate duplication of services; and? establishing procedures for the uniform reporting of expenditures by social service organizations to policy makers and the public. Under the provisions of the bill, the task force shall consist of 17 members as follows:? the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Health, and Human Services, or their designees, as ex officio members; and? 13 public members as follows: -- five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and include one representative each from the Center for Non-Profit Corporations, the Area Agencies on Aging, a Statewide social service organization offering women's support services, a Statewide social service organization providing services to people with adult onset disabilities; and a Statewide social service organization offering emergency food and nutrition services; -- three of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate and include one representative each from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey, the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, and a Statewide social service organization offering substance abuse treatment and prevention services; -- three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and include one representative each from The Arc of New Jersey, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey, and a Statewide organization providing environmental advocacy services; -- one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate who is a representative from a Statewide social service organization providing services to the homeless; and -- one appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly who is a representative from a Statewide organization advocating for the arts. Lastly, the task force shall report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 12 months after the initial meeting on its findings and recommendations concerning efforts to effectively coordinate and streamline services provided by social service organizations in the State. The task force shall dissolve upon the issuance of its report. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A4011 | Revises "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act," revises calculation of gas tax rate, and establishes annual fee for zero emission vehicles. | An Act concerning the financing and construction of transportation infrastructure in the State, revising various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A920 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A3261 | Concerns outreach and training for minorities and women in the construction industry. | Concerns outreach and training for minorities and women in the construction industry. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A3968 | Revises tax lien foreclosure process to protect equity accrued by property owner in tax lien foreclosure. | This bill revises New Jersey's tax lien foreclosure laws to comply with the United States Supreme Court's decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, et al., 143 S. Ct. 1369 (2023), and the New Jersey Appellate Division court decision in 257-261 20th Avenue Realty, LLC v. Alessandro Roberto, et al., A-3315-21 (December 4, 2023). In the Tyler decision, the Supreme Court concluded that the taking of the entirety of a property owner's equity in a parcel of real estate because that property owner was delinquent in the payment of property taxes attributable to the parcel of real property violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In the Roberto decision, the Appellate Division found that New Jersey's tax sale law, which established the confiscation of a property owner's equity when a tax lien on a property is foreclosed, violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution as determined in the Tyler case, and also approved the retroactive application of the decision to any foreclosure case pending final judgment to account for the new principle of law established in Tyler (The Appellate Division court referred to this as "pipeline retroactivity"). In order to address the Tyler and Roberto decisions, the bill provides that notwithstanding any provision of the "tax sale law," R.S.54:5-1 et seq., or the "In Rem Tax Foreclosure Act, 1948", P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.), or any other law to the contrary, in the case of a parcel of real property that is the subject of a foreclosure action filed in Superior Court pursuant to the provisions of either law, upon the approval of the action to foreclose the right of redemption by the court, the court may not award a property ownership to the tax lien purchaser. Instead, the court would be required to order: (1) a judicial sale of the property to be conducted by the sheriff of the county in which the property is located, pursuant to any direction or guidance promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs; (2)that the sum of all property taxes paid by the tax lien purchaser, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption that were paid by the tax lien purchaser, would be the first priority lien on the property, paramount to any other lien, including any outstanding municipal lien; and (3) that all costs of the judicial sale incurred by the sheriff's office would be reimbursed from the proceeds of the sale. The bill also provides that the amount received at the judicial sale would be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the property, and in the event that there are no bidders at the judicial sale and the purchaser obtains fee title from the sheriff, the property would be deemed to have no equity. With regard to the disbursement of funds from a judicial sale of a foreclosed property, the bill would require the sheriff to make the following reimbursements from these moneys in the following order not later than 14 days following receipt by the sheriff of the moneys paid by the winning bidder: (1) to the purchaser, the sum of all property taxes paid, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption, notwithstanding any other provision of law. These costs may include, but shall not be limited to, the costs associated with prejudgment noticing, any service and filing fees, and all reasonable attorney's fees; (2) to the municipality in which the real property is located, the amount of any other municipal liens on the property together with interest due and owing thereon; 3) to the sheriff's office, the amounts needed to reimburse the costs of the judicial sale, and (4) to the defendant, all remaining moneys from the judicial sale, except that if the sheriff is unable to locate and forward any remaining moneys to the defendant, those funds would escheat to the municipality. The bill would also prohibit the payment by a bidder at a tax lien sale of a premium payment to the municipality in order to obtain a tax sale certificate, once the interest rate has been bid down to zero. Instead, the bill would require a tax collector to accept interest rate bids in even increments and in fractional interest rates of 0.25percent only. If multiple bidders offer the same lowest rate of interest, the collector would then be required to use a random-number generator to select the successful bidder. If a tax sale certificate is not purchased, the certificate would be struck off to the municipality at the maximum rate of interest allowed by law. The bill would entitle the collector to a fee of five percent of the amount of the delinquent taxes and interest when a tax sale certificate is sold, except that the fee would be included in the face value of the certificate, and the collector would not be entitled to the fee until that certificate is redeemed or purchased. | In Committee |
| A2362 | Establishes New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to reduce financial barriers to teacher certification. Under the bill, the program is to provide scholarships to students completing required clinical practice through a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program at an institution of higher education in the State. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $7,200 for each semester of full-time clinical practice completed in a school in the State. To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State; be enrolled full-time in an approved program of study; and complete any steps required by the approved program of study to be eligible to apply for clinical practice. The bill requires the authority to establish an application process for the program. The authority, in coordination with the Department of Education, may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program. Additionally, the authority, in coordination with the department, is to annually collect data on the program. Finally, the bill details reasons for which a student's scholarship may be terminated. The bill also stipulates that the scholarship is to be terminated if the student is dismissed from the institution of education preparation program for academic or disciplinary reasons or withdraws due to illness. Under the bill, the student would not be required to repay the scholarship in either situation. | In Committee |
| A518 | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | In Committee |
| A1803 | Directs State Board of Education to authorize issuance of new endorsements in certain fields. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of new endorsements in the areas of special education, elementary and middle school education, and bilingual and bicultural education. The bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement authorizes the holder to teach students with disabilities, with the exception of students who are blind or visually impaired or deaf or hard of hearing, in all public schools and in all grade levels. Under the bill, the holder of a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement may provide consultative services and supportive resource programs to students with disabilities in general education programs. The bill further provides that the holder of a current students with disabilities endorsement issued administratively prior to the bill's effective date may be granted the new endorsement upon application to the board. Under current law, special education teachers may teach students classified with disabilities in only the grade levels specified on their other endorsements. The bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a Kindergarten through Grade 8 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement will permit the holder to teach: · students in all public schools in grades kindergarten through six; and · the specialty subjects on the face of the certificate to students in grades seven and eight in all public schools. Under current law, numerous endorsements limit the holder to teaching either only to students in elementary level grades or only to students in middle school grades. Finally, the bill authorizes the State Board of Education to issue a Bilingual and Bicultural Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement will authorize the holder to teach bilingual and bicultural education in all public schools and in all grade levels. Under the bill, a candidate for the endorsement is required to demonstrate oral and writing competence in English and the target language; complete an approved bilingual and bicultural education program; and meet any other requirements established by the board. Under current law, candidates for the Bilingual and Bicultural endorsement are required to have an additional endorsement for subject or grade level to be taught. | In Committee |
| A2225 | Requires certain standards for professional and occupational boards considering applicants with criminal history records. | This bill requires professional and occupational boards in the Division of Consumer Affairs, when determining whether a person is disqualified from certification, registration or licensure because of a prior conviction of a crime, to consider whether the crime directly relates to the profession or occupation regulated by the board. Current law permits a board to refuse to admit a person to an examination or refuse to issue or to suspend or revoke any certificate, registration or license issued by the board upon proof that the applicant or holder of such certificate, registration or license has been convicted of, or engaged in acts constituting, any crime or offense involving moral turpitude or relating adversely to the activity regulated by the board. The bill amends this standard of proof in current law to delete the reference to a crime or offense involving moral turpitude, and requires that the crime or offense be directly related to the activity regulated by the board, rather than adversely related. In addition, the bill supplements current law to provide that no person will be disqualified from obtaining or holding any certificate, registration or license issued by a board solely because of a prior conviction of a crime, unless the crime directly relates to the profession or occupation regulated by the board. In determining whether a crime or offense directly relates to the activity regulated by the board, a board must consider the following: (1) the nature and seriousness of the crime and the passage of time since its commission; (2) the relationship of the crime to the purposes of regulating the profession or occupation regulated by the board; (3) any evidence of rehabilitation of the person in the period of time following the prior conviction; and (4) the relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, and fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of the profession or occupation regulated by the board. The bill provides that a board may not disqualify a person from obtaining or holding a certificate, registration or license issued by the board because of a person's prior conviction of a crime unless it provides the person with a written notice that the board has determined that the conviction may disqualify the person, demonstrates the connection between the conviction and the profession or occupation regulated by the board, and affords the person an opportunity to be heard before the board prior to the board making a final decision on whether to disqualify the person. If the board's final decision is to disqualify the person, the board must notify the person in writing as to the grounds and reasons for the disqualification, the earliest date upon which the person may reapply, and that evidence of rehabilitation may be considered upon reapplication. The bill also provides that a person's prior conviction for any sex offense that would qualify the person for registration under "Megan's Law," or under an equivalent statute of another state or jurisdiction, creates a rebuttable presumption that a direct relationship exists between the prior conviction and the profession or occupation regulated by the board. Finally, the bill requires the division to obtain data concerning the number of, and reasons for, disqualification by any board pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and annually submit a report to the Legislature that provides the disqualification data for each board. | 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 |
| A3584 | Appropriates $70 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill appropriates $70 million in federal funds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations, including for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, the EDA, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (council), would be required to award $50 million in grants to support the financial recovery, resiliency, and growth of qualifying arts and culture organizations. However, of this total, $10 million in grants would be dedicated to arts education organizations that provide programs and services for public schools or afterschool programs. Specifically, these grants may be used to offset any revenue losses that occurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or provide the cash reserves necessary to ensure continued operations in the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns. Additionally, the bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the council, to award $20 million in grants to qualifying arts and culture organizations to support the completion of placemaking projects in public spaces. Under the bill, placemaking projects would include any creative or artistic project intended to beautify or enrich public spaces, such as artistic paintings on roadways or sidewalks, landscape plantings in public areas, educational signage, and other artistic, cultural, or educational installations. The monies appropriated under the bill would be provided from the State's allocation of funds from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L. 117-2. | In Committee |
| AJR105 | Designates November of each year as "New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month." | This resolution Designates November of each year as "New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month." In the United States, public schools identified approximately 1,100,000 homeless children and youth during the 2020-2021 school year. An estimated 1,300,000 children younger than six years of age in 2018-2019 and approximately 4,200,000 youth and young adults in 2017 experienced homelessness. Infants experiencing homelessness are at a higher risk for certain illnesses and health conditions, and families experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience involvement in the child welfare system and difficulty with school attendance. More than one in three high school students experiencing homelessness has attempted suicide, and nearly one in four high school students experiencing homelessness has experienced dating violence. Individuals without a high school degree or general educational development certificate (GED) are three times more likely to report homelessness than their peers, making lack of education the leading risk factor for homelessness. In 2018, the high school graduation rate for students experiencing homelessness was 67.8 percent, compared to 80 percent for low-income students and 85.5 percent for all students. According to the New Jersey 2022 Point-In-Time Count, on the night of January 25th, 2022, a total of 6,631 households, including 8,754 persons, were experiencing homelessness in New Jersey. Of the 6,631 homeless households counted in New Jersey in 2022, 988 were families with at least one child under the age of 18 and one adult. A total of 1,750 persons were identified as chronically homeless, and 978 persons were unsheltered on the night of the count. Homeless youth, which is defined by the New Jersey 2022 Point-In-Time Count as individuals and families with heads of households 24 years old or younger, represented 8.9 percent of the counted homeless population, with 780 persons identified. The rate of youth homelessness is the same in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Twenty-nine percent of unaccompanied homeless youth between 13 and 25 years of age have spent time in foster care, compared to approximately six percent of all children. Homelessness among children and youth is a complex issue that often co-occurs with deep poverty, low education and employment levels, substance misuse and abuse, mental illness, lack of affordable housing, and family conflict. Awareness of child and youth homelessness must be heightened to encourage greater support for effective programs to help children and youth overcome homelessness. | In Committee |
| A2236 | Makes various changes to current system for approval, issuance, administration, and discontinuance of various types of special license plates. | This bill restructures the current system of special license plates which may be issued to New Jersey drivers in place of standard registration plates. Under existing law, there are three main types of special license plates which are issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC): 1) various statutorily-established special license plates that are meant to honor or recognize individuals' affiliations with certain groups or organizations; 2) dedicated cause special license plates that support statutorily identified funds and causes; and 3) special organizational vehicle registration plates, which are approved by the Chief Administrator of the MVC (chief administrator) for certain nonprofit alumni, community, or service organizations upon application to the MVC. Specialty License Plates The bill maintains the current system of issuing special license plates to nonprofit organizations through an application to and approval of the MVC, but alters the existing system by: - changing the name of special organizational vehicle registration plates to specialty registration plates; - requiring a sponsoring organization that is seeking approval of a specialty registration plate to certify that it has at least 1,000 members in good standing in this State; - changing the fee that is required to be paid by a sponsoring organization to the MVC for specialty registration plates from no more than $75 per set to a fee to be determined by the chief administrator; - providing that specialty registration plates may only be approved for organizations, not including those consisting of military service veterans, that have the primary purpose of service to the community through specific programs that promote the improvement of public health, education, or welfare; - requiring that the sponsoring organization maintain nonprofit status for at least five consecutive years prior to applying for a specialty registration plate, provide proof of nonprofit status through the submission of Internal Revenue Service documentation, and maintain its headquarters in this State, unless it is a branch of an international, national, or regional organization; - requiring the sponsoring organization to have an active telephone number published in a telephone directory in this State; - prohibiting certain content on specialty registration plates, including, but not limited to, anything that may be considered offensive, promotes a product, or displays a political or religious message; and - allowing sponsoring organizations to solicit and collect donations from persons applying for specialty registration plates as a condition of issuance, and permitting continued solicitation and collection of voluntary donations from drivers displaying specialty registration plates. Discontinuance of Specialty Registration Plates Under existing law, the chief administrator has the authority to revoke previous approval of a special organization vehicle registration plate only if the organization no longer qualifies for a special plate under the law or has perpetrated fraud against the MVC in obtaining plates for its members. This bill expands this authority by permitting, but not requiring, the chief administrator to revoke the approval of, or prohibit new sales of, specialty registration plates, amateur radio call letter plates, and street rod registration plates, if: - the sponsoring organization fails to comply with provisions of State law governing the use of registration plates; - fewer than 500 sets of new or existing specialty registration plates are sold in the first full fiscal year of sales after the effective date of the bill; or - after a fiscal analysis, the MVC determines it is no longer cost effective to produce a specialty registration plate and offer it for sale. If approved by the chief administrator, discontinued specialty registration plates may continue to be displayed on properly registered vehicles. The sponsoring organization of a discontinued plate may solicit and collect voluntary donations, in accordance with any guidelines established by the chief administrator. If a sponsoring organization's approval is revoked or new sales of its plate are prohibited, the organization may request the chief administrator to approve the manufacture of novelty products using the remaining stock of the discontinued plate, subject to the approval of the chief administrator and the Commissioner of Corrections, who would be responsible for the manufacture of such novelty products. The products would be issued for a fee, to be determined by the chief administrator, to the sponsoring organization and the fees would be considered revenue of the MVC. Discontinuance of Certain Dedicated Cause Plates Under existing law, dedicated cause plates may only be discontinued through an act of the Legislature. Under the bill, the chief administrator may discontinue the production or issuance of a dedicated cause plate if: - less than $7,500 is derived from the annual renewal fee required under existing law for such a plate; and - after fiscal analysis, the MVC determines that it is no longer cost effective to produce the plate and offer it for sale. For any discontinued dedicated cause plate, the entity or organization which receives revenues generated through the issuance and renewal of the plate would be permitted to solicit and collect voluntary donations from those registrants who continue to display the discontinued plates. Reclassification of Dedicated Cause Plates Prior to the discontinuance of any dedicated cause plate, but not later than six month following the effective date, the bill directs any organization or entity which receives funds through the issuance and renewal of dedicated cause plates to apply to be approved by the MVC to become the sponsoring organization of the dedicated cause plate. From that point forward, the dedicated cause plate would be known as a specialty registration plate. The sponsoring organization of a plate would not be required to go through the approval process required for any specialty registration plate established after the effective date of the bill, but the sponsoring organization and specialty registration plate would be required to comply with all laws, rules, and regulations governing organizations and plates. Six months following the effective date of the bill, which serves as the deadline for the reclassification of the dedicated cause plates, the fee for all specialty registration plates, including dedicated cause plates and certain other statutorily-established plates, is to become $35. Six months following the effective date of the bill, all fees generated through the issuance of specialty registration plates, established both before and after the effective date, are to become revenues of the commission. At that time, the MVC is to cease to submit any revenue generated through the sale of dedicated cause plates to the funds or causes the plates support. However, the annual renewal fees required for dedicated cause plates would continue to be collected by the MVC and remitted to the funds or cause the plates support. Novelty License Plates The bill permits the chief administrator, upon the request of a sponsoring organization, to issue novelty license plates which are similar or identical to approved specialty registration plates, but which are not authorized for vehicle registration and may not be mounted on any motor vehicle. The sponsoring organization would have to request a minimum of 100 plates per order and may make such plates available for sale at a cost to be determined by the organization. The bill also permits the MVC to establish and sell commemorative novelty license plates as a way of generating revenue for the MVC. Short Run Graphic Plates The bill authorizes the chief administrator to establish short run graphic plates. As is the case with specialty registration plates, short run graphic plates would bear the name, initials, logotype, graphic, or identifying phrase of a group or organization. These plates would be limited to recognizing groups of less than 100 people who have been recognized or honored as members or individuals affiliated with a community or service organization that, in the chief administrator's determination, has made extraordinary sacrifices. These plates may only be established upon the written request of a member of the Legislature or certain officers of the Executive Branch, which includes, but is not limited to, the Governor or Lieutenant Governor. Other Provisions The bill changes the fee for transferring personalized, courtesy, special license, or specialty registration plates to another motor vehicle from $4.50 to an amount to be determined by the chief administrator. Finally, in order to prevent the potential abuse of certain special registrations that are issued by the chief administrator but are technically only valid for short durations of not more than 10 days, the bill repeals a statutory provision permitting special registrations and special registration plates for motor vehicles used in connection with a convention, conference, meeting, pageant, parade, celebration, or similar function. | In Committee |
| A2233 | Requires public utilities and cable television companies to accommodate and relocate facilities and pay costs thereof when necessary for infrastructure projects. | This bill provides for the accommodation and relocation of public utility and cable television company facilities during the course of an infrastructure project undertaken by the State or a county or municipality (contracting entity). Under current law, the cost associated with the accommodation or relocation of public utility and cable television facilities are calculated into the overall cost of highway projects are paid by the State. This bill would improve the process for public utility and cable television company facility accommodation and relocation and would also require public utilities and cable television companies to bear the costs for the accommodation or relocation of their facilities when a contracting entity is undertaking any infrastructure project. This bill establishes a framework in which contracting entities, and public utilities and cable television companies have delineated rights and responsibilities during an infrastructure project. A contracting entity is required to do the following:· Prepare a written draft infrastructure project work plan and construction schedule for any proposed infrastructure project within its jurisdiction to include a description of the infrastructure project and certain other relevant information about the project and provide notice of it to public utilities and cable television companies.· Provide this notice to any public utility and cable television company which does business or is located within the contracting entity's jurisdiction of any impending infrastructure project within that jurisdiction during the initial planning and design phase of project and no later than 120 calendar days prior to the solicitation of bids for that infrastructure project.· Schedule and hold a coordination meeting between the contracting entity and all authorized representatives from any public utility or cable television company provided notice of the infrastructure project to establish the coordination of the infrastructure project and any public utility or cable television company facility protection or relocation work that is required for purposes of the infrastructure project.· Prepare and distribute a written final infrastructure project work plan and construction schedule for an infrastructure project within its jurisdiction.· Determine if a public utility or cable television facility, in any manner, will delay or prevent the contracting entity from proceeding in the construction and completion of the infrastructure project, and notify the public utility or cable television company that the contracting entity has a set amount of time to relocate, remove, shift, alter, or protect, as appropriate, their facility or facilities so as not to interfere in any way with the infrastructure project.· Determine if the existing public utility or cable television facilities are of a poor and deteriorated condition such that those facilities require replacement and require that the appropriate public utility or cable television company perform this work prior to the completion of the infrastructure project contract. A noticed public utility or cable television company is responsible to do the following:· Undertake all necessary pre-engineering and field location testing, as required, to determine the precise location and extent of their facilities that exist within, and adjacent to, the project area. All costs associated with this pre-engineering are to be borne by the appropriate public utility or the cable television company.· Provide in writing, an accurate description, characteristic, and location of all of their facilities, and a written determination of every facility that will have an impact on the infrastructure project, including whether the characteristic or location of the facility will adversely impact the infrastructure project.· Determine whether it will perform all, or any, of the facility ancillary accommodation or relocation work in accordance with the final infrastructure project work plan and construction schedule. A public utility or cable television company is to be liable to a contracting entity for any impact costs incurred by the contracting entity as a result of the failure of the public utility or cable television company to complete the ancillary accommodation work in accordance with the infrastructure project work plan and construction schedule.· Reimburse a contracting entity for any impact costs associated with ancillary accommodation work when it is determined that, due to circumstances beyond the control of that public utility or cable television company, it cannot eliminate a portion, or all, of the ancillary accommodation work within, or adjacent to, the project area, and that the contracting entity will be required to perform a portion, or all, of the ancillary accommodation work. A violation of this bill's provisions is an unlawful practice and a violation of the consumer fraud act which includes a penalty of not more than $10,000 for the first offense and not more than $20,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. | In Committee |
| A3135 | Creates "Community Wealth Preservation Program"; expands access for certain buyers to purchase property from sheriff's sales. | Under the bill, in the case of residential property in which the bidder will occupy the property for at least 84 months, the bidder will have up to 90 business days to complete the sale, with no interest accruing on the balance of the sale for 60 business days following the sale. If the successful bidder does not pay the balance within this 90 business day period, the bidder would forfeit the deposit on the property and be responsible for the payment of accrued interest and fees or penalties incurred as a result of the sale being void, unless the failure to fulfill the balance is due to the bidder's inability to close a mortgage through no fault of the bidder's own. The bill provides that the sheriff require the foreclosing plaintiff to disclose whether the property is vacant, tenant-occupied, or owner-occupied. Under the bill, a bidder may purchase property in a sheriff's sale by way of financing if the bidder provides documentation that the bidder has been pre-approved by a financial institution for financing the property. A bidder, other than the foreclosed upon defendant or the foreclosed upon defendant's next of kin, may only use the financing option if the property will be the bidder's primary residence. If a successful bidder finances the property and does not use the property as a primary residence, the bidder will be subject to a fine of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for each violation thereafter. However, there are exceptions to the penalties if the bidder must vacate the property due to death of the bidder or the bidder's spouse, disability of the bidder or the bidder's spouse, divorce, military deployment, or foreclosure. To be a successful bidder on a residential property the bidder, who is not the plaintiff, who intends to occupy the property and finance the purchase of the property, shall have received eight hours of homebuyer education and counseling from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and shall present certification of completion of that training at the time of purchase. The bill requires each sheriff's office to maintain information, written in plain language, regarding the program to finance the purchase of residential property in a foreclosure sale on its internet website in a manner that is accessible to the public. Additionally, each sheriff's office is to display information, written in plain language, regarding the program in its office in a manner that is conspicuous to the public. The information posted on a sheriff's website or displayed in a sheriff's office concerning the program must contain language notifying the public that the program excludes those purchasing property for investment purposes. For any county in which the primary language of 10 percent or more of the residents is a language other than English, the bill directs the sheriff's office to provide the information required for the program in that other language or languages in addition to English. The alternate language would be determined based on information from the latest federal decennial census. With the exception of sales conducted pursuant to the Community Wealth Preservation Program, the bill increases the fee to be charged by virtue of an execution sale from 4 to 5 percent, or 6 percent to 10 percent, depending on whether the sum involved is greater than or less than $5,000, respectively. The bill also increases the minimum fee to be charged by virtue of an execution sale from $50 to $150. Finally, the bill provides creditors and creditors' agents with immunity from liability for damages to certain vacant and abandoned property so long as reasonable care is exercised, and clarifies that bidders are not authorized to enter the property prior to the time of sale. | In Committee |
| A2338 | Establishes "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection Pilot Program" in certain counties and cities of first class; makes an appropriation. | This bill establishes in the Department of Law and Public Safety a three-year "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection (RSVP-3) Pilot Program" in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union and in cities of the first class, which include Jersey City and Newark. This program is designed to train law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school staff, and students to identify and report behaviors that signal potential threats to school safety with the intention of giving the school community the tools it needs to detect and prevent school violence before it occurs. According to the sponsor, this bill is intended to provide the State with an opportunity to learn the most effective ways to prevent school shootings from occurring in New Jersey and fulfill its duty to provide a thorough and efficient education that is safe and secure. Following the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education launched a collaborative effort through the Safe School Initiative to perform an extensive examination of 37 incidents of targeted school shootings and school attacks that occurred in the United States from 1974 through May 2000. The focus of the Safe School Initiative was on examining the thinking, planning, and other behaviors of students who carried out school attacks, with particular attention given to identifying pre-attack behaviors and communications that might be detectable and could assist in preventing future attacks. The RSVP-3 pilot program builds upon on an initiative developed in Morris County that is based on many of the key findings of the Safe School Initiative. This bill requires the Attorney General to work in collaboration with the Commissioner of Health and Commissioner of Education to accomplish the goals of the pilot program which include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) creating a threat assessment measurement tool for use by law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school employees, and students to evaluate a potential threat of school violence; (2) developing a scientifically based school violence threat assessment and management training curriculum concerning the identification of behaviors that indicate a potential risk of school violence and the need to report these behaviors; (3) the delivery of the school violence threat assessment and management training curriculum to law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school employees, and students; (4) developing an effective mechanism to immediately report an identified threat of school violence; and (5) establishing procedures for addressing and eliminating an identified threat of school violence. The Attorney General is required to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report containing an evaluation of the pilot program and a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be continued as a Statewide program. In addition, the bill provides for an appropriation from the general fund in the amount necessary to implement the provisions and effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A543 | Requires newly-manufactured school buses to be equipped with global positioning system. | This bill requires school buses manufactured on or after the 180th day after the bill is enacted to be equipped with a global positioning system (GPS). A GPS that is installed on a school bus is to provide information about the location and speed of the school bus in real time. | 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 |
| A2060 | Establishes creative crosswalks pilot program. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, to establish a five-year creative crosswalks pilot program. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, is required to select up to 10 public schools to participate in the program each year. The Commissioner of Education is required to select at least two public schools from each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and is required to seek a cross section of schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. As part of the application to participate in the program, a public school is required to provide information about the need for creative arts activities in the school and documentation certifying that the municipality in which the school district is located has approved the school to participate in the pilot program. Six months following the completion of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Transportation and the Commissioner of Education are to submit a report evaluating the success of the pilot program. | 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 |
| A1488 | Prohibits collection of biometric identifier information by public or private entity under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the collection of biometric identifier information by public or private entities of this State under certain circumstances. Under the bill, any public or private entity of this State is prohibited from collecting, retaining, converting, storing, or sharing any biometric identifier information unless the public or private entity posts clear and conspicuous notice, written in plain language, at every common entryway regarding its use of a biometric surveillance system. The bill defines "biometric surveillance system" to mean any computer system or software that collects biometric identifier information using various methods, including but not limited, to facial, iris, retina, voice, fingerprint, or palm recognition technologies; and "biometric identifier information" to mean any data collected through a biometric surveillance system that assists in identifying a person or capturing information about a person based on the person's unique physical characteristics or traits. Any public or private entity of this State that violates the provisions of this bill would be liable to a civil administrative penalty of $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for any second or subsequent violation. In addition, any pattern of violations of the bill's provisions would constitute a fourth-degree crime. Under the bill, a pattern of violations would be established when a public or private entity is found to have committed five or more violations of the provisions of this bill, provided that each violation occurs on a separate day within the same thirty-day period. A subsequent violation of the bill's provisions committed by a public or private entity after being previously convicted of a fourth-degree crime would be a third-degree crime. A fourth-degree crime is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, a term of imprisonment of three to five years, or both. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A3082 | Permits a marriage or civil union license to be issued and solemnized via audio-visual technology. | This bill would authorize a marriage or civil union license to be issued and solemnized by audio-visual technology. This bill permits a couple, as well as a witness, who wish to marry or enter into a civil union to appear via audio-visual technology before a licensing official in order to obtain a marriage or civil union license. Additionally, this bill will permit solemnization of the marriage or civil union by an individual, religious society, institution, or organization via audio-visual means. Current law requires that individuals who wish to marry or enter into a civil union appear personally before a licensing official and that the marriage or civil union be solemnized in the physical presence of an officiant and two witnesses. Under the bill, receiving a license and having it solemnized via audio-visual technology requires: the video conference be live and allow for interaction between the couple, the licensing official or officiant, and witnesses; members of the couple and witnesses provide valid photo identification and any other documents necessary to allow the licensing official or officiant to fulfill their statutory duty; and each member of the couple and the witnesses sign the pertinent documents and transmit the documents, once signed by all signatories, to the licensing official or officiant. | In Committee |
| A2269 | Clarifies exceptions regarding requirement for person seeking to be made party in certain foreclosure actions. | This bill would clarify the exception under P.L.1954, c.186 (C.54:5-89.1) which allows a person with an interest in a parcel of real property to be admitted to a foreclosure proceeding in cases where less than fair market value has been paid for such interest in the property. Currently, only persons who are related by blood or marriage or who have another close personal relationship with a transferor of real property or if the person acquired an interest in the property through judicial sale, may become a party to the foreclosure action when less than fair market value has been paid for the property interest. This bill clarifies that when a transferor certifies that a licensed real estate appraiser has provided an appraisal on the fair market value, or if the transferor acknowledges the right to receive such an appraisal, but nonetheless chooses to convey the property for less than fair market value, the transferee in such circumstances may also become a party to the foreclosure proceeding. | In Committee |
| A2270 | Establishes Interagency Council on Homelessness. | This bill establishes the "Interagency Council on Homelessness" (council) in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs to replace the statutorily-established "New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force." The bill establishes the council to serve as an advisory body to the existing Office of Homelessness Prevention, to develop recommendations, through a collaborative effort among representatives of State government, providers of services to the homeless, and other concerned representatives of the public, and to develop, promote, and support efforts for the most effective means of coordinating and funding programs to meet the various needs of persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The bill also expands membership of this advisory board. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to notify the members of the New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force of the termination of the task force and otherwise provide for the transfer or other disposition of the records, property, and personnel of task force to the council. This bill requires the council to prepare an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and to submit the report to the Governor and to the Legislature. | Dead |
| 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 |
| A2262 | Requires each school district to have certified school nurse at each school building in district. | This bill requires each school district to employ a certified school nurse at each school building in the district. Current law requires every school district to employ one or more school nurses. Current law also provides that a school district may only employ, for the provision of nursing services, candidates holding an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement issued by the State Board of Examiners. Under the law, however, a school district may supplement the services provided by a certified school nurse with non-certified nurses provided that the non-certified nurses are working in proximity to the certified nurse. Specifically, the law requires a non-certified nurse to be assigned to the same school building or school complex as the certified school nurse. This bill amends current law to specify that each school district is required to have a certified school nurse located at each school building in the district. A school district may continue to supplement the services provided by the certified school nurse employed at each school building in the district with non-certified nurses. | In Committee |
| A2222 | Provides refundable gross income tax credits to staff members at childcare centers. | This bill provides refundable gross income tax credits to staff members at child care centers. The credit is for $1,000 for the taxable year and can be claimed by both individuals in the case of married individuals filing a joint return. If the credit exceeds the taxpayer's liability, the taxpayer will receive a refund for the amount in excess of that liability. The bill will take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning January 1 next following enactment. | In Committee |
| A2281 | Requires certain information to be included in SHBP claims experience data provided to certain public employers. | This bill can be known and may be referred to as the Public Health Transparency Act. Under current law, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) provides upon request and not more than once in a 24-month period complete claims experience data to a public employer other than the State that participates in the SHBP. This bill changes the 24-month period to not more than once per calendar year, and adds language to allow the majority representative of the employees of public employer to be able to request and receive the claims experience data if a public employer requested the data. This bill requires information to be included in the claims experience data. The information includes, but is not limited to, medical claims summary report by classification; top 50 drugs or medicines that require a doctor's prescription by total number dispensed; top 50 drugs or medicines that require a doctor's prescription by total dollars paid; number and type of ongoing maintenance prescriptions by mail order and retail; prescription utilization summary; prescription executive summary report; prescription trend performance summary for each plan design; and a prescription key performance indicator report. Current law requires the State Health Benefits Program to issue claims experience data only in a manner that complies with the privacy requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, HIPPA, and related regulations. In addition, the bill specifies that no information will be released in such form as to result in the identification of an individual or in such form as to adversely affect personal privacy rights. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A3046 | Establishes requirements for fee disclosure and for fees allowed as part of sale for certain tickets. | This bill requires, as defined in current law, a person, reseller, ticket broker, ticket issuer, and ticket resale website to disclose the total cost of a ticket, including all ancillary fees, including any service charge, to be paid in order to complete the purchase of a ticket. This is to be disclosed in a clear and conspicuous manner, in dollars, to the ticket purchaser. If a ticket is sold through a website, the information required to be disclosed is to be displayed prior to the ticket being selected for purchase. The information disclosed is not to be false or misleading, and is not to be presented more prominently or in the same or larger size as the total price. Moreover, the price of a ticket sold through a website is not to increase during the purchase process, excluding reasonable fees for delivery of non-electronic tickets based on the delivery method selected by the purchaser prior to payment for the ticket. Additionally, if a price is charged for admission to a venue, a place of entertainment, or their agent, representative, employee or licensee, cannot exact, demand, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, any premium or price in excess of the set price plus lawful taxes whether designated as price, gratuity, or otherwise. However, nothing is to be construed to prohibit: (1) a reasonable service charge by the place of entertainment or an agent in charge of special services for the place of entertainment, including, but not limited to, sales away from the box office, credit card sales, or delivery; or (2) a place of entertainment or its agent from offering initial sale tickets by means of an auction. A reasonable and actual cost for the physical delivery of tickets may be charged by a seller or reseller based on the method of delivery selected by the buyer, provided, however, that no delivery fee is to be charged by a seller or reseller for tickets delivered electronically or tickets that may be printed independently by the buyer. | In Committee |
| A3077 | Provides for reciprocity of certain out-of-State EMT certification; establishes criminal history record background check process. | This bill allows a person who possesses an EMT certification in good standing from another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to obtain a New Jersey EMT certification from the Commissioner of Health provided that the standards of the other jurisdiction exceed or are equal to New Jersey's certification standard and is not disqualified under this bill. The Commissioner of Health is required to make a determination upon candidates' applications for EMT certification within 30 days of the receipt of the complete application and criminal history records background check. The bill also provides that an EMT certified by the department prior to the bill's enactment is required to undergo a criminal history record background check following the bill's enactment upon renewal of the certification. A follow-up criminal history record background check of federal records is to be conducted at least once every three years as a condition of recertification for every EMT. The bill establishes certain crimes for which a person would be disqualified from receiving an EMT certification. Those crimes or offenses include: homicide; assault; kidnapping; sexual assault; robbery; arson; causing or risking widespread injury or damage; crimes or offenses involving forgery; crimes or offenses against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in N.J.S.2C:24-1 et seq.; certain crimes involving theft; certain crimes involving controlled dangerous substances; and sex offenses for which a person would be required to register under Megan's Law. A person with a disqualifying criminal record would be entitled to affirmatively demonstrate to the commissioner clear and convincing evidence of the rehabilitation under certain circumstances. A person convicted of Megan's Law sex offenses would not be entitled to demonstrate evidence of rehabilitation. The commissioner shall not issue an EMT certification or shall revoke a certification of a person who refuses to consent to or cooperate in securing a criminal history background check. The bill also provides for a written notice of criminal history disqualification and a request for a hearing on the accuracy of a person's criminal history record information or on the demonstration of the rehabilitation of the person from a listed crime or offense. The Department of Health may require an EMT certification candidate to bear the costs of a criminal history record background check. | Dead |
| A2895 | Upgrades certain penalties for criminal street gang recruitment and criminality; imposes mandatory minimum sentence for certain offenses; establishes accomplice liability and imposes restrictions for certain recruiters. | This bill upgrades certain penalties for criminal street gang recruitment and criminality, requires a court to impose a mandatory minimum sentence for certain offenses of criminal street gang recruitment of minors, establishes accomplice liability and imposes residency, employment, and hiring restrictions for certain recruiters. Current law provides that a defendant is guilty of an offense if it is committed by the defendant's own conduct, or by the conduct of another person for which the defendant is legally accountable. This bill provides that a defendant will be held accountable for the conduct of another person for a criminal act as an accomplice if the act is committed by a person that the defendant has caused, encouraged, intimidated, coerced, or solicited to commit the act while soliciting or recruiting the person to join or actively participate in a criminal street gang. Currently, it is a crime of the second degree to solicit, recruit, coerce, or threaten a minor to join or actively participate in a criminal street gang. A person who commits this crime on school property commits a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The bill requires a person who is convicted of soliciting or recruiting a minor to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years during which time the defendant will be ineligible for parole. A person who is convicted of soliciting or recruiting a minor under 14 years of age will be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years during which time the defendant will be ineligible for parole. The court is not permitted to suspend the sentence or make any other non-custodial disposition of a defendant sentenced pursuant to these provisions. The bill's provisions also require a defendant who inflicts significant bodily injury upon another while soliciting or recruiting a person to join or actively participate in a criminal street gang to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years during which time the defendant will be ineligible for parole. The bill also amends the law related to gang criminality. Under current law, a defendant is guilty of the crime of gang criminality if the defendant, whether as a principal or an accomplice, commits certain specified crimes if the crime was committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang. The bill provides that a defendant will also be guilty of the crime of gang criminality if the crime was committed while causing, encouraging, intimidating, coercing, soliciting, or recruiting another to join or actively participate in a criminal street gang. The bill further provides that a defendant convicted as an accomplice for a crime committed by a person under 18 years of age who was solicited by the defendant to join a criminal street gang, commits a crime of the first degree and will be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years during which time the defendant shall be ineligible for parole. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. The bill also provides that a person convicted of soliciting or recruiting a minor to join a criminal street gang, or who is convicted of the offense while on school property, commits a crime of the fourth degree if the person resides within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school or playground. A person is not subject to these residency restrictions if: the person is required to serve a sentence at a jail, prison, juvenile facility, or other correctional institution or facility which is located within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school or playground; the person is receiving treatment at a mental health facility located within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, child care center, or playground; the person established the residence prior to the effective date of the bill; an elementary or secondary school, child care center, or playground is built or established within 500 feet of the person's existing residence; or the parole board, after considering an individual's housing options, determines that a needs-based exception is required. The provisions of the bill also provide that a person convicted of soliciting or recruiting a minor, or convicted of doing so on school property, who volunteers or is employed at a job which primarily consists of contact with children commits a crime of the fourth degree. "Primarily consists of contact with children" is defined under the bill to mean that 80 percent or more of the actual or official duties or responsibilities include contact with a child. It also is a crime of the fourth degree under the bill for a person to knowingly hire or provide a volunteer position which primarily consists of contact with children to a person convicted of soliciting or recruiting a minor on school property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A1621 | Requires public schools, and nonpublic schools which receive federal funding, to provide students with information on rights afforded under Title IX, and provide contact information for Title IX coordinator. | This bill requires each public school, and each nonpublic school which receives federal funds and is subject to the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. s.1681 et seq.), to post on its website in an easily accessible location the following information:· the rights afforded to a student and the responsibilities of the school under Title IX; · the name and contact information of the Title IX coordinator for the school, including the Title IX coordinator's phone number and e-mail address; and· the procedure to file a complaint under Title IX. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to annually disseminate through electronic means a letter to each public school, and to each nonpublic school which receives federal funds and is subject to the requirements of Title IX, informing the school of the rights afforded to a student and the responsibilities of the school under Title IX. | In Committee |
| A3070 | Requires State entities to recycle certain materials and provide recycling bins in State buildings. | This bill would require State governmental entities to source separate and recycle any aluminum, corrugated cardboard, glass, paper, or plastic waste generated at buildings and facilities owned, leased, or operated by the State entity. Under the bill, every State entity would be required to establish procedures for the collection and storage of any materials to be recycled under the bill, and make necessary contractual arrangements for the collection, transportation, and recycling of those materials. State entities also would be required as to provide adequate receptacles, signage, information, education, and staffing at buildings and facilities owned, leased, or operated by the State entities to ensure compliance with the bill. The provisions of the bill would not apply to any building or facility located in a State park or forest where the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is implementing a "carry-in, carry-out" trash program in which visitors to the State park or forest are required to take their trash with them upon departing the State park or forest. The bill would require the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the DEP, to (1) prepare and distribute guidance to assist State entities with compliance, and (2) work with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Legislature to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill by the Judicial and Legislative Branches of State Government, respectively. | In Committee |
| A3127 | Amends Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to extend ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program eligibility to homestead owners and tenants who made payments in lieu of taxes. | This bill amends the Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to extend ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program (ANCHOR Program) eligibility to residences on which a homestead owner or tenant made one or more payments in lieu of taxes to the municipality in which the residence is located. Currently, the Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act does not expressly grant eligibility for the property tax benefit under the ANCHOR program to homestead owners and tenants who made payments in lieu of taxes. However, as implemented by the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, tenants who lived in rental units that operate under a payment in lieu of tax agreement with their municipality are eligible for the property tax benefit under the ANCHOR program in Fiscal Year 2024. This bill would amend the Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to provide that both homestead owners and renters who made payments in lieu of taxes are eligible for the ANCHOR benefit. The bill requires eligible homestead owners and residents to submit an application to the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury no later than March 1, 2024 in order to be eligible for the 2020 property tax benefit under the ANCHOR Program. | 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 |
| A2484 | Eliminates fee for filing certified copy of name change order. | Under current law, a $50 fee is charged for filing a certified copy of an order for change of name. Many New Jersey residents seek a change of name each year for reasons including marriage and divorce. This bill eliminates the fee for filing a certified copy of a name change order in this State. | In Committee |
| A553 | Requires MVC to establish system for salvage processors to electronically process salvage certificates of title. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to allow salvage processors to electronically submit applications for the issuance of salvage certificates of title and certificates of ownership, documentation supporting those applications, and any required fees. The bill also requires the chief administrator to allow salvage processors to print salvage certificates of title and certificates of ownership at the facility of the salvage processor. | In Committee |
| A2186 | Requires ticket website operators to display certain information regarding ticket availability. | This bill requires ticket website operators display certain information regarding ticket availability. Specifically, the bill requires website operators to display the total number of tickets per venue that will be made available; the number of tickets that had been released to date; and the number of tickets that had been sold to date. Requiring that ticket website operators publicly display this information will create greater transparency about ticket supply and combat the practice of surge pricing, where ticket website operators greatly increase the price of tickets with high demand. Making this information available to consumers will allow them to make a more informed decision when purchasing tickets online. | 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 |
| A2273 | Requires each State cabinet level department to establish office dedicated to language and disability access. | This bill requires each cabinet level department in the State to establish a division to address potential barriers and gaps in language and disability access in order to support full inclusion and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities who work for, or receive services from, the department. The division administrator and head will be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the division and is to devote his or her entire time to the performance of those duties. The division is to be responsible for the following: developing a language and disability access plan reflecting the principles of full inclusion and equal access for persons with disabilities who work for, or receive services from, the department in which the division is established in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; implementing and coordinating the use of strategies, identified by the language and disability access plan, for effective communication, including but not limited to, language interpretation, sign language interpretation, and language translation for persons who are blind, low vision, deaf, or hard of hearing, and program accessibility, physical accessibility, and reasonable accommodations and modifications for persons with physical disabilities; and providing an annual report to the commissioner of the department in which the division is established, and the public on the department's progress in removing barriers and gaps in language and disability access for persons with disabilities who work for, or receive services from, the department. | 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 |
| AJR47 | Designates Saturday before Thanksgiving Day as "National Adoption Day" and designates November as "National Adoption Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day as "National Adoption Day" and designates the month of November as "National Adoption Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of adoption services and the foster care system, to educate prospective parents about the options available to them when considering adoption, and to celebrate finalized adoptions for families. Many children in the foster care system do not receive the appropriate emotional and financial support necessary to succeed in life that other children receive from their families. Children in foster care may experience more physical, emotional, and psychological trauma in their lifetimes than their peers, adding to the difficulties endured while waiting for a permanent home. While adoption statistics are trending in the right direction, there is still a vast need to encourage more parents to consider adoption, and that begins with a willingness to expedite the adoption process and celebrate its success. Starting with former Los Angeles Presiding Judge Michael Nash in the 1990s, celebrations have been held during the month of November aimed at finalizing adoptions and recognizing the newly united families. Many county vicinages in New Jersey host National Adoption Day services during the week prior to Thanksgiving Day, in part to unite families before the holiday season, but generally to bring awareness to the thousands of children that continue to wait for a resolution, especially for children who spend years in the system and teenagers who are close to aging out and becoming independent. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to designate the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day as "National Adoption Day" and designate the month of November as "National Adoption Month" in New Jersey. | 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 |
| A2287 | Revises polysomnography licensing renewal standards. | This bill revises polysomnography licensing renewal standards. Under the bill, an individual who is applying to renew his or her State license to practice polysomnography is not to be required to complete any educational courses or credits to renew the license, if those educational courses or credits are required for an individual to receive his or her initial State license to practice polysomnography. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A2266 | Imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in certain correctional facilities; requires correctional facilities to allow contact visits. | This bill imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in State, county, and private correctional facilities and requires correctional facilities to allow inmates to have contact visits. Under the provisions of this bill, the State Treasurer or other appropriate person on behalf of the county or private correctional facility is to contract with a vendor who charges a per minute rate for video visitation, including video visitation that is accessed by visitors from a location other than a correctional facility, which is not to exceed 11 cents per minute and who is the lowest responsible bidder. A vendor is not to bill any service charge or additional fee exceeding the per minute rate. The bill also provides that a State, county, or private correctional facility is not permitted to receive a commission or impose a surcharge for video visitation usage by inmates in addition to the charges imposed by the service provider. Further, under the bill, the contract is to include a term that requires monetary penalties to be imposed on a vendor who does not maintain consistent and reliable quality of the video visitation service. In addition, a video visitation service provider is required to refund, in a timely manner, any charges imposed: (1) for a scheduled video visitation that does not occur for any reason other than the fault of the visitor; or (2) any video visitation in which communication between the inmate and the visitor is substantially impaired due to low quality audio or video. The bill prohibits a State, county, or private correctional facility from imposing a charge for video visitation between an inmate and the inmate's attorney, a representative of the attorney, or a member of the clergy. In addition, correctional facilities are required to allow inmates to have contact visits with approved visitors and may only impose reasonable conditions necessary for safety and security within the correctional facility. Finally, correctional facilities are required to implement reasonable visiting hours for both contact visits and video visitation. | In Committee |
| A3329 | Requires landlord to provide various kitchen appliances in certain dwelling units offered for rent. | This bill requires that every dwelling unit made available to a residential tenant contain, in order to be deemed habitable and fit for human occupation, a refrigerator in good operating condition, and a stove, which, if electrical, is safely connected to an electrical system of sufficient capacity, or if gas, is connected by permanent fixtures and tubing to avoid leakage of gas. This bill provides that a landlord who violates the provisions of this bill shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $500 for each offense, to be collected and enforced upon the complaint of the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Attorney General, or any aggrieved tenant. Further, a landlord who violates the provisions of this bill may also be subject to a separate cause of action, which may be brought by the aggrieved tenant in the Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part in the county in which the dwelling unit is located, who may recover for the actual damage sustained by reason of the violation, including costs and reasonable attorney's fees. | In Committee |
| A2827 | Requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing. | This bill requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Corrections and the chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of any county correctional facility are required to offer blood testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to every inmate who is sentenced to a term of incarceration at a State or county correctional facility. The testing at State and county correctional facilities would be offered upon commencement of an inmate's period of confinement; however, an inmate is not to be required to submit to the testing. | In Committee |
| A2851 | Requires Homelessness Prevention Program agencies to remain open during public health emergency and provides for funding of each agency. | This bill requires that one Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) agency operates in certain populous counties and that all HPP agencies remain open during public health emergencies. Under the bill, "populous county" means any county with a population of 350,000 or more, according to the most recent federal decennial census. The bill specifically requires the Department of Community Affairs to provide funding to ensure that one agency is established in populous counties to help manage and implement the HPP within that populous county. Under the bill, if federal funding intended to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not available to satisfy the full amount of establishing this agency within a populous county, then the Commissioner of Community Affairs is permitted to notify the State Treasurer and the Joint Budget Oversight Committee of the Legislature of the deficiency and to request that the Legislature appropriate a portion of the remainder from the General Fund, or other available State funding sources. | In Committee |
| A115 | "New Jersey Disability Savings Act." | This bill expands the "New Jersey Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program," P.L.2015, c.185 (C.52:18A-250 et al.) to incentivize qualified individuals with disabilities and their families to save for disability-related expenses in tax-advantaged savings accounts, known as ABLE accounts. Pursuant to current federal statute, qualified individuals who have significant disabilities with onset prior to age 26 years, and who receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, may contribute as much as the federal gift tax limit, or $16,000 in 2022, to a qualifying ABLE account. Individuals with disabilities, or their parent or guardian, may open an ABLE account in the individual's state of residence, or in another state. As of January 2022, there are 49 ABLE plans operating nationwide. Funds deposited into an ABLE account may only be used for qualifying disability-related expenses such as transportation, housing, education, assistive technology, legal fees, and personal support services. Distributions from a New Jersey ABLE account are not subject to federal tax, provided the distributions do not exceed the individual's disability-related expenses for the year. New Jersey statute currently limits total lifetime contributions to an ABLE account to $305,000. Once the value of an ABLE account exceeds $100,000, SSI cash benefits for the ABLE account owner are suspended until the account's value falls below this threshold. However, a qualifying individual will not lose Medicaid benefits, no matter the balance in an ABLE account. Pursuant to the bill, all contributions to a qualifying New Jersey ABLE account are fully-deductible on a New Jersey State tax return, similar to qualifying contributions to the State's Section 529 educational savings program, known as the NJBEST. As amended, the bill additionally incentivizes taxpayer savings in New Jersey ABLE accounts by providing up to $750 in dollar-for-dollar matching funds for taxpayers whose gross annual income equals $150,000 or less, and who deposit funds into a newly opened ABLE account. It is important to note, however, that the savings incentives instituted under this bill are subject to the annual appropriations process. Therefore, the bill authorizes the Department of Human Services to select a methodology for allocating these incentive funds in years in which State appropriations for these incentive payments are insufficient to fulfill the provisions of the bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2283 | The "Family and Private Burial Grounds Preservation Act." | This bill, sections 1 through 14 of which would be known as the "Family and Private Burial Grounds Preservation Act," would provide the legal protection necessary to prevent the disturbance and destruction of burial grounds in the State that have been established and used exclusively by private persons or families. For ease of practical application, the bill would define "family or private burial ground" (burial ground) to mean, in particular, a cemetery that (1) contains the remains of two or more persons; (2) is clearly identified through the intentional placement of stone tablets, markers, or tombstones, fencing, memorial stones or statutes, or through some other obvious means; (3) is not owned or operated by a government entity, by a religious corporation or organization, or by a cemetery company that has received authorization to operate pursuant to the provisions of the "New Jersey Cemetery Act of 2003;" and (4) is not located on land that has ever been used for the purpose of public burials. The bill would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to administer and enforce its provisions, and it would grant the DEP general supervisory and regulatory authority, and jurisdiction, over all family and private burial grounds in the State. The bill would make it unlawful, in particular, for any person to intentionally, willfully, or knowingly: (1) disturb, destroy, mutilate, deface, or injure a family or private burial ground or any human skeletal remains or burial objects contained therein; (2) tamper with an interment space, or expose through excavation, disinter, or remove any human skeletal remains or burial objects contained in a burial ground's interment spaces; (3) destroy, mutilate, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any ornamentation, or any tombstone, monument, stone marker, statue, or other memorial structure in a burial ground; (4) destroy, mutilate, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any fence, railing, or other structure that has been erected along the boundary of a burial ground; or (5) allow any person, entity, or group access, or facilitate such access, to a burial ground for any of the above-listed purposes. In addition, the bill would require any new construction, excavation, or building in the area of a burial ground to comply with local land use regulations concerning burial sites, burial grounds, or cemeteries. The bill would specify, moreover, that in the absence of applicable local regulations, no new construction, excavation, or building may be conducted within 15 feet of the boundaries of a burial ground, except when such activity is approved, in writing, by a relative of each person interred in the burial ground, or is determined to be necessary for: (1) the protection of public health; (2) the construction of capital improvements or the provision of essential public services; (3) the construction of a State highway; or (4) the construction, in accordance with specified limitations, of a private sewer line connection to a public sewer system. Pursuant to the bill's provisions, a person who owns property on which a burial ground is located would be required to report the existence of the burial ground to the DEP within 120 days after the bill's effective date, and also to record the existence of the burial ground in the deed to the property. The bill, however, would allow a property owner to apply to the municipality to take possession of any burial ground on the property, and to convey to the municipality, the property owner's interest therein. In addition, if the DEP or the local board of health concludes that a burial ground has been neglected by a property owner to the point that it has become a public hazard or nuisance, the department or the local board of health, as the case may be, would be authorized to apply to the municipality to take possession of the burial ground pursuant to the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971." A municipality that has acquired a burial ground would be authorized to convert the burial ground to serve another purpose only if such conversion is approved, in writing, by a living relative of each person interred therein, or is determined to be necessary for one of the reasons listed above, for which construction, excavation, or building activities may be authorized. The bill would allow the department to authorize the total dismantling of a burial ground and the permanent disinterment and reinterment in another cemetery of the human skeletal remains and burial objects contained therein, only if such action: (1) is deemed by the department to be necessary and appropriate for the purposes of facilitating an approved municipal conversion of a burial ground, or an approved construction, excavation, or building activity taking place on or near a burial ground, or (2) is otherwise approved, in writing, by a living relative of each person interred in the burial ground. Any person who gives such written relative approval - whether for the municipal conversion of a burial ground, for construction, excavation, or building activities taking place on or near a burial ground, or for the permanent disinterment of human skeletal remains or burial objects in a burial ground - would be liable, in addition to any other applicable penalties, for damages caused by a false statement. The bill would require any human skeletal remains or burial objects that are either lawfully or unlawfully recovered from a burial ground to be reinterred, as soon as is reasonably possible, in the same burial ground from which they were taken, except in the case that permanent disinterment has been authorized by the department. In such a case, the bill would require any disinterred human skeletal remains or burial objects to be reinterred in a cemetery that is owned or operated by a cemetery company, religious corporation or organization, or government entity. Failure to comply with any of the bill's provisions would subject a violator to both criminal and civil liability. In particular, a person who violates the bill's provisions would be guilty of: (1) a criminal offense, ranging from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the second degree, as provided by N.J.S.2C:17-3 (criminal mischief; tampering with grave site), N.J.S.2C:20-2 (general theft; theft of human remains), section 1 of P.L.2007, c.321 (C.2C:20-2.3) (theft of headstones or flags from grave sites), section 1 of P.L.2002, c.127 (C.2C:22-1) (disturbance or desecration of human remains), or section 2 of P.L.1981, c.282 (C.2C:33-11) (exposure to threat of violence through defacement of private cemetery property), as applicable; or (2) a disorderly persons offense, subject to a fine of up to $25,000, if none of the penalty provisions identified in paragraph (1) is applicable to the violative conduct; or (3) a crime of the fourth degree, subject to imprisonment and a fine of no less than $25,000 nor more than $100,000, if: (a) none of the penalty provisions identified in paragraph (1) is applicable to the violative conduct, and (b) the offender has previously been convicted of violating the bill's provisions. A court would be authorized to suspend a sentence of imprisonment imposed for such an offense only if the court determines that imprisonment would result in manifest injustice. A person who violates the provisions of section 4 or 5 of this bill with the specific intent to attain an economic benefit therefrom, would additionally be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and would be subject to a sentence of imprisonment of not less than one year, nor more than five years, and a fine of not less than $100,000, nor more than $10,000,000, which fine must be consistent with, and based upon, the value of the economic benefit attained by the offender as a result of the violation. "Economic benefit" would be defined to include, among other things, the investment and resale value gained, and that may be realized, from an increase in the usability of land on which the burial ground is located, or from an improvement of the aesthetics thereof, which results from a violation under the bill. In addition to the criminal penalties provided by the bill and any other penalties provided by law, a person who desecrates or destroys a burial ground or the human remains or objects therein, would be subject, under the bill's provisions, to a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for a first offense, and up to $200,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The bill would authorize a court, moreover, to hold a person vicariously liable, in certain circumstances, for offensive conduct that is engaged in by the person's agent or authorized representative. Finally, the bill would authorize any aggrieved relative of a person interred in a compromised burial ground to file a civil action for damages against the person responsible for causing the harm to the interment spaces or remains of the relative's relations. A prevailing relative in such a case would be entitled to the receipt of damages amounting to three times the value of all costs incurred by the relative to remedy the effects of violation. In addition, the prevailing relative would be entitled to damages for emotional distress and reimbursement for out-of-pocket litigation expenses. By providing for the imposition of significant civil and criminal penalties, the granting of civil damage awards, and the finding of vicarious liability, the bill endeavors to create a system of deterrence that will effectively protect family and private burial grounds against encroachment or destruction by corporate actors or big business interests who may receive a substantial net benefit from destruction thereof, and who, therefore, may not be dissuaded from violations of the bill absent the existence of such substantial penalties. With the exception of awards for civil damages, any civil or criminal penalties that are collected in accordance with the bill's provisions would be deposited in the "Family and Private Burial Grounds Preservation Fund," which would be established and maintained by the department pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill would also require the deposit into the Fund of any additional moneys that are appropriated or allocated to, or otherwise received by, the department for the bill's purposes. | 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 |
| A3124 | Establishes Office of Community Schools; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the Office of Community Schools in the Department of Education. The purpose of the office is to address student needs through community-based educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education is to establish the office, which is to consist of individuals qualified by training and experience related to community-based learning. The duties of the office include, but are not limited to: (1) providing training and support for public schools interested in adopting community school strategies; (2) increasing the knowledge and skills of school staff and community partners to aid in the implementation, management, and sustainability of community schools; (3) providing grants to public schools for the purposes of adopting community school strategies; (4) providing a list of school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools that have established community schools, to be published on the department's Internet website; (5) increasing Statewide capacity to support effective community school strategies; and (6) identifying and evaluating community schools' needs in order to provide tailored technical assistance and professional development opportunities The bill also requires the office to submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature that includes a summary of the services provided. The bill appropriates $10 million to the department to establish the office. | In Committee |
| A2252 | Establishes the "New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Commission" and appropriates $9 million. | This bill, the "New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Commission Act," establishes the "New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Commission" in, but not of, the Department of State. The commission will consist of 27 members as follows: (1) the President of the Senate, or a designee; (2) the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; (3) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or a designee; (4) the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, or a designee; (5) two members of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus, one of whom will be a member of the Senate and one of whom will be a member of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, respectively, at the recommendation of the caucus chairperson; (6) two members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, one of whom will be a member of the Senate and one of whom will be a member of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, respectively, at the recommendation of the caucus chairperson; (7) the Governor, or a designee; (8) the Secretary of State, or a designee; (9) the Commissioner of the Department of Health, or a designee; (10) three individuals representing municipalities in this State, reflecting the geographic diversity of the State, appointed by the Secretary of State; (11) four individuals representing counties in this State, reflecting the geographic diversity of the State, appointed by the Governor; (12) one representative each from four different organizations representing the interests of minorities in the State, appointed by the Secretary of State; (13) one representative each from three different organizations representing the interests of business in the State, including one organization representing minority business interests, appointed by the Governor; and (14) two individuals representing community-based, philanthropic, non-profit, educational, civic, and faith-based organizations, appointed by the Secretary of State. The duty of the commission is to develop, recommend, and assist in the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine outreach strategy to encourage the population of New Jersey to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine outreach strategy will include, but not be limited to, the following: State agency initiatives to encourage vaccination; the establishment and support of school-based outreach programs; partnerships with non-profit community-based organizations; a multi-lingual and multi-cultural multi-media campaign with information that may be widely disseminated through print, audio, television, the Internet, and social media in this State among all of its diverse populations and communities on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and the resources available to do so; and ensuring that populations with historically low vaccination rates are included in the outreach efforts. To assist in carrying out its duties, the commission may create and appoint subcommittees as it deems appropriate and will solicit participation from relevant experts and practitioners involved in mass vaccination initiatives. The bill requires the outreach strategy to be coordinate through the Office of the Secretary of State, which will provide administrative support to the commission and coordinate with all State agencies and constitutional officers, as well as units of local government, to identify effective methods of outreach to New Jersey's population and to provide resources to ensure the outreach program is successful. All State agencies are required to inform the Office of the Secretary of State of their designated COVID-19 vaccine outreach coordinator and cooperate with the commission and provide support to the commission. Other entities of government, including other constitutional officers, the offices of the legislative and judicial branches, and units of local government are required to cooperate and provide all reasonable assistance to the commission. The bill appropriates to the "New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Commission" from the General Fund the sum of $9,000,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act. Any unexpended funds from this amount appropriated will be transferred to the State Treasury upon the expiration of this act. The commission is required to submit an interim report to the Governor and to the Legislature within three months of its organizational meeting, containing its recommended outreach strategy to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. Thereafter, the commission will submit its final report to the Governor and to the Legislature no later than June 30, 2022, specifying its recommended COVID-19 vaccine outreach strategy. The commission will expire on January 1, 2023. | In Committee |
| A2246 | Establishes criminal penalties for production, sale, and use of false COVID-19 vaccination verification card; requires AG to establish COVID-19 vaccination fraud prevention program. | This bill establishes certain criminal penalties in connection with documents that falsely purport to be a verification issued by a governmental agency of a person having received one or more doses of a vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and requires the Attorney General to establish a COVID-19 vaccination fraud prevention program. Under the bill, a person who knowingly sells, offers or exposes for sale, or otherwise transfers, or possesses with the intent to sell, offer or expose for sale, or otherwise transfer a false SARS-CoV-2 vaccination verification card, or who makes or possesses the devices or materials to make false SARS-CoV-2 vaccination verification cards, will be guilty of a crime of the second degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, up to a $150,000 fine, or both. A person who knowingly exhibits, displays or utters a false COVID-18 vaccination verification card will be guilty of a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, up to a $15,000 fine, or both. A person who knowingly possesses a false COVID-19 vaccination verification card will be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, up to a $10,000 fine, or both. The Attorney General will be required to develop a COVID-19 vaccination fraud prevention program, which will focus on preventing and prosecuting the production, sale, distribution, and use of counterfeit SARS-CoV-2 vaccination cards and other materials that enable a person who has not received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to falsely indicate that the person has received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. For this purpose, the Office of the Attorney General will be provided access to information contained in the New Jersey Immunization Information System established pursuant to P.L.2004, c.138 (C.26:4-131 et seq.) concerning SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, for the sole purpose of verifying the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status of an individual suspected of falsely purporting to have received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Any information concerning an individual obtained by the program from the New Jersey Immunization Information System will be held confidential, and may not be shared or released by the program for any purpose, other than to directly aid in the investigation and prosecution of COVID-19 vaccination fraud. The Attorney General will be required to develop the COVID-19 vaccination fraud program no later than 30 days after the effective date of the bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2290 | Revises "Paratransit Services Improvement Act"; transfers $6 million from NJT to DHS. | The bill revises certain provisions of the paratransit best practices pilot program. The pilot program was established with the goal of better integrating the paratransit services within the State. Under the first phase of the pilot program, a paratransit best practices training module is to be developed. Under the second phase of the pilot program, certain paratransit providers are to receive training in paratransit best practices. Depending upon the success of phase two of the pilot program, phase three will involve either developing the training module into a best practices training package that other paratransit providers can adopt or a determination of some other method of integrating paratransit service so that paratransit providers meeting certain standards can compete for regular and routine paratransit trips. The bill changes the entity bearing responsibility for developing and implementing phase one of the pilot program from the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to the Division of Developmental Disabilities within the Department of Human Services (division). The bill authorizes qualified community organizations (organizations) to submit proposals for the development of the best practices training module to the division. The bill further requires the division, in consultation with the NJT, to select the organization best suited to develop the training module within 90 days from the date of the bill's enactment. Thereafter, the organization would be required to establish the completed training module on or before the 180th day after being selected by the division, thereby completing phase one of the pilot program. Following completion of phase one, NJT would be required to assume primary responsibility for the administration of the pilot program. Under phase two, six paratransit providers would be selected by the organization, in consultation with NJT, with three chosen from the southern region of the State and three from the northern region of the State. The organization is required to begin accepting applications no more than 30 days after the completion of phase one and is required to select the paratransit providers that are to receive training no more than 90 days after the end of the application period. Finally, the bill transfers $6 million, from the amounts appropriated to NJT under the FY2023 appropriations act, to the division for the purposes of developing and implementing the pilot program. | In Committee |
| A2260 | Defines "mobile home park" as "multiple dwelling" for inspection purposes. | This bill would place mobile home parks under the provisions of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1976, c.76 (C.55:13A-1) in order to provide residents of mobile home parks with the same benefit of periodic inspection and code enforcement now provided by law to apartment residents. The main focus of inspections would be on such services as plumbing, water and electrical hook-ups, sanitation including septic systems, and grounds maintenance, including safety hazards and crowding. The bill includes language limiting the scope of inspection in mobile home parks and clarifies the circumstances under which a municipality may undertake the inspection of mobile home parks. | In Committee |
| A2833 | Requires notice to be provided by municipal court to applicant for public defender of fee and process to waive fee for inability to pay. | This bill provides that if a municipality requires by ordinance that a person applying for representation by a municipal public defender pay an application fee, the municipal court would be required to provide notice to the applicant of the fee and the process to waive the fee in the event of any inability to pay. No fee other than that permitted by section 17 of P.L.1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17) is to be assessed for representation by a municipal public defender. Under the provisions of section 17 of P.L.1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17), a municipality may require by ordinance that a person applying for municipal public defender representation pay an application fee of not more than $200. The statute provides that the fee must be in an amount necessary to pay the costs of municipal public defender services. The municipal court may waive the application fee if the court determines upon a clear and convincing showing by the applicant that the fee represents an unreasonable burden on the person seeking representation. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment. | In Committee |
| AJR73 | Designates May of each year as "Better Hearing and Speech Month." | This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in New Jersey to help increase awareness of the problems affecting persons with hearing and speech disabilities. The joint resolution asks the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing May as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| AR69 | Urges President and Congress of United States to continue federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to continue the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program and opposes the proposal contained in President Donald Trump's Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, as introduced, to eliminate the program. If ultimately enacted by Congress, the move to eliminate the PSLF program would take away a valuable benefit for public service employees. The PSLF program, codified in federal statute at 20 U.S.C. s.1087e, was established in 2007 and was intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue careers in public service by offering the promise of student loan debt forgiveness for eligible public servants. To be eligible for loan forgiveness under the PSLF program, an individual is required to: be working full-time for a federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization; not be in default on his or her loans; be a borrower of a loan received under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; be repaying his or her loans through an income-driven repayment plan; and make 120 on-time monthly loan payments for the full amount due on his or her bill after October 1, 2007. The most recent PSLF program data released by the Office of Federal Student Aid indicate that, as of December 31, 2019, a total of 1,565 unique borrowers have received a discharge under the PSLF program, with approximately $100 million being forgiven. The PSLF program plays a pivotal role in allowing and incentivizing individuals across the country to seek careers in critical public sector jobs, including teachers, military service members, public sector attorneys, and providers of social services and medical services. Eliminating the PSLF program entirely would not only deter many individuals from pursuing a desired career path in public service, but would also eradicate an important recruitment tool for public sector employers. | 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 |
| A2256 | Requires DOC and county correctional facilities to provide certain inmates with medication-assisted treatment. | This bill requires medication-assisted treatment to be offered to all State and county inmates who, following an initial evaluation upon admission to a State or county correctional facility, are determined to be in need of temporary or continued management of a substance use disorder. An inmate determined to be in need of treatment may voluntarily agree to receive medication-assisted treatment after being provided options utilized in the treatment plan. The bill defines "medication-assisted treatment" as the use of any medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to treat substance use disorders, including extended-release naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Inmates who voluntarily agree to medication-assisted treatment are to have access to withdrawal management services prior to the administration of the medication; behavioral health counseling consistent with current therapeutic standards in a community setting; and a health care practitioner required to provide access to medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Under current law, the Commissioners of Human Services and Corrections are required to establish a joint plan to ensure the provision of mental health and substance use disorder services, by licensed service provider organizations, to inmates housed in State-owned, operated, or contracted correctional facilities, including prisons and halfway houses. The plan, in part, requires the commissioners to establish procedures for the provision of medication-assisted treatment, as appropriate and available. This bill requires the commissioners to establish a program to allow all designated State and county inmates the opportunity to receive medication-assisted treatment. | In Committee |
| A2250 | Requires persons to report incidents of domestic violence to law enforcement and makes it a disorderly persons offense to fail to report. | This bill would require a physician or other medical professional, victim counselor, guidance counselor, mental health professional, or any other person with reasonable cause to believe that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence to report the same to a local law enforcement agency. The same individuals required to report under the bill would also receive immunity for reporting. Currently, N.J.S.A.2C:25-22 provides civil immunity to any law enforcement officer, member of a domestic crisis team or any person who, good faith, reports a possible incident of domestic violence to the police. This bill provides that those persons who are required to report in their capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, facility or agency, would immediately notify the person in charge of such institution, facility or agency, or the designated agent, who then also shall become responsible to report or cause to reports to be made. The law enforcement agency which takes a domestic violence incident report would be required to forward the information to the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs and the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to be entered in the domestic violence registry.Failure to report. Any person who knowingly fails to report an act of domestic violence while having reasonable cause to believe that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence, would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. | 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 |
| A2335 | Creates "Pollinator Pathway" designation for municipalities. | This bill would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to establish a "Pollinator Pathway" designation for municipalities that meet the standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection. The standards for a municipal "Pollinator Pathway" designation would include, but need not be limited to: (1) Providing a habitat area for pollinators; (2) Providing host plants which shall include at least one of the following to support at least six butterfly species: (a) Asclepias syriaca; (b) Asclepias incarnate; (c) Asclepias tuberosa; (d) Asclepias verticillata; (e) Asclepias exaltata; (f) Asclepias purpurascens; (g) Asclepias viridiflora; (h) Asclepias lanceolate; (i) Asclepias quadrifolia; (j) Asclepias rubra; (k) Asclepias variegate; or (l) Asclepias amplexicaulis; (3) Providing at least four nectar sources for pollinators during the seasons of spring, summer, and fall; (4) Providing an appropriate water source and shelter for pollinators, and a basking site for butterflies; and (5) Incorporating at least five of the conservation practices from subsection c. of section 1 of the bill. Under the bill, the department would develop and promote a Statewide contest for the establishment of a program logo design for the "Pollinator Pathway" designation sign, to be conducted every 10 years, and would solicit input from the general public prior to announcing the winning design. After the establishment of a program logo, the department would provide a "Pollinator Pathway" designation sign or signs for outdoor use by any municipality that meets the designation requirements. | 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 |
| A576 | Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to certain entertainment businesses; appropriates not less than $5 million. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish the "New Jersey Pandemic Entertainment Grant Program" (grant program) to provide grants to qualified entertainment businesses, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill also appropriates not less than $5 million from the General Fund to support the program. Grant Qualifications and Award Limits Under the bill, the grants would be awarded for qualified entertainment businesses that experienced a reduction in gross revenue during the applicable business period due to significant forced closures and limited indoor capacity restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency in effect pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, or any extension thereof. The applicable business period would be the 12-month period beginning April 1, 2020. The amount of any grant awarded to a qualified entertainment business would be equal to 15 percent of the demonstrated reduction in gross revenue for each quarter of the applicable business period, relative to the same quarter of the 12-month period beginning April 1, 2019, except that for: 1) a qualified entertainment business that is 100 percent indoors, has over 125,000 square feet of indoor space, and has 10 or more amusement rides, the grant would not exceed $750,000; 2) a qualified entertainment business that is indoors and outdoors or indoors only, has between 75,000 and 125,000 square feet of indoor space, and has five or more amusement rides, the grant would not exceed $350,000; 3) a qualified entertainment business that is indoors and outdoors or indoors only, has between 25,000 and 75,000 square feet of indoor space, and has five or more amusement rides, the grant would not exceed $150,000; 4) a qualified entertainment business that is indoors and outdoors or indoors only, has between 10,000 and 25,000 square feet of indoor space, and has three or more amusement rides, the grant would not exceed $50,000; and 5) a qualified entertainment business that is indoors and outdoors or indoors, has between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet of indoor space, and has one or more amusement rides, the grant would not exceed $25,000. Upon application to the EDA, the EDA would be required to award a grant to a qualified entertainment business that demonstrates an average minimum reduction of 50 percent of gross revenue over the entire applicable business period. For any qualified entertainment business that is comprised of both indoor and outdoor operations, the entertainment business operator is required to demonstrate a reduction of 50 percent of the gross revenue for the combined operations of the qualified entertainment business over the entire applicable business period. Application and Reporting Criteria In administering the grant program, the EDA is required to establish procedures and timelines for applications for the grant program, approvals, and the disbursement of grant funding to a qualified entertainment business; reporting requirements for the qualified entertainment business; and any other policies deemed necessary by the EDA for the administration of the program. Loan Fund and Appropriation Finally, the bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the EDA to support the operations of the grant program. These monies would be deposited into a fund, known as the "New Jersey Pandemic Entertainment Grant Program Fund," which the EDA would be required to administer for the purposes of the grant program. | In Committee |
| A862 | Creates State business assistance program to establish contracting agency procurement goals for socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises. | This bill creates a State business assistance program to establish contracting agency procurement goals for socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises. The business assistance program establishes an annual goal for State contracting agencies, as well as guidelines for public institutions of higher education, in awarding contracts to certified and qualified business enterprises. The program is designed to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in obtaining State government contracts in the following areas: construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services. The bill requires both of the criteria in the definition of "economically disadvantaged" to be met and includes a physical disability, but is not limited to, a service-connected disability declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor. The bill also includes sexual orientation, and gender identity in the definition of "socially disadvantaged." Additionally, the director is permitted to accept State-approved third-party certifications that show a business enterprise owner qualifies as socially and economically disadvantaged. The purpose of this bill is to recognize the need to encourage, nurture, and support the growth of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, to foster their development, and to increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace. | Dead |
| A597 | Permits union officials who represent probation officers to participate in all union activities. | This bill would permit certain union officials who represent probation officers, supervisors, and other related titles in the State Judiciary to participate in union activity, including: lobbying, the commitment of organization funds, and partisan political activity. The bill applies to union officers on full-time leave pursuant to N.J.S.11A:6-12 representing collective negotiations units which represent probation officers, supervisors, and other related titles in the Judiciary. | 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 |
| A2292 | Revises inspection requirements for long-term care facilities. | This bill revises a current statutory requirement for the Department of Health to prepare a report setting forth a comparison of the evaluative profiles of nursing homes and to provide notice to the public of life threatening conditions in nursing homes, to make these requirements applicable to all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living residences, comprehensive personal care homes, residential health care facilities, and dementia care homes, and to require the report be updated at least quarterly. Additionally, to facilitate the implementation of these requirements, the bill requires the department to establish standards and protocols for inspecting long-term care facilities to ensure each facility is in continuing compliance with all State and federal statutes, rules, regulations, and guidelines related to health, safety, and operations. The revised inspection requirements are to include, at a minimum: 1) a review of the long-term care facility's policies, procedures, and standards to ensure they are consistent with applicable State and federal requirements and to ensure the facility is adhering to its policies, procedures, and standards; 2) an inspection of the physical plant of the long-term care facility; 3) a review of staffing levels at the long-term care facility; and 4) a review of each mandatory and advisory service provided by the facility. The Commissioner of Health will have the authority to increase the number of inspections of long-term care facilities in a calendar year, increase the duration or scope of an inspection, and station a member of the department's inspection team within a long-term care facility to monitor compliance. If the department determines that it is necessary to increase the number of inspections of long-term care facilities, the department will be permitted to phase in the increase over a two-year period while it acquires the needed staff and resources to implement the increase. Upon determining that a long-term care facility is not in compliance with State and federal requirements related to health, safety, and operations, and particularly when determining that a facility has repeatedly violated the same health, safety, or operational requirement or that a facility has a health, safety, or operational violation with a severity rating of I or higher, an inspector will be permitted to consult with superiors within the department, and document quality assurance activities, when developing a corrective plan for the facility. | In Committee |
| A1388 | Requires certain providers to perform intimate partner violence screenings and all health care professionals to take certain actions to prevent perpetrators of intimate partner violence from obtaining copies of victim's medical record. | This bill would require certain health care providers in the State, including licensed physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, certified midwives, certified professional midwives, and certified nurse midwives, to conduct a periodic intimate partner violence screenings of patients in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines. The bill requires providers to document the findings from each screening in the patient's medical record and requires any health care professional who documents evidence or findings of intimate partner violence in a patient's medical record to advise the patient that the patient may take appropriate action to prevent the disclosure of the patient's medical record to the perpetrator of the intimate partner violence. Under the bill, an intimate partner violence screening performed under the bill is to be performed in a private area, which may include screening the patient using telemedicine and telehealth or by the patient self-administering the screening using a paper-based or electronic screening instrument. If, based on a screening performed pursuant to this bill, a provider finds that a patient is or may be a victim of intimate partner, the provider will required to provide the patient: 1) during the same visit, with a list of resources and services that are available in the State and region to assist and protect victims of intimate partner violence; and 2) with referrals to other appropriate health care providers, as deemed by the provider to be necessary to help the patient fully address the physical or mental consequences of the intimate partner violence. The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health, will be required to make available to providers in the State, and update on at least a biennial basis a list identifying all of the resources and services that are available in the State, and in each region of the State, to assist and protect victims of intimate partner violence. | In Committee |
| A2357 | Establishes Office of Financial Assistance in EDA to help eligible entities access opportunities for public financial assistance; requires office to develop common application platform. | This bill establishes an Office of Financial Assistance (office) within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help eligible entities access available sources of public financial assistance, including any grants, loans, loan guarantees, or tax credits provided by a State or federal agency. Under the bill, the office is responsible for: (1) providing technical assistance to eligible entities concerning the identification of available sources of public financial assistance, the application for public financial assistance, and the compliance with any terms and conditions imposed upon the receipt of public financial assistance; (2) developing and updating, as necessary, the common application platform required under the bill; (3) coordinating with State agencies and federal agencies, on a regular basis, to determine the availability of new sources of public financial assistance; and (4) fulfilling any other duties and responsibilities that may be prescribed by the board or chief executive officer of the EDA. The bill also requires the office to develop, or cause to be developed, a common application platform through which eligible entities may electronically apply for any sources of public financial assistance made available by a State agency. At a minimum, and to the extent practicable, the common application platform is required to allow an eligible entity to: (1) identify all available sources of public financial assistance; (2) input any information or documentation that may be required by a State agency as part of the application for public financial assistance, which information and documentation may be stored for use in other applications; (3) simultaneously submit applications for any sources of public financial assistance made available by a State agency; and (4) monitor the status of all applications submitted through the platform. After the common application platform has been developed, the bill requires every State agency that offers public financial assistance to coordinate with the office to ensure that all applications for public financial assistance can be submitted through the platform and all information contained on the platform concerning the availability of public financial assistance is up-to-date and accurate. Based on this coordination, the office is required to update the platform, as necessary, to ensure that all information contained therein is up-to-date and accurate. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A3320 | "Better Care Dog Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Better Care Dog Act," would provide for the Department of Health, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, to establish a uniform Statewide system, which provides leashing and fencing requirements designed to restrain the movement of free-roaming dogs, and it would require all municipalities in the State to adopt ordinances consistent with this Statewide system. The bill would also clarify that certain special requirements that are applicable, under existing State law, to the owners of potentially dangerous dogs are also applicable to the owners of vicious dogs that have not been ordered to be euthanized. Finally, the bill would establish new criminal offenses and penalties for dog owners whose unrestrained dog attacks, injures, or kills another person, as well as civil penalties for dog owners who fail to restrain their dogs when those dogs are off the owner's property. Specifically, the bill would provide that, whenever a dog is off the property of its owner, the dog will be required to be on a leash or otherwise controlled with another appropriate restraint unless the owner is exempt from this requirement, as provided by the bill or by any other rule, regulation, ordinance, or resolution adopted by the State or a municipality pursuant thereto. The bill would expressly exempt, from its leashing requirements, any working or hunting dog while the dog is engaged in agricultural work or hunting activities. If a dog owner is found, by clear and convincing evidence, to have allowed a dog to be unrestrained while off the owner's property, or to have violated any similar provision of a municipal ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation concerning dog leashing or restraints, the owner would be subject to a fine of $100 for the first violation, $250 for the second violation, and $500 for the third and any subsequent violation, regardless of whether the unrestrained dog attacked or caused bodily injury to a person. Whenever an unrestrained dog, while off the property of the owner, attacks a person without causing bodily injury, the municipality would additionally be required to issue a warning notice to the dog owner indicating that, in addition to any applicable fines imposed for failing to restrain the dog, the owner may also be required to comply with fencing requirements to control the dog, in the discretion of the enforcing authority, in the event that the dog is again found unrestrained and off the property of the owner after the issuance of the warning notice. The bill would further provide that, upon the third time a dog is found unrestrained and off the owner's property, or, in the discretion of the municipality, the first time that the dog is found unrestrained and off the owner's property following the issuance of a warning notice for the dog, as described above, and provided that the unrestrained dog has not attacked or caused bodily injury to another person, the municipality will be required to order the owner to comply with the fencing requirements established pursuant to the bill, including any specifications for the installation of such fencing, in accordance with a compliance schedule established by the municipality. If a dog owner is found, by clear and convincing evidence, to have violated a municipal fencing order or compliance schedule, the owner would be subject to a fine of $200 per day of the violation, with each day's continuance of the violation constituting a separate and distinct offense. The municipality would additionally be required to revoke any registration previously issued for the dog. The bill's warning and fencing requirements would not apply in any case where: (1) the dog, while unrestrained and off the owner's property, kills a person, causes serious bodily injury to a person, or both causes bodily injury to a person during an unprovoked attack and poses a serious threat of harm to other persons or domestic animals, in which case, the dog and the dog's owner would be subject to the applicable provisions of the State's criminal code and vicious and potentially dangerous dogs act; (2) the dog owner is a resident of a condominium, townhouse, apartment, or other rental property where the installation of fencing is impractical, or the owner is otherwise exempt from fencing requirements established pursuant to the bill, in which case, the municipality is to require the owner to pay a fine for the failure to restrain the dog, in the amount described above, and may additionally require the owner to comply with alternative enclosure requirements, to the extent that such alternative enclosures are authorized by ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution of the municipality; or (3) a person, other than the owner, intentionally removed the dog from the owner's property, such as by walking the dog beyond the boundaries of the owner's property, taking the dog to a park or other public open space, or taking the dog to the property of another person who is not the owner, and the dog, while unrestrained and off the owner's property, attacked a person without causing bodily injury, in which case, the municipality is to require the owner to pay a fine for failure to restrain the dog, in the amount described above, but may not require the owner to comply with fencing or alternative enclosure requirements. The municipal court would have jurisdiction to enforce the bill's provisions, in this regard, and to impose the fines described above. Any fines collected pursuant to the bill are to be paid to the municipality in which the violation occurred. The bill requires the Department of Health, in consultation with the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association, the League of Municipalities, and the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, to adopt rules and regulations, within 180 days after the bill's effective date, to implement the bill's provisions related to the leashing and fencing of dogs. Those rules and regulations are to: (1) establish standards and requirements, consistent with the bill's provisions, governing the leashing or other restraint of a dog when it is off the property of its owner; (2) identify the circumstances or areas of the State in which a dog owner will be exempt from the bill's leashing requirements, including, but not limited to, exemptions authorizing a dog to be unrestrained while exercising in a dog park; (3) establish standards and requirements for fencing, which would apply when the fencing of a dog is required pursuant to the bill. These standards and requirements would, at a minimum: address the appropriate height and other dimensions of the fencing; establish exemptions from fencing requirements; and identify acceptable alternative enclosure options, if any, that may be used by residents of condominiums, townhouses, apartments, and other rental properties where the installation of fencing is impractical and by other dog owners who are exempt from fencing requirements established under the bill; and (4) establish any other requirements for the control and regulation of the free movement of dogs, as deemed by the department to be appropriate, reasonable, and necessary for the public health and safety. In order to facilitate the enactment, across the State, of uniform municipal ordinances addressing the leashing and fencing of free-roaming dogs, the department would be required to adopt model ordinances, incorporating the leashing and fencing standards and requirements adopted by the department, which ordinances may then be adopted by municipalities pursuant to the bill. The bill would require each municipality, within 180 days after the department publishes its rules and regulations, to: adopt an ordinance, resolution, or regulation that, at a minimum, incorporates the standards and requirements established by the department and provides for the municipal enforcement of the leashing and fencing provisions of the bill; and establish a dedicated fund to finance the municipal enforcement of the bill, which fund is to be separate from the other funds of the municipality. The municipality would be authorized to allocate to, and deposit in, the fund, moneys obtained from dog licenses and other related fees, as well as monetary penalties collected pursuant to the bill. Moneys in the dedicated fund may be used for the following purposes only: (1) to facilitate the enforcement of any standard, requirement, law, ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation adopted by the State or municipality in relation to vicious dogs, potentially dangerous dogs, or other dogs registered in the municipality; (2) to publicize the provisions of the bill and the rules, regulations, ordinances, or resolutions adopted thereunder; (3) to publicize the telephone number, established pursuant to the bill's provisions, that can be used by members of the public to report violations of the State's vicious and potentially dangerous dogs act and the "Better Care Dog Act"; (4) to post signage related to vicious dogs, potentially dangerous dogs, or other dogs registered in the municipality; (5) to provide free or discounted leashes, collars, and other dog restraints to dog owners who would otherwise be unable to afford such restraints; and (6) to cover any other municipal expense incurred pursuant to this bill. In addition to providing for the establishment of a uniform, Statewide dog leashing and fencing system, the bill would establish the following new criminal offenses for dog owners whose unrestrained dog attacks or injures another person while off the property of the owner: (1) Simple assault, as a crime of the fourth degree, when a person purposefully, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space, or purposefully, knowingly, or recklessly fails to comply with requirements imposed by a court, pursuant to P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-17 et seq.), in association with the person's ownership of a potentially dangerous dog or vicious dog, and the dog, as a result of the owner's actions, attacks and causes bodily injury to another person; (2) Aggravated assault, as a crime of the third degree, when a person purposefully, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space, or purposefully, knowingly, or recklessly fails to comply with requirements imposed by a court, pursuant to P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-17 et seq.), in association with the person's ownership of a potentially dangerous dog or vicious dog, and the dog, as a result of the owner's actions, attacks and causes serious bodily injury to another person; (3) Criminal homicide via death by dog, when a person purposely, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space, and the unrestrained dog kills another person in an unprovoked attack; (4) Endangering the welfare of a child, as a crime of the second degree, when a person purposely, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained while in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space in which a child may be present, and the dog, while unrestrained, kills a child; (5) Endangering the welfare of a child, as a crime of the third degree, when a person purposely, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained while in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space in which a child may be present, and the dog, while unrestrained, causes serious bodily injury to a child; (6) Endangering the welfare of a child, as a crime of the fourth degree, when a person purposely, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained while in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space in which a child may be present, and the dog, while unrestrained, causes bodily injury to a child; and (7) Endangering the welfare of a child, as a disorderly persons offense, when a person purposely, knowingly, or recklessly allows a dog owned thereby to be unrestrained while in a residential neighborhood, park, or other publicly accessible open space in which a child may be present, and the dog, while unrestrained, attacks a child without causing bodily injury. The bill would further provide that, in any prosecution undertaken pursuant to the bill's provisions, it will be an affirmative defense that the dog: (1) was provoked into attacking the victim; (2) was defending or protecting itself or its offspring from injury or attack; or (3) was defending or protecting its owner from injury or attack, provided that the owner was not, at the time, engaged in a criminal offense. The bill would also amend the State law pertaining to potentially dangerous and vicious dogs, in order to clarify that the law's special registration and licensure requirements and enhanced dog care restrictions are equally applicable both to potentially dangerous dogs and to vicious dogs that have not been ordered euthanized. Finally, the bill would provide that, whenever a person registers or licenses a dog with a municipality, the municipal clerk or other official issuing the license will be required to provide the person with notice of: the new criminal offenses established by the bill; the provisions of the State's vicious and potentially dangerous dogs act; the provisions of sections 4 of this bill, pertaining to dog leashing and fencing; and any other provisions, adopted by ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation of the State or municipality, that govern the leashing, restraint, or movement of dogs. The provisions of the bill requiring the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to implement the new, uniform dog leashing and fencing system, and the provisions of the bill requiring each municipality in the State to adopt ordinances, regulations, or resolutions consistent with that uniform Statewide system, would each become effective immediately upon the bill's enactment. In order to provide the department and each municipality with enough time to complete the regulatory action needed to effectively implement the bill, the remaining provisions of the bill would remain inoperable until the first day of the first year next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A436 | Establishes offense of criminal mischief committed on historical sites. | This bill amends the State's criminal mischief statute, N.J.S.2C:17-3, to include the crime of knowingly damaging, interfering, or tampering with a historic place or site. Under the bill, it is a crime of the third degree to knowingly damage, interfere, or tamper with a historic place or site. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of $15,000, or both. The bill defines a "historic place or site" as a place, building, monument, or structure approved for inclusion in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places pursuant to P.L.1970, c.268 (C.13:1B-15.128 et seq.), the National Register of Historic Places, or any applicable rule or regulation; has been identified in a county or municipal master plan as a place, building, monument, or structure of historic interest; or has been officially recognized as having historic value or significance in accordance with criteria established by the State Agriculture Development Committee. | In Committee |
| A642 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| A2237 | Requires children's meals served in restaurants to meet certain nutritional standards. | This bill children's meals sold or offered for sale in restaurants to adhere to certain nutritional standards outlined in the bill. Specifically, a children's meal sold, offered for sale, or sold by a restaurant would contain no more than: 600 calories per serving, 770 milligrams of sodium, 35 percent of calories from fat, 35 percent of calories from total sugars, 10 percent of calories from saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, at least 0.5 cups of fresh fruits or vegetables (fruits and vegetables would not include juices, condiments, jellies, jams, or spreads), and either a whole grain product, a lean protein, or at least 0.5 cups of non-fat or one percent milk, low fat yogurt, or one ounce of reduced fat cheese. If the children's meal is served with a beverage, that beverage would be: water, sparkling water, or flavored water with no added natural or artificial sweetener; nonfat milk, one percent milk, or a non-dairy milk alternative containing no more than 130 calories per container or serving as offered for sale; or 100 percent fruit juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water, with no added natural or artificial sweetener, in a serving size of no more than eight ounces. A restaurant using a standard printed menu would be required to list the nutritional content of the meal, as required pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and if the meal includes a beverage, also list the caloric information for the beverage, next to a children's meal on the menu, using a font and format that is at least as prominent, in size and appearance, as that used to post either the name or price of the meal. As defined in the bill, "children's meal" means a combination of food items or food items and a beverage, sold together at a single price, primarily intended for consumption by children, and "restaurant" means any facility or part thereof in which food is prepared and provided or served for consumption on the premises. The Department of Health or a local bard of health would: have the right to enter the premises of a restaurant at which a children's meal is sold, offered for sale, or served, at any time during normal business hours and upon presentation of appropriate credentials, in order to determine compliance with the provisions of the bill; and advise the owner, operator, or proprietor of the restaurant and order appropriate action to be taken, if it has reason to suspect that a violation has occurred. Under the bill's provisions, an owner, operator, or the proprietor of a restaurant who sells, offers to sell, or serves a children's meal in violation of the provisions of the bill would be liable to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for a first offense, $2,000 for the second offense, and $3,000 for each subsequent offense. Penalties against an owner, operator, or the proprietor of the restaurant could not exceed $15,000 during a 30-day period. | In Committee |
| A2841 | Establishes Water Apprenticeship, Training, and Employment Resources (WATER) Pilot Program in DOLWD; appropriates $1 million. | This bill would create a five-year Water Apprenticeship, Training, and Employment Resources ("WATER") Pilot Program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to provide grants to support funding for newly-established adult apprenticeship programs in the water infrastructure, water utilities, and other water-related sectors, focusing on underserved and underrepresented communities. Any organizational sponsor of an apprenticeship program, including a business, labor organization, college or university, workforce training provider, non-profit organization, public utility, local government entity or authority, or trade organization, would be eligible to receive a grant, provided that they have secured an industry partner or a monetary or in-kind funding contribution. Under the bill, the program is required to coordinate with the Center for Workforce Innovation in Construction established by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development as part of the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative. The DOLWD will be required to begin accepting grant applications not more than six months after the effective date of this bill, and initial grant awards are to be issued no later than one year after the bill's effective date. The DOLWD would be required to rank eligible applicants for grants based upon each applicant's potential to: (1) reach a broad audience through its recruitment and outreach efforts; (2) significantly increase enrollment in, and the completion of, the apprenticeship program, including among members of underserved and underrepresented communities; and (3) fill existing needs for skilled workers in the market. One year after the bill's effective date, and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot grant program, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development would be required to submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report that evaluates the results of the WATER Pilot Program and its effectiveness. The bill would create a special, non-lapsing fund in the Department of the Treasury, which would be known as the "WATER Fund," and which would be used to collect and invest moneys for the purposes of the bill. The bill would also direct the Department of the Treasury to solicit grants and donations to the fund from interested public or private sources. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the WATER Fund to effectuate the purposes of this bill. | 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 |
| A2810 | Requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided to victims of domestic violence upon request. | This bill requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided, upon request, to victims of domestic violence. Under the bill, a domestic violence victim, or the victim's legal representative, may request copies of certain records from the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a domestic violence complaint. If the release of the records would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, the records are required to either be redacted so that release to the victim does not jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, or released pursuant to a protective order. A person who disseminates a copy of a law enforcement record in violation of a protective order issued under the bill may be subject to criminal prosecution.The following records may be requested:· photographs taken by a law enforcement officer;· law enforcement officer body worn camera or dashboard camera footage;· 9-1-1 transcript or recording; or · contents of the police report. The bill clarifies that the right to access records provided under the bill is in addition to the right of a victim to obtain records under current law pursuant to the open public records act (OPRA) or the Rules of Court. The records are to be provided at no charge within 10 calendar days of the request. If the law enforcement agency is unable to produce a copy of a requested record within the 10-day period, the law enforcement agency may request additional time from the court. If granted additional time, the law enforcement agency is to provide a copy of the records to the victim or victim's legal representative within 24 hours after the record becomes available. A record is to be provided in accordance with the request of the victim or victim's representative. A victim of domestic violence who is seeking to access law enforcement agency records under the bill, but who is not seeking other relief in the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court may enforce their right of access pursuant to OPRA on an expedited basis. The victim shall not be required to complete a formal OPRA request form to access the records. Under current law, a hearing is to be held in the family part within 10 days of the filing of a domestic violence complaint. If a plaintiff has requested records pursuant to the provisions of the bill but has not received the records as of the date of the original or rescheduled hearing, the law enforcement agency's failure to provide the requested records is to be noted on the record prior to the court making a final determination on the request for restraints. The absence of law enforcement records is not to be a basis to deny relief. The bill also provides that a party to a domestic violence complaint may request the release or unsealing of expunged records. The records may be provided to either party, the county prosecutor, Criminal Division of the Superior Court, or Attorney General, in relation to a domestic violence temporary or final restraining order, weapons forfeiture complaint, or a temporary or final extreme risk protective order. Under the bill, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding brought pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" would estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any proceeding brought under the bill. | Dead |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2228 | Includes certain armed security officers regulated by "Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago's Law" in crimes of assault and disarming an officer. | This bill would upgrade simple assault to aggravated assault if the act is committed against an armed security officer. The bill also provides that the crime of disarming a law enforcement officer would apply to armed security officers. Under N.J.S.2C:12-1, simple assault is generally a disorderly persons offense, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Under the bill, an act of simple assault committed against an armed security officer in the performance of the officer's duties while in uniform or because of his status as an armed security officer would be graded as aggravated assault. Aggravated assault under these circumstances would be a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury; otherwise it would be a crime of the fourth degree. The bill also amends section 1 of P.L.1996, c.14 (C.2C:12-11), concerning disarming a law enforcement officer, to add armed security officers to the provisions of the statute. Currently, the statute provides that a person who knowingly takes or attempts to exercise unlawful control over a firearm or other weapon in the possession of a law enforcement or corrections officer, when that officer is acting in the performance of his duties or exhibiting evidence of his authority, is guilty of a crime of the second degree. It is a crime of the first degree if the person violating the statute fires the firearm, uses or threatens to use the firearm or or weapon, or if the officer or another person suffers serious bodily injury. The bill applies to armed security guards regulated by the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.), and by sections 5 and 6 of P.L.2015, c.295 (C.45:19A-6.1 and 45:19A-6.2), known as "Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago's Law." A crime of the first degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both; a crime of the second degree, by a term of five to 10 years or a fine up to $150,000, or both; a crime of the third degree, by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both, and a crime of the fourth degree, by a term up to 18 months or a fine up to $10,000, or both. | 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 |
| A2224 | Establishes gross income tax credit for cost of certain postage for sending goods to members of United States Armed Forces and National Guard who are serving their country away from home. | This bill establishes a gross income tax credit for the amount of postage taxpayers pay the United States Postal Service to send parcels as priority mail to individuals serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard at military installations in the United States or abroad. Homesickness frequently befalls members of the Armed Forces and the National Guard while serving their country afield. To boost their morale, many send military personnel packages with cherished items from back home. The cost of postage can strain the ability of the home front to take care of those stationed or deployed afield. In allowing a tax credit for certain postage expenses, this bill removes a cost-prohibitive deterrent to sending goods of appreciation and caring to loved ones serving away from home. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A2275 | Establishes "Guaranteed Rental Payment Pilot Program" for certain low-income tenants; appropriates $10,000,000. | This bill establishes the "Guaranteed Rental Payment Pilot Program" ("pilot program") within the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") to study ways of maximizing housing opportunities for households who lack adequate credit histories and to better understand the relation between credit rating and the tenant's performance under the lease, including making required rental payments. Specifically, this pilot program will collect data from low- or moderate-income program participants who receive rental assistance under the State Rental Assistance Program ("SRAP"). The pilot program will also keep track of default rates for lease payments by tenants with less favorable credit ratings as compared to similar tenants who maintain a credit rating of "fair" or higher. The pilot program would select at random 1,000 low- or moderate-income households who are qualified and approved to participate in and receive benefits under SRAP or, at the discretion of DCA, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and who have completed a housing and credit counseling program through a DCA-approved agency. Under this pilot program, a landlord whose tenant fails to make a rental payment required by a lease agreement would be made whole and be reimbursed for this failure to pay through funding made available by the pilot program for this purpose. The bill creates the "Guaranteed Rental Payment Fund" ("fund") as an account within the General Fund, to be administered by DCA. The fund will provide reimbursements to landlords in the case of a default or other lease violation by a pilot program participant tenant that causes a loss to the landlord. Participation in this pilot program will not impact a landlord's right to statutorily evict a tenant. Within 30 days following payment from the program to a landlord, DCA would be required to provide the tenant with written notice of the amount paid from the fund and provide the tenant with notice of the tenant's obligation to repay it. On the 90th day following a payment to the landlord from the pilot program, an amount equal to the amount paid to the landlord would be due and owing to the pilot program from the tenant, to be reinvested in the fund. During the course of the payment period, if a participant household experiences conditions that violate the implied warranty of habitability, the bill authorizes the tenant to certify those conditions to DCA. Based on the tenant's written certification, DCA would be required to order an inspection be conducted on the dwelling. Upon confirmation that the violation of the implied warranty of habitability exists, DCA would notify the landlord and provide an opportunity to cure. DCA would then consider whether and in what amount to withhold rent based on the conditions. The bill provides DCA with authority to create rules and regulations for the pilot program established by the bill. Finally, this bill appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Fund into the fund. | In Committee |
| A2956 | Allows county and municipal police departments to establish designated safe areas for Internet purchase transactions; establishes public awareness campaign. | This bill allows municipal and county police departments to establish designated safe areas which may be used by members of the public to conduct sales transactions for items listed on classified websites, such as craigslist. For the purpose of ensuring public safety, the bill allows municipal and county police departments to install a video camera capable of recording a clear image of the designated safe area at all times the area is made available to the public. The bill provides that local police departments and their members would not be responsible for regulating the sales transactions or be civilly liable for crimes or offenses committed by participants to the sales transactions. Under the bill, county and municipal police departments are allowed to conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the general public about designated safe areas on their department's property. The public awareness campaign may include safety tips to decrease the risk of crime when engaging in Internet sales transactions. In addition, the bill requires the Attorney General to notify chief law enforcement officers that they are permitted to establish a designated safe area on municipal and county police department property. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2264 | The "New Jobs for New Jersey Act." | This bill establishes a New Jobs for New Jersey tax credit program to be administered by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of the program is to provide incentives to small private sector employers who increase their workforce by hiring unemployed workers. The bill makes an employer of 100 or fewer full-time employees eligible for a refundable New Jobs for New Jersey tax credit against the corporation business tax or the gross income tax, whichever applies to the employer, for each eligible individual employed by the employer on a full-time basis during a tax year, if the following requirements are met: 1. The eligible individual is hired by the employer after April 1, 2021, is employed full-time during the tax year for which the tax credit is provided, was not previously employed by the employer, and did not have full-time employment for 30 or more days prior to being hired by the employer; 2. The employer employs an average total number of full-time employees during the tax year for which the tax credit is provided which exceeds the average total number of full-time employees employed by the employer during the 12-month period immediately prior to April 1, 2021; and 3. The employer submits an application for the tax credit in the manner required by the commissioner, the commissioner approves the application, and the employer provides, or makes available as requested by the commissioner, all information regarding the number, wages, and employer payroll taxes or any other information required by the commissioner. The bill sets the amount of the refundable tax credit provided to an approved employer for each eligible individual employed during a tax year as the total amount of the employer payroll taxes paid during that tax year by the employer with respect to that individual, subject to the requirements of the bill. Employer payroll taxes include the portion paid by employers of State unemployment, temporary disability, and workforce development and basic skills assessments, and federal Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes. The bill provides that the employer receives the tax credit only for the number of eligible individuals employed full-time during the tax year which does not exceed the net increase in the number of full-time employees employed full-time during the tax year compared with the average total number of full-time employees employed by the employer during the 12-month period immediately preceding April 1, 2021. An employer may apply for and qualify for a tax credit under the bill with respect to tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023. If the employer's application is approved for any of those three years, the employer may continue to receive the tax credit for any of the four tax years following that tax year during which the employer meets the requirements of the bill. Upon a finding by the commissioner of employer compliance with the bill's requirements, the commissioner is required to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation that the employer is eligible for a tax credit under this bill, the amount of the tax credit, and provide a copy of the certification to the employer. | In Committee |
| A2271 | Requires association of age-restricted common interest community to permit dwelling owner to transfer property without regard to age of buyer. | This bill would expressly require the association of an age-restricted common interest community to permit an owner of a dwelling unit in the community to sell or grant the unit to a purchaser or grantee regardless of whether the purchaser's or grantee's age does not comply with the applicable age restrictions, were the new owner to reside there. The bill is intended to prevent age-restricted common interest community associations from unnecessarily restricting who owners may sell their homes to, as long as enforceable commitments are established to ensure that the unit occupants continue to meet the required age restrictions. Federal law permits the existence of age-restricted communities as an exception, known as "housing for older persons," to the anti-discrimination provisions of the "Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988," provided that certain quotas are maintained of age-appropriate persons occupying the premises. For communities that were organized by a developer to restrict occupancy to persons aged 62 or older, 100 percent of the occupants have to be aged 62 or older. For communities which were organized by a developer to house persons aged 55 and over, at least 80 percent of the residents, and one resident per each household, must be aged 55 or older. Existing State law requires a purchaser or grantee of a dwelling unit in an age-restricted community to certify that the unit will be occupied by a person whose age allows the community to comply with the federal law, even if the owner would be under the age limit. The bill would expressly authorize the Commissioner of Community Affairs, through existing enforcement authority established by "The Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act," N.J.S.A.45:22A-21 et seq., to assess penalties on associations that restrict sales in violation of the requirements of the bill. The commissioner would also be authorized to assess penalties on purchasers or grantees who, after taking ownership, allow a dwelling unit to be occupied by a person whose age does not allow the community to comply with federal law. | 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 |
| A2263 | Establishes Office for Women's Advancement in DOLWD to facilitate full and equal participation of women in workplace; makes an appropriation. | This bill establishes the Office for Women's Advancement in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of this office is to facilitate the full and equal participation of women in the workplace in the State of New Jersey. Through research, collaboration, and programming, the office's goal is to foster and promote the advancement of gender equity in employment practices, career development, and the workplace, thereby enhancing the quality of life for women and girls throughout the State. The office will perform the following functions: 1. gather, analyze, and disseminate data on the status of women in areas pertaining to the workplace, including, but not limited to: access to educational, training and employment opportunities; employer hiring practices; workplace culture; work-family balance; the gender pay gap; and the gender composition of the workforce by industry; 2. collaborate with State agencies and affiliated groups, including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Advisory Commission on the Status of Women and the Council on Gender Parity in Labor and Education to address issues that disproportionately affect women in the workplace; 3. review current and proposed legislation and regulations pertaining to gender equity in employment practices, career development, and the workplace, and make recommendations regarding possible legislation and regulations; and 4. educate and provide information to the public on the issues and current developments regarding women in the workplace by publishing reports and holding events such as conferences and symposia. This bill also establishes the "Women's Advancement Fund" in the Department of the Treasury to receive all funding for the Office for Women's Advancement from the State and other sources. The bill authorizes the office to apply for and collect funds from the federal government and other sources in certain cases, and directs that an annual appropriation be made to the fund in an amount necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A2257 | Allows county or municipal governing body to enter into revenue sharing agreement for alcoholic beverage sales by concessionaire permit holder. | This bill allows a county or municipality to enter into a revenue sharing agreement with the holder of a concessionaire permit used in connection with a premises located within the county or municipality. Under current law, the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is authorized to issue a concessionaire permit that allows the permit holder to sell alcoholic beverages in any public building belonging to, or under the control of, the State or any political subdivision. This annual permit is issued to a private vendor who has a contract with the unit of government to provide services to the public. This bill allows the county or municipal governing body to enter into an agreement to share a fixed percentage of the revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages by the private vendor. | In Committee |
| A2116 | Authorizes issuance of special license plates for alumni of four-year public institutions of higher education. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special license plates to the alumni of four-year public institutions of higher education. Specifically, the bill directs the commission to establish and administer a license plate program for each four-year public institution of higher education. For each alumni license plate program, the bill provides that the design of the alumni license plates is to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring the applicable four-year public institution of higher education. The chief administrator, in consultation with an alumni association of each four-year public institution of higher education, is to select the design and color scheme of the alumni license plates for the respective alumni license plate programs. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, the bill imposes an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the alumni license plates. After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement each alumni license plate program, any additional fee collections are required to be deposited into the special non-lapsing fund established for each four-year public institution of higher education. The proceeds of each fund are to be annually appropriated to an alumni association of the applicable four-year public institution of higher education to support the organization's mission and programs. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the alumni license plates for each alumni license plate program. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue an alumni license plate program. The bill also requires the director of an alumni association to appoint a liaison to represent the alumni association in all communications with the commission regarding the alumni license plates. The bill prohibits the use of State or other public funds by the commission to cover the initial cost to implement an alumni license plate program. The bill requires an alumni association or an individual or entity designated by an alumni association 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 an alumni association of a four-year public institution of higher education to receive funds from private sources to offset the initial costs. Under the bill, the commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of alumni license plates or make any necessary programming changes, until: (1) an alumni association or the individual or entity designated by an alumni association has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the liaison of an alumni association has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. | Dead |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2259 | Provides additional ways for transferring deceased voter's record to Statewide voter registration system's death file; requires Secretary of State match registration system with Social Security Administration deceased persons database. | This bill provides additional ways for deceased voters to be transferred from the active file to the death file of the Statewide voter registration system and requires the Secretary of State to conduct a match of the registration system with the database of deceased persons maintained by the Social Security Administration. Under current law, each month, the health officer or other officer in charge of records of death in each municipality is required to file with the commissioner of registration of the county in which the municipality is located the age, date of death, and the names and addresses of all persons 18 years of age or older who have died within such municipality during the previous month. In addition, the State registrar of vital statistics, the Commissioner of the Department of Health, and funeral directors across the State are required to file death certificates. If the commissioner of registration finds sufficient evidence that the voter is deceased, the deceased voter's record is transferred from the active file to the death file of the Statewide voter registration system. This bill provides additional ways for deceased voters' records to be transferred. Under the bill, the next of kin of a deceased voter will be permitted to submit a form created by the Secretary of State to have a deceased family member transferred from the active file to the death file. In addition, the Director of the Division of Veterans' Healthcare Services or an administrator of a nursing home facility may submit a form created by the Secretary of State to notify the commissioner of registration of a deceased resident and have the resident transferred from the active file to the death file. Funeral home directors in the State would also be eligible to submit a form to the commissioner. Additionally, the bill would require the Secretary of State to conduct a match of the Statewide voter registration system with the database of deceased persons maintained by the Social Security Administration. | 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 |
| A2358 | Requires EDA to create needs-matching website for eligible entities. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to create a website for the purpose of matching the needs and supplies of eligible entities. As defined in the bill, "eligible entity" means an entity doing business in this State in at least one of the following industries: advanced computing, advanced materials, biotechnology, electronic device technology, information technology, life sciences, medical device technology, mobile communications technology, or renewable energy technology. The EDA is required to make this website available to eligible entities including, but not limited to, businesses, real estate professionals, medical institutions, research facilities, non-profit organizations, professional associations, higher education institutions, and investors. Under the bill, the website is required to provide a platform on which an eligible entity may match its needs with a supplier for physical locations, equipment, labor, and other appropriate assets or services. The EDA is also required to provide a list of public and private funding sources and investment opportunities, including information on State and federal grant programs, which may be appropriate for an eligible entity. | 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 |
| A2253 | Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. | This bill increases from $25 million to $50 million the amount that is annually credited to the Shore Protection Fund from the collection of realty transfer fees. The realty transfer fee is imposed on the recording of deeds transferring real property, and is calculated on the basis of the amount paid in the deed. The basic rate is $1.75 for each $500 of consideration, of which $0.50 is retained by the county and $1.25 is the State share. Currently, the first $25 million of the State share collected annually is credited to the Shore Protection Fund. | In Committee |
| AJR75 | Establishes "Commission to Review Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses." | This joint resolution establishes the "Commission to Review the Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses." The commission is to consist of eleven members: three members appointed by the Governor, which are to include the Commissioner of the Department of Health, a representative of the New Jersey Chamber Commerce, and a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; four members appointed by the Senate President which are to include the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, and two public members, one with a background in health care and one with a background in the hospitality industry, or small business ownership or management; and four members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, which are to include the Majority Leader of the General Assembly, the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; two public members, one with a background in health care, and one with a background in the hospitality industry, or small business ownership or management. Members of the commission are to be appointed within 20 days following the date of enactment of the joint resolution. The commission is to hold at least three public hearings. Under the joint resolution, the commission is to review existing administrative rules and regulations, or any Executive Order, or local or county rule or regulation that is issued in response to the public health emergency declared pursuant to Executive Order 103, to analyze their impact on small businesses, investment and economic growth in the State, and the ability for the economy to recover. After each meeting, the commission is to issue a report to the Governor and State Legislature that includes the commission's findings and recommendations on these existing administrative rule or regulation, or Executive Order, or local or county rule or regulation that was issued in response to the current public health emergency. | In Committee |
| A1082 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY 2024 environmental infrastructure funding program. | This bill would amend P.L.2023, c.120 to amend the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the Legislature has appropriated funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for State fiscal year 2024. In July 2023, P.L.2023, c.120 was enacted into law, which appropriated funds to the DEP for the purpose of financing approximately $1.78 billion in Storm Sandy and other environmental infrastructure projects through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) in FY 2024. This bill would amend the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the DEP is appropriated funds pursuant to P.L.2023, c.120 to include new projects, remove projects, modify the priority of certain projects, and modify the loan amounts for certain projects, as enumerated in subsections a. and b. of section 3 of the bill. As amended by the bill, P.L.2023, c.120 would appropriate to the DEP up to $3.08 billion, and any unexpended balances from previous authorizations, to provide loans to project sponsors for a total of 223 eligible environmental infrastructure projects for FY 2024. This would include 137 projects on the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Clean Water Project Eligibility List" and 70 projects on the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List." The bill would also give the DEP the explicit authority to use funds in the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 14 of the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302, for drinking water projects. The bill would require such drinking water projects to be funded in accordance with the regulations applicable to the financing of wastewater projects by the Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund, unless and until regulations specific to the financing of drinking water projects are promulgated. | Dead |
| A2238 | Requires correctional police officers to wear body worn cameras and security camera systems to be installed in State correctional facilities. | This bill requires correctional police officers to wear a body worn camera (BWC). The bill also requires the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to install a state-of-the-art camera system in State correctional facilities. The bill specifically requires all correctional police officers employed in State correctional facilities to wear a BWC that records audio and video at all times while performing their duties. Specific instances when video and audio functions of the BWC are to remain activated at all times include during a riot, an incident resulting in bodily injury or death, an incident in which the officer exercises the use of force, and an incident that involves suspected criminal activity while meeting with a confidential informant, as well as when directed by the Commissioner of Corrections or a superior officer. The bill sets forth certain exceptions to the BWC requirement. The BWC is to be deactivated when an officer is using the restroom; during a State parole board hearing or court proceeding; during an officer's medical assessment or appointment; during a Department of Corrections (DOC) meeting or when the officer is engaged in representing a union member; and during an interview of a victim alleging a violation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), unless the victim requests that the BWC remain activated during the interview. Exceptions providing for the video capabilities of a BWC to be deactivated, but requiring the audio to remain activated, include during a strip or body cavity search and when an officer is patrolling a restroom or shower facility.The bill generally requires BWC recordings to be retained for a minimum of 180 days from the date of the recording, but longer periods of retention are required under certain circumstances set forth in the bill. The bill requires disciplinary action to be taken against any correctional police officer who fails to adhere to the recording or retention requirements or intentionally interferes with a BWC camera capturing video or audio. The bill requires the DOC to issue a written summary of the provisions of the committee substitute relating to the use of BWCs by correctional police officers and ensure that a copy of the written policy is provided to each inmate, published in the inmate handbook, posted on the DOC website, and prominently posted throughout each State correctional facility. Finally, the bill requires the DOC to install a state-of-the art camera system in each State correctional facility. A study of each facility is required, in consultation with an expert on surveillance cameras in correctional facilities, to develop and implement a plan for installing the camera system. The plan for the camera system is to require an evaluation of the current number and location of cameras in the facility and to the extent possible, incorporate these cameras into the comprehensive plan. Security cameras are to be placed throughout the facility, including identified blind-spots, housing unit hallways and entryways, common spaces, and exterior locations. The plan also is to require systematic oversight and review of the camera footage. At least one corrections officer per shift is required to continuously monitor the camera system. The corrections officer is to immediately report any observed misconduct to the appropriate supervisor, as well as to the corrections ombudsperson. A corrections officer who does not comply with these reporting requirements is subject to administrative sanctions. The plan also is to require security camera footage to be maintained for not less than 90 days and, when necessary, to be retained indefinitely. Upon request, the commissioner is to make this footage available to the Legislature for investigatory purposes. The Legislature is to keep confidential any information garnered from the footage. The bill requires the DOC to submit to the Legislature an annual report evaluating the effectiveness of the camera system. If the report indicates that a change to a camera location is necessary, the DOC is to make that change within 30 days or document why the change can't be made within that time frame. | In Committee |
| A2325 | Requires public water systems and landlords to provide certain notice of elevated perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances levels in drinking water; requires DEP to establish educational program. | This bill would require public water systems to provide certain notifications about elevated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in drinking water to customers and local officials, require landlords to notify tenants of elevated PFAS levels in drinking water, and require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH), to establish an educational program concerning the presence of PFAS in drinking water. Beginning 18 months after the bill's enactment, a public water system whose drinking water exceeds a PFAS maximum contaminant level (MCL) would be required to provide a written notice, via regular or electronic mail, or both, to all customers served by the public water system, including all residences, schools, daycare centers, and facilities serving young children, all public and private hospitals, medical clinics, and doctor's offices serving pregnant women and young children, all local health and welfare agencies in the public water system's service area, and the chief executive of each municipality in the public water system's service area. The written notice would be required to be sent as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 calendar days after the public water system confirms that there has been an exceedance of a PFAS MCL. This notification requirement would be in addition to existing notification requirements under the federal "Safe Drinking Water Act," 42 U.S.C. s.300 et al., or any other State or federal law. As defined in the bill, "PFAS" means any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom and "PFAS maximum contaminant level" means the applicable maximum contaminant level for PFAS, or a category or type of PFAS, in drinking water established by the DEP pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.). The written notice to be sent by a public water system would be required to: (1) clearly state that the public water system is in exceedance of a PFAS MCL; (2) explain what the PFAS MCL is and the measurement process that the public water system is required to perform to monitor drinking water for PFAS; (3) state that drinking water that contains elevated levels of a PFAS can cause negative health effects; (4) provide information to direct the consumer to the educational program developed by the DEP pursuant to section 4 of the bill, including a link to the DEP's Internet website where the educational resources are located; and (5) state, in easily legible type, the responsibility of a landlord to distribute the written notice to every tenant pursuant to section 3 the bill. The bill would also require public water systems to provide annual written notifications to all customers served by the public water system where an exceedance of a PFAS MCL has been found, until there is no longer an exceedance of the PFAS MCL. The annual written notifications would be required to include, at a minimum: (1) an update on the current status of the mitigation process along with an estimate of the time until the mitigation process will be completed; and (2) any information on what work, if any, has been done to mitigate the contamination or treat the contaminated drinking water supply. The bill would also require public water systems to provide a written notification informing customers when a PFAS exceedance has ended. A public water system that violates any of the notification requirements of the bill would be considered to be in violation of the "Safe Drinking Water Act," which could result in civil administrative penalties of up to $25,000. Beginning 18 months after the bill's enactment, the bill would require landlords, whenever they receive a notice or health and safety information from a public water system concerning the presence of PFAS in drinking water, to: (1) distribute the notice or information, by any means including by electronic mail, as soon as practicable, but no later than three business days after receipt, to every tenant who has entered into a lease agreement with the landlord and whose dwelling unit is served by the public water system; and (2) post the notice or information, as soon as practicable, but no later than three business days after receipt, in a prominent location at the entrance of each rental premises that is owned by the landlord and served by the public water system, except in single-family dwellings that do not have a common area. The bill would also require landlords to provide the most recent information about a PFAS exceedance they have received to any prospective tenant prior to signing a lease. A landlord who violates any of the notification requirements of the bill would first receive a written warning from the DEP, and, for subsequent violations, could face a civil administrative penalty of up to $500. Finally, the bill would require the DEP and the DOH, no later than one year after the bill's enactment, to establish and implement an educational program concerning PFAS in drinking water. The program would be required to: (1) educate the general public on the subject of PFAS and its environmental and health impacts; (2) provide informational resources specific to PFAS in drinking water; and (3) provide any other information and efforts that are determined by the DEP or the DOH to be beneficial in educating the public on the presence of PFAS in drinking water. The DEP would be required to publish the educational program to its Internet website and update it annually. | In Committee |
| A3029 | Directs DEP to establish leasing program for State-owned land to be used and managed as pollinator habitat. | This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a leasing program for the lease, development, use, and management of appropriate and suitable State-owned land as pollinator habitat by any person, local government unit, nonprofit organization, or other entity that the DEP determines is qualified and appropriate to manage State-owned land for this purpose. The bill also directs the DEP, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to adopt rules and regulations providing for: 1) the identification of State-owned lands that are appropriate and suitable for management as pollinator habitat; and 2) criteria for the selection of appropriate entities to lease, develop, use, and manage State-owned land for this purpose. | In Committee |
| A2229 | Requires certain hospitals to complete Leapfrog Hospital Survey. | This bill requires hospitals that deliver newborn children to fully and accurately complete the Leapfrog Hospital Survey for the corresponding reporting period. The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safety, quality, and transparency in the provision of health care in the United States. The Leapfrog survey assigns patient safety grades to hospitals and summarizes hospital performance data according to inpatient care management, medication safety, maternity care, infections and injuries, pediatric care, surgeon volume, and surgical appropriateness. | In Committee |
| A2126 | Requires MVC to provide customer service telephone number at motor vehicle inspection facilities. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to ensure the conspicuous display of a toll-free customer service telephone number at all official inspection facilities designated by the MVC. A person may call the toll-free customer service telephone number to report any technical problems. | Dead |
| A2336 | Directs DEP to establish pollinator habitat program for closed landfills. | This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a program that encourages the owner or operator of a closed landfill to transform the landfill into habitat that supports animal pollinators using native plants where possible. The department is also required to create guidelines and best practices for establishing and maintaining pollinator habitats on closed landfills no later than six months following the effective date of this act. Furthermore, the department is required to seek and encourage corporate sponsorship and non-profit partnerships for the creation and maintenance of pollinator habitat on closed landfills. As defined in the bill, "animal pollinator" means any bee, butterfly, moth, wasp, fly, beetle, ant, hummingbird, bat, or animal that is known to pollinate plants. Further, "closed landfill" means any legacy landfill or closed sanitary landfill facility. | In Committee |
| A2251 | Permits municipality, fire district or authority to approve transfer of certain firefighters from PERS to PFRS. | This bill provides that a firefighter, employed on the effective date of the bill by a municipality, fire district or authority, who (1) was not eligible for membership in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) at the time of appointment, (2) meets the PFRS definition of "fireman," and (3) is currently enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), may transfer, subject to the approval of the municipal or other governing body, from PERS to PFRS, regardless of age. Current law provides that a person appointed as a firefighter after the age of 35 years is not eligible for PFRS membership. A municipality may not appoint as a firefighter a person over age 35, except that a municipal volunteer firefighter may be appointed to a paid position with that municipality after age 35 but before age 40. A fire district or authority may appoint firefighters without an age restriction. Persons with legal appointments as firefighters after age 35 are enrolled in PERS. Under the bill, a firefighter may receive full credit toward benefits under PFRS for the transferred PERS service credit upon the firefighter's payment of the full cost of the accrued liability associated with that transfer; otherwise, benefits will be apportioned between PERS and PFRS according to the ratios of PERS and PFRS service credit to the total amount of service credit. The bill provides that the State will not be liable for additional costs incurred by a local employer as a result of the transfers permitted by the bill. | In Committee |
| A2295 | Authorizes State Treasurer to sell as surplus certain real property and improvements in Township of Woodbridge in Middlesex County. | This bill authorizes the State Treasure to sell and convey a portion of the State's interest within the former Woodbridge Development Center property located at 1291 Rahway Avenue in the Township of Woodbridge, Middlesex County. The State will sell two non-contiguous parcels and improvements thereon containing 2.321 acres. The State will sell the property to the Township of Woodbridge for the appraised value of $910,000. The property is considered surplus to the needs of the State. The State House Commission will set the terms and conditions of the sale. In 2018, the State House Commission approved the sale of a portion of the former site of the Department of Correction's Woodbridge Development Center property to the Township of Woodbridge. The current sale will subdivide the Power Plant Parcel of the former site so that the State retains the central portion of the parcel and certain rights and the Township of Woodbridge acquires the northern and southern portion of the parcel. | Dead |
| 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 |
| A2786 | Eliminates one percent tax on purchasers of Class 4A commercial property transferred for consideration in excess of $1 million. | This bill eliminates the one percent tax imposed on the purchaser, in a non-deed transfer, of a controlling interest in an entity that owns Class 4A commercial property, otherwise known as the controlling interest transfer tax (CITT), if the total consideration for the transfer is in excess of $1 million. Class 4A commercial property is any kind of income-producing real property other than property classified as vacant land, residential property or apartments, farm property, and industrial property. | In Committee |
| A842 | Authorizes State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct disparity study concerning utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State procurement process. | This bill, as amended, would require the State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a disparity study to determine whether disparities exist in the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the State procurement process. Following completion of the study, the Chief Diversity Officer would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the officer's findings and making recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies. 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 apparent 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 minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs to alleviate historic discrimination against minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises. Every four years following the issuance of the first report the Chief Diversity Officer must submit an additional report to the Legislature on whether a study concerning the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies is needed. The officer may request an appropriation of funding for the study. | 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 |
| A1582 | Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed. | This bill provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion must receive an evaluation by a licensed health care professional and written clearance from the licensed health care professional to return to school. In the event that the licensed health care professional provides notice that the student requires restrictions or limitations, the school district 504 team, as defined in N.J.A.C.6A:8-1.3, (a group of persons that makes program and placement decisions according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and 34 CFR § 104.35(c)), must immediately implement the restrictions or limitations and notify all teachers and staff who have contact with the student of the restrictions or limitations. The school district's 504 team would promptly identify the manner in which the restrictions or limitations would be provided to the student during recovery and the need for the continuation or adjustment of the restrictions or limitations, and to determine the duration of the restrictions or limitations. The bill also provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion is prohibited from engaging in any physical activity at school including, but not limited to, recess or physical education. The student may not participate in any physical activity until evaluated by a licensed health care professional and receives written clearance to participate. As defined in the bill, "licensed health care professional" means a health care provider whose scope of practice includes the ability to diagnose and treat a concussion. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A2261 | Requires young children entering public schools or Head Start Programs for first time to have comprehensive eye examination completed. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to require each child age 6 and under who is entering a public preschool, public school, or a Head Start Program for the first time to have a comprehensive eye examination completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by January 1 of the child's initial year of enrollment in the school or program. The Department of Health will maintain a list of resources from which a parent or guardian may obtain a free or reduced price comprehensive eye examination. The list will be posted on the Department of Health's website and will be provided to each public preschool, public school, and Head Start Program. A principal, director, or other person in charge of a public preschool, public school, or Head Start Program must collect from the child's parent or guardian evidence of the child's comprehensive eye examination, as provided by regulation of the State board. A comprehensive eye examination that was performed no more than one year prior to a child's initial enrollment in a public preschool, public school, or Head Start Program will satisfy the requirements under the bill. Under the bill, a special fund will be created in the Department of Education, to be entitled the "Comprehensive Eye Examination Fund." The fund must be maintained in a separate account and administered by the commissioner to carry out the provisions of the bill. The fund will consist of (1) any monies appropriated by the State for the purposes of the fund; (2) any monies donated for the purposes of the fund; and (3) all interest and investment earnings received on monies in the fund. The fund is to be used to cover the costs of comprehensive eye examinations conducted pursuant to the bill, for any uninsured children and children without applicable healthcare coverage. | In Committee |
| A2772 | Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits. | This bill permits an employee to receive unemployment benefits if the employee leaves employment upon receipt of an offer of employment from another employer, but the offer is rescinded through no fault of the employee. The bill also, for purposes of benefit eligibility, increases the maximum time period between when the employee leaves work and when the subsequent work is scheduled to commence from seven days to 10 days. This bill would codify into statute the holdings of the court in McClain v. Bd. of Review, Dep't of Labor, 237 N.J. 445 (2019). In that case, the court held that an employee who leaves one job to take another job, but, through no fault of the employee, has the offer of employment rescinded before the employment begins, is entitled to unemployment benefits. | In Committee |
| A2174 | Requires certain disclosures by sellers of single-family homes with solar panels installed. | This bill requires that a seller's property condition disclosure statement or contract, or rider or addendum to a contract, for sale of a single-family home with solar panels purchased by the owner installed on the home or its property is to include the name and contact information of both the business that installed the solar panels and, if different, the business that owns the solar panels or is involved in a power purchase agreement or lease. If solar panels installed on a single-family home or its property are leased or subject to a power purchase agreement, a seller's property condition disclosure statement or contract, or rider or addendum to a contract, for the sale of the home is to contain clear and precise language regarding whether the owner selling the home is transferring the lease of the panels, or power purchase agreement-related commitments, to a new residence or to the buyer of the home contracted for sale. If a lease or power purchase agreement is transferred to the buyer of the home, the name and contact information of the business that installed the solar panels and, if different, the name and contact information of the business that owns the solar panels or is involved in a form of power purchase agreement, warrantee, or lease, are to be included in the seller's property condition disclosure statement or contract for sale, or a rider or addendum to the contract. More specifically, the bill requires the property condition disclosure statement, contract for sale, or a rider or addendum to the contract for sale, to include a copy of the contractual documents, if any, to become obligations of the new owner. A licensee of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission is not held liable under the bill for information that is required to be disclosed by a seller under the bill but was not provided to the licensee. Misrepresentation or false claims made by an owner of a single family home, who is a party to a contract for the sale of the home, regarding the business that installed the solar panels purchased or leased by the owner, would make the owner liable to the buyer for the cost of the resulting damages or $1,000, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs, in addition to any other penalty provided by law. | Dead |
| A2230 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services. | This bill would establish minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services. 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. The bill provides that the minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for such services is to be no less than $60 per hour when a registered professional nurse provides the services, and no less than $48 per hour when a licensed practical nurse provides the services. Existing State regulation, at N.J.A.C.10:60-11.2, establishes a maximum Medicaid reimbursement rate for PDN services. Specifically, the regulation provides for reimbursement of PDN services at a rate of not more than $40 per hour when a registered professional nurse provides the services, and not more than $28 when a licensed practical nurse provides the services. These maximum reimbursement rates, however, are insufficient to cover the costs of service provision, and may effectively dissuade nurses from providing PDN services in the State. The bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the bill's provisions and secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| A2924 | Codifies protections in Law Against Discrimination for persons suffering discrimination on grounds of disparate impact. | This bill would amend the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) (the "LAD") to codify case law providing that the LAD protects those plaintiffs suffering discrimination on grounds of "disparate impact." Pursuant to the case law, the LAD protects two kinds of plaintiffs who are members of a protected class (such as race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, disability or nationality, among others): those plaintiffs who suffer disparate treatment because of their membership in the protected class, and those who suffer from the disparate impact of a facially neutral policy that in fact falls more harshly on them because of their membership in the protected class. See Gerety v. Atl. City Hilton Casino Resort, 184 N.J. 391 (2004). | 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 |
| A1489 | Establishes "Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program" in DLPS; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a two-year "Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program" in the Department of Law and Public Safety to deter theft and aid in the recovery of stolen property. The bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to identify vehicle models most likely to be targeted for theft of catalytic converters and to prioritize areas of the State most targeted for vehicle theft for participation in the program. Under the bill, certain auto dealers, mechanics, and vehicle owners will be provided with a method to mark a catalytic converter with a unique identifier. The bill requires the superintendent to maintain a registry of program participation to aid in the process of tracing and recovery of stolen property. An appropriation of $500,000 is made to the Department of Law and Public Safety to carry out the provisions of the bill. Upon expiration of the pilot program, this bill requires the Attorney General to issue a report to the Governor and Legislature of findings and recommendations. | 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 |
| A2274 | Concerns structural integrity regulations for certain residential buildings. | This bill supplements the "State Uniform Construction Code Act" (UCCA) to require that certain covered buildings, which are limited to condominiums and cooperatives, and plans be inspected and reviewed by a structural inspector, as defined in the bill, at certain times and intervals. In addition, this bill assures that planned real estate developments have adequate reserve funds to make certain required maintenance repairs to building components and common areas. Under the bill, following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, an initial structural inspection of the building components forming the primary load bearing system of a covered building is required to be completed by a post-occupancy structural inspector. The bill further establishes certain timelines for inspections, dependent on when a certificate of occupancy was issued. In addition, this bill requires that a planned real estate development undertake a capital reserve study to identify and assess the adequacy of the association's capital reserve funds to meet the anticipated costs associated with maintaining the structural integrity of the buildings that the association is obligated to maintain. This capital reserve study is to be conducted by a credentialed reserve specialist, or licensed engineer or architect, and is to include an analysis of certain provisions enumerated in the bill. In addition, this bill requires that a planned real estate development create and fund a plan to ensure that adequate reserve funds are available to repair or replace one or more components of common elements and facilities that the association is obligated to maintain without need to create a special assessment or loan obligation. The bill also allows a planned real estate development's executive board to adopt an assessment payable by the owners over one or more fiscal years, or obtain a loan on terms as the board determines to be reasonable, when necessary to fund the cost of corrective maintenance of the primary load bearing system of the planned real estate development. Prior to adopting the assessment, the board is to be required to obtain a written report from a licensed engineer or architect explaining that the failure to undertake corrective maintenance of the primary load bearing system would produce certain results enumerated in the bill. The bill requires that the developer of a planned real estate development prepare a document setting forth a schedule for the preventative maintenance tasks to be undertaken by the association over the life of the common area components, including, but not limited to, periodic inspections of the structural components of the buildings or common areas that the association is obligated to maintain. This document is also to be made available to prospective purchasers or owners of units, parcels, or other interests of the planned real estate development. This preventative maintenance document is to also be updated pursuant to the specifications of any structural inspections or reports performed under the UCCA. | Dead |
| A3165 | Prohibits retaliation against inmates in State correctional facilities who report sexual abuse; criminalizes retaliation and failure to report abuse. | This bill prohibits retaliation against inmates in State correctional facilities who file a complaint of sexual assault or harassment, physical violence, or mental abuse against a corrections officer or other staff member of the facility. The bill specifically requires the Commissioner of Corrections to establish a secure, reliable, and confidential method for inmates incarcerated in State correctional facilities to report these complaints. A fee cannot be charged to file the complaint and the inmate is to have the option of remaining anonymous. Inmates are to be given the opportunity to file a complaint in their native language. Inmates are to be clearly informed on how to file a confidential complaint, including how to file a complaint with the facility's Special Investigations Division, and that the reporting of the complaint is strictly confidential. The bill requires the commissioner to prohibit any punitive measures from being taken against an inmate who files a complaint of sexual assault or harassment, physical violence, and mental abuse. This includes prohibiting the inmate's transfer to administrative segregation and temporary close custody. An inmate's job assignment also is not to be changed. Inmates are to be offered the services of a victim advocate not affiliated with the facility who has expertise in providing emotional support services. The bill requires the commissioner to institute policies and procedures to monitor retaliation by corrections officers and civilian staff members against an inmate who files a complaint. Finally, the bill establishes that it is a fourth degree crime for a corrections officer or civilian staff member to retaliate against an inmate who files a complaint. It is also a fourth degree crime for an officer or staff member to fail to report to the appropriate supervisor any known or suspected, or any evidence or information pertaining to, sexual assault or harassment, physical violence, or mental abuse of an inmate by another officer or staff member. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A2155 | Requires MVC to operate call center to assist with online transactions. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to maintain a telephone call center located within New Jersey where commission employees, or persons under contract with the commission, are available in real-time, at a minimum, during weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to assist individuals in navigating the commission's Internet website and processing online transactions. The commission is required to offer all call center services in both English and Spanish. In order to reduce total call center staffing needs, the commission may provide additional web-based tutorial support and recorded help messages. The commission is also required to collect and make available on its Internet website quarterly performance metric reports which are required to include, but are not limited to, information pertaining to the number of calls, the length of individual wait times, the call purpose, and the length of calls at the telephone call center. | In Committee |
| A2431 | Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State. | This bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any financial ties prior to approval by the Secretary of State. As amended, the bill would require those vendors to report significant changes in ownership or shareholder status on an ongoing basis. Currently, voting system vendors must meet a number of requirements prior to approval and certification of voting systems in the State. However, the vendors are not required to disclose financial and investment ties. This bill would require voting system vendors to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies, or in the vendor's parent company. The bill would also require changes of five percent or greater in ownership or shareholder status to be reported. This bill is a response to the recent elections security issues. Several states have taken steps to address potential security risks. In Maryland, the state moved to require voting system vendors to disclose its investment ties following the revelation that a former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, owned the firm which financed the buyout of Maryland's voting system vendor. In June of 2019, North Carolina's State Board of Elections voted unanimously for each vendor seeking certification in the state to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies or in the vendor's parent company. This bill draws on the actions of these states to ensure the security of the elections of the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A2268 | Prohibits emergency homeless shelters from conditioning provision of shelter on enrollment in certain programs. | This bill prohibits emergency shelters for the homeless from conditioning the provision of shelter on a person's enrollment in certain programs. Under the provision of the bill, an emergency shelter for the homeless is required to provide shelter to a person for a minimum of 72 hours, regardless of whether the person is enrolled in a local, State, federal, or private assistance program, or is receiving any other services or benefits. The bill provides that following the initial 72 hours, an emergency homeless shelter may require an individual to apply for programs, assistance, or other services or benefits, as a condition of continued provision of shelter. An individual in compliance with this requirement would have to be provided with shelter for a period of no less than 90 days. The bill further provides that an emergency homeless shelter is not required to exceed its licensed capacity, plus any authorized excess capacity, in order to comply with these requirements. Further, the bill does not prohibit a shelter from refusing to provide shelter if the refusal is otherwise authorized by law or regulation. | In Committee |
| A2135 | Makes $2.5 million in federal funds available to EDA to support veteran-owned businesses in need. | This bill makes $2.5 million in federal funds available to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to award grants to eligible veteran-owned businesses. The EDA may use up to five percent of these funds to support administrative expenses. As defined in the bill, a "veteran-owned business" is a business that has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated, and at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by persons who are veterans. | In Committee |
| A2226 | Concerns information security standards and guidelines for State and local government. | This bill requires the Office of Information Technology in the Department of the Treasury to provide minimum information security standards and guidelines that are to be followed by State agencies. In the course of governance, agencies often collect and use personal or confidential information. Because personal and confidential information are vulnerable to unauthorized access and disclosure, it is important that such information is protected by physical and cyber security. The bill also requires that local governments and boards of education follow the Office of Information Technology's guidelines or use other standards and guidelines that protect information commensurate with the information's sensitivity. The bill authorizes and encourages the Judiciary to follow the Office of Information Technology's guidelines or use other standards and guidelines that protect information commensurate with the information's sensitivity. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage. However, 180 days are given for the State and local governments to implement the requirements of the bill. | 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 |
| A1622 | Requires Department of Education to annually report use of federal COVID-19 relief funds. | This bill requires the Department of Education to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the amount of grant funds received by the department and distributed to school districts pursuant to the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," Pub.L.116-136, the federal "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, 2021" Pub.L. 116-260, the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, or any other federal funding made available to states to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department would also be required to report the purposes for which grant funds were used by recipient school districts. The department would further be required to submit a final report regarding the expenditure of federal grant funds received to address the impact of COVID-19 on public education no later than six months following the complete exhaustion of funds by recipient school districts. | In Committee |
| A2285 | Establishes fund for DEP for Blue Acres acquisition and relocation projects; appropriates $25 million. | This bill establishes the Blue Acres Buyout Fund (hereinafter referred to as the "fund") as a nonlapsing, revolving fund in the Department of Environmental Protection and appropriates $25 million from the General Fund for the purposes of the fund. The fund would be administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to be used for relocation assistance for homeowners and tenants displaced by a Blue Acres acquisition, to acquire flood prone property under the Blue Acres program, and for administrative costs associated with the program. No more than five percent of the total annual revenue allocated to the fund in each fiscal year may be used by the DEP for administrative costs. | In Committee |
| A2242 | Requires Governor to appoint Chief Accountability Officer to supervise all State ombudsmen, compliance officers, comptrollers, and other officers with substantially similar positions. | This bill requires the Governor to appoint a Chief Accountability Officer who will report directly to the Governor. The officer shall be a person qualified by education, training, and prior work experience to perform the duties and functions and fulfill the responsibilities of the position. The officer will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and will serve for a term of five years. The Chief Accountability Officer will establish a system to ensure that the officers named in this bill conduct their duties, audits, investigations, and reviews in consultation, coordination, and cooperation with the Chief Accountability Officer. The Chief Accountability Officer will ensure that the duties, audits, investigations, and reviews of the officers named in this bill are conducted in accordance the laws, rules, and regulations of this State and in accordance with any prevailing national and professional standards, rules, and practices relating to such duties, audits, investigations, and reviews in government environments. The Chief Accountability Officer will supervise the activities of the following officers of the State government: Inspector General, Department of Transportation Director of the Division of Internal Audit, New Jersey Transit Corporation Ombudsman, Board of Public Utilities Insurance Claims Ombudsman, Department of Banking and Insurance New Jersey Special Education Ombudsman, Department of Education Student Loan Ombudsman, Department of Banking and Insurance NJ ESSA Nonpublic Ombudsman Smart Growth Ombudsman, Department of Community Affairs Small Business Ombudsman, Department of State Executive Director, State Agriculture Development Committee Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and their Families, Department of Human Services State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Department of Human Services Office of Corrections Ombudsperson, Department of Corrections Military and Defense Economic Ombudsman, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Compliance Review Officer, State Ethics Commission State Comptroller, Department of the Treasury Command Inspector General, New Jersey National Guard The Chief Accountability Officer will establish the internal organizational structure of the office in a manner appropriate to carrying out the duties and functions, and fulfilling the responsibilities, of the office. Each department, office, division and agency of this State is required to cooperate with the office and furnish the office with the assistance necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The Chief Accountability Officer is required to meet at periodic intervals, but at least twice annually, with the officers named in this bill for the purpose of consulting, coordinating, and cooperating with those officers in the conduct of their duties, responsibilities, and functions. The focus of all parties during such meetings will be to: facilitate communication and exchange information on completed, current, and future audits, investigations, and reviews; avoid duplication and fragmentation of efforts; optimize the use of resources; avoid divisiveness and organizational uncertainty; promote effective working relationships; and avoid the unnecessary expenditure of public funds. The Chief Accountability Officer will provide periodic reports to the Governor and issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, which will be available to the public. | In Committee |
| A2282 | Establishes Office of Resilience in DCF. | This bill establishes in the Department of Children and Families the Office of Resilience. The office is to be directed by an executive director, who is to report directly to the Commissioner of Children and Families. Under the direction of the executive director, the office is to be responsible for hosting, coordinating, and facilitating Statewide initiatives related to raising awareness of, and creating opportunities to eradicate, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through grassroots, community-led efforts that provide technical assistance and strategic support for non-governmental organizations with missions promoting trauma-informed and health-centered services for young people in the State of New Jersey. As used in this bill, "adverse childhood experiences" or "ACEs" means traumatic experiences, including abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, substance use disorder, or parental separation, that occur during childhood, and "trauma informed care" or "TIC" means a strength-based approach to service delivery that: considers treating a person's past trauma and resulting coping mechanism; is grounded in an understanding of, and the responsiveness to, the impact of trauma; emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both treatment providers and survivors of trauma; and creates opportunities for trauma survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment. Specifically, the office is to: (1) develop and share trauma-informed and healing-centered strategies with other State departments and community-based stakeholders to reduce exposure to, and mitigate the effects of, ACEs in the State of New Jersey by supporting collaboration with early childhood organizations and early childhood providers to encourage the development of a Statewide multi-generational support system that promotes positive childhood experiences and assists in the healing of primary and secondary trauma in adults (2) in partnership with public and private partners, establish a public awareness campaign to educate the public about ACEs and TIC; (3) develop research-based tools to use in creating resilience and empowering individuals who have faced trauma and adversity, and in promoting positive childhood experiences; and (4) provide periodic reports to the Governor, and issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding its activities. | 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 |
| A112 | Exempts certain motor vehicles that are owned by certain nutrition programs and certain nonprofit organizations that offer social services from motor vehicle registration fees. | This bill provides an exemption from motor vehicle registration fees for motor vehicles not used for pleasure or for hire that are owned by a local nutrition program for seniors that is a Meals on Wheels America member and those that are owned by certain nonprofit organizations that offer social services to New Jersey residents. | In Committee |
| A2452 | Requires State Treasurer to collect and study certain demographic information on corporate boards and in senior management. | This bill requires corporations and nonprofit corporations to include in their annual report, filed in the Department of the Treasury, demographic information statistics for the members of its corporate board and senior management, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, and veteran status. The bill requires the State Treasurer to publish quadrennial reports, starting on February 1st, 2024, documenting the number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations whose principal executive office is located in this State, and the demographic information for the officers of the corporation and the directors or trustees on each corporation's board. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, and veteran status of the officers of the corporation and the directors or trustees and the total number of directors or trustees that constitute the board of each corporation, the change in these demographics from previous years; and the aggregate demographics of all such corporate officers and boards of directors or trustees. | In Committee |
| AJR74 | Designates November 25 of each year as the "Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in New Jersey." | This joint resolution designates November 25 of each year as the "Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in New Jersey." In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated that date as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations to organize activities on that date each year to raise public awareness. Violence against women is a human rights violation and a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and in practice, as well as a consequence of persistent inequalities between men and women. A 2017 report by the UN Secretary-General, using data for 87 countries from 2005 to 2016, found that 19 percent of women between ages 15 and 49 years said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months. In the most extreme cases, violence against women can lead to death. In 2012, almost half of all women who were victims of intentional homicide worldwide were killed by an intimate partner or family member, compared to 6 percent of male victims. Gender inequality persists worldwide. As stated by the UN Secretary-General, achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will require more vigorous efforts, including legal frameworks, to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination that often results from patriarchal attitudes and related social norms. In 2008, then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the "UNiTE to End Violence against Women" campaign to further raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. UNiTE leads the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign," which aims to mobilize people to bring about change. The 16 days from November 25 to December 10 culminate in Human Rights Day. Violence against women is a problem in New Jersey as well. According to the most recent data, as set out in the New Jersey State Police Domestic Violence Offense Report, 63,420 domestic violence offenses were reported by the police in New Jersey in 2016, a 3 percent increase over the previous year. Women were the victims in 74 percent of these cases. Of the 52 domestic violence-related homicides in New Jersey in 2016, 36 homicide victims were women. | In Committee |
| A2241 | Prohibits court from awarding custody of or limiting visitation with child based on certain factors. | This bill provides for the protection of the custody and visitation rights of parents based on several factors, including, disability, age, health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or ethnicity. New Jersey recognizes that both parents in a child custody dispute have a constitutionally recognized equal, fundamental right to the control and upbringing of a child. The courts make the determination on custody arrangements by applying various statutory factors, such as the interaction of the child with the child's parents and the stability of the home environment, with the best interests of the child as the primary concern. This bill provides that in any child custody proceeding, the disability, health status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or ethnicity of one or both parents is not to be the sole factor in the court's decision concerning child custody. If the court considers any of these when deciding custody or parenting time for an otherwise fit parent, the court is required to provide detailed finding of facts and conclusions of law in support of the decision. The bill does not limit the court's discretion to consider all relevant and appropriate factors pertaining to the best interest of the child in making an award for custody. The bill defines disability as having the same meaning set forth in section 3 of the "Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008," 42 U.S.C. s.12102. | In Committee |
| A2109 | Establishes the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Pilot Program." | This bill entitled the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Pilot Program," is intended to aid in the revitalization of declining neighborhoods in the older cities by "seeding" them with a new middle class. The bill establishes a pilot program in four older cities, one in each region of the State, to try to attract recent college graduates to enter into a two-year commitment to settle within certain targeted residential neighborhoods. The four initial cities that will participate in the pilot program are Camden, Trenton, Jersey City, and Paterson. The cities would be responsible for identifying the targeted residential neighborhoods, although those neighborhoods would have to be primarily residential in character and located in a census tract in which the median household income is 60 percent or less of the median income for the housing region in which the census tract is located, as determined for a three-person household by the Department of Community Affairs in accordance with the latest federal decennial census. Each of the four cities participating in the pilot program would be eligible to offer up to 200 qualified graduates a financial incentive to agree to maintain their primary residence within a targeted residential neighborhood for a period of at least 24 months. To qualify for participation in the program, a graduate would need a degree from a two- or four-year accredited institution of higher education, and proof of outstanding student loan indebtedness of at least $7,000. At the end of the required residency period, the program participant would be reimbursed a total $7,000 towards their student loan obligations. This pilot program would be administered by the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority because businesses located within pilot municipalities and an enterprise zone designated pursuant to P.L.1983, c.303, (C.52:27H-60 et seq.) and subject to the "Corporation Business Tax Act (1945)," P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.) would be entitled to receive neighborhood scholar revitalization tax credits for contributions made to the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Student Loan Reimbursement Fund" established by the bill. This would assist UEZ businesses in recruiting highly educated workers by offering the student loan reimbursement program as an additional benefit. Monies from each pilot municipality's urban enterprise zone assistance fund account could be transferred into the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Student Loan Reimbursement Fund" for the purpose of funding student loan reimbursements. The bill specifies that the amount of the Corporation Business Tax (CBT) tax credit allowed to a business would be equal to the amount of each annual regulated contribution by the business to the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Student Loan Reimbursement Fund" established pursuant to section 3 of the bill, but limited to 50 percent of the amount of tax otherwise due by the business in a given tax year. The bill provides for the carry-forward of unused tax credits. At the end of three years, the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, would be required to report to the Governor and Legislature on the success of the pilot program, and make recommendations regarding either the expansion or termination of the pilot program. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2247 | Requires Corrections Ombudsperson review criminal investigations under certain circumstances. | This bill requires the Corrections Ombudsperson to review criminal investigations under certain circumstances to ensure the investigation was accurate, unbiased, and thorough. Under the bill, in order to determine whether a criminal investigation conducted by the Department of Corrections or the Special Investigations Division was accurate, unbiased, and thorough, the ombudsperson is required to inspect, examine, and analyze all aspects of the criminal investigation including, but not limited to:· the manner in which the investigation was conducted and whether the investigation adhered to best practices and appropriate standards;· evidence contained in the investigatory file; and· any other information contained in the investigatory file deemed appropriate by the ombudsperson. The bill provides an exception for ongoing investigations. Under current law, the ombudsperson is prohibited from inspecting, examining, or assessing Prison Rape Elimination Act investigations; other information, records, or investigations deemed confidential by the Special Investigations Division of the department; and the Special Investigations evidence room. This bill eliminates these prohibitions. Finally, under the bill, the ombudsperson is required to provide information to the inmate who submitted the complaint regarding the status of the inspection, examination, or assessment of the criminal investigation and an estimate for when the inspection, examination, or assessment will be complete. | In Committee |
| A2232 | Concerns procedures with respect to repair of certain public utility facilities and related street repaving. | This bill adds gas and sewer public utilities and cable television companies to the types of public utilities required to notify a municipality prior to the placement, replacement, or removal of the public utility's poles and underground facilities and includes the repair of these poles or underground facilities to the notification requirement. The bill removes the provision of law that requires a municipality to first adopt an ordinance requiring a public utility to notify the municipality prior to a public utility undertaking this work. The bill requires a public utility to repave a portion of a street, road, or highway that was excavated to undertake the work to restore the property to its previous condition as much as possible and require a public utility to pay workers no less than the prevailing wage rate for restoring the property where the work was undertaken to its previous condition as much as possible. The bill increases the amount of a fine a municipality may assess against a public utility in the event a public utility does not meet the law's requirements concerning the removal of debris and the restoration of property within a right of way to its previous condition from up to $100 per day to up to $1,000 per day. The bill prohibits a public utility from recovering from its ratepayers the costs of a fine assessed against a public utility as provided in the bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A114 | Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless. | This bill would require the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to allow operators of shelters for the homeless and others who place persons in homeless shelters to have access to real-time information about the occupancy status of shelter beds, as collected by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), to determine the availability of shelter beds in the vicinity. Each homeless shelter operator would be required to update information about available shelter beds not later than one hour after a bed becomes available, or an available bed has been filled. These provisions will allow operators of homeless shelters that are currently full to ascertain whether there are available beds in nearby shelters so as to enable them to direct individuals in need of emergency shelter to locations that can accommodate them. This bill also requires a shelter for the homeless to cooperate in providing any necessary information to the database, as determined by the HMFA, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Human Services, as a condition of being eligible to receive funding for the shelter from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services. The bill would not apply to shelters for victims of domestic violence. | 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 |
| A2227 | Requires health benefits coverage for private duty nursing services. | 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 health benefits coverage for any expenses incurred in the provision of private duty nursing services. Under the bill, private duty nursing services are subject to the same deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing as apply to similar services under the contract, policy, or plan. Nothing in the bill is intended to prevent a contract, policy, or plan from requiring prior authorization for services. As used in the bill, "private duty nursing services" means nursing services for recipients who require more individual and continuous care than is available from a visiting nurse or routinely provided by the nursing staff of the hospital or skilled nursing facility. These services are provided: (1) by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse; (2) under the direction of the recipient's physician; and (3) to a recipient in that person's own home, a hospital, or a skilled nursing facility. | In Committee |
| A2254 | Requires reporting agencies to report to Division of Consumer Affairs number of free consumer reports furnished to New Jersey resident consumers annually. | This bill requires every reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis to report to the Division of Consumer Affairs, by March 1st of each year, the number of free consumer reports it has furnished to New Jersey resident consumers in the preceding calendar year. The report shall include information regarding the number of consumers who were furnished one report and the number of consumers who were furnished two reports in the preceding year. Any reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis that fails to provide the report to the Division of Consumer Affairs would be liable to a penalty of $10,000. The bill defines a "reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis" as a consumer reporting agency that regularly engages in the practice of assembling or evaluating, and maintaining, for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties bearing on a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, or credit capacity, each of the following regarding consumers residing nationwide: public record information; and credit account information from persons who furnish that information regularly and in the ordinary course of business. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2249 | "Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act." | This bill, the "Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act," regulates digital asset business activity. The bill defines "digital asset" to mean a representation of economic, proprietary, or access rights that is stored in a machine-readable format and has a transaction history that is recorded in a distributed, digital ledger or digital data structure in which consensus is achieved through a mechanism consistent with the underlying protocol. Examples of digital assets include digital consumer assets, digital securities, and virtual currency. "Digital asset" does not include securities, whether in digital form or otherwise, as defined pursuant to law. The bill provides that a person is not to engage in a digital asset business activity, or hold themselves out as being able to engage in a digital asset business activity, with or on behalf of a resident, unless the person is licensed in this State by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities (bureau) in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or has filed a pending license with the bureau. The bill provides the bureau may license a person to carry on one or more digital asset business activities described in the bill. The bureau is given the authority to exempt persons from the provisions of the bill concerning engaging in digital asset business activity without a license and to determine whether a person is subject to a license pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a person who violates the provisions requiring licensure is liable for a penalty of $500 per day, from the first day the bureau issues a notice of failure to apply a license until a license application is filed with the bureau. The bill provides that an application for a license is to be submitted in a form and manner as determined by the bureau. The bill requires applicants for licensure pursuant to the bill to provide a list of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings to which the applicant, or certain other individuals have been a party for the 10 years prior to submission of the application. The bill permits the bureau to use the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System or a similar system to conduct criminal history records checks of applicants and certain other individuals and provides the bureau with the authority to conduct examinations to determine a licensee's compliance with the provisions of the bill. Each application is to be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee. Certain application information is to be protected from public disclosure. Applicants are to provide certain information relevant to the applicant's proposed digital asset business activity. The bill requires the bureau to grant or deny any digital asset business license application or license reciprocity application within 180 days of the receipt of the completed application. The bureau may refuse an application for a digital asset business license or license reciprocity application if a licensee or applicant fails to meet certain standards specified in the bill. Licensees are required to submit a renewal report that contains an update of all information required at initial licensing and a description of certain information described in the bill. The bureau is authorized to determine whether a person is required to be licensed. Certain digital assets do not require a license under the bill. The bill provides that the bureau may audit any digital asset business licensee. The bill stipulates that each licensee is to maintain and enforce confidential, written compliance policies which are to be reviewed and approved by the licensee's board of directors or an equivalent governing body. The bureau may suspend or revoke a digital asset business license upon certain findings that are provided in the bill. The bill provides the bureau chief with the authority to, for good cause shown, deny, suspend, or revoke a license pending final determination of a proceeding. Notice of any suspension or revocation issued by the bureau is to prominently indicate the right to a hearing. A licensee, under the bill, is to provide the bureau with any document relating to the operations of the licensee upon receiving written notice from the bureau. The licensee is to maintain records of all client transactions and any accounts, correspondences, memoranda, and other records as the bureau may require, for no less than six years from the date of a transaction's occurrence, unless the bureau by rule prescribes another timeframe. The bill requires the terms and conditions of a digital asset business involving a consumer's account, including at a minimum, certain information outlined in the bill, to be disclosed at the time the consumer contracts for a digital asset business service. The disclosure is to be full and complete, contain no material misrepresentations, be in readily understandable language and may include, as appropriate and to the extent applicable, certain information concerning fees and charges, risks to the consumer, and any protections or securities that are in place. The disclosures required by the bill are to be displayed and individually agreed to by a consumer before any digital asset transaction at an electronic kiosk. Any fee to be charged is required to be displayed and individually agreed to by a consumer before any digital asset transaction or digital asset balance inquiry at an electronic kiosk. Under the bill, it is a violation for any person to make or cause to be made in any document filed with the bureau or in any proceeding, investigation or examination conducted under the bill, any statement which is, at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, false or misleading in any material respect. The bill makes it unlawful for any officer or employee of the bureau to use for personal benefit information filed with the bureau that is not public. In addition, the bill provides the bureau chief with certain investigatory authority to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate any provisions of the bill, or to otherwise aid in the enforcement of the bill. Lastly, the bill establishes the "Digital Asset Enforcement Fund" in the Division of Consumer Affairs (division) of the Department of Law and Public Safety is to continue as a dedicated, nonlapsing, revolving fund. All fees, penalties, costs, fines, and other collected moneys are to be deposited in the fund and used by the director of the division to administer and enforce the provisions of the bill, and to conduct investigations related to the bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A889 | Requires degree-seeking students enrolled in public institutions of higher education to receive instruction on American government and civic engagement. | The bill requires students enrolled in public institutions of higher education to receive instruction on American government and civic engagement. Under the bill, beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the governing board of a public institution of higher education will require students pursuing a degree to receive educational instruction on American government and civic engagement prior to graduation from the institution. By requiring students to receive instruction on American government and civic engagement, public institutions of higher education in the State will more adequately equip individuals with the knowledge necessary to make informed civic decisions and ensure a globally-aware and socially-responsible citizenry. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2901 | Requires public community water systems to provide customers with certain information regarding lead in drinking water. | This bill, to be known as the "Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act," would require public community water systems to provide customers with certain information regarding lead in drinking water. The bill would require public community water systems to include certain information on lead in drinking water in their annual Consumer Confidence Reports, prepared pursuant to the federal "Safe Drinking Water Act." This bill would require the Consumer Confidence Report to include information on: the possible sources of lead in drinking water, including, but not limited to, lead service lines, pipes, and fixtures; the health effects of lead in drinking water; and measures a customer can take to reduce or eliminate lead in drinking water. Additionally, under the bill, within 90 days after beginning water service to a new customer, a public community water system would be required to send the new customer a notice, in writing, containing the information on lead described above. If the public community water system provides for, and the new customer has requested, the ability to receive or access water bills in electronic format, the public community water system would also be required to send the notice in electronic format. As used in the bill, "new customer" includes any new residential, commercial, or institutional customer who connects, reconnects, or establishes new water service with the public community water system after the bill is enacted into law. Lastly, the bill would require public community water systems to notify all residential, commercial, and institutional customers and residents at least 48 hours prior to commencing any construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any lead service line or lead water main. The bill provides that, in the case of emergency work, this notice would be provided as soon as practicable, rather than 48 priors to commencing work. The notice would include, but not be limited to, the following information: (1) notification that the planned work may loosen lead-containing particles and temporarily increase lead levels in the water; (2) the estimated length of time that lead levels may remain elevated; (3) general information on the possible sources of lead in drinking water, and the health effects of consuming lead-contaminated water; (4) measures residents can take to reduce or eliminate their exposure to lead in drinking water; and (5) a recommendation that any lead service line serving the property be fully replaced, and a list of available resources to assist in any replacement. For all three notice requirements, the bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to publish a public notice on its Internet website and in the New Jersey Register specifying the information to be included in each notice. Public community water systems would not be required to provide the notices set forth in the bill until after the DEP publishes the public notices. | 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 |
| A2451 | Establishes permanent unit in Office of Emergency Management to address access and functional needs of residents related to disasters and emergencies. | This bill requires the State Office of Emergency Management to establish a permanent unit in the office to serve the needs of State residents with access and functional needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on residents of New Jersey with disabilities, older adults, and other at-risk groups, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as the consequences of other types of disasters and emergencies. In 2018, the CDC estimated that 24.6% of New Jersey adult residents had a disability, which is a sizeable portion of the State's population. The economic impact on people with disabilities and their families, as well as the burden on individual health as a result of the pandemic are an existential threat to the Disability community. Accordingly, it is in the public interest for the State to engage in comprehensive planning and coordination within the northern, central, and southern regions of the State to support residents with access and functional needs. Under the provisions of the bill. The unit's responsibilities are to include: (1) determining the needs of residents with access and functional needs, before, during, and after disasters and emergencies; (2) determining the Statewide availability of relevant resources and assistance; (3) assessing and addressing the ability of residents with access and functional needs to access available resources and assistance; and (4) coordinating with county and local offices of emergency management and relevant resource providers to determine, expand, and implement best practices to be utilized in support of residents with access and functional needs. The bill provides that the unit would consist of one full-time supervisor and a staff of three full-time planners to assist the needs of the South, Central, and North Jersey regions to in serving the State residents with access and functional needs. The bill defines a "resident with access and functional needs" as: (1) a person with a disability; (2) an older adult; (3) a person with limited English proficiency; (4) a person with limited access to transportation that would enable the person to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of a disaster or emergency; and (5) a person with limited access to financial resources that would enable the person to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of a disaster or emergency. | In Committee |
| A2305 | Establishes "pollinator-friendly" label for plants. | This bill would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to establish: (1) standards for designating native, non-invasive plants as friendly to animal pollinators, which are required to include, but need not be limited to, standards prohibiting or restricting the application or treatment of plants to be sold with pesticides or other chemicals deemed harmful or potentially harmful to animal pollinators; and (2) a "pollinator-friendly" label that a distributor or retail seller of plants may use to indicate that the plant to be sold is friendly to animal pollinators. The bill requires a person must be in compliance with the requirements of this bill in order to distribute or sell at retail a plant labeled as pollinator friendly or otherwise advertised or labeled as not harmful to animal pollinators. As defined in this bill, an "animal pollinator" means any bee, butterfly, moth, wasp, fly, beetle, ant, hummingbird, bat, or other animal that is known to pollinate plants. | 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 |
| A2289 | Requires DCA to continuously maintain open enrollment period for federal Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications. | This bill would require the Department of Community Affairs to continuously maintain an open enrollment period in which rental assistance applicants may submit pre-applications to be placed on the waiting list for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by the department. | In Committee |
| A5917 | Amends "Daniel's Law" to provide exemptions for land surveyors for certain property record redaction requirements. | Amends "Daniel's Law" to provide exemptions for land surveyors for certain property record redaction requirements. | Introduced |
| A5918 | Establishes mitigating factor for sentencing of defendants who are victims of domestic violence and provides for resentencing and trauma-informed reentry support services. | Establishes mitigating factor for sentencing of defendants who are victims of domestic violence and provides for resentencing and trauma-informed reentry support services. | Introduced |
| A5963 | Dedicates 50 percent of revenues collected from additional fees and taxes imposed on real property transfers valued over $1 million to Affordable Housing Trust Fund. | Dedicates 50 percent of revenues collected from additional fees and taxes imposed on real property transfers valued over $1 million to Affordable Housing Trust Fund. | 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 | Abstain |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 19 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2018 |