Legislator
Legislator > Gabriel Rodriguez
State Assemblymember
Gabriel Rodriguez
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 33
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
West New York Office
5600 Kennedy Blvd.
Suite 103
West New York, NJ 07093
Suite 103
West New York, NJ 07093
Phone: 201-223-4247
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5956 | Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing mask or disguise while interacting with public. | This bill prohibits the wearing of any mask or disguise by a law enforcement officer while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer's official duties. The bill's provisions are not applicable to a law enforcement officer who is: engaged in an undercover assignment; wearing a shield that does not conceal the officer's face to protect the officer's face from harm; wearing a medical grade mask or N95 respirator to prevent disease if the officer has obtained a statement from a licensed physician; or wearing a mask for protection against exposure to smoke during a State of Emergency. A law enforcement officer who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months imprisonment, or both. The bill defines a "law enforcement officer" as a member of any federal, State, county or municipal law enforcement agency, department, or division of those governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, or detention of persons violating the laws of this State or of the United States. | In Committee |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | An Act creating digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards, supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, and amending R.S.39:3-29. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | This bill concerns the provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. While current law provides a variety of services for individuals upon reentering society following their release from incarceration, there are limited supports and services offered to defendants in this State who are charged with certain crimes and who are ordered to be released pending a final resolution of their matter. This bill authorizes counties to appoint a county pretrial release coordinator to evaluate the needs of defendants in the county for whom a complaint-warrant has been issued for an initial charge involving an indictable offense or a disorderly persons offense, and pretrial release has been ordered. The pretrial release coordinator is required to advise each eligible defendant that the services are offered on a voluntary basis and that the defendant is not required to receive the services offered. The pretrial release coordinator is responsible for offering the following assistance to the defendants in accessing services deemed necessary pursuant to the evaluation:· scheduling and otherwise accessing appropriate treatment, services, and programming during the defendant's period of pretrial release; · providing information concerning, and assistance in completing, applications for appropriate State and county public assistance program benefits; · providing information concerning available substance use disorder treatment and services including, but not limited to, medication-assisted treatment;· providing information concerning relevant social services and rehabilitative programs;· providing information concerning services provided by the State's One-Stop Career Centers; · providing information concerning insurance eligibility;· providing information concerning any other treatment, services, and programming deemed appropriate based on the evaluation required pursuant to the bill; and· if appropriate, providing assistance with obtaining a non-driver identification card. In addition, the county pretrial release coordinator is required to consult and coordinate with the county board of social services or welfare agency, as appropriate, when providing information or assistance with respect to a benefit or service administered by the board or welfare agency. The coordinator is required to collect and analyze data related to the services provided; develop peer counseling programs; meet with community stakeholders to establish best practices in providing services to defendants on pretrial release; identify available county services; and make recommendations for the provision of services to defendants during pretrial release. The amounts deemed necessary to support the county pretrial release coordinators are to be annually appropriated. This bill would implement recommendation number 15 of the report of the reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice issued in June 2023. | Crossed Over |
| A3871 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | In Committee |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | A supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5076 | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Crossed Over |
| A2255 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AJR62 | Designates first week of May of each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week." | This joint resolution designates the first week of May as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of mental health and mental illness in children. Mental illness can adversely affect children in many ways, including increasing the likelihood of a child of being suspended from school, abusing drugs or alcohol, or ending up in the juvenile justice system. Many children with mental health disorders do not receive treatment for their illnesses, due to poor understanding of mental illness and treatment options, stigma or lack of access to treatment. The resolution intends to promote awareness in hopes of improving the lives of children who have emotional disturbances and other mental health disorders. | Crossed Over |
| A3019 | Requires new flooring for schools, community centers, and child care centers to be certified mercury-free. | Requires new flooring for schools, community centers, and child care centers to be certified mercury-free. | In Committee |
| A1715 | Requires public institution of higher education to invite Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey on institution's campus. | Requires public institution of higher education to invite Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey on institution's campus. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A1841 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | In Committee |
| A4964 | Concerns eviction and homelessness prevention; requires new charge for filing for eviction action. | This bill requires a new charge for the filing of an eviction action, and directs the Office of Eviction Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs to use the monies received through this charge for the purposes of eviction prevention services. This bill also requires that, in addition to existing fees, and notwithstanding the current limit on filing fees and other statutory fees payable to the court of $50 in the aggregate, an amount of $150 is to be collected for the filing of an eviction action. The bill directs this additional funding to be provided to the Office of Eviction Prevention, and used for eviction prevention services the office directs and designs, including but not limited to, the employment or contracting of resource navigators through the Rental Assistance Navigation Program, as established by the Department of Community Affairs, which services include homelessness prevention services, relocation and rapid rehousing assistance, social services support, rental assistance resources, and connection to legal services. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt, immediately, upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law, rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the bill, which shall be effective for a period not to exceed one year following the effective date of the bill. The commissioner thereafter is to amend, adopt, or readopt the rules and regulations in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The bill is to take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment. | In Committee |
| AJR205 | Permanently designates last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey. | This resolution permanently designates the last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about eating disorders and the work the National Eating Disorders Association does in providing services to, and advocating for early intervention and improved access to treatment for, individuals with eating disorders and encourage those suffering from eating disorders and their families to seek the support they need to overcome these life-threatening illnesses. | 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 |
| A2115 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Crossed Over |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A5464 | Prohibits BPU from approving electric public utility rate increase without full rate review. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving the request of any electric public utility to increase any component of an electric rate charged to ratepayers without conducting a full rate review for the electric public utility. | 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 |
| S2236 | Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. | An Act concerning exemption from jury service and amending N.J.S.2B:20-10. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR166 | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1992 | Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. | This bill exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. Under current law, nursing mothers are not explicitly exempted from jury duty, which can present a hardship to mothers who are nursing or expressing milk for their babies. Currently, exemptions from jury duty are statutorily authorized for persons: 75 years of age or older; who have served on a jury within the previous three years; or who will suffer severe hardship due to circumstances that are unlikely to change within a year (e.g. medical conditions, care of another or financial hardship). Members of volunteer fire departments and first aid or rescue squads and, under certain circumstances, teachers are exempted. Medical professionals state breastfeeding provides health benefits to infants. Breastfeeding has been associated with reduced risk of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal tract infections, sudden infant death syndrome, allergic disease, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, childhood leukemia and lymphoma, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Breastfeeding has also been associated with health benefits to mothers such as reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. In 2011, the United States Surgeon General issued a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding." The State of New Jersey Department of Health has recognized the benefits associated with breastfeeding and has issued proposed guidelines for New Jersey hospitals which are designed to encourage more mothers to breastfeed in order to improve health outcomes of both mothers and infants It is the view of the sponsor that nursing mothers should be supported in their efforts to breastfeed their babies. This bill provides assistance to mothers who are nursing or expressing milk by enabling them to claim an exemption from jury duty during the first year of their child's life. | In Committee |
| A941 | Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran. | This bill provides that the total property tax exemption extended to totally disabled veterans is to be retroactive to the effective date of the determination of the veteran's total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill also requires that the governing body of each municipality return all taxes collected on the veteran's property after the effective date of the determination of total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the amount of such property taxes returned to a totally disabled veteran pursuant to the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4696 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5386 | Expands list of animals prohibited from use in traveling animal acts; limits certain exceptions to apply only at educational institutions. | This bill would amend section 1 of P.L.2018, c.141 (C.23:2A-16), known as "Nosey's Law," by expanding the list of animals covered under the law. Nosey's law prohibits the use of "wild or exotic animals" in a traveling animal act. Currently, domestic species such as cattle, bison, domestic dogs, domestic cats, domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules are excluded from the definition of "wild or exotic animals" under the law. This bill would remove the exclusions from the definition. Additionally, two new animal classifications would be added to the definition of "wild or exotic animals," lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) and rodentia (rodents). This bill would make it illegal to use these animals in a traveling animal act. Finally, the bill would limit the exceptions provided in the current law to provide that the prohibition on the use of certain animals in a traveling exhibition would not apply only when outreach programs for bona fide educational or conservation purposes are conducted at an educational institution. | In Committee |
| A5385 | Requires county prosecutor to initiate municipal, county, and higher education law enforcement internal affairs investigations. | This bill requires the county prosecutor to initiate all internal affairs investigations for municipal and county law enforcement agencies, and for higher education law enforcement agencies established pursuant to P.L.1970, c.211 (C.18A:6-4.2). The bill also requires that upon receipt of a complaint of officer misconduct by any person, a municipal, county, or higher education law enforcement agency is required to transfer the filed complaint to the county prosecutor to initiate an investigation. The bill also requires a petition for an extreme risk protection order filed against a law enforcement officer to be transferred from the officer's agency to the county prosecutor immediately upon receipt. The county prosecutor is then required to initiate an internal affairs investigation. The prosecutor retains the power to decide if the matter will be referred to the courts. | In Committee |
| S3990 | Extends early voting period for primary elections and extends challenger appointment deadline; appropriates $6 million. | An Act extending the early voting period for primary elections and extending the challenger appointment deadline, amending P.L.2021, c.40 and R.S.19:7-3, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5182 | Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges. | Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges. | 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 |
| A1921 | Concerns AG guidelines on bias incident investigation standards. | Concerns AG guidelines on bias incident investigation standards. | Crossed Over |
| A4089 | The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents. | The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents. | Crossed Over |
| A5370 | Extends early voting period for primary elections and extends challenger appointment deadline; appropriates $6 million. | This bill extends the early voting period for primary elections in New Jersey and extends the deadline to appoint a challenger for an election. This bill extends the deadline to appoint a challenger from the second Tuesday preceding any election to the third Tuesday preceding any election. This bill extends the early voting period for all primary elections in New Jersey to start 7 calendar days before the election. This includes non-presidential primary elections and presidential primary elections. Currently, the early voting period for a non-presidential primary election and a presidential primary election starts, respectively, on the 4th and 6th calendar day before the election. This bill starts the early voting period on the 7th calendar day before the non-presidential primary and the presidential primary election. Under current law, the early voting period for any election ends on the second calendar day before the election. Therefore, under the bill, the early voting period would consist of six days for primary elections. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $6,000,000 for the purposes of the bill. | Introduced |
| 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 |
| AR178 | Condemns U.S. House of Representatives for passage of budget resolution cutting $1.5 trillion from federal budget and urges U.S. Senate to reject House resolution. | This Assembly Resolution condemns the United States House of Representatives for passage of a budget resolution, on February 25, 2025, cutting $1.5 trillion over ten years from the federal budget and respectfully urges the United States Senate to reject this House resolution. The budget resolution specifically targets $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee which regulates public healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, $330 billion from the Education and Workforce Committee which routinely legislates matters on education funding, and $230 billion from the Agriculture Committee whose purview includes the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Given the size and scope of the desired cuts, as well as budget documents circulated by House leadership, policy experts believe that these cuts are aimed at or will ultimately fall on critical safety net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. In New Jersey, approximately 1.8 million low- and moderate- income people rely on NJ FamilyCare, which encompasses the Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, to cover their healthcare needs. Funding reductions of this size would have severe consequences for these enrollees, as well as the provider community who deliver the critical healthcare services under the program. Approximately 830,000 low-income residents in New Jersey receive SNAP benefits, which provides them with the resources needed to feed their families. It is anticipated that federal funding cuts to SNAP under the House budget resolution would be realized by limiting benefits, restricting eligibility, or some combination of both of these actions; thereby, significantly reducing the number of residents who receive support from this program. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| ACR152 | Strongly condemns decision of President Trump to permit immigration enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. | This concurrent resolution condemns the decision of President Donald J. Trump to rescind the longstanding federal policy of prohibiting immigration enforcement officers from taking action in sensitive locations, which included: schools; places of worship; hospitals and other healthcare facilities; shelters; relief centers; and public demonstrations, like rallies and protests. These sensitive locations have long been recognized as safe havens essential for public trust and the well-being of our communities. Removing the protected status of these locations undermines this trust and prohibits vulnerable individuals from accessing critical resources and service. This resolution condemns the decision of President Donald J. Trump to rescind longstanding federal policy and reaffirms New Jersey's commitment to providing equal access to essential services. | In Committee |
| A4254 | Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions. | Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions. | Crossed Over |
| AJR63 | Designates January 13 of each year as Korean American Day in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January 13 of each year as "Korean American Day" in New Jersey. On January 13, 1903, 102 courageous Korean immigrants arrived in the United States initiating the first wave of Korean immigration to America. These pioneering Korean immigrants faced tremendous social and economic obstacles as well as language barriers in America. They established a new home in a new land through resilience, tenacious effort, and immense sacrifice, which became the bedrock for their children and future generations of Korean Americans. Korean Americans have made significant contributions to the economic vitality of the United States, and the global marketplace. Their contributions include achievements in engineering, architecture, medicine, the arts, and writing. Korean Americans have also made enormous contributions to the military strength of the United States and served with distinction in the Armed Forces during World War I, World War II, the Vietnam conflict, the Korean conflict, and subsequent military conflicts across the globe. This State should commemorate the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States, and recognize the invaluable contributions Korean Americans have made to the United States. | Crossed Over |
| A3879 | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Crossed Over |
| A2437 | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Crossed Over |
| SJR76 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4284 | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Crossed Over |
| S3881 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | An Act concerning the financing of environmental infrastructure projects in Fiscal Year 2025 and amending P.L.2024, c.35. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2507 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2845 | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4220 | Revises Statewide transfer agreements for transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at participating institutions of higher education; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | Revises Statewide transfer agreements for transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at participating institutions of higher education; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | Crossed Over |
| AJR101 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | In Committee |
| A4893 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | In Committee |
| A5122 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | In Committee |
| A5150 | Transfers Division of Food and Nutrition from Department of Agriculture to DHS; appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would transfer the Division of Food and Nutrition from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Human Services. This bill also appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for certain farmland preservation purposes. Of the funding provided by the bill, $115.091 million is appropriated to the SADC to pay the cost of acquisition by the SADC of development easements on, or fee simple titles to, farmland, to provide grants to counties and municipalities for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, and to provide grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, for farmland preservation purposes for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to: the "Agricultural Retention and Development Act"; the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act"; and the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The bill also appropriates to the SADC such sums from any additional proceeds which may become available, by the effective date of the bill, due to the lease or conveyance of farmland previously acquired in fee simple by the SADC, for the purpose of providing for the cost of acquisition by the SADC of development easements and fee simple titles to farmland for farmland preservation purposes. The appropriations in this bill for the acquisition of fee simple titles and development easements to farmland have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. This bill also appropriates from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" to the SADC: $12 million for organizational, administrative, and other work and services, including salaries, equipment, materials, and services necessary to administer the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act"; $1 million for costs associated with the acquisition of farmland development easements, including appraisal, survey, and title costs; and $150,000 for the costs associated with legal advice and representation in connection with the committee's enforcement of development easements acquired for farmland preservation purposes pursuant to P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). The Division of Food and Nutrition in the Department of Agriculture administers various food and nutrition assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Afterschool Snack Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Day Care Food Program, the Family Day Care Program, the Commodity Food Distribution program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program, among others. The transfers effectuated by the bill will take place immediately and be subject to the provisions of the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.), which sets forth standard requirements for transferring the funds, employees, rules and regulations, equipment, and property of, and actions or proceedings involving, a State agency that is subject to transfer from one instrumentality of the State to another. | In Committee |
| A4047 | Revises unemployment compensation law. | An Act concerning unemployment compensation and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1430 | Provides for expanded use of affordable housing voucher program funding. | An Act concerning use of affordable housing vouchers for homeownership expenses, amending P.L.2004, c.140, and supplementing P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4815 | Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons. | Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons. | In Committee |
| A4174 | Clarifies consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image. | This bill amends the invasion of privacy statute, N.J.S.A.2C:14-9, to clarify that a person's consent to being photographed, filmed, videotaped, recorded, observed, or otherwise having their nude, sexual, or sexually suggestive image reproduced is not be construed to include or imply the person's consent to the disclosure of such image. The bill also requires that a person's consent to disclosure is strictly construed to be limited only to the express purpose for which consent was obtained. Under current law, a person's consent to the taking of the image could be construed to also waive any restriction on the subsequent disclosure of the image. Under the bill, taking an image and disclosing an image are two separate acts that require two separate instances of consent. | Crossed Over |
| A3505 | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A5030 | Permits municipalities to place lien on fire-damaged property's insurance proceeds in certain instances and requires fire and explosion insurance coverage for certain individuals. | This bill permits a municipality to place a lien on a fire-damaged property's insurance proceeds in certain instances and requires fire and explosion insurance coverage for certain individuals. Under the bill, a municipality will be allowed to place a lien on a fire-damaged property's insurance proceeds. A municipality that adopts an ordinance allowing these liens to be placed will be required to ensure that the ordinance provides for the release or return to the insured any amounts to which the insured would otherwise be entitled to claim, provided that the insured agrees with the municipality in writing to restore the fire damaged property to the same or improved condition that the premises was prior to the damage within four months or 120 days. Municipalities that adopt an ordinance to allow the municipality to place a lien on a fire-damage property's insurance proceeds must include a procedure within the ordinance to withhold payment by the insurer of the proceeds. The bill additionally provides that, for municipalities who adopt the ordinance, if reasonable proof that the damaged or destroyed portions of the insured structure is not received by or shown to an authorized representative of the municipality within 120 days after the policy proceeds was received by the municipality, the municipality may retain and use the policy proceeds to secure, repair, or demolish the structure and property to comply with local code requirements and applicable ordinances of the municipality. The bill also provides that the owner of a business or owner of a rental unit or units will be required to maintain liability insurance for damage cause by fire or explosion in an amount that is no less than $500,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more person in any one accident or occurrence. Owners of a multifamily home that is four or fewer units, one of which is owner-occupied, shall also maintain similar liability insurance for damage caused by a fire or explosion in an amount that is no less than $300,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more person in any one accident or occurrence. | In Committee |
| A5027 | Requires municipal clerk to post municipal documents online. | This bill would require a municipal clerk to post all municipal documents on the municipality's Internet website. Specifically, the bill would require that the municipal clerk, unless otherwise prohibited by federal or State law, rule, or regulation, post all municipal documents, forms, renewal documents, license applications, and license certificates on the municipality's Internet website. The bill also provides for State reimbursement through the Department of the Treasury for costs incurred by a municipality to comply with the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5025 | Increases certain penalties for leaving scene of motor vehicle accident resulting in death or injury. | This bill increases the penalties for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death or injury. Under current law, a driver who knowingly leaves the scene of an accident resulting in death or injury is subject to a fine of between $2,500 to $5,000, or imprisonment for 180 days, or both. This bill would increase the fine for any driver who knowingly leaves the scene of an accident resulting in death or injury to between $5,000 to $10,000. | In Committee |
| A5029 | Restricts certain billing practices for early intervention program services. | This bill prohibits health care providers from billing patients for services provided under the early intervention services program more than one year after the service was provided, and prohibits providers from attempting to collect from a patient on a bill for early intervention services if the bill was issued more than one year after the service was provided. Nothing in the bill will prohibit a health care provider from, at any time, seeking reimbursement for the service from the patient's health benefits plan; provided that, if the health benefits plan denies the claim or provides only partial reimbursement, the health care provider will be prohibited from billing the patient for the balance of the claim if: 1) the claim was submitted to the health benefits plan more than one year after the date the service was provided; or 2) the claim was submitted to the plan within one year from the date the service was provided, but more than 18 months elapsed since the date the service was provided. The early intervention services program is a Statewide program that provides specialized services and supports, from birth through age two, to infants and toddlers experiencing physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, or adaptive developmental delays or disabilities. It has been suggested that some early intervention services providers have issued bills to patients years after the early intervention service was originally provided. This practice can result in administrative headaches and affordability issues for parents who are already navigating the complexities of caring for a child with special needs, as the parent then needs to negotiate with an insurance provider or find the money to cover the bill long after the child has exited the early intervention services program. It is the sponsor's intent to help these families avoid the burden of these unexpected medical bills. | In Committee |
| A5031 | Establishes fire safety standards and protocols for certain light frame residential construction; requires placards identifying primary structural systems of buildings. | This bill would establish a number of fire safety standards for light frame construction of new multiple dwellings, hotels, and rooming and boarding houses with more than two dwelling or sleeping units, and a fire warden requirement for all light frame construction. Under the bill, covered residential buildings may only be newly constructed utilizing light frame construction if: (1) an automatic sprinkler system is installed throughout the building in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13; (2) the number of stories permitted is measured from grade plane excluding any pedestals or podiums; (3) the fire partitions and horizontal separations have a fire-resistance rating of at least two hours; (4) the fire partitions extend from the foundation to the attic; (5) the fire walls are resistant to moisture and capable of passing the hose stream test in accordance with the construction code; and (6) if any light framing is unprotected, the building is limited to three stories and does not exceed 60 feet above grade plane or, if all light framing is protected, the building is limited to four stories and does not exceed 85 feet above grade plane. In addition, for all new construction projects, this bill would require the owner or developer to hire a fire watch warden to provide monitoring of the construction project during non-working hours, or install comparable technology. A fire watch warden must be present from the time the construction project begins until the final sprinkler inspection is completed or a temporary certificate of occupancy is issued. In the event of a fire or other emergency, the fire watch warden must alert local first responders. The fire watch warden must also report fire safety issues to the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, which may request that the local construction code official revoke construction permits for projects posing fire safety risks. The Division of Fire Safety may assess owners and developers of covered construction projects reasonable fees to cover the costs incurred by the division for carrying out its responsibilities under the bill. The bill also requires that an identifying emblem be affixed to each exterior entrance of a structure with light frame or truss construction to warn firefighters and the general public of the existence of light frame and truss-type construction in the structure. Under current law, an identifying emblem must be affixed to the front of a structure utilizing truss construction only. Lastly, the bill requires that placards identifying the primary structural system of a structure be placed adjacent to the fire alarm control panel and on an exterior wall within 10 feet of the main entrance to the structure. | In Committee |
| A5023 | Establishes penalty for withholding identification to hinder apprehension or prosecution. | This bill provides that, in certain circumstances, a person is guilty of hindering apprehension or prosecution by withholding or refusing to give valid identification or identifying information. Under current law, a person hinders the person's own apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction, or punishment for a motor vehicle or insurance fraud offense by: (1) suppressing evidence; (2) preventing or obstructing another person from acting in a way to discover, apprehend, or bring charges against the person; (3) preventing or obstructing witnesses or informants from testifying; or (4) giving false information to a law enforcement officer or a civil State investigator assigned to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. The bill provides that a person also hinders the person's own apprehension or prosecution if, upon arrest and having been requested to do so by a law enforcement officer, the person withholds or refuses to provide valid identification or the person's true identity in order to purposely hinder the apprehension or prosecution. Under the bill, a person would be subject to the same penalties as a person who gives false information. Current law provides that giving false information to hinder one's own apprehension or prosecution for a motor vehicle or insurance fraud violation is:· a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor has been charged or is liable to be charged with constitutes a crime of the first or second degree;· a crime of the fourth degree if the conduct constitutes a crime of the third degree; or· a disorderly persons offense. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A5028 | Requires certain residential buildings to have fire barriers in common attic areas. | This bill would require all qualified residential buildings to have fire barriers in common attic areas over and above the separations between adjoining dwelling units. Open, unprotected common attic areas present a way for fires to quickly spread throughout a building, creating enormous risks to the safety of residents and firefighters. This bill would require that three-hour rated fire barriers be installed in these common attic areas to slow the spread of fires, which would provide more time for residents to safely evacuate and limit the scope of any fires that firefighters have to combat, while also limiting property damage. The bill defines a "qualified residential building" as any building or structure of three or more stories with two or more dwelling units. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt common attic area fire barrier regulations, on or before the first day of the sixth month next following the bill's effective date, for both new construction and existing buildings that would require a retrofit. For early stage new construction, an application for a construction permit could not be declared complete without providing for fire barriers if the application is not yet declared complete on or before the adoption of regulations. All other qualified residential buildings would have to comply with the fire barrier requirements within 180 days of the adoption of regulations. The bill makes the common attic area fire barrier requirement a part of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.). Accordingly, a multiple dwelling that meets the definition of a "qualified residential building" would be inspected for compliance with this requirement as a part of the regular inspections under that law. A qualified residential building that does not meet the "multiple dwelling" definition would be subject to these inspections for the limited purpose of ensuring compliance with this requirement. | In Committee |
| A5024 | Requires chief law enforcement officer of municipal police departments to hold two community roundtables on police relations each year. | This bill requires certain law enforcement officials to hold periodic community roundtables on police relations. Under the amended bill, the chief law enforcement officer of each municipal police department in this State is required to sponsor at least two community roundtables on police relations each year, and the Superintendent of State police is required to sponsor in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State an open community roundtable discussion on police relations at least once per calendar year in each region. To maximize community participation, the bill requires the sponsor of the regional community roundtable to provide ample notice to the regional community, hold the roundtable at a central location, and schedule the roundtable during evening hours. Topics to be addressed at the community roundtables include race relations and racial profiling; recruitment, selection, and retention of officers; training and education of recruits and supervisors; regulation of body worn cameras; and use of force, police misconduct, and internal affairs investigations. | In Committee |
| A5026 | Codifies and enhances use of breach of implied warranty of habitability as defense to certain eviction actions. | This bill would codify and expand upon the court-created doctrine of the implied warranty of habitability in order to enhance the use of the doctrine as a defense to residential eviction proceedings. This will help prevent the eviction of residential tenants and help ensure that rental housing in our State meets reasonable standards of habitability. Tenants have the right to safe, sanitary, and decent housing. New Jersey courts recognize that residential leases carry an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that a landlord has a duty to maintain the rental unit and keep it fit for residential purposes throughout the entire term of the lease and that the landlord must repair damage to vital facilities. If the landlord breaches the landlord's obligation of maintaining the property at an adequate standard of habitability, a tenant may withhold the rent or a portion of the rent to be used as a set-off, because of the deficient condition. If the landlord institutes an eviction proceeding for non-payment of rent, the tenant is entitled to use the landlord's breach of the obligation to provide a habitable residence as a defense and justification for the set-off (deduction of rental payment). An eviction is an actual expulsion of a tenant out of the premises. A landlord must have good cause to evict a tenant. There are several grounds for a good cause eviction. If a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord may immediately take legal action to have the tenant evicted. Although a tenant may assert a breach of the implied warranty of habitability as a defense in a landlord's eviction action for non-payment of rent, the defense is rarely raised. Under the bill, a tenant may assert a breach of the implied warranty of habitability as a defense or set-off in a landlord's eviction action for non-payment of rent withheld. A tenant may assert a breach of the implied warranty of habitability with regard to any condition which commenced during the twelve months immediately preceding the filing of the eviction action, provided that the landlord had received prior actual or constructive notice of the condition. If a tenant proves a breach, the court would reduce the tenant's rental obligation to the reasonable rental value of the property in its defective condition, and the tenant would be entitled to an offset in the amount of the cost of all repairs made by the tenant which the landlord was obligated but failed to make. The rent reduction would be retroactive and continue prospectively until the landlord corrects the breach. Additionally, the bill provides that a tenant who asserts a breach of the implied warranty of habitability as a defense or set-off would not be required to immediately deposit outstanding rent with the court. Instead, the bill sets forth a process, which would include: a code enforcement official's inspection of the premises for the existence of code violations and defective conditions, and the preparation of a report identifying code violations and defective conditions, and documenting the extent to which the health or safety of residents are impaired or threatened by the condition of the premises. After the court's review of the report, and after providing the parties notice and an opportunity for a plenary hearing on the issue of breach of the implied warranty of habitability, the court would determine if a breach has occurred. If the court determines that a breach of the implied warranty of habitability has occurred, the court would:· order the reduction or return, as the case may be, of the rent claimed due for the months under consideration; · establish a reasonable payment schedule for the payment of the rental balance found due and owing; · specify each item of work, each action, or both, that a landlord must perform to remedy the breach;· establish a schedule for the commencement and completion of each item of work, each action, or both, necessary to remedy the breach; and order the landlord to commence and complete the specified items of work and actions in accordance with the established schedule;· order the tenant to deposit with the court all or a portion of prospective rental payments that will become due during the pendency of the schedule established for the commencement and completion of work, along with all or a portion of any rental payments which become due pursuant to a payment schedule established pursuant to the bill;· provide for the remedies available to either party should the payment schedule not be met without good cause;· transmit a copy of the code enforcement official's report, and other relevant information, to the Department of Community Affairs; and to any agency that administers a State or federal housing subsidy with regard to the residential property that is the subject of the action. The bill also empowers the court to compel the landlord to deposit with the court all or part of any State or federal housing subsidy which the landlord receives in relation to the residential property that is the subject of the action. The court would control disbursement of amounts deposited with the court to ensure the amounts are expended for the sole purpose of: providing and maintaining basic utilities and services to the tenants, including but not limited to water, heat, gas, electricity, and security; and completing each item of work, and undertaking each action, necessary to remedy a breach or breaches of the implied warranty of habitability. The court would institute appropriate controls to protect against fraudulent use of these amounts, which may include: requiring inspections and reports by code enforcement officials; requiring the landlord to submit documentation, such as estimates and receipts from contractors, to the court; and allowing tenants to review and comment on submitted documentation and the progress of work. The bill provides that if the court determines that some or all of the conditions that may justify the appointment of an administrator pursuant to P.L.1971, c.224 (C.2A:42-85 et seq.) or a receiver pursuant to P.L.2003, c.295 (C.2A:42-114 et al.) are present in the matter before it, the court must transfer the matter to the appropriate division of the Superior Court for expedited proceedings in accordance with the provisions of the applicable statute. If a matter is transferred to an administrator or receiver, control over the disbursement of amounts deposited with the court would be transferred to the administrator or receiver. Finally, the bill specifies that any agreement by a tenant or a prospective tenant of a dwelling waiving or modifying protections or rights related to the implied warranty of habitability are void as contrary to public policy. | In Committee |
| A586 | Provides for expanded use of affordable housing voucher program funding. | Provides for expanded use of affordable housing voucher program funding. | In Committee |
| AR95 | Urges Congress to amend tax code to permanently exclude all forms of discharged student loans from federal income tax. | This resolution urges Congress to exclude all forms of discharged student loans from the federal income tax. Federal law requires payment of the income tax on forgiven debt except in certain circumstances. For example, student loans forgiven for teachers and public service employees eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs are not subject to the income tax. Discharge of student debt on account of death or disability is also not subject to the income tax but only if the debt is discharged between December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2026. Other forms of discharged student debt, such as the forgiveness of loans in Income-Driven Repayment-Plans after the 20 or 25 year repayment period, are subject to federal income taxation. This House therefore urges Congress to make the discharge of student debt on account of death or disability exception to the income tax a permanent part of the tax code, and to permanently exclude from the income tax all other forms of discharged student loans. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR128 | Commemorates 45th anniversary of enactment of Taiwan Relations Act and 35th anniversary of New Jersey-Taiwan sister state relationship. | This resolution commemorates the 45th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 35th anniversary of the New Jersey-Taiwan sister state relationship. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was passed by the United States. Congress on April 10, 1979 to sustain a close bilateral relationship and advance mutual security and commercial interests between the United States and Taiwan. Since its enactment, the TRA has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations, preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a part of the South China Sea that separates the island of Taiwan from the Asian continent. The Taiwan Strait is crucial to the maintenance of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region. Its importance has been recently highlighted in global summits such as the G7, NATO and East Asian Summit. The TRA has served as the foundation for the mutually beneficial partnership between Taiwan and the United States. In 2023, a total of $27.5 billion in bilateral trade occurred between the United States and Taiwan, making Taiwan the 8th largest trading partner of the United States. In June 2023, the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade was signed to enhance the existing trade partnership as a means to promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for workers, as well as businesses. The United States has also assisted Taiwan in furthering their global participation through international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 1989, New Jersey and Taiwan entered a sister-state relationship, which remains a continuous and prosperous affiliation today. In 2021, the relationship was expanded by a sister-city agreement between Newark, New Jersey and Taoyuan City, Taiwan. In 2023, New Jersey exported approximately $723 million worth of products to Taiwan, making Taiwan the State's 5th largest export market in Asia. In October 2023, Governor Murphy announced plans to open Choose New Jersey's New Jersey Asian-Pacific Center in Taiwan and witnessed numerous Memorandums of Understanding between State executive agencies and Taiwan to establish powerful economic trade partnerships and bilateral educational infrastructure. As of March 2024, over 200 Taiwanese companies have invested in New Jersey leading to the creation of new jobs in the State. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR131 | Urges federal government to raise federal poverty line for public assistance programs. | This resolution urges the federal government to raise the federal poverty line for public assistance programs. The current federal poverty line was developed in the 1960s and was based on a household's ability to afford basic foodstuffs alone; it did not account for other living expenses such as housing, transportation, child care, and health care, which have all risen exponentially in price over the past sixty years. The federal government has not changed the original calculation for the poverty line since its inception, aside from adjusting for inflation. Consequently, nearly 53 million households cannot afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care, but only 37.9 million are officially recorded as living in poverty, as of 2022. The poverty threshold is used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. As a result, the individuals and households who do not earn enough money to support their basic needs but do not meet the stringent limits of the current federal poverty line are without access to public assistance. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the rampant rate of inflation have only worsened the cost-of-living crisis, increasing the financial burden on many poor Americans who cannot access social welfare. In addition, recent policies to raise the minimum wage across the country have had unintended consequences for low-wage earners who have lost access to public assistance in exchange for a marginal, and often insufficient, increase in pay, resulting in a benefits cliff. By raising the federal poverty line, the federal government can more accurately report the number of impoverished Americans and, therefore, expand access to public assistance programs for the individuals and households who need it. [CM1]This number increased from 51 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. [CM2]This number decreased from 38.1 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2445 | Creates resume bank for certain persons with disabilities. | This bill creates a resume bank for certain persons with disabilities. Under the bill, the Governor is to establish and maintain a voluntary resume bank for individuals with a disability who wish to be appointed to a State board, commission, authority, or a similar State entity that provides for the appointment of private citizens into its membership, which entities will include special committees, councils, and tasks forces. The Governor will maintain an Internet webpage that lists available appointments within such entities. The bill provides that the resume bank is to be accessible to the executive branch and the Legislature. The resume bank is to contain features permitting individuals with a disability to upload or submit their resumes to the bank. Under the bill, the resume bank is to contain the following information: (1) the resume of an individual with a disability who wishes to be appointed to a State board or commission; (2) the name, address, and telephone number of the individual with a disability; (3) any pertinent information related to the individual's disability; and (4) any pertinent information as to particular State boards, commissions, authorities, and other similar State entities that are of interest to the individual with a disability. | In Committee |
| A3859 | Requires rental car company to provide notice to renter to delete personal information from motor vehicle computer system upon return of vehicle. | Requires rental car company to provide notice to renter to delete personal information from motor vehicle computer system upon return of vehicle. | In Committee |
| A4987 | Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." | This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that is in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| A4529 | Requires Attorney General to conduct study tracking residential burglaries and issue guidance to law enforcement and public. | This bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Superintendent of State Police, the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, and the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, to conduct a study and prepare a written report concerning residential burglaries in the State. The bill requires the report to include, but not be limited to:· annual State residential burglary statistics beginning with calendar year 2018 through the most recently available data, itemized by county, including, but not limited to: the number of residential burglaries reported, including whether the burglary occurred during the day, night, or weekend, and whether any weapon was used; the number of residential burglaries resulting in injury or death to a resident or law enforcement officer; the number of residential burglaries that coincided with theft of a motor vehicle; the average and median dollar value of property damage or theft incurred; and the number of adults and juveniles charged with and convicted or adjudicated delinquent of burglary of a residence; · a summary of law enforcement initiatives and activities, including public awareness activities, implemented during the reporting period to address the issue of residential burglaries Statewide, and the effects of those initiatives and activities; and· recommendations to decrease the number of residential burglaries committed in the State, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be necessary to effectuate this purpose. Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to submit an initial report to the Governor and the Legislature within six months of the bill's enactment, and to submit an annual report thereafter. | Crossed Over |
| A4977 | Requires public safety risk assessment to include additional consideration for firearms as public safety risk. | This bill requires the approved risk assessment used by the Pretrial Services Program to consider a charge, including any charge of delinquency, conviction, or adjudication of delinquency, or civil penalty if the act was an unlawful act and not a crime or offense, based on any crime involving the use or possession of a firearm, as risk factors relevant to the risk of failure to appear in court when required and the danger to the community while on pretrial release. The purpose of this bill is to urge the Judiciary to reassess the Public Safety Assessment ("PSA") Risk Factors to more accurately reflect the dangerousness of firearms in a more comprehensive manner. Recently, the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation ("SCI") investigated concerns regarding illegal firearms and issued a report in September 2024 titled "Illegal Firearms Use & Trends in New Jersey." The recent proliferation of privately manufactured "ghost guns," which are easy-to-build homemade guns that do not require background checks and are virtually untraceable, and firearms corrupted with devices enabling them to function like weapons of war, has allowed criminals to outgun the police in many communities. Under the report, SCI was particularly concerned with instances where a firearm is discharged in public but the conduct would not currently be categorized as a violent offense under the PSA. SCI believes that reckless and public discharges of a firearm, including instances when public discharges are charged as criminal mischief or endangering another person, should be categorized as violent offenses. It is an inherently violent offense any time a firearm is discharged in public, as there is always risk that a stray bullet could injure an innocent bystander. This likelihood is even higher due to gun conversion devices that turn semi-automatic firearms into rapid-fire machine guns. SCI's findings reveal that New Jersey should adopt or amend existing laws to address the latest technological advances used by criminal elements to circumvent gun restrictions and corrupt firearms to make them even more dangerous. Specifically, SCI's report includes a finding that the current PSA risk factor calculations fail to accurately reflect the dangerousness of firearms. | In Committee |
| A4887 | Requires helmet while operating bicycle, scooter, or motorized scooter. | This bill requires all persons to wear a helmet when bicycling, roller skating, or skateboarding. Current law requires persons 17 years of age and younger to wear a helmet when bicycling, roller skating, or skateboarding. This bill also extends the helmet requirement to operators of non-motorized and motorized scooters. Under current law, it is unlawful to manufacture, assemble, sell, offer to sell, or distribute bicycles, roller skates, or skateboards without a warning notice advising customers of the legal provisions concerning the wearing of approved helmets and appropriate personal protection equipment, and persons selling or renting bicycles, roller skates, or skateboards are required to advise their customers of these legal provisions and make helmets available to persons subject to the helmet requirement. Businesses complying with these requirements would not be liable in a civil action for damages for any physical injury sustained by a bicyclist, roller skater, or skateboarder who fails to wear a helmet. The bill expands these requirements and civil immunity provisions to non-motorized and motorized scooters. The bill does not amend section 8 of P.L.1997, c.411 (C.39:4-10.12), and therefore, it is the sponsor's understanding that the bill's provisions do not apply to operators and patrons of roller skating rinks subject to the "New Jersey Roller Skating Rink Safety and Fair Liability Act," P.L.1991, c.28 (C.5:14-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A4193 | Requires licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to offer and screen, upon request, pregnant patients with history of depression for postpartum depression. | This bill expands an existing law that directs the Commissioner of Health, in conjunction with the State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, to address the issue of postpartum depression by working with health care facilities and licensed health care professionals in the State to develop certain policies and procedures. This bill adds an additional provision to the law mandating the development of a policy that would require physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to women to offer, and provide upon the request, pregnant patients with a history of depression a prenatal screening for postpartum depression. Current policies under the law include patient and family education regarding postpartum depression and postnatal screenings for postpartum depression for all applicable patients. | In Committee |
| A4889 | Mandates certain child care centers to retain audio-visual recordings for 180 days and requires review of such recordings before recordings can be deleted. | This bill would require all child care and family day care centers that have an audio-visual surveillance system in place to retain all recordings for 180 days. This bill would also require the Department of Children and Families or an independent third-party organization designated by the department to review the recordings before the recordings can be deleted. This bill would not require child care and family day centers that do not currently have an audio-visual surveillance system in place to install such a surveillance system. | In Committee |
| A1400 | Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards. | This bill would require the owner or operator of a public water system to immediately notify, by telephone and electronic mail, the governing body of a municipality and the chief administrator of every school district, charter school, and nonpublic school located within the municipality whenever the public water system violates any drinking water quality standard for drinking water supplied by the public water system within the municipality. The notification would provide the name of any contaminant that exceeds a drinking water quality standard, the maximum contaminant level or the action level, as appropriate, for the contaminant, the level of the contaminant found on each date, the dates when the tests were performed, the location of each sample tested and the location of each sample tested that exceeds a maximum contaminant level or action level. The bill also requires the owner or operator of the public water system to provide information on suggested remedies that a customer may take to address the violation. | Crossed Over |
| AJR112 | Designates calendar week that includes September 10th of each year as "Suicide Prevention Week" in NJ. | Designates calendar week that includes September 10th of each year as "Suicide Prevention Week" in NJ. | Crossed Over |
| A3591 | Makes it fourth degree crime to engage in certain tracking and location activities. | This bill would make it a crime of the fourth degree for a person, in order to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act, to knowingly install or place, or cause to be installed or placed, an electronic tracking device or tracking application to track or determine the location of another person. A crime of the fourth degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill defines an "electronic tracking device" as "any device designed or intended to be used for the sole purpose of tracking the location or movement of a person that reveals its location or movement by the transmission of electronic signals"; and a "tracking application" as "any computer application software installed or otherwise operational on a computer or mobile device that is used to surreptitiously track and transmit to another person the movement or determine the location of the computer or mobile device." There would be a permissive inference (for consideration by a jury) that the use of a tracking device or application to conduct surreptitious surveillance of another person was to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act, such as stalking pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10) or harassment pursuant to N.J.S.2C:33-4. The bill would exempt actions involving State or local government entities and equipment owned, leased, or operated by those entities, as the bill indicates that the provisions which criminalize tracking or location spotting activities would not be applicable to such entities. The bill also provides that several enumerated parties, and in some cases specific uses tied to those parties, would be deemed to be lawful tracking or location spotting of a person. These parties and their lawful uses would include: - a parent or guardian of a minor child for the purpose of tracking or determining the location of the minor child; - for the purpose of monitoring, tracking, or locating a person who, due to a physical or mental health condition, may be at risk of injury or death; - a person in order to track or locate personal property during a lawful business transaction in which the person's personal property is in the temporary possession or otherwise under the control of a third party; - a person collecting consumer location data as part of a lawful business practice, so long as the use is disclosed in a terms of use policy, privacy policy, or similar document or form made available to the consumer; - an employer for the purpose of tracking an employee or vehicle used by an employee while engaged in the course of employment when not prohibited by State or federal law or regulation. The bill adds that a failure by an employer to comply with the written notice requirement to use a tracking device in a vehicle used by an employee in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2021, c.449 (C.34:6B-22) or failure to comply with any other requirements in order to track an employee or vehicle used by an employee pursuant to another State or federal law or regulation would only be considered a violation of that law or regulation, and not punishable as a crime pursuant to this section; and - any person who has obtained the consent of the person to be tracked or located, which consent would be required to be provided in writing, in the case of an electronic tracking device, or, in the case of a tracking application, by opting-in to or otherwise affirmatively accepting its use. A person's consent would be presumed to be revoked if: - the person who gave consent and the person who obtained consent are spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners, and one person has filed a petition for divorce, dissolution of the civil union, or termination of the domestic partnership; or - the person who gave consent or the person who obtained consent has filed an application for a temporary or final restraining order pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.). | Crossed Over |
| A2835 | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Crossed Over |
| A1424 | Establishes NJT Office of Customer Advocate and Rider Advocacy Commission. | This bill establishes a Rider Advocacy Commission (commission) in, but not of, the Department of Transportation and requires the commission to establish a New Jersey Transit Office of Customer Advocate (office). Similar to the New York City Transit Riders Council, also known as the New York City Transit Authority Advisory Council, which was created by the New York State Legislature in 1981 to represent New York City subway and bus riders, and users of the Staten Island Railway, the office is to investigate, monitor, advocate, promote, and advise on all customer-experience matters pertaining to the operation of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT). The commission is to consist of three members, one member appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. Each member is limited to a five-year term, except that of the members first appointed, the member appointed by the Governor is to be appointed for a one-year term, the member appointed by the President of the Senate is to be appointed for a two-year term, and the member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly is to be appointed for a three-year term. The commission is empowered to engage and dismiss staff as necessary, including the appointment of a Rider Advocate. The Rider Advocate is the head of the office, is required to report directly to the commission, and has the authority to carry out the purposes of the office, including, with the approval of the commission, temporarily retaining expert assistants as are necessary to protect the interests of NJT customers when exceptional circumstances arise. The responsibilities of the office include: (1) providing information and analysis to the NJT board of directors, Governor, and Legislature concerning the actual or anticipated impact of any NJT board or NJT actions on NJT's customers; (2) providing customer input and feedback to the NJT board, Governor, and Legislature, including relaying the needs and concerns of customers to the NJT board, Governor, and Legislature; and (3) representing the interests of NJT's customers as determined by the Rider Advocate. The office has the authority to conduct investigations; initiate studies; conduct research; present comments and testimony before the NJT board of directors, legislative committees, and other governmental bodies; prepare and issue reports; and undertake any other actions that further the purposes of the office. The office is also required to conduct meetings with NJT customers, which are to occur at least on a monthly basis, and would allow for a remote attendance option, for the purpose of relaying the concerns and needs of customers to the NJT board of directors and, when the Rider Advocate deems appropriate, to the executive management team of NJT. In addition, the office would also be required to allow for public input on NJT operations and experiences at any time, through the office's official Internet website and through voicemail. The office is also required to represent the interests of NJT's customers in areas such as proposed fare increases, proposed substantial curtailment of services, and any proposed expansion of service. Funds for the expenses of the commission and office are to be provided by the State Treasurer, as appropriated by the Legislature, and are to be independent of funds for the NJT. On or before March 31 of each year, the commission in consultation with the Rider Advocate is required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the activities of the commission and office for the previous calendar year, including any reports provided to the NJT board of directors. The bill repeals a provision of law requiring NJT to employ a customer advocate. | In Committee |
| A4580 | Enhances access to public health emergency supplies and services. | This bill increases the State's access to public health emergency supplies and services. The bill establishes a State stockpile for personal protective equipment. The Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the State Office of Emergency Management (OEM), will award a contract or contracts for the procurement of personal protective equipment for the creation of a stockpile. OME will have the duty of maintaining the stockpile and ensuring that the stockpile is adequately stocked to meet the State's personal protective equipment needs during a public health emergency. During a public health emergency, OME will make the personal protective equipment in the stockpile available to the State and its political subdivisions, to public New Jersey schools, State hospitals, and State nursing homes without charging a fee. During a public health emergency, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the OME, will make the remainder of the stockpiles available for purchase by other entities at market price. OME, in consultation with the Department of Health, will have discretion to establish orders of priority for which entities may gain first access to the stockpile. The bill requires the Director (director) of OEM to create, maintain, and update, an online portal, in the form of an Internet website, that allows entities to donate emergency supplies during a public health emergency in accordance with standards and requirements as determined by OEM. The bill requires the director, to the extent possible, to review and streamline the State's process for procuring critical supplies and services during a public health emergency. In streamlining this procurement process, the director will, at a minimum: (1) designate a primary person or agency as the point-of-contact for procurement concerns during a public health emergency; (2) to the extent possible, centralize the procurement process of critical supplies and services during a public health emergency; (3) develop a plan to temporarily surge the State's procurement capacity during a public health emergency as necessary; (4) establish protocols to reduce the administrative burden of procurement processes during a public health emergency; (5) establish a standard procurement operating plan for public health emergencies that clearly outlines leadership structures, roles, and responsibilities; (6) develop a comprehensive repository of emergency contracts for critical supplies and services that can be utilized during a public health emergency; (7) revise standard procurement processes to enhance the State ability to contract vendors prior to a public health emergency; and (8) to the extent possible, promote collaboration between OEM and the Division of Purchase and Property. | In Committee |
| A1497 | Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community service. | Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community network. | In Committee |
| A4720 | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses. | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses. | In Committee |
| ACR115 | Urges United States Congress to pass "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023." | This concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023." This federal legislation would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of their socioeconomic background. This legislation also eliminates school food debt and reimburses schools for all delinquent school meal debt. | Crossed Over |
| A3739 | Criminalizes the use of "signal jammers." | This bill would criminalize the use of "signal jammers" under State law. Such devices are already illegal under federal law. "Signal jammers," which are also known as signal blockers, GPS jammers, cell phone jammers, and text blockers, are radio frequency transmitters that are designed to block, jam, or otherwise interfere with authorized radio communications. These devices can prevent cell phones from making or receiving calls, texts, and emails; block Wi-Fi devices from connecting to the Internet; prevent a GPS from receiving correct positioning signals; and prevent a first responder from locating a person in an emergency. Under current New Jersey law, it is a crime of the fourth degree to: (1) make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission of energy in this State unless the person obtains a license, or an exemption from licensure, from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pursuant to applicable federal law or regulation, or (2) do any act to cause an unlicensed radio transmission of energy or interference with a public or commercial radio station licensed by the FCC or to enable the radio transmission of energy or interference to occur. This bill provides that it would also be a crime of the fourth degree to interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under any federal law or regulation or operated by the United States government; or, in violation of federal law or regulation, to use any scanning receiver that is capable of: (1) receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service, (2) readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or (3) being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio. The provisions of this bill are also set out in federal law, specifically in 47 U.S.C. s.301 and 47 U.S.C. s.333. | In Committee |
| A4527 | Concerns keyless locking mechanisms and burglar's tools. | This bill expands the definition of "burglar's tool" to include that which may be considered an "engine, machine, tool or implement." Under the bill, an engine, machine, tool, implement, or program manufactured or possessed in violation of N.J.S.2C:5-5 includes such which may provide access to a premises through a keyless locking mechanism. Under the bill, it is a crime of the fourth degree if the person manufactured such instrument or implements or published such plans or instructions for tools which may provide access to a premises through a keyless locking mechanism. If the person merely possesses an instrument in violation of the statute, then it is a disorderly persons offense. A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A3508 | Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families. | This bill requires that the child abuse reporting hotline maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) provide information on resources available to the victims of child abuse or neglect and their families. DCPP regularly contracts with community-based agencies throughout the State to provide a variety of services to children and families, including counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care, and residential placement. It is critical for families to be made aware of these services so that they are empowered to break the cycle of abuse and protect the most vulnerable residents of New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A4698 | Permits certain students not enrolled in public schools to participate in interscholastic athletics. | This bill requires school districts to allow students in grades six through 12 who receive equivalent instruction other than at school, and students who attend charter schools, county vocational schools, or nonpublic schools to participate in interscholastic sports programs in the student's resident district in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. The bill also provides that interscholastic sports programs offered by charter schools, county vocational school districts, and nonpublic schools must be available to students attending other public schools. Under the bill, a student in grades six through 12 who receives equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school who wishes to try out for, and participate in, school-sponsored interscholastic athletics in the student's resident district is required to: 1) provide proof that the student resides in the district; 2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student is to comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as other members of the team; and 3) demonstrate to the board of education that the student is receiving an academically equivalent education compared to students enrolled in the school district and is academically qualified to participate. Under the current rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), the participation of such a student is at the discretion of the board of education of the resident school district. In the case of a student enrolled in a charter school, county vocational school, or nonpublic school, the student may try out for, and participate in, interscholastic athletics in the student's resident district if the student's charter school, county vocational school, or nonpublic school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. In order to participate, the student is to comply with the requirements listed above, other than the requirement to demonstrate academically equivalent instruction. Under current NJSIAA rules, a student enrolled in a nonpublic school, a charter school, or full-time in a county vocational school may only participate in interscholastic athletics in the resident district if the principal of the charter school or county vocational school, as applicable, and the principal of the resident district school agree to such participation. There are reciprocal provisions in the bill for students enrolled in public schools who may want to participate in interscholastic athletics sponsored by charter schools, county vocational school districts. Under the bill, any controversy in regard to whether a home-schooled student, a charter school student, a county vocational school student, nonpublic school student, or other public school student meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the NJSIAA will be adjudicated by the association in compliance with its constitution and by-laws. | In Committee |
| AR153 | Urges Congress to deschedule marijuana as Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal "Controlled Substances Act." | This resolution urges the federal government to change marijuana's classification in the "Controlled Substances Act." Marijuana's current Schedule I classification is at odds with current research and public opinion on its use. Marijuana has several accepted medical uses throughout the United States, having been recommended by thousands of licensed physicians to at least 350,000 patients in states where medical marijuana is legalized. The New Jersey Legislature recognized the value of medical marijuana by passing the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act." Due to marijuana's Schedule I classification, owners and operators of dispensaries in New Jersey are susceptible to both being charged with federal crimes and being victims of theft. This lack of safety for dispensary staff and consumers not only poses a dangerous threat the viability of the marijuana industry in New Jersey but also the physical health and safety of New Jersey residents. Therefore, in order to protect the rights and interest of New Jersey residents and medical marijuana patients, marijuana should no longer be classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. | 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 |
| AJR190 | Designates May 7 of each year as "Cystinosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution designates May 7 of each year as "Cystinosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness and to promote research, advocacy, and fundraising initiatives. Cystinosis is a rare genetic disorder affecting approximately 2,000 individuals worldwide and approximately 500 Americans, including children in New Jersey. Cystinosis causes cystine crystals to accumulate in cells, irreversibly damaging soft tissue and major organs, including the kidneys, eyes, brain, muscles, liver, thyroid, pancreas, testes, and central nervous system. Infantile nephropathic cystinosis, the most common and severe variant, accounts for 95 percent of the total cases. If left untreated, infantile nephropathic cystinosis can cause complete kidney failure by age 10 and premature death. While there is no cure for cystinosis, early detection, initiation of treatment, and compliance with treatment regimens are key to achieving positive outcomes. Cystinosis treatments have improved survival rates, extended life expectancy by 30 to 40 years, and enabled individuals with cystinosis to enjoy a satisfactory quality of life. However, the rarity of the condition and delayed symptom onset in some individuals may impede early detection and access to treatment. In 2018, the Cystinosis Research Network designated May 7 as Cystinosis Awareness Day to raise awareness and garner support through education and fundraising. Joining the Cystinosis Research Network in recognizing May 7 of each year as Cystinosis Awareness Day in New Jersey will amplify efforts to educate New Jersey residents about cystinosis and advance advocacy initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for individuals living with cystinosis. To that end, May 7 of each year shall be designated as "Cystinosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation annually to recognize Cystinosis Awareness Day and call upon relevant State agencies, organizations, and citizens of the State to participate in awareness initiatives. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4674 | Upgrades to third degree crime for cyber-harassment of public servant or family member of public servant; establishes Office of Cyber-Harassment Support in DLPS; appropriates funds. | This bill would upgrade the penalty for cyber-harassment of a public servant or a public servant's family member. The bill would also establish the Office of Cyber-Harassment Support in the Department of Law and Public Safety to implement educational, awareness, and victim support activities across the State. Under current law, cyber-harassment is a crime of the fourth degree, unless the person is 21 years of age or older at the time of the offense and impersonates a minor for the purpose of cyber-harassing a minor, in which case it is a crime of the third degree. This bill amends current law to also make cyber-harassment a third degree crime if a person commits an offense against a public servant or any member of a public servant's family. The bill defines "public servant" as any person elected to public office, appointed to, or employed by any public entity in this State, or any subdivision thereof, and shall include any person serving as a judicial officer, as defined in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1), juror, advisor, or consultant, performing a governmental function, but the term does not include witnesses. Under current law, the trier of fact may infer that a person acted with a purpose to harass another if the person knows or should have known that any of the person's actions constituting an offense under this section are knowingly directed to or are about a judicial officer and there is a nexus between the offense and relates to the performance of the judge's public duties. Under current law, "judicial officer" has the same meaning as defined in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1). This bill amends the law to permit the trier of fact to make this inference with respect to all public servants, as that term is defined in the bill. This bill also requires the Attorney General to establish an Office of Cyber-Harassment Support in the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The purpose of the office shall be to promote education and awareness of cyber-harassment, provide assistance to victims of cyber-harassment crimes, and promote initiatives and training throughout the State to prevent cyber-harassment, specifically against public servants and their family members. The office's responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) regularly engage with law enforcement, legal professionals, and technology professionals to clearly and comprehensively define cyber-harassment within the context of cyber-harassment crime, as it evolves due to emerging technologies; (2) establish user-friendly and accessible reporting systems to enable cyber-harassment victims to easily report cyber-harassment offenses and seek assistance from relevant authorities; (3) implement educational programs, directed towards both potential cyber-harassment offenders and victims, in order to raise awareness about cyber-harassment and its consequences; (4) collaborate with social media platforms to develop stricter policies to identify and remove harassing content; (5) encourage social media platforms to implement reporting features and provide support to victims to help create a safer online environment; (6) provide support services, counseling, and legal aid to victims of cyber-harassment to help them cope with the emotional and psychological impact of such harassment; (7) coordinate with the Department of Education to offer cyber ethics classes in New Jersey schools that help to promote responsible online behavior and create a culture of respect and empathy online; (8) coordinate with State and local law enforcement agencies to establish or expand specialized units within law enforcement agencies that are dedicated to handling cyber-harassment crimes; and (9) coordinate with State and local law enforcement agencies to enhance comprehensive training programs for law enforcement personnel on cyber-harassment investigation techniques, digital evidence collection, and law enforcement procedures specific to cyber-harassment cases. This bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety such funds as are necessary for the implementation of the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4726 | Requires transportation network companies to share information concerning sexual misconduct investigation of driver; authorizes transportation network company to ban drivers from accessing digital network during and following investigation. | This bill requires applicants to be transportation network company (TNC) drivers to provide information during the application process about other TNCs that the applicant has worked for and a statement on whether the applicant has been the subject of a sexual misconduct investigation in connection with the applicant's work as a TNC driver. The bill authorizes a TNC to ban drivers from accessing a TNC's digital network if the driver is the subject of an ongoing investigation into sexual misconduct allegations arising out of the driver's work as a TNC driver or if an investigation has been completed and has resulted in a finding that the driver engaged in sexual misconduct connected to the driver's role as a TNC driver. If the investigation results in inconclusive findings or in a finding that the allegations were false or the allegations are not substantiated, the TNC is authorized to consider the totality of the circumstances and to elect to prohibit the driver from utilizing the TNC's digital network, notwithstanding the results of the investigation. A TNC that receives an allegation of sexual misconduct committed by a driver is required to notify each registered TNC in the State of the allegation, the status of any investigation, and the ultimate results or findings of the investigation. If the TNC becomes aware of a criminal investigation regarding the allegations, the TNC is required to notify each registered TNC of that information. The bill prohibits the Attorney General from approving a criminal background check conducted by a TNC, or a third party designated by the TNC, unless the check includes a mechanism by which the TNC receives timely notice when any individual who the company allows to log on to the TNC's digital network as a TNC driver or to provide a prearranged ride as a TNC driver is arrested for or convicted of a crime or offense in this State after the initial criminal background check of the individual has been conducted. | In Committee |
| A4697 | Requires local recreation departments, youth serving organizations, and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events. | This bill requires local recreation departments, youth serving organizations, and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events. Under the bill, a youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, and a nonprofit youth serving organization including, but not limited to, Little Leagues, Babe Ruth Leagues, Pop Warner Leagues, Police Athletic Leagues, and youth soccer leagues, which organizes, sponsors, or is otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, is to ensure that there is available on site an automated external defibrillator at each youth athletic event and practice held on the home field of the youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization. The bill provides that a youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization is to be deemed to be in compliance with the bill's requirements if a State-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has a defibrillator available for use on site. Under the bill, a youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization, and employees, volunteers, coaches, and licensed athletic trainers of the youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization, are to be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator. | 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 |
| S1017 | Establishes right of sexual assault victim to notification of certain developments in criminal case. | An Act concerning the rights of victims of sexual assault and amending and supplementing P.L.2019, c.103 (C.52:4B-60.1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2470 | Permits service credit in Prosecutors Part of PERS for judicial clerk service; increases salary of Presiding Judge of Appellate Division and county prosecutor; permits retired judges to collect pension while serving as county prosecutor. | An Act concerning certain service credit for certain members of the Prosecutors Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System, salaries and retirement benefits of certain prosecutors and judges, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2644 | Requires DOE to establish working group on student literacy; mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students; requires professional development for certain school district employees. | An Act concerning student literacy and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2288 | Establishes Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in DOE. | An Act establishing the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2869 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | This bill provides that if the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development finds that an employer has, for the purpose of concealing any violation of State wage, benefit and tax laws, disclosed or threatened to disclose to a public body an employee's immigration status, the commissioner is, in addition to imposing any other remedies or penalties authorized by law, authorized to assess and collect an administrative penalty against the employer. Specifically, the bill provides for administrative penalties as follows: (1) for the first violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000; (2) for the second violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000; and (3) for any subsequent violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000. When determining the amount of the administrative penalty imposed pursuant to the bill's provisions, the commissioner may consider factors which include the history of previous violations by the employer, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith of the employer and the size of the employer's business. The commissioner may not levy an administrative penalty pursuant to the bill's provisions unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator with notification of the violation and of the amount of administrative penalty, and unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator an opportunity to request a hearing before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A1677 | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | An Act concerning electric school buses and government aggregation of certain energy services, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A4665 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, is directed to establish a targeted leadership development program that prepares Hispanic and Latino faculty for leadership positions at public institutions of higher education in the State. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary to establish a program that develops or expands pipelines that guide Hispanic or Latino undergraduate students into academic careers. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt policies and procedures to promote diverse representation reflective of the student body and the State on any search committee convened for a senior administration or leadership position at the institution. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education is required to establish a program to assist public institutions of higher education in the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino faculty and staff into leadership positions at those institutions. The purpose of the program is to develop guidance and strategies for the institutions to: · identify and mitigate cultural and institutional barriers experienced by Hispanic and Latino faculty and administrators which may negatively impact the recruitment and retention of those individuals into leadership positions at public institutions of higher education; · provide institutional support and professional development opportunities specifically designed for Hispanic and Latino faculty and administrators;· promote opportunities for academic alliances and collaborative partnerships to share best practices, resources, and support for increasing Hispanic and Latino representation in institution leadership; and · conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the institution's diversity programs and initiatives. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to implement a program to increase the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino individuals into leadership positions at the institution. Finally, the bill requires each public institution of higher education to submit an annual diversity report to the Secretary of Higher Education. The report will include, at a minimum:· the racial and gender composition of all leadership positions at the institution; and· a review of the diversity program implemented pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill directs the secretary to compile the annual diversity reports submitted by the institutions and submit a summative report annually to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| AR146 | Encourages institutions of higher education to address lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino leadership in higher education. | This resolution encourages institutions of higher education in New Jersey and across the United States to address the lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino presidents of institutions of higher education. Colleges and universities in New Jersey and across the country have seen significant increases in enrollment of Hispanic and Latino undergraduate students in recent decades. Currently, approximately 20 percent of undergraduate students in the United States and approximately 25 percent of undergraduate students in New Jersey identify as Hispanic or Latino. However, while college enrollments increasingly reflect the rich diversity of this State and nation as a whole, the leadership in institutions of higher education does not. In 2023, only six percent of presidents of institutions of higher education in the United States identified as Hispanic or Latino and there is currently only one Latino president leading an institution of higher education in New Jersey. The lack of diverse leadership among institutions of higher education is of great concern as creating a leadership team that is reflective of the student body is critical to promoting inclusivity and belongingness among students, understanding students' diverse needs and interests, and ensuring students feel safe, seen, and heard. Thus, this resolution encourages institutions of higher education in New Jersey and across the United States to address the lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino leadership in higher education by establishing and expanding leadership development programs, enhancing the diversity of governing boards and search committees, and actively engaging with organizations dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic and Latino leaders in higher education. | In Committee |
| A3748 | Establishes right of sexual assault victim to notification of certain developments in criminal case. | This bill requires sexual assault victims to be notified of certain developments concerning the evidence in their cases. Specifically, the bill expands the State's Sexual Assault Victim's Bill of Rights to give sexual assault victims the right to be informed if: (1) a DNA profile of an assailant was obtained from the processing of evidence in the sexual assault case; (2) a DNA profile of an assailant has been entered into any data bank designed or intended to be used for the retention or comparison of case evidence; (3) there is a match between the DNA profile of an assailant obtained in the sexual assault case and a DNA profile contained in any data bank designed or intended to be used for the retention or comparison of case evidence; and (4) sexual assault evidence is submitted to a forensic laboratory, if that evidence is compared against any data bank, and the results of the comparison. Additionally, under the bill, upon a victim's request, the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a sexual assault case is required to inform the victim of the status of the processing of all evidence collected in that case. The bill authorizes the victim to designate another person of the victim's choosing to receive information requested by the sexual assault victim or any notice required by the bill. The victim is responsible for keeping the law enforcement agency informed of the name, address, telephone number, and electronic mail address of the person to whom the information should be provided, and of any changes in this information. | In Committee |
| AR141 | Urges generative artificial intelligence and content sharing platforms to make voluntary commitments to prevent and remove harmful content. | This resolution urges generative artificial intelligence platforms to make voluntary commitments to remove harmful content from their websites. "Deepfake" and "cheapfake" media involve artificially produced content which often manipulate public understandings of evidence and truth. This resolution 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." Cheapfakes are any software-generated audiovisual alteration. Examples of such content include face-swapping imagery, voice synthesis, and altered videos. These audiovisual manipulations have become easier to produce, with open-source animation technology allowing even inexperienced creators to forge media. With available software, authors may create convincingly realistic depictions of individuals saying or doing things they never actually did. Generative artificial-intelligence platforms may anticipate and prevent the creation of harmful content. The proliferation of social media and other digital communication platforms increase viewership of tailored deepfakes and cheapfakes, furthering the spread defamatory information. Social media and other content sharing forums may take steps to remove harmful media. Deepfakes and cheapfakes have led to impersonation, fraud, blackmail, harassment, and political misinformation. Such depictions of individuals in compromising or harmful situations can lead to significant reputational damage. Artificial intelligence and its products also offer immense promise if used responsibly. Audiovisually altered media may advance frontiers of learning, technology, and social engagement. Responsible commercialization of artificial intelligence systems requires security testing, threat protection, and monitoring of potential harms. Reports catalogue the impact of high-fidelity synthetic media on public information and understanding. Policymakers recommend collecting a library of deepfake imagery to train detection models, building tracking systems, and utilizing content provenance for AI- and human-generated content. Deliberate oversight would increase the credibility and opportunity of artificial intelligence generation. The federal government and twelve other states have drafted accountability and transparency standards for artificial intelligence companies and in some circumstances have arranged such voluntary commitments for secure artificial intelligence use. In following suit with these national legal trends, New Jersey could establish itself as a pioneer of responsible media technology. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| ACR139 | Approves FY2025 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2024 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | In Committee |
| A4081 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | In Committee |
| A1669 | Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. | An Act concerning teacher certification, supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.2023, c.180. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| SCR110 | Approves FY2025 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2024 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3930 | Permits service credit in Prosecutors Part of PERS for judicial clerk service; increases salary of Presiding Judge of Appellate Division and county prosecutor; permits retired judges to collect pension while serving as county prosecutor. | Permits service credit in Prosecutors Part of PERS for judicial clerk service; increases salary of Presiding Judge of Appellate Division and county prosecutor; permits retired judges to collect pension while serving as county prosecutor. | In Committee |
| A4656 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| A3567 | Requires each public institution of higher education to convene menstrual equity task force. | Requires each public institution of higher education to convene menstrual equity task force. | In Committee |
| A2369 | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | In Committee |
| A4012 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, approximately $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.38 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4432 | Establishes Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council in DOH; requires council to create report on human trafficking and 2026 FIFA World Cup; appropriates $1 million. | Establishes Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council in DOH; requires council to create report on human trafficking and 2026 FIFA World Cup; appropriates $1 million. | In Committee |
| A4467 | Codifies and expands "rescue doctrine" to permit recovery of damages by certain rescuers. | This bill codifies and expands the "rescue doctrine." Under New Jersey case law, the "rescue doctrine" allows a rescuer to recover damages for injuries sustained when trying to rescue a person who is at fault, or partially at fault, for creating the peril that invited rescue. The bill would permit rescuers to recover damages for injuries that the rescuer sustained because a culpable party placed themselves or, in an expansion of the doctrine, property in a perilous position that invited rescue as a result of the culpable party's tortious conduct. The supplement to current law included in this bill incorporates the findings of the New Jersey Law Revision Commission (Commission), as set forth in its Final Report concerning The Rescue Doctrine, issued December 15, 2022. The Commission found that a majority of states follow the definition of the "rescue doctrine" set forth in the Restatement (Third) of Torts, which includes rescue of both persons and property. The bill brings New Jersey law into conformity with the majority of states. The legislative recommendations of the Commission's Final Report were largely in response to the New Jersey Supreme Court decision in Samolyk v. Berthe, 251 N.J. 73 (2022). In Samolyk, the plaintiff attempted to rescue a neighbor's dog from drowning, which resulted in the plaintiff sustaining permanent neurological and cognitive injuries. In Samolyk, the Court was asked to consider the "rescue doctrine" in the context of those who voluntarily choose to expose themselves to significant danger in an effort to safeguard the property of another, in this case, the dog. Although the Court declined to expand the "rescue doctrine" to include injuries sustained to protect property, it did recognize that "[t]he rescue doctrine 'has long been a part of [New Jersey's] social fabric'." Samolyk v. Berthe, 251 N.J. 73, 80 (2022) (quoting Saltsman v. Corazo, 371 N.J. Super. 237, 248 (App. Div. 1998) (noting that in New Jersey the doctrine has been historically used to address situations in which the rescuer sued the party whose negligence placed the victim in a position of imminent peril, thereby necessitating the rescue)). | In Committee |
| A4477 | Establishes affirmative defense to prosecution for any crime committed by victim of human trafficking under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes an affirmative defense to prosecution for crimes committed by a victim of human trafficking under certain circumstances. Under current law, it is a defense to a prosecution for the following crimes if the perpetrator of the offense is a victim of human trafficking: human trafficking; providing services, resources, or assistance with the knowledge that the services, resources, or assistance are intended to be used in furtherance of the commission of the crime of human trafficking; and prostitution and related offenses. This bill establishes an affirmative defense for human trafficking victims charged with any offense enumerated in Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes if: (1) during the time of the alleged commission of the offense, the defendant was a victim of human trafficking; and (2) the crime was committed as a direct result of the human trafficking offense that was committed against the defendant. The bill further provides that an affirmative defense under the bill is not precluded based solely on the lack of a conviction for the underlying human trafficking offense committed against the victim. | In Committee |
| A3857 | Allows social worker to acquire four hours of continuing education credit for volunteering as poll worker. | Allows social worker to acquire four hours of continuing education credit for volunteering as poll worker. | In Committee |
| AJR180 | Designates July of each year as "Self-Care Awareness Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates July of each year as "Self-Care Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Self-care is a lifelong daily habit of making healthy lifestyle choices, practicing good hygiene, preventing infection and illness, avoiding unhealthy choices, monitoring for signs and symptoms of changes in health, knowing when to consult a healthcare practitioner, and knowing when it is appropriate to self-treat conditions. Self-care also involves engaging in activities that promote well-being and reduce stress. New Jersey benefits when its citizens practice appropriate self-care and are subsequently empowered by higher self-esteem and improved health. Practicing proper self-care also reduces health care visits and cost. According to an Information Resources, Inc. study, each dollar spent on over-the-counter medicines saves the healthcare system more than seven dollars, resulting in more than $146 billion in annual savings. Over-the-counter medical items such as bandages, menstrual products, face masks, and at-home test kits used for prevention, testing, and treatment result in cost savings for the healthcare system. Consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements can fill critical nutrient gaps, particularly for lower income families that may experience food insecurity. New Jersey encourages its citizens to take advantage of the potential of self-care to improve personal and public health, save personal and public monies, and strengthen the sustainability of New Jersey's health care system. Achieving the potential of self-care is a shared opportunity for consumers, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and regulators. | In Committee |
| S2082 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force," and amending and supplementing P.L.2012, c.26. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3521 | Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. | Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. | In Committee |
| A3891 | Creates new level of barbering license and apprenticeships in barbering, and establishes limits to hours of instruction for certain barbering training. | This bill establishes a general barbering license and a barbering apprenticeship. As a general barber, an individual can perform the following services: (1) shampooing, cutting, including clipper cutting, and styling of the hair; (2) shaving or trimming of the beard, mustache, or other facial hair; and (3) massaging, cleansing, or stimulating the face. In the bill, a barbering or general barbering apprenticeship is two years. To be a barbering or general barbering apprentice, an individual has to show proof of being at least 17 years of age, of good moral character, and of being free of any communicable, contagious or infectious disease. A shop approved by the board to host an apprenticeship is to meet requirements established in current law and in the bill in regards to licensure as a shop and the employment of the proper professionals to oversee the management of the shop. An apprenticeship, under the bill, can be for an individual seeking a barbering license or a general barbering license. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, an individual is given the option to apply for licensure by the board. Lastly, hours to train as a general barber are established in the bill to not exceed 550 hours of instruction. As part of the 550 hours of instruction, general barbering applicants are to be trained in shears-over-comb techniques, shop management, ethics, and a review of State laws and regulations. | Crossed Over |
| AR139 | Expresses sincere appreciation to staff of New Jersey General Assembly. | This resolution expresses sincere appreciation to the staff of the New Jersey General Assembly. Each legislative session, the General Assembly of New Jersey elects officers and administrative personnel to serve the vital functions of the General Assembly. These staff members play a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of the legislative process in this State, and their experience and diverse backgrounds contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the General Assembly's operations. Despite any challenges faced during each legislative session, the General Assembly staff uphold exemplary standards of professionalism and expertise within the constitutionally mandated timeframes. It is essential to recognize the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their unwavering dedication and service to the State of New Jersey. Therefore, the General Assembly wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their outstanding dedication, cooperation, and excellent work. | In Committee |
| A4004 | Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | In Committee |
| A4369 | Permits 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections for local school board. | Under current law, any person who is at least 18 years of age, who is a citizen of the United States, and who is a resident of the district in which they wish to vote, is entitled to register and vote in elections in this State. This bill permits 16 and 17-year-olds, who are U.S. citizens and residents of New Jersey, to vote only in their local school elections for school board members. The bill does not allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in any other election. The bill directs the Secretary of State to promulgate rules that: (1) create a registration form and a process to register 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, which conforms as nearly as possible to the equivalent form and process utilized for all other eligible voters; (2) establish a method of verifying the identity of registered 16 and 17-year-old voters which conforms as nearly as possible to the methods utilized for all other eligible voters; (3) provide for the design of paper ballots on which 16 and 17-year-olds may vote for school board members; and (4) ensure the provisions of this act are implemented effectively and in a manner compatible with all other elections held in this State. This bill does not require action on the part of any school board or municipality in order to implement its provisions. | In Committee |
| A3980 | Requires DHS to establish system to ensure distribution of funds for certain support services for General Assistance beneficiaries ceases upon beneficiary's exit from support service. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to establish a process to ensure that any funding distributed by the Division of Family Development or a county welfare agency to a provider of substance use disorder treatment or housing for support services rendered to a beneficiary of General Assistance cash benefits ceases on the date in which the beneficiary is discharged from the provider or is otherwise no longer receiving services from the provider. Under the bill, the commissioner is authorized to: contact a provider or a beneficiary to determine the date on which services ceased to be provided to the beneficiary and on which funding for services provided by the division or a county welfare agency are to discontinue; and require a provider to repay the division or a county welfare agency for any funding received by the provider for a beneficiary that was discharged from the provider or was otherwise no longer receiving services from the provider. | In Committee |
| A3936 | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury to develop and implement programs to increase utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State. | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury to develop and implement programs to increase utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State. | In Committee |
| A4364 | Establishes EMS part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency medical services employees. | This bill creates an EMS Part in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide enhanced pension benefits under terms identical to those provided to prosecutors under the Prosecutors Part of the PERS, including mandatory retirement at age 70. The members of the EMS Part will include State, county, or municipal employees serving in one of the following positions: emergency medical technician; mobile intensive care paramedic; paramedic; flight paramedic; mobile intensive care nurse; flight nurse; emergency medical services supervisor or deputy supervisor; emergency medical services chief or deputy chief; emergency medical services hazardous materials responder technician; emergency medical services coordinator, dispatcher, or instructor; or any position the primary or essential duties of which require the employee to be trained in basic or advanced life support services and who is certified or licensed by the Department of Health to perform these services. The State will be liable for the increased pension costs payable by counties or municipalities as a result this bill. | In Committee |
| A4358 | Requires juveniles to appear before court in county where alleged delinquency complaint occurred. | This bill requires juveniles to appear before the court in the county where the alleged delinquency complaint occurred. Under the court rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred, but if the juvenile resides in a county other than the county of the alleged incident, the venue is set to be the county where the juvenile resides. This bill requires a juvenile accused of a delinquency complaint to appear before the court in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. | In Committee |
| A3873 | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AR134 | Urges United States Congress to renew funding for Affordable Connectivity Program. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to renew funding for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Millions of Americans are without access to broadband Internet services. As a result, these individuals struggle to improve social outcomes through education, achieve upward economic mobility, gain digital literacy skills, and receive quality healthcare. In 2021, to close the digital divide, the FCC launched the ACP, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. In addition, the program offers a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers, under specific circumstances, for eligible households. Currently, over 20 million households receive broadband benefits through the ACP. In New Jersey, as of January 2024, 335,079 households are enrolled in the program. Specifically, New Jersey has received nearly $152 million in ACP funding, resulting in $8.3 million per month in collective cost savings on broadband Internet services for all New Jersey households enrolled in the program. However, the ACP is slated to expire in April 2024 when the program is scheduled to exhaust its $14.2 billion budget. To improve broadband access for millions of Americans, and thereby advance social, economic, and health outcomes for the underserved, Congress is respectfully urged to renew funding for the ACP. | In Committee |
| A4255 | Establishes EMT Workforce Development Partnership in DOH, appropriates $1.5 million. | This bill establishes the EMT Workforce Development Partnership (partnership) to provide a pathway for high school students, ages 16 years and older, students of institutions of higher education, and community residents to become certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs). The partnership would be developed by the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), in collaboration with the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education; licensed hospitals and other Department of Health (DOH) certified EMT training agencies, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education would be eligible to participate in the partnership. The bill provides that licensed hospitals, agencies, organizations, and entities that are certified by the DOH as an EMT training agency, will provide the EMT training course and administer the standardized examination required for certification as an EMT. An "emergency medical technician" is defined, under the bill, as a person who is trained in basic life support care, and is certified or recognized by the commissioner in accordance with the standards for EMT certification provided at N.J.A.C. 8:40A. In order to enroll in an EMT training course offered through the partnership, a minor must be at least 16 years of age by the first training class, and must meet other requirements in accordance with State regulations. As provided in State regulations, a minor who successfully completes the EMT training course and passes the standardized examination for EMT certification will be granted provisional EMT certification status until their 18th birthday. The bill stipulates that a hospital, agency, organization, or entity that is certified as an EMT training agency, a secondary school, or an institution of higher education that participates in the partnership may not charge a fee for either the training course or the standardized certification exam, provided an enrolled student or resident successfully completes the training course, passes the standardized certification exam, and serves, for at least two years, as either a paid or a volunteer EMT with a first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad located in the municipality or county in which the student or resident primarily resides. The commissioner will establish a process by which a student or a resident, who does not satisfy these conditions, will reimburse the licensed hospital or the DOH-certified training agency for the cost of the EMT training course or the standardized certification exam, or both. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education, will additionally develop and implement an EMT recruitment campaign to inform licensed hospitals, certified EMT training agencies, secondary school educators, institutions of higher education, and the public about the critical role that EMTs have in the community and the benefits of participating in the partnership. The bill provides a $1.5 million appropriation from the General Fund to the DOH to implement this initiative. | In Committee |
| A4221 | Requires DHS to conduct review of reimbursement rates paid by State's child care assistance program to certain child care providers. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a review of the reimbursement rates paid by the State's child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program to ensure that the reimbursement rates adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours. If, based on the review, the DHS determines that the reimbursement rates are not adequate to compensate child providers offering services during non-traditional hours, the DHS is to seek out and apply for all sources of federal funding necessary to allow the State's child care assistance program to compensate such providers, including, but limited to, applying for such State plan amendments or waivers as may necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The bill also stipulates the DHS to: 1) prepare a written report of the review conducted pursuant to the bill; 2) post a copy of the report on its Internet website, and 3) upon request, provide a copy of the report to child care providers participating in the State's child care assistance program. The bill is to expire upon issuance of the written report of review conducted pursuant to its provisions. Currently, reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program compensate such providers for approximately seven hours of operation. However child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours, to accommodate working parents, face additional expenses because they do not receive reimbursement to operate extended hours. It is the sponsor's intent to allow the State to pursue additional funding if the review required under this bill reveals that the reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program do not adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours. | In Committee |
| AR124 | Condemns actions of Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin for events leading up to death of Alexei Navalny. | This resolution condemns the actions of the Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin for the events leading up to the death of Alexei Navalny. Navalny was an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin and an opposition leader who organized massive pro-democracy, anti-corruption protests. Navalny was convicted and received suspended sentences twice on criminal charges, which led Russian election officials to bar Navalny from running against Vladimir Putin in the 2018 presidential election. In August 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent and medically evacuated to Germany for treatment. Upon his return to Russia in 2021, he was immediately arrested due to accusations that he violated his parole conditions. After his arrest, he received multiple prison sentences. The time Navalny spent in prison was reportedly inhumane for reasons such as solitary confinement, extreme cold, unsanitary conditions, and harsh beatings. Navalny was pronounced dead on February 16, 2024, at the age of 47, while imprisoned at the IK-3 penal colony, and many people were detained and arrested for attending his funeral as well as various memorials across Russia. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey joins the rest of the world in condemning the Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin's relentless targeting of Alexei Navalny to silence his message of resistance against corruption, which ultimately resulted in his death. | In Committee |
| A3413 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | In Committee |
| AR107 | Urges U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. | This resolution urges the United State Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. Approximately five million veterans in the United States have a service-connected disability, and about 53,000 of those veterans live in New Jersey. The VA operates two medical centers in New Jersey, with one in East Orange and one in Lyons. Service-connected disabilities can adversely impact veterans' abilities to access necessary medical care at these facilities. Currently, the VA provides transportation service via the Veterans Transportation Service, but this service has limitations that can result in the reduced efficiency of transporting disabled veterans to and from medical appointments. Disabled American Veterans and other veterans' service organizations also provide free van transportation to and from VA medical centers in New Jersey, but these non-profit organizations should not shoulder the responsibility to provide properly coordinated VA-funded patient transport for deserving veterans and qualified family members. It has also been reported by numerous New Jersey veterans that the transportation service provided to these VA facilities is deficient, with veterans being left at facilities for hours, overnight, and in adverse weather conditions. Both New Jersey counties and non-profit social service organizations have existing paratransit transportation for use by senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These high quality county and non-profit paratransit providers may be able to expand their coverage to meet the transportation needs of veterans traveling to and from VA facilities if provided funding to cover the cost of such an expansion. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3726 | Establishes State Commission on Minority Affairs within Department of State. | This bill would establish the State Commission on Minority Affairs within the Department of State. The commission would be responsible for: studying matters affecting the social and economic welfare of minorities residing in the State; collecting and disseminating information on activities, programs, and essential services available to minorities in the State; studying the availability of employment for minorities in this State, and the manner in which minorities are employed; studying the ways in which minorities can be encouraged to start and manage their own businesses successfully; studying the availability of affordable housing; in cooperation with the Division on Civil Rights, promoting public information regarding State laws that prohibit discriminatory practices and procedures pursuant to which aggrieved persons may file complaints or otherwise take action to remedy such discriminatory practices; promoting the creation of networks within the business community between majority-owned and minority-owned businesses; advising the Governor on matters relating to minorities and of concern to minorities; and recommending legislation to the Governor. | 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 |
| A3997 | Requires Commissioner of Health to establish maternity care public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a maternal health public awareness campaign to improve overall maternal and child health while ensuring equitable care among women and children of all races and ethnicities. The campaign is to disseminate information about maternal health and encourage the public to access a user-friendly website to be established and maintained by the Department of Health (department). Under the bill, the campaign will, at a minimum: (1) disseminate aggregated data to the public concerning hospital rates of: cesarean births, exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, among other information, to assist women in the selection of maternity care providers and birthing locations; (2) promote active engagement in maternity care, patient rights, making informed choices, and the use of shared decision-making models and decision-making aids; (3) disseminate information to healthcare professionals regarding how to document the patient' s preferences regarding care provided during labor and delivery, otherwise known as a birth plan, in the patient's health records; (4) disseminate information to the public on avoiding interventions that may be unneeded or that may increase pregnancy-related risks, the advantages of physiologic birth, which is a pregnancy, labor, and birth process that progresses through natural biologic processes, and the benefits of using high-value forms of care such as midwives, birthing centers, doulas, and lactation support; (5) promote the maternal and child health programs and services that are available in the State and encourage the public to contact county central intake agencies to obtain information and appropriate referrals; (6) provide information on the department' s Internet website regarding parent' s rights to family leave under State and federal law; (7) provide the public with information about breastfeeding and pregnancy discrimination rights; and (8) provide the public with information about the eligibility requirements and the application process to enroll in coverage for pregnant women under the State Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| A3985 | Requires DHS and DOH, respectively, to provide information on SNAP, WFNJ, and WIC recipients regarding card skimming, cloning, and similar fraudulent activities and to replace stolen benefits; makes appropriation. | This bill directs the Commissioners of Human Services and Health, respectively, to provide information to certain benefit recipients regarding card skimming and cloning and to replace stolen benefits under fraudulent circumstances. Specifically, the Commissioner of Human Services is responsible for implementing these provisions for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Work First New Jersey Program (WFNJ), while the Commissioner of Health is responsible for implementing the provisions for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The bill also appropriates the necessary funds to the departments to support the provisions of the bill. As used under the bill, "skimming" means the illegal installation of devices on point-of-sale or automatic teller machine terminals to capture a cardholder's personal identification number and other data stored on the magnetic strip of the electronic benefits transfer card; and "card cloning" means making an unauthorized copy of an electronic benefits transfer card. Under the bill, each commissioner is to provide information to program recipients regarding the: risks of card skimming, card cloning, and similar fraudulent methods; precautions a recipient can take to avoid falling victim to fraudulent methods; claims process, established under the bill, through which a recipient can have stolen benefits replaced; and process by which a recipient can report stolen to the appropriate department or to local law enforcement agencies. This information is to be distributed to recipients, at a minimum, at the point of enrollment and recertification in the program and with the issuance of the recipient's electronic benefits transfer card. Each commissioner is also required to post the information on the department's website and at eligibility determining offices. The bill mandates the commissioners to establish a claims process, that mirrors the provisions of federal law regarding the replacement of stolen SNAP benefits, by which a recipient's stolen program benefits can be replaced by either federal or State funds, subject to availability. The bill also directs the commissioners to coordinate with vendors to implement available precautions to reduce the vulnerability of electronic benefits transfer cards to theft, such as the inclusion of an embedded microchip in all electronic benefits transfer cards Finally, the commissioners are required to report to the Governor and the Legislature, 18 months following the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, data regarding stolen and replaced program benefits, as collected under the bill, as well as any other information that demonstrates the departments' efforts to protect recipients from fraud. | In Committee |
| A3944 | Establishes "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program"; appropriates $95,000. | This bill establishes the three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program," which is to be developed and operated by the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner is to select one or more institutions of higher education that offers an educator preparation program, and one or more school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects that each employ at least one male teacher of color to participate in the pilot program. Under the pilot program, the commissioner is to select 19 male students of color from among the institutions of higher education selected for participation in the pilot program and 19 male teachers of color from the school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects selected for participation in the pilot program. To be eligible for the program, a student is required to be in the final year of an educator preparation program. The commissioner is required to pair each selected student with a current teacher, who is to serve as the student's mentor through the candidate's last year of the educator preparation program and, if the student is hired for employment in the participating district, charter school, or renaissance school project upon the student's graduation from an educator preparation program, for the first two years of the student's teaching career. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that provides mentoring services under the provisions of the amended bill is to conduct a review of the student's performance under the pilot program following completion of the student's final year in an educator preparation program. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that provides mentoring services to a student under the pilot program is required to make a good faith effort to hire the student following the student's graduation from an educator preparation program, if the student receives a favorable performance review under the review conducted by the school district, charter school, or renaissance school project. Under the pilot program, a mentor is to receive a stipend of $5,000 for each year of participation in the pilot program. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner is to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program, including the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts, charter schools or renaissance school projects, and institutions of higher education in the State. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Education $95,000 to establish the "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program." | In Committee |
| A3963 | Extends early voting period for primary elections and May municipal elections. | This bill extends the early voting period for certain elections in New Jersey. This bill extends the early voting period for all primary and general elections in New Jersey to start 11 calendar days before the election. This includes non-presidential primary elections, presidential primary elections, and general elections. The bill also allows municipalities to extend the early voting period for May municipal elections to start 11 calendar days before the election. Currently, the early voting period for a non-presidential primary election starts on the 4th calendar day before the election. The early voting period for a presidential primary election starts on the 6th calendar day before the election. The early voting period for a general election starts on the 10th calendar day before the election. The early voting period for a May regular municipal election begins on the 4th calendar day before the election. This bill starts the early voting period on the 11th calendar day before the non-presidential primary, presidential primary, general election, and allows municipalities to adopt an ordinance to begin early voting for May municipal elections on the 11th calendar day before the regular municipal election. Under current law, the early voting period for any election ends on the second calendar day before the election. Therefore, under the bill, the early voting period would consist of ten days for these elections. | In Committee |
| A3962 | Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for hospitalizations resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 without imposing cost-sharing requirements. | This bill requires a health insurance carrier to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the hospitalization of a covered person as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement. | In Committee |
| A3960 | Directs Commission on Human Trafficking to meet and compile report related to prevention of human trafficking during 2026 FIFA World Cup. | This bill requires the Commission on Human Trafficking to issue a report to the Governor and Legislature related to anti-trafficking efforts the State may undertake as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The bill requires the commission to: (1) evaluate existing law concerning human trafficking, and make recommendations for legislation and attorney general guidelines and directives to address the potential increase in human trafficking related crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; (2) review existing assistance programs and analyze whether the programs need to be expanded to respond to the increased risk of human trafficking crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; (3) promote a coordinated response by public and private resources prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; and (4) develop mechanisms to promote public awareness of human trafficking, victim remedies and services, and trafficking prevention including the creation of a public awareness sign to inform the State that persons may be trafficked into the State and United States prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under the bill, the report is required to include, but not be limited to, recommendations on: (1) best practices the State may take in order to raise awareness of trafficking and how to identify trafficking victims; (2) information campaigns that raise awareness of the risk of human trafficking at large events; (3) the State issuing public service announcements prior to and during the World Cup to inform soccer fans that persons may be trafficked into the State and United States during the event; (4) the State establishing additional human trafficking hotlines for a period of time leading up to and during the World Cup; (5) changes that may be made to State laws related to human trafficking; (6) guidelines and directives to be issued by the Attorney General concerning the identification of and response by law enforcement and prosecuting agencies to the potential increase in human trafficking related crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; (7) engaging State and local organizations to aid with assessing risk and adopting necessary mitigation strategies; and (8) any other issues the Commission deems relevant for the prevention of human trafficking during the World Cup. The bill also requires the Commission to develop for distribution a public awareness sign related to the World Cup and requires any entity or business which is currently required to post human trafficking signs to also post the public awareness sign related to the World Cup. The commission is required to publish the report six months after the effective date of the bill. Finally, the bill requires the Attorney General to issue directives to any or all law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the State related to the identification of and response to the increased risk of human trafficking crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. | In Committee |
| A3964 | Allows voter to vote in any political party primary by changing party affiliation at polling place on primary election day; allows mail-in voter to complete any political primary ballot. | This bill allows any voter to vote in any political party primary election by changing his or her political party affiliation at the polling place on primary election day. The bill also allows voters who vote by mail-in ballot in the primary election to complete any political party's primary ballot. Under current law, voters who are unaffiliated with any political party because they did not declare a political party affiliation on their voter registration form are permitted to vote in the primary election of any political party, and once they do so they become a member of that political party. Current law also provides that voters who declared a political party affiliation are permitted to vote only in the political party primary of that party. However, if a voter affiliated with one political party wants to participate in the primary election of another political party, they may do so by declaring affiliation with that other party by filing a new voter registration form or a political party affiliation declaration form on or before the 55th day preceding the primary election. Under this bill, any voter would be permitted to vote in the primary election of any political party, regardless of their declared political party affiliation on record. The bill provides that voters who vote in person would be permitted to choose the political party primary they wish to vote in at the polling place on primary election day. If a voter wishes to vote in another party's primary than that of their affiliation on record, the voter may file a political party affiliation declaration form at the polling place. Under the bill, voters who vote by mail-in ballot in the primary election would be permitted to complete the ballot for any political party, and the voter's completion and return of that ballot would constitute a new political party affiliation. As required under current law, a voter may complete only one political party primary ballot. This bill therefore establishes an open primary process in this State by eliminating the 55-day deadline for political party membership changes and allowing any registered voter to participate in the political party primary of the voter's choice. Under the bill, the update of political party affiliation is retained for record-keeping purposes. | In Committee |
| A3961 | Limits home improvement contractor from entering into contract with full indemnification provision. | This bill provides that a contractor that is subject to the "Contractors' Registration Act" is prohibited from entering into a contract for full indemnification from a subcontractor. Under the bill, the term contractor includes home improvement contractors and home elevation contractors. The bill prohibits the contractor from entering into a contract with a liability clause between a contractor and a subcontractor for defects or poor workmanship which exceeds 50 percent indemnification. The bill also requires a home improvement contractor who is subject to its provisions to certify, in every home improvement contract for a purchase price in excess of $500, that the contractor will not contract for full indemnification from a subcontractor, and that any liability clause in a contract between a contractor and a subcontractor for defects or poor workmanship will be limited to 50 percent indemnification. | In Committee |
| A1670 | Expands eligibility for NJCLASS Teacher Loan Redemption Program. | This bill expands eligibility for the NJCLASS Teacher Loan Redemption Program. Current law provides loan redemption for teachers employed in a high-need field in a low-performing school. The redemption of loans under the current program amounts to 25 percent of principal and interest, up to $5,000, for each consecutive full year of service, for a maximum loan redemption amount of $20,000 for four years of service. Under the current program, loans redemption may only be provided for NJCLASS loans issued to undergraduate student borrowers. Under the bill, an eligible teacher employed in a high-need field in any public school may receive NJCLASS loan redemption equal to 20 percent of principal and interest, up to $3,750, for each consecutive full year of service, for a maximum loan redemption amount of $15,000 for four years of service. Additionally, an eligible teacher employed in any public school may receive NJCLASS loan redemption equal to 15 percent of principal and interest, up to $2,500, for each consecutive full year of service, for a maximum loan redemption amount of $10,000 for four years of service. Additionally, the bill permits an eligible teacher to receive loan redemption for NJCLASS loans issued to a student borrower for graduate study. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Education to annually issue a survey to each school district to identify vacancies and teacher shortages at the school and district levels. | In Committee |
| A3965 | Requires governing boards of public institutions of higher education to adopt tuition and fee schedules for ensuing academic year during Spring semester after issuance of Governor's recommended budget. | This bill would require governing boards of public institutions of higher education to adopt their tuition and fee schedules for the following academic year during the Spring semester after the release of the Governor's recommended budget. This bill is intended to ensure that the adoption of a tuition or fee schedule by a governing board occurs during a time period when members of the college community are present on campus, so that they have a greater opportunity to be heard on any proposed changes to the schedule. | In Committee |
| A3978 | Establishes "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force." | This bill establishes the "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force." The purpose of the task force is to: 1) determine whether an existing government body or a new agency should be established to oversee the substance use disorder system of care; 2) make recommendations on how to improve the current substance use disorder system of care; 3) develop and implement best practices for owners and operators of outpatient treatment centers and sober homes; and 4) make recommendations on how the State should regulate dual ownership of outpatient treatment centers and sober homes. The task force is to consist of 12 members as follows: one member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who is to serve as co-chairperson; one member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; one member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who is to serve as co-chairperson; one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; the Commissioner of Health or the commissioner's designee, who is to serve ex officio; the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) or the director's designee, who is to serve ex officio; and six public members, who are to be appointed by the Governor, as follows: one peer recovery specialist, certified by the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey; one peer recovery support specialist, certified by the Association for Addiction Professionals; one member who is in a management position at an outpatient treatment center; one member who is in a management position at a sober home; one member who is the owner of an outpatient treatment center; and one member who is the owner of sober home. The task force will present a report of its findings to the Governor and to the Legislature no later than two years after the organization of the task force. The task force will expire 30 days after the issuance of its report. | In Committee |
| A3889 | Requires counseling for certain domestic violence offenders. | This bill would require a defendant convicted of, or placed on probation or has a sentence suspended for, a domestic violence offense, to attend domestic violence counseling. Under current law a court may, in its discretion, require the defendant to receive professional counseling from either a private source or a source appointed by the court. Under the bill, in cases in which a defendant is found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence, or where the court suspends the imposition of a sentence or places the defendant on probation for a domestic violence offense, the court would be required to order the defendant to participate in and complete a program of professional counseling. In all cases of court-ordered domestic violence counseling under the bill, the professional administering the counseling is required to have expertise in individual or group domestic violence counseling. This bill is modeled after similar laws in California, North Carolina, and Minnesota. | In Committee |
| A3774 | Establishes five-year conception to cradle pilot program in DOE. | This bill establishes a five-year Conception to Cradle Pilot Program in the Department of Education (DOE). The objective of the pilot program is to facilitate partnerships between public schools, community-based nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, health and social services providers, public and private universities, and State and local governmental agencies to: (1) provide an integrated focus on early childhood development, health and social services, educational counseling, and community development; (2) offer prenatal and pediatric health and nutritional care to infants and toddlers from birth to age three; and (3) actively engage families and foster collaborative practices based on an individual community's identified need. Under the pilot program, 50 public schools with the worst student performance are to be selected to receive training in providing community school services to infants and toddlers from birth to age three, and would be assigned a site coordinator to assist in the provision of services. The bill stipulates that no later than six months following the bill's effective date, the Commissioner of Education (commissioner) is to survey every school district in the State to assess the extent to which public schools in the district can provide community school services to infants and toddlers from birth to age three. The survey is to: (1) identify public schools with the worst student performance in the district that have an interest in providing community school services; (2) list the entities with which a school can enter into a partnership for the provision of services; and (3) detail services that are to be provided through the community school services program. Under the bill, the commissioner would issue a request for proposals to identify a nonprofit organization located in the State to manage the pilot program. The selected organization would be responsible for providing technical assistance to the public schools participating in the pilot program, and may enter into an agreement with another nonprofit entity to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities as outlined in the bill. The organization, in coordination with the DOE, would develop an application procedure and specific criteria for selecting the 50 public schools to participate in the program and receive direct support from a site coordinator. The selection criteria would be posted on the DOE's website at least 20 days prior to the beginning of the application period. In selecting the 50 public schools to participate in the pilot program, priority is to be given to a school that: has the worst student performance in its school district as determined by standard assessment measures; and serves low-income and under-resourced communities. The organization would employ and train individuals who would be assigned to serve as a site coordinator in a public school selected to participate in the pilot program. Those selected to be site coordinators would be required to be employees of the organization, and not the school they are assigned. The commissioner would annually enter into a contract with an independent entity to perform an audit of the organization's accounts and financial transactions. The audits, which must be completed no later than five months following the organization's fiscal year, would be posted on the DOE's website. The bill also requires that the commissioner enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program. The final report, which the commissioner would forward to the Governor and the Legislature, would be due no later than six months prior to the conclusion of the pilot program. The bill also establishes in the DOE a nonlapsing fund known as the Conception to Cradle Pilot Program Fund. The fund is to consist of any funds that are appropriated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund, investment earnings of the fund, and moneys contributed to the fund by private sources. | In Committee |
| A3741 | Provides rental and lease protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. | This bill would provide rental and lease protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Under the bill, a landlord may not terminate a tenancy, fail to renew a tenancy, or refuse to enter into a rental agreement based on the tenant's or applicant's or a household member's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or based on the tenant or applicant having terminated a rental agreement pursuant to the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act," P.L.2008, c.111 (C.46:8-9.4 et seq.). Under the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act," a tenant may terminate a lease prior to its expiration if the tenant provides written notice that the tenant or a child of the tenant faces an imminent threat of serious physical harm from another person if the tenant remains on the premises, and provides appropriate documentation. The bill provides for the same documentation requirements as those set out in the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act." The documentation may be any of the following: (1) a copy of a permanent domestic violence restraining order; (2) a copy of a permanent restraining order from another jurisdiction, issued pursuant to the jurisdiction's laws concerning domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (3) a law enforcement agency record documenting the domestic violence, or certifying that the tenant or a child of the tenant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (4) medical documentation of the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking provided by a health care provider; (5) certification, provided by a certified Domestic Violence Specialist, or the director of a designated domestic violence agency, that the tenant or a child of the tenant is a victim of domestic violence; or (6) other documentation or certification, provided by a licensed social worker, that the tenant or a child of the tenant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Under the bill, a landlord who refuses to enter into a rental agreement in violation of this section may be liable to the tenant or applicant in a civil action for damages sustained by the tenant or applicant. The prevailing party may also recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2A:18-53 and N.J.S.A.2A:18-61.1, which concern actions by landlords to remove tenants, to provide that these sections of law shall not be construed to authorize the removal of a lessee or tenant or the assigns, under-tenants or legal representatives of such lessee or tenant from any house, building, mobile home or land in a mobile home park or tenement leased for residential purposes based upon such person's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. | In Committee |
| A3683 | Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act." | This bill establishes the "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act," which provides certain staffing standards in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and unlicensed assistive personnel-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the bill's requirements by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. A registered professional nurse or other staff member, a collective bargaining agent of a staff member, or a member of the public, who believes that the hospital or facility in which the nurse or staff member is employed is in violation of the requirements established by the bill, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation. Following the completion of an investigation, in which investigation the department determines a hospital or facility to be in violation of the requirements established by the bill, the hospital or facility may be issued a civil penalty in increasing amounts for repeat violations. Any money collected by the court in payment of a civil penalty imposed will be conveyed to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Patient Protection and Staffing Fund (fund) established by the bill. Moneys in the fund will be dedicated and used only for the purposes of increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the bill, advancing nursing recruitment and retentions programs, supporting student loan forgiveness for nursing students, and increasing pay for nursing teaching staff. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| A3650 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services. | This bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services, an increase of $142 from the State's existing rate of $58 per transport. In doing so, the sponsor aims to ensure that emergency ambulance transportation providers, which deliver integral medical services for those with unplanned urgent and life-threatening health conditions, are given the financial support necessary to serve the community. Currently, New Jersey has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rate for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services in the region. Surrounding states' rates range from $65.27 in Delaware to $293.90 in Connecticut. Moreover, pending legislation in Pennsylvania would increase that state's rate to $325 per transport, which would be the highest rate in the region. | In Committee |
| A3682 | Requires utility service providers to notify BPU of scheduled service work; permits government agencies and utility service providers to access BPU online database of scheduled service work. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create, maintain, and update, as appropriate, an online database providing real-time information on the date and type of scheduled utility service work. The online database is to serve as an online resource for a government agency to plan utility service work, roadwork, and other related work within a public right-of-way. The online database is to be accessible by any "government agency" and "utility service provider," as those terms are defined in the bill, and is to be designed and function in a manner that maximizes communication among all government agencies and utility service providers that may be impacted by scheduled utility service work. The bill requires a utility service provider to submit to the BPU electronic notice and detailed information of scheduled utility service work at least five business days prior to the date the utility service provider performs the service work. The BPU is to maintain the information on the online database until the service work is completed, cancelled, or rescheduled. The bill provides for an exception to the prior notice requirement for service work if the work is undertaken in response to an "emergency" as that term is defined in the bill. If the work is undertaken in response to an emergency, a utility service provider is to submit to the BPU electronic notice and detailed information of the work as soon as possible after the beginning of the emergency. | In Committee |
| AR105 | Memorializes Congress to provide Medicare coverage for eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures. | This resolution respectfully memorializes the United States Congress to enact legislation to provide Medicare coverage for eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures. | In Committee |
| A3578 | Requires swimming pools to offer deep water swimming tests to children 12 years of age and younger upon request. | This bill requires a swimming pool in the State to offer deep water swimming tests to any patron 12 years of age or younger, upon the request of the patron or the patron's guardian. Until such a patron has successfully completed a deep water swimming test, the patron is to be required to be accompanied by an adult, within arm's length of the patron, while swimming in the pool; except that a patron who is a member of the pool's swim team, if applicable, is to be exempt from the provisions of the bill. Confirmation of the availability of such deep water swimming tests is to be included in an inspection of the pool by a health authority and within the Checklist for Public Recreational Bathing Facilities developed by the Department of Health. For the purposes of the bill, "deep water swimming test" means a swimming skill assessment, conducted by a lifeguard employed by the swimming pool, to determine a swimmer's ability to enter water that is deeper than the swimmer's chest. At a minimum, in order to pass the deep water swimming test, the patron must be able to swim 50 meters, or two laps of the swimming pool, and tread water for 30 seconds. | 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 |
| A3590 | Upgrades burglary of residence to crime of the second degree. | Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. This bill further provides that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA). Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| A3585 | Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. | This bill establishes the Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. Under the program, grants will be awarded to school districts to help enhance school athletic programs by providing students with sports equipment and other related resources to participate in sports and physical activities in schools. A school district that wants to apply for a grant under the pilot program is required to submit an application to the commissioner. The application is required to include: relevant information to support the district's need for such a program; information concerning the availability and quality of existing athletic program equipment and resources in the district; any other information as prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner is to select six school districts for participation in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner is required to select school districts in the southern, central, and northern regions of the State and is to seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas. At the conclusion of the pilot program each participating school district is required to submit a report to the commissioner. The report is to include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who were served by the pilot program, including the number of students in each grade level; and the school district's views on the success and benefits of the program. | In Committee |
| A513 | Provides tuition fee waiver for certain apprenticeship courses. | Provides tuition fee waiver for certain apprenticeship courses. | In Committee |
| A547 | Requires public agency receiving State funds to post on website use of State funds for public work contracts with minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. | This bill requires a public agency that is receiving State funds for the purpose of public work to post on its main website for public inspection an accounting of how much of those funds were used for public work contracts in which the public agency contracted with businesses to owned by minorities, women, and veterans. The accounting will also provide how much of those funds were used for public work contracts in which the public agency contracted with other businesses that are not owned by minorities, women, or veterans, and the accounting is required to be updated monthly. Whenever a public agency does not maintain a website, the information shall be forward by the public agency to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and posted on that department's main website, which shall be updated monthly. The bill also requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on an annual basis, to submit a report that summarizes each public agency's use of State funds for public work and how much of those funds went to contracts with businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans. | In Committee |
| A3478 | Requires owners of certain multiple dwellings of three or more floors to provide priority status to senior citizens and disabled residents moving to lower floors. | This bill would require the owner of a multiple dwelling consisting of three or more floors to provide priority treatment, for the purposes of moving to a unit on a lower floor with the same number of bedrooms, to senior citizens and persons with disabilities that hinder or limit mobility. Qualifying residents will be given the right of first refusal over outside applicants seeking to move into the multiple dwelling and over other non-qualifying residents who are seeking to move to a lower floor. The requirements of the bill are not to displace any existing affordability requirements, targeting requirements, and income restrictions in place for the multiple dwelling, unless the tenant agrees to a smaller or larger unit. This bill also requires the owner of a multiple dwelling to post a sign that contains information regarding the priority status granted to qualifying residents seeking to move into a unit on a lower floor. | In Committee |
| A3506 | Grants child placed in resource family care and resource family parents the right to be notified when case manager or supervisor is assigned to child; grants child in resource family care right to be notified of certain property and benefits. | This bill amends the "Child Placement Bill of Rights Act" to grant a child placed in resource family care and the child's resource family parents the right to be promptly notified of the identity and contact information of the child's case manager or supervisor, and if a new case manager or supervisor is assigned to the child. The bill further amends the "Child Placement Bill of Rights Act" to grant a child placed in resource family care the right to be promptly notified of property and benefits to which the child is the owner or beneficiary at the time of the child's placement outside of the child's home, including but not limited to federal Social Security benefits; to be informed of the department's intent to file for federal benefits on the child's behalf; and to have an opportunity to review the contents of any application form for federal benefits filed on the child's behalf prior to submission. | In Committee |
| AR98 | Declares week of September 22 through September 28, 2024 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week." | This resolution declares the week of September 22 through September 28, 2024 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week" in New Jersey. Diaper Need is defined as the condition of not having a sufficient supply of clean diapers to ensure that infants and toddlers are clean, healthy, and dry. National surveys report that one in three mothers experience Diaper Need at some time while their children are less than three years of age, and forty-eight percent of families delay changing a diaper to extend their supply. Diaper Need can adversely affect the health and welfare of infants, toddlers, and their families, and can deny children eligibility for childcare and early education programs. The resolution urges governmental agencies in this State to observe "Diaper Need Awareness Week" by organizing diaper drives, and requests the Governor to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "Diaper Need Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| AJR106 | Establishes task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. | This joint resolution establishes a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The Centers for Disease Control has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women. Additionally, in a 2020 report by the Women's Media Center, it was reported there are approximately 64,000-75,000 missing Black women and girls across the United States. Cases involving BIPOC women and girls often are under-reported, do not receive the required level of attention by the media or law enforcement, and are categorized improperly by law enforcement officials. The systemic racism, sexism, and suppression experienced by BIPOC women and girls leads to worse health, wealth, housing, education, and employment outcomes. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive database regarding missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls. Creation of the task force on missing BIPOC women and girls will address these inequities. The task force will be responsible for: (1) developing policy recommendations to ensure first responders are culturally competent regarding the severity and impact of missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls on the communities and families affected; (2) developing training and education materials for BIPOC communities on methods of prevention and protection and social media protocols relating to missing BIPOC women and girls, and disseminating the materials in high-impact communities within the State; (3) developing strategies and recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General to collect statistics, demographics, surveys, and oral histories; conduct data analysis; and issue guidelines to ensure de-identified data is publicly available; (4) identifying traffic hubs, highways, and resource extraction sites that lead to or facilitate the abduction of BIPOC women and girls; and (5) creating a State-wide public awareness campaign. The task force will be comprised of 15 members, as follows:· the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Health or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Superintendent of State Police or the superintendent's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and · two members to be appointed by the Governor. | In Committee |
| A3441 | Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $600,000. | This bill would authorize municipalities and counties to establish civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct. These boards would serve to foster transparency, fairness, and equality in policing practices and policies, which in turn will help promote positive relations between police and the local communities they serve. A municipal civilian review board would consist of at least seven members who are appointed by the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality with the consent of the governing body of the municipality. A county civilian review board would consist of at least seven members appointed by the board of county commissioners or, if the county is organized pursuant to the provisions of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), the county executive, the county supervisor, or the county manager, as applicable, with the consent of the board of county commissioners. A county civilian review board would operate in municipalities that opt to participate with such board. The members of a civilian review board would be residents of the municipality or county, as applicable, who are qualified persons with training or experience in community relations, civil rights, law enforcement, juvenile justice, sociology, or other relevant fields. They would serve for terms of six years, with certain shorter terms for some of the initial board members to allow for staggered terms. Members of a civilian review board would be required to take a training course developed and provided by the Attorney General, or an alternative course approved by the Attorney General, within six months of appointment. The Attorney General would be required to develop its training course within 45 days of the bill's effective date and offer the first course as soon as practicable thereafter. A civilian review board could not investigate the conduct of any law enforcement officers, or recommend the imposition of discipline of such officers or members, without a quorum of members who have competed this training. A civilian review board would be permitted to utilize resources of the municipality or county to the extent that funds for the utilization of such resources are made available by the municipality, county, State, or other entity. The bill provides that it would be the duty of a civilian review board to: (1) conduct an investigation of the operation of the police force of the municipality, or other law enforcement officers that serve in the capacity of a municipal police force for the municipality, as applicable; (2) recommend the establishment of policies by the appropriate authority; (3) review and investigate the conduct of any law enforcement officer; and (4) recommend the imposition of discipline of such officer consistent with any tenure or civil service laws and contractual agreements. A civilian review board could only initiate one of these actions in response to a civilian complaint of excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language. A civilian review board would have the power to subpoena witnesses and documentary evidence. The board would also have any additional powers of inquiry delegated to the board by the municipality or county as deemed necessary for the conduct of any hearing or investigation. A civilian review board investigation may run concurrent to an internal affairs investigation of related conduct by law enforcement, but the civilian review board investigation would have to cease upon the initiation of a criminal prosecution concerning the related conduct. Further, a law enforcement agency may refrain from sharing evidence, or may direct a civilian review board to cease an investigation, if the law enforcement agency determines that evidence sharing, or the investigation itself, would be significantly detrimental to its disciplinary process due to the existence of a related criminal investigation. The bill permits an ordinance or resolution establishing a civilian review board to set forth guidelines for the operation of the board consistent with the provisions of the bill. The guidelines may adopt any relevant guidelines issued by the Attorney General. A civilian review board would report its findings and recommendations concerning police operations and conduct to the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality, the governing body of the municipality, the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality, the county prosecutor, and, in the case of a municipality in which the State Police serves in the capacity of a municipal police force for the municipality, the Superintendent of State Police and the Attorney General. Under the bill, all records made, maintained, or kept on file by a civilian review board would be confidential and unavailable to the public while an investigation is pending, and all personal identifying information contained in all records made, maintained, or kept on file by a civilian review board would be confidential and unavailable to the public at all times. The bill also provides that the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" of the Police Management Manual promulgated by the Police Bureau of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety be revised to require the disclosure of reports, complaints, and other investigative materials, including video, sound, or other recording, to the appropriate authority, as defined in N.J.S.40A:14-118, as well as any civilian review board. Lastly, the bill would appropriate $600,000 from the General Fund to the Attorney General to fund the civilian review board training course, or any reimbursements for the alternative training course, required by the bill. | In Committee |
| A874 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| A879 | Requires public and nonpublic schools to test for and remediate lead in drinking water, and disclose test results. | This bill would require public and nonpublic schools to test for and remediate lead in drinking water, and disclose their test results. Specifically, under the bill, each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school would be required to undertake periodic testing of each drinking water outlet in each school for the presence of lead. The tests would be conducted by a certified laboratory in accordance with the sampling and testing methods specified in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) technical guidance for reducing lead in drinking water at schools, or more protective guidance issued by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The initial tests would be conducted no later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and subsequent tests would be conducted every five years thereafter, unless the DEP determines, on a case-by-case basis, that more or less frequent testing is necessary or sufficient to protect the public health. A school district, charter school, or nonpublic school may obtain an exemption from the requirement to conduct initial testing if it demonstrates to the DEP that it has conducted testing that substantially complies with the technical guidance within two years prior to the effective date of the bill, and any drinking water outlet that was found to have an elevated lead level has either been removed from service or remediated. Under the bill, a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school may seek the assistance of a local health agency or public water system to help ensure compliance with the bill. Nothing in the bill would prevent a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school from conducting more frequent testing than required by the bill. The testing requirements would not apply to a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school that is considered a public water system under federal law and meets the applicable standards for lead in drinking water. If testing conducted pursuant to the bill reveals an elevated lead level at a drinking water outlet, the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school would be required to immediately close off access to that outlet and report the test results to the DEP. The school district, charter school, or nonpublic school, in consultation with the DEP, would be required to conduct follow-up testing to determine the source of the lead, and take appropriate remedial measures to ensure that students are not exposed to water with an elevated lead level and have access to free, fresh, and clean drinking water. Remedial measures may include permanently shutting or closing off access to the drinking water outlet, providing an alternative source of water, manual or automatic flushing, installing and maintaining a filter, and replacing outlets, plumbing, or service lines contributing to the elevated lead level. Under the bill, each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school would be required to submit to the DEP, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health information on its testing activities, including the date the testing was completed, the location and type of each drinking water outlet tested, the results of each test, and any measures being taken to remediate a drinking water outlet found to have an elevated lead level. School districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools would be required to maintain copies of this information in a suitable location and on their Internet websites, and notify relevant parent, teacher, and employee organizations of the availability of the information. School districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools would also be required to designate a person to serve as the contact person for communications with the DEP and the public. If test results reveal an elevated lead level at a drinking water outlet, the school would be required to immediately notify teachers, other school personnel, and parents directly. The bill would require the DEP, within 30 days after the effective date of the bill, to provide to each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school with the EPA's technical guidance for reducing lead in drinking water at schools, a summary of the sampling and testing methods contained in the technical guidance, a list of each laboratory in the State certified to conduct lead testing, and any other information the DEP deems relevant. | In Committee |
| ACR103 | Condemns federal rule proposal that would force families of mixed immigration status who reside in certain affordable housing to either separate or face eviction. | This resolution condemns a recent federal rule proposal that would force families of mixed immigration status who reside in certain affordable housing to either separate or face eviction. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") recently published a proposed rule, 84 F.R. 20589, that would prohibit "mixed-status" families from living in certain federally-subsidized housing. Mixed-status families are households that include both members who are eligible and ineligible for housing assistance based on their immigration status. Existing federal law allows families to live together in subsidized housing if a member is ineligible, so long as the housing subsidy is decreased to exclude that person from the assistance. Under existing law, status as an "ineligible" immigrant is not synonymous with being an "undocumented" immigrant. Many immigrants possess legal status, but are still ineligible for participation in federally-supported housing programs. The proposed rule would further require residents of subsidized housing under the age of 62 to have their immigration status screened. Families with members deemed "ineligible" would be evicted within 18 months. HUD's analysis demonstrates that more than 55,000 children, who are U.S. citizens or are otherwise eligible for housing benefits, could face eviction under the proposed rule. Furthermore, because mixed-status families only receive prorated shares of housing subsidies, HUD's analysis also shows that forcing those families out of federally-subsidized housing may result in spending millions of dollars in additional subsidy payments to support the same number of units occupied by families comprised entirely of eligible individuals. To account for these higher costs, HUD could be forced to reduce the quality and quantity of assisted housing. The proposed rule would be administratively burdensome to implement for housing authorities and private owners of Section 8-assisted properties. The rule would force housing providers to focus their resources on eviction, additional staff, and regulatory compliance, while diverting resources away from property maintenance and employment-related resident services, to pay for additional staff and regulatory compliance. To address our affordable housing crisis and ensure that everyone has a safe, accessible, and affordable place to call home, this resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States, to make new investments in affordable housing resources for the benefit of families of modest means, regardless of immigration status, rather than propose new housing rules that could create unnecessary crises for thousands people around the country, only because their family includes someone with ineligible immigration status. | In Committee |
| A578 | Establishes New Jersey Commission on Health Equity. | This bill establishes, in the Department of Health, the New Jersey Commission on Health Equity. The purpose of the commission will be to: 1) employ a health equity framework to examine: the health of New Jersey residents; ways for units of State and local government to collaborate to implement policies that will positively impact the health of New Jersey residents; and the impact of certain enumerated factors on the health of New Jersey residents; 2) provide direct advice to the DOH regarding issues of racial, ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic health disparities; 3) facilitate coordination of the expertise and experience of various State departments in developing a comprehensive health equity plan addressing the social determinants of health; and 4) set goals for health equity and prepare a plan for the State to achieve health equity in alignment with any other Statewide planning activities. The commission, using a health equity framework, will be required to: 1) examine and make recommendations regarding: health considerations that may be incorporated into the decision-making processes of government agencies and private sector stakeholders who interact with government agencies; requirements for implicit bias training for clinicians engaged in patient care and whether the State should provide the training; training for health care providers on consistent and proper collection of self-identified patient data on race, ethnicity, and language to identify disparities accurately; and requirements to comply with, and for enforcement of, National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS Standards); 2) foster collaboration between units of State and local government and develop policies to improve health and reduce health inequities; 3) identify measures for monitoring and advancing health equity in the State; 4) establish a State plan for achieving health equity in alignment with other Statewide planning activities in coordination with the State's health, human services, housing, transportation, education, environment, community development, and labor systems; and 5) make recommendations and provide advice, including direct advice to the Commissioner of Health, on implementing laws and policies to improve health and reduce health inequities. The commission will be authorized to establish advisory committees to assist the commission in the performance of its duties. Any such advisory committee may include individuals who are not members of the commission. The commission will comprise 27 members, including: 1) one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and one member of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, each of whom will serve for the duration of the legislative term in which they are appointed; 2) the heads of the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Banking and Insurance, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Law and Public Safety, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Department of State, the Department of Transportation, Public Health Services in DOH, the Division of Aging Services in DHS, the Division of Disability Services in DHS, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in DHS, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS, the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families, the New Jersey State Planning Commission, the State Police, and the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; and 3) one representative of a local health department, designated by the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials, who will serve for a term of four years and will be eligible for reappointment to the commission. The Governor will designate a chair and a vice-chair of the commission from among the membership. The chair will appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. The commission will be required to meet at least four times each year at a location to be determined by the chair, but may meet at such additional times and places as by the commission determines to be necessary. A majority of the authorized membership will constitute a quorum for the purpose of undertaking official business. The members of the commission will serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds made available to the commission for this purpose. The DOH will provide stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, as well as any professional staff, as the commission requires to carry out its work. The commission will be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes. In coordination with the New Jersey Health Information Network (NJHIN), the commission will be required to establish a Health Equity Data Advisory Committee to make recommendations on data collection, needs, quality, reporting, evaluation, and visualization for the commission to carry out the purposes of the bill. The advisory committee is to include representatives from the NJHIN. Specifically, the advisory committee will define the parameters of a health equity data set to be maintained by the NJHIN, including indicators for: social and economic conditions; environmental conditions; health status; behaviors; health care; and priority health outcomes for monitoring health equity for racial and ethnic minority populations in New Jersey. The data set for which these parameters are defined are to include data from: health care facilities that report to the DOH; health benefits plans that report to the Department of Banking and Insurance; and any other data source the advisory committee determines necessary. The commission may request data consistent with the recommendations of the advisory committee. Data requested by the commission is to be provided either directly to the commission or to the commission through the NJHIN. The advisory committee may recommend that data be reported or otherwise made available to the public, in which case the commission will be authorized to publish or otherwise provide the data to the public. Data provided to the commission and data reported or otherwise made available to the public is to be provided in the aggregate and in compliance with applicable State and federal privacy laws. No later than 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the commission will be required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the activities of the commission, including the commission's findings with regard to any changes in health equity in the State resulting from the commission's activities, and the commission's recommendations for legislation or administrative action as may be necessary to implement the commission's findings and recommendations and support the commission's activities. The bill will take effect the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A927 | Expands child tax credit eligibility to resident taxpayers with children ages six to 11. | This bill would expand eligibility for the child tax credit to resident taxpayers with children ages six to 11. Under current law, a resident taxpayer with New Jersey taxable income of $80,000 or less is allowed a credit against the State income tax for each child under age six. The amount of the credit is $1,000 per child for taxpayers with incomes of $30,000 or less and is incrementally reduced as certain income thresholds above $30,000 are met. The credit is completely phased out once a taxpayer's income exceeds $80,000. Beginning in tax year 2023, the bill would expand eligibility for the child tax credit to resident taxpayers with children between ages six and 11 by specifying that the credit is available to taxpayers with children who have not attained the age of 12. | In Committee |
| A883 | Establishes the four-year "New Jersey Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Pilot Program" in DOE to fund non-traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs for students in grades K through 8. | This bill establishes the four-year "New Jersey Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. Under the pilot program, grants will be awarded to school districts to: cultivate interest in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields at an early age; support non-traditional STEM teaching methods for students in grades kindergarten through 8; promote innovation and broaden interest in careers in STEM fields by investing in programs supported by teachers and professional mentors; and encourage collaboration among students, engineers, and other professional mentors. Under the bill, a school district must submit to the Commissioner of Education an application that includes a description of how the school district will: implement STEM teaching programs for students in grades kindergarten through 8; identify and recruit partners and mentors to help implement these programs, and to assist students who participate in STEM programs; support teachers who lead the STEM programs; recruit young women and students from other populations historically underrepresented in the STEM fields to participate in the programs; identify public and private partners that can support the programs; develop a plan for sustaining the programs; and develop a method to assess the impact of the STEM teaching programs on participating students. Under the pilot program, the commissioner will award a total of six, one-time, up-front grants of up to $150,000 each. In awarding the grants, the commissioner will give priority to applications from districts that intend to target activities in a rural or urban school, a low-performing school, or a school or school district that serves low-income students. The districts will be permitted to use the grant funds for a period of up to four years. A school district that receives a grant may use the funds to: promote STEM education and career activities; purchase supplies needed to support participation in non-traditional STEM teaching programs; provide incentives and stipends for teachers involved in non-traditional STEM teaching methods outside of their regular teaching duties; provide support and finance the expenses of student participation in regional and national nonprofit STEM competitions; finance items such as equipment, facility use, technology, broadband access, and other expenses, directly associated with non-traditional STEM teaching and mentoring; and carry out other activities that are related to the goals of the pilot program. The bill establishes the "Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Fund" within the Department of Education to provide grants to school districts under the pilot program. A school district that receives a grant is required to provide district matching funds in an amount equal to 25% of the grant amount. In addition, the district must secure matching funds or in-kind contributions from corporate donors or other private sector donors in an amount equal to 25% of the grant amount. | In Committee |
| A1691 | Requires certain correctional facilities to allow service and companion animals to assist inmates with disability; makes appropriation. | This bill empowers the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to establish a program to allow any inmate with a disability to apply to utilize the assistance of an incarcerated person companion animal or service animal on-site at a State correctional facility in a manner and at certain times as are feasible for the inmate population. Pursuant to this bill, the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Operations in the Department of Corrections (Assistant Commissioner) is to implement and manage the program by: (1) interfacing with agencies that provide incarcerated person companion animals and service animals to inmates with a disability; and (2) appointing appropriate staff to provide information to inmates regarding various mental health disorders that impact the inmate population and information regarding the program established pursuant to this bill, which authorizes an inmate with a disability to apply to utilize the assistance of an incarcerated person companion animal or service animal on-site at a State correctional facility. The Commissioner of Corrections (commissioner) is to establish a process by which an inmate, who utilizes the assistance of a service animal prior to being sentenced to a correctional facility, shall be permitted to submit the inmate's service animal for evaluation to determine whether it is feasible or necessary for the inmate to continue to utilize the assistance of the service animal on-site at a State correctional facility in accordance with the provisions of this bill. Further, the Commissioner is to establish a process by which an inmate, who desires to have access to a service animal after being sentenced to a State correctional facility, may submit a written request to the Assistant Commissioner on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner. Thereafter, an evaluation of potential service animal placements shall be conducted to determine whether sufficient need and feasibility exists for the request to be granted. The Commissioner also is to establish a process by which an inmate, who desires to have access to an incarcerated person companion animal after being sentenced to a correctional facility may submit a written request to the Assistant Commissioner on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner. Within 30 days of the Assistant Commissioner's receipt of a written request, an evaluation of potential incarcerated person companion animal placement is to be conducted to determine whether sufficient need and feasibility exists for the approval of the request. Prior to permitting an incarcerated person companion animal or service animal at any correctional facility, an inmate who has an existing service animal, or the agency that is providing access to an incarcerated person companion animal or new service animal, as appropriate, is to provide documentation to the Commissioner that the animal has had all necessary vaccines and immunizations as required by law and the rules and regulations established pursuant to this bill. The Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, are to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this bill, which are to include, but not be limited to, certain logistical procedures relative to having the incarcerated person companion animals and service animals in State-owned correctional facilities. The bill also appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Corrections such funds as necessary for the implementation of the bill, as certified by the Commissioner, respectively, and subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. Service animals have a long history of performing crucial tasks and fulfilling a significant role in the daily activities of many people with disabilities, including but not limited to providing a calming influence and connection to the familiar in unfamiliar or stressful surroundings. And companion animals have been determined to be extremely effective at ameliorating the symptoms of certain mental disabilities. Further, an overarching goal of the criminal justice system is rehabilitation and assisting an inmate's development for successful re-entry into society. The sponsor's position is that allowing inmates with a disability to have access to a service or companion animal on correctional facility grounds will enhance the rehabilitative process and help the inmate reach his or her full potential. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1903 | Requires Office of Information Technology to establish centralized, one-stop website resource guide to assist persons in navigating the State's mental health and substance use disorder service systems. | This bill would require the Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (division), the Department of Health, and the Department of Children and Families, to establish, maintain, and publicize the availability of, a centralized website that would provide a one-stop reference guide for persons with mental health or substance use disorders and their families in the State in order to assist such persons in navigating the State's mental health and substance use disorder service systems. At a minimum, the centralized website is to provide the following information in an easily searchable format: 1) information about how a person or a concerned third-party may seek help for a mental health issue or substance use disorder, including, but not limited to: a) a description of the various types of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services that are available in the State; b) a description of, contact information for, the operating hours of, and hyperlinks to the websites of, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers in the State; c) information about, and contact information for, the State's mental health and substance use disorder hotlines and peer-support groups; d) information about the State's involuntary commitment procedures; and e) information about the State's guardianship procedures; 2) a description of, and hyperlinks to, available educational materials and resources that address issues related to mental health or substance use or that provide tools that can be used to assess a person's need for mental health or substance use disorder treatment; 3) a description of, and information about: a) the community-based housing options that are available to persons in the State who have or are recovering from a mental health or substance use disorder, including hyperlinks to the websites of supportive housing and recovery residence providers in the State; and b) the resources, materials, and supports that are available to assist persons who are transitioning into the community following the receipt of mental health or substance use disorder treatment in a residential setting, including a description of any available housing assistance or utility voucher programs; 4) a description of, and information about the division's duties and functions with respect to the licensing and oversight of mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers and the provision of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services in the State, including a hyperlink to the division's Internet webpage; 5) a description of, and information about the duties and functions of the Department of Community Affairs, the division, and other appropriate agencies or entities with respect to the oversight and licensing of sober living homes and other substance use disorder recovery residences in the State wherein treatment is not provided to residents, including hyperlinks to the statutes and regulations that relate to the operation and oversight of substance use disorder recovery residences; and 6) hyperlinks to any available reports, created by the division or any other public or non-profit entity, which relate to the status or quality of mental health or substance use disorder treatment or recovery services or providers in the State. A hyperlink to the one-stop website is to be posted in a prominent location on the division's website and on the websites of the Departments of Health and Children and Families. | In Committee |
| AR63 | Urges President and Congress to enact legislation granting amnesty and providing path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. | This resolution urges the President of the United States and the United States Congress to enact legislation granting amnesty and providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Currently, more than 11 million undocumented immigrants are living in the shadows of the United States economy. These immigrants are in need of legalization and a pathway to citizenship. Immigrants have made significant contributions to American society, but current law confines millions of productive immigrants in low skill industries, unable to participate fully in the political, economic, and social spheres in the United States. The "Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986" was signed into law by President Reagan. Close to three million immigrants who had arrived in the United States before January 1, 1982 were granted amnesty. The act improved the overall health, economic, and educational outcomes of the immigrants. Undocumented immigrants are often economically exploited, earning less per hour than their native-born counterparts. Legalization and a pathway to citizenship are essential to protecting and integrating immigrants into American society. Allowing undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship will have significant impact on economic growth, earnings, tax revenue, and jobs. | 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 |
| A128 | Allows gross income tax deduction of up to $1,200 for purchases of school supplies by parents and guardians. | This bill allows a taxpayer who is a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school in the State, or at any institution of higher education, a deduction against gross income of up to $1,200 in purchases made by the taxpayer for school supplies during the taxable year. As used in the bill, "school supplies" means items commonly used by a student in a course of study, and shall include: binders; book bags; calculators; cellophane tape; blackboard chalk; compasses; composition books; crayons; erasers; folders, including expandable folders, pocket folders, plastic folders, and manila folders; glue, paste, and paste sticks; highlighters; index cards; index card boxes; legal pads; lunch boxes; markers; notebooks; paper, including loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper; pencil boxes and other school supply boxes; pencil sharpeners; pencils; pens; protractors; rulers; scissors; and writing tablets. | In Committee |
| A2473 | "Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act." | This bill, designated as the "Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act," requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a Parkinson's disease public awareness and education program, subject to available appropriations. The program is to include the development of a public education and outreach campaign to promote Parkinson's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to: (1) the cause and nature of the disease; (2) diagnostic procedures and appropriate indications for their use; (3) lifestyle issues relating to how a person copes with Parkinson's disease; (4) environmental safety and injury prevention; and (5) availability of Parkinson's disease diagnostic and treatment services in the community. The program is also to include the development of: educational materials to be made available to consumers through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; professional education programs for health care providers to assist them in understanding research findings and the subjects set forth in the bill; and educational programs for other personnel, including judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties, including dissemination of the information prepared pursuant to the bill. The program is also to include the development and maintenance of a list of current providers of specialized services for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Dissemination of the list is to be accompanied by a description of diagnostic procedures, appropriate indications for their use, and a cautionary statement about the current status of Parkinson's disease research and treatment. The statement must indicate that DOH does not endorse specific Parkinson's disease programs or centers in this State. The bill directs DOH, in consultation with the New Jersey Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association and the Movement Disorders Center at the Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Group, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, to prepare, and make available on the department's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable to patients and other laypeople, information about the symptoms and treatment of Parkinson's disease, and other information the commissioner deems to be necessary. | In Committee |
| A2593 | Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants. | The bill would establish a one-year pilot program, titled the "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program," to be operated in Monmouth, Union, Camden, and Cumberland counties. The program would offer services and treatment to defendants on pretrial release, with the intent of bettering their health and social well-being in order to improve court appearance rates and enhance short-term and long-term public safety. A defendant arrested for a crime or offense in Monmouth, Union, Camden, or Cumberland county would be eligible to participate in the program if the court granted, pursuant to the procedure set forth in P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.), pretrial release conditioned on monitoring by the Judiciary's Pretrial Services Program. A defendant who would qualify for release on the defendant's own personal recognizance or on execution of an unsecured appearance bond could also voluntarily agree, upon petition to the court, to participate and be subject to the conditions of the program. As a condition of release established by the court, an eligible defendant would receive a biopsychosocial or other appropriate assessment and participate in an orientation which offers medical, psychological, or psychiatric treatment, as well as responsive services. These services are provided by, and coordinated through, an approved pretrial community support provider, selected by the Administrative Director of the Courts. The approved community support provider would be either a non-profit or for-profit organization that has provided, for a period of at least two years prior to the implementation of the pilot program, comprehensive reentry services within the State for incarcerated persons released from prisons or county jails which are similar to services to be available to participating defendants during their pretrial release. The biopsychosocial assessment would be required to include, but not be limited to: (1) a screening for substance use disorders; (2) a medical, mental health, and behavioral health assessment including an evaluation of the defendant's medical needs; and (3) an evaluation of the defendant's employment readiness, capacity for independence, and ability to manage the defendant's personal affairs. The assessment would be used by the support provider to develop and implement an individualized pretrial plan for community-based services and needs for the defendant, which would be submitted to the court and the Pretrial Services Program. Successful participation by a defendant in complying with the conditions of the support provider's individualized pretrial plan would be given due consideration by prosecutors in making charging decisions, and by courts in ordering an appropriate sentence, as successful participation would be considered a mitigating sentencing factor. At the program's conclusion the Administrative Office of the Courts would make a report to the Governor and Legislature, which would include program data prepared by the pretrial community support provider, and make recommendations on whether the program should continue, or be expanded or modified. | In Committee |
| A1999 | Requires certain libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products and requires State to pay costs. | This bill requires certain libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products in its restrooms. Under the bill, a municipality or county that supports, in whole or in part, library service from municipal or county tax sources, and in which 40 percent or more of its residents reside in households with a household income at or below the most recent federal poverty guidelines multiplied by 1.85, is required to ensure that each library in the municipality or county:· provides direct access to menstrual hygiene products in each women's restroom and each all-gender restroom free of charge; and · provides and prominently displays educational pamphlets addressing topics including, but not limited to, toxic shock syndrome, menstrual disorders, and the proper disposal of menstrual hygiene products, in each women's restroom and each all-gender restroom. Under the bill, any costs incurred by a library in providing an adequate supply of menstrual hygiene products to meet the needs of its patrons will be borne by the State. Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene facilities that affects 500 million people worldwide and an estimated 16.9 million people in the United States. People who experience period poverty are unable to purchase the menstrual hygiene products they need and, in many cases, this means that they cannot go to school or work or otherwise fully participate in daily life. | In Committee |
| A2239 | Requires racial and gender diversity in membership of certain boards of directors. | This bill requires a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation, based in New Jersey, to have a board of directors that reflects the racial and gender diversity of this State. Under this bill, a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation, whose principal executive office is located within this State, will be required to have a board of directors that reflects the racial and gender diversity of this State by December 31, 2021. In order to comply with this requirement, a corporation will be able to increase the number of directors on its board and use information from the most recent decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census. Corporations will also be required to file a list of all directors and each director's terms of service with the Secretary of State. Additionally, by March 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State will be required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that contains the following: (1) A list of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations subject to, and in compliance with, the diversity requirement of this bill during at least one point within the preceding calendar year; (2) The number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations that moved their United States headquarters during the preceding calendar year to New Jersey from another state or from New Jersey to another state; and (3) The number of domestic and foreign corporations that were subject to the diversity requirement of this bill during the preceding calendar year but are no longer publicly traded. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A1905 | Requires DHS to take action to raise public awareness of privacy laws that prevent disclosure of health care enrollment information to immigration authorities. | This bill would require the Department of Human Services to undertake a public awareness campaign to inform the public, and particularly, the immigrant populations in the State, about the existence and nature of federal and State privacy laws that prevent the disclosure of health care enrollment information to immigration and customs authorities and officials. The bill would specify that this public awareness campaign may be coordinated with, or incorporated as a distinct part of, the enhanced Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare outreach and enrollment initiative that is established by the department under section 26 of P.L.2008, c.38 (C.30:4J-18). In implementing the public awareness campaign, the commissioner would be required to: - prepare and disseminate information to the public through the use of linguistically and culturally sensitive campaign materials and public announcements in both English and Spanish; - make use of all available forms of media, including, but not limited to, print media, television and radio, billboards, and the Internet; - seek to disseminate printed information through a variety of entities, including, but not limited to, primary care sites, health care facilities, local health departments and clinics, social service entities, county offices on aging, pharmacies, libraries, community centers, senior centers, houses of worship, and community-based outreach programs and organizations; and - coordinate the efforts used in the campaign with any activities that are being undertaken by the department or other State agencies to promote public awareness of, and provide information to the public about, the State's medical assistance programs. The department would additionally be required to establish, on its Internet website, a unique webpage that is dedicated to the immigration and privacy issues that are the subject of the public awareness campaign established under the bill's provisions. The bill would require the unique webpage to be easily identifiable and accessible to Spanish-speaking website visitors. To that end, the department would be required to ensure both that the webpage is accessible through the use of a Spanish-language uniform resource locator (URL), and that any hyperlinks to the page, which appear at any location on the department's Internet website, include a parenthetical explanation, in both English and Spanish, describing the contents of the page. The webpage itself would provide a summary, in both English and Spanish, of relevant immigration and privacy laws and how they govern the disclosure of health care information. It would also contain hyperlinks to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, as well as any other appropriate websites that may be useful for visitors seeking further explanation, and, to the extent practicable, would contain hyperlinks to digital and printable copies of the pamphlets and other printed materials that have been developed as part of the public awareness campaign. | In Committee |
| A2807 | Requires mail-in ballot applications to include prepaid postage. | Under current law, a voter may complete and return to the county clerk by regular mail an application requesting to receive a mail-in ballot. This bill requires the mail-in ballot application form to include prepaid postage, to be paid by the State. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A475 | Requires certain insurance carriers to include firearm liability insurance as policy option. | This bill requires every insurer authorized to transact the business of homeowners, renters, excess liability, or personal liability insurance in New Jersey to make available as an option for purchase coverage insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage sustained by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation or use of a firearm carried in public. The coverage is to be at least in: a. an amount or limit of $100,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to, or death of, one person, in any one incident; b. an amount or limit, subject to such limit for any one person so injured or killed, of $300,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to or death of, more than one person, in any one incident; and c. an amount or limit of $25,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for damage to property in any one incident. | In Committee |
| A2486 | Establishes Office of New Americans in Department of Human Services. | This bill establishes the Office of New Americans in the New Jersey Department of Human Services. This bill codifies the existing Office of New Americans established in 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 74 of 2019. The commissioner will appoint the director, and the director will be the administrator and head of the office. The bill requires the office to be a centralized location for expertise and data on New Americans and to engage in programs, initiatives, and policies focused on successful integration for immigrants, refugees, and their children. The office will also provide technical assistance and training to other offices and departments in the Executive Branch on issues pertaining to effective and equitable engagement with New Americans. The bill also requires the Department of Human Services, through the Office of New Americans, to: administer services for New Americans; engage directly with immigrant and refugee communities and service providers to understand and address their concerns and the obstacles they face in accessing services and resources; and support and advise State departments and agencies, as well as other organizations, on community engagement and outreach to promote best practices and improve the accessibility of State programs and information by New Americans. Additionally, the bill requires the office to use data for informing the State's efforts only as authorized under State and federal law to advance integration for immigrants. The office will not use or share data for the use of civil immigration enforcement. | In Committee |
| A555 | "Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services. | This bill, designated as the Mental Health Access Act, would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services under the State Medicaid program. Under the bill, reimbursement rates could be no less than the Medicare rate for the service, provided that the service meets certain criteria. Specifically, the bill would provide for increased reimbursement to licensed providers for individual or group counseling programs that are included in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices published by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or meet other criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, for evidence-based treatment. The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, and would apply to all services provided on or after the effective date. | In Committee |
| A1550 | Extends protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with disabilities. | This bill extends the protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with a disability pursuant to the "Senior Citizens and Disabled Protected Tenancy Act," N.J.S.A.2A:18-61.22 et al. ("act"). The bill extends the protected tenancy period to the lifetime of those tenants who are senior citizens and those tenants with a disability. The extension of the protections provided pursuant to the bill are necessary in the service of the public interest, as life expectancies have continued to increase in the United States since the initial enactment of the act in order to protect senior citizen tenants and tenants with a disability from harmful disruptions in their living conditions later in life. These protections are especially imperative during a time when economic dislocations have sharply increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and as recent evidence has proven that relocation at older age has been related to declines of both physical and cognitive functions. | In Committee |
| A1984 | Requires public institutions of higher education to provide menstrual products in all campus buildings; appropriates $85,000 from General Fund to Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | This bill requires public institutions of higher education to ensure that students and staff have direct access to menstrual products, free of charge, in all public women's restrooms and public all-gender restrooms, and in at least one public men's restroom in all campus buildings, including, but not limited to, lecture halls, residence halls, dining halls, libraries, student centers, athletics buildings, and administrative buildings. For purposes of this bill, "menstrual products" mean tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. Under the bill, public institutions of higher education are required to supply students and staff with a variety of menstrual products, including tampons and sanitary napkins graded regular through super-plus, sanitary napkins ranging from ultra-thin to overnight, and tampons and sanitary napkins that are allergy-friendly, including chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free menstrual products. Also under the bill, institutions will be required to install menstrual product dispensers in all public women's restrooms and public all-gender restrooms, and in at least one public men's restroom in all campus buildings. Institutions will not be required to replace any existing dispensers, as long as menstrual products in the dispensers may be accessed by students and staff free of charge. Institutions may contract with a vendor who will regularly maintain and stock dispensers. The bill also requires that institutions provide educational pamphlets addressing a variety of topics, including the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome and of menstrual disorders, as well as the proper disposal of tampons and sanitary napkins. Institutions will also be required, when feasible, to display posters highlighting proper menstrual hygiene. This bill appropriates $85,000 to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for the provision of menstrual products and educational pamphlets in public institutions of higher education. Any costs incurred by an institution in complying with the provisions of this bill will be borne by the State. At the close of the fiscal year, institutions shall submit expenditures with supporting documentation for reimbursement. | In Committee |
| A2313 | Expands definition of landlords required to provide receipt for rent cash payment made by tenant. | This bill amends section 3 of P.L.2019, c.300 (C.46:8-49.2), to expand the definition of landlords required to provide a receipt for a rent cash payment made by a tenant. This bill expands the definition of a "landlord" to include any person who rents or leases or offers to rent or lease, for a term of at least one month, one or more dwelling units, except dwelling units, hotels, motels or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal tenants. Under current statute, a landlord includes any person who rents or leases or offers to rent or lease, for a term of at least one month, dwelling units, except dwelling units in rental premises containing not more than two such units, or in owner-occupied premises of not more than three dwelling units, or in hotels, motels, or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal guests. | In Committee |
| A564 | Specifies that emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for victim of domestic violence would be funded by "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund." | This bill specifies that the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" would fund emergency, transitional, and permanent housing; food; utilities; transportation costs; and language access services. The "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" is a dedicated fund within the General Fund and administered by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families. The fund is the depository of moneys realized from the civil penalty imposed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.195 (C.2C:25-29.1) on any person found by the court in a final hearing pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) to have committed an act of domestic violence. The penalty ranges from $50 up to $500, and the fund is also the depository of any other moneys made available for the purposes of the fund. Under current law, all moneys deposited in the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" are used for direct services to victims of domestic violence including, but not limited to, shelter services and legal advocacy services. | In Committee |
| A563 | Provides that crime of official misconduct involving disclosure of domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information is second degree crime. | This bill provides that any crime of official misconduct involving the disclosure of a domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information is a crime of the second degree. Under current law, a public servant is guilty of official misconduct when, with purpose to obtain a benefit for himself or another or to injure or to deprive another of a benefit: he knowingly commits an unauthorized exercise of his official functions; or he knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed upon him by law or is clearly inherent in the nature of his office. Official misconduct generally is a second degree crime, unless the benefit obtained or sought to be obtained, or of which another is deprived or sought to be deprived, is of a value of $200 or less, then it is a third degree crime. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under this bill, any crime of official misconduct involving the disclosure of a domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information would be a crime of the second degree, regardless of the amount of the benefit obtained or sought to be obtained, or of which another is deprived or sought to be deprived. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A2591 | "Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act," requires the Commissioner of Human Services (the commissioner), in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, and the Directors of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS), to establish a Statewide mobile crisis response system to provide immediate crisis response services, and ongoing stabilization management services, upon request, to adults with disabilities (i.e., with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or mental illness) who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and their families and attendant caregivers or other staff. The mobile crisis response system would be designed to prevent the hospitalization of adults in crisis to provide for the stabilization of adults in crisis in the least restrictive environment, and to allow the mobile crisis response system to access to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline in order to refer an eligible adult for crisis response services and stabilization management services in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The system would be implemented on a Statewide basis, with at least one mobile crisis response agency available to provide crisis response services and stabilization management services, and at least one temporary stabilization unit available to provide temporary crisis beds, in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Any person, group, or entity wishing to provide initial crisis response services or stabilization management services, pursuant to this bill's provisions, would need to be approved by the New Jersey Medicaid and FamilyCare programs, and by the DHS, as a mobile response agency. Each mobile crisis response agency approved under the bill would be required to employ one or more mobile crisis response teams, composed of mental health professionals, to: 1) provide mobile crisis response services in the home of a person in crisis, or at another community location where a person in crisis is located; 2) when deemed to be appropriate, transport the adult in crisis to a temporary stabilization unit established and licensed pursuant to the bill; and 3) provide ongoing stabilization management services to the adult in crisis, in the adult's home, when authorized to do so by the DHS. Mobile crisis response services and stabilization management services, which are provided by a mobile crisis response team under this bill's provisions, are to be delivered directly by, or under the supervision of, a licensed and experienced psychiatrist. Mobile crisis response services are to be provided to an eligible adult in crisis for a period of up to 72 hours per crisis episode, over the course of up to a four-day period, immediately following the initial referral or dispatch, and are to be designed to stabilize the presenting behaviors and crisis situation, with the goal of preventing a disruption of the current living arrangement, and avoiding inappropriate psychiatric hospitalization or residential placement, of the adult in crisis. Each referral to, or dispatch of, a mobile crisis response team will be registered with the DHS within 24 hours after the team receives notice thereof. Mobile crisis response services provided by a mobile crisis response team are to include, but need not be limited to: 1) mobile outreach and face-to-face contact with the adult in crisis, which face-to-face contact is to occur within 24 hours following the initial referral or dispatch, except in situations requiring an immediate response, in which case, face-to-face contact is to occur within one hour after the initial referral or dispatch, unless a delay is requested by the family of the adult in crisis, in order to meet the family's needs; 2) the immediate assessment and evaluation of the presenting crisis, including an assessment of the safety of, or danger to, the adult in crisis, other residents of the home, and members of the community, as well as an assessment of caregiver culpability and clinical and environmental factors that contributed to the crisis; 3) the immediate use of clinical and therapeutic interventions to stabilize the presenting crisis; 4) the development of an individualized crisis stabilization plan (ICSP), as provided by the bill, which plan is to include, among other things, an indication of appropriate clinical and therapeutic interventions to be used in addressing and stabilizing the presenting crisis; and a plan to ensure the stabilization and treatment of the adult in crisis in the least restrictive environment; and 5) the provision of relevant information, crisis training, and program and service referrals to the family members or caregivers of the adult in crisis. If, at any time during the initial 72-hour mobile response period, the mobile crisis response team determines that the presenting crisis can only be stabilized through the temporary placement of the adult in a temporary stabilization unit, the crisis response team will be required to transport the adult in crisis to a temporary stabilization unit, and the adult will be admitted to the unit, for a period not exceeding seven days, as necessary to facilitate the initial stabilization of the crisis. A temporary stabilization unit is to be approved and licensed by the Department of Health, and is to: 1) provide a calming, non-clinical, and non-punitive environment for the stabilization of adults in crisis; 2) be staffed by properly credentialed mental health professionals who are capable of, and have expertise in, calming and stabilizing crisis situations in adults with disabilities; 3) have a sufficient number of crisis beds to meet the behavioral health crisis needs of citizens in the region in which the unit is situated; and 4) be situated separately and apart from any other clinical or mental health care unit or facility. If the temporary stabilization unit is a part of a separately licensed health care facility or hospital, the temporary stabilization unit is to be unconnected to, and located separately from, any emergency department or other department or unit of medicine, and is to utilize an entrance that is separate from the entrance that is used by patients of, and visitors to, such other departments or units. Whenever an adult is placed in a crisis bed in a temporary stabilization unit, the need for such placement is to be reviewed and documented by the mobile crisis response team on a daily basis during such placement, and the adult is to be immediately discharged from such placement upon a determination by the team that continued placement is no longer necessary. If a crisis is not sufficiently stabilized during the initial 72-hour mobile response period, or during a related stay at a temporary stabilization unit, the mobile crisis response team will be required to provide the adult in crisis with ongoing stabilization management services, in the adult's home, following the completion of the initial crisis response period. Stabilization management services may not be provided, unless the DHS grants prior approval authorizing the provision of such services to the adult in crisis. The DHS may authorize the mobile crisis response team to provide stabilization management services for a period of up to eight weeks, as deemed by the department to be appropriate. Stabilization management services may include: 1) necessary mental or behavioral health intervention services to maintain the stabilization of the crisis and minimize or eliminate the factors that contributed to the crisis, including, but not limited to, psychiatric or psychological services, medication management services, community-based mental health rehabilitation services, such as behavioral assistance services and intensive in-community services, and any other formal or informal community-based mental health or behavioral health rehabilitation services; and 2) continued advocacy, networking, and support by the mobile crisis response team, as may be necessary to provide linkages and referrals to appropriate community-based services, and to assist the adult in crisis, and the family members or caregivers thereof, in accessing other benefits or assistance programs for which they may be eligible. During the stabilization management period, the mobile crisis response team will be required to review the ICSP on a weekly basis, in order to ensure that the services included therein are effectively addressing the presenting crisis and any factors that contributed to the crisis. Any necessary amendments to the ICSP are to be registered with the division within 24 hours after each review is concluded. Each mobile crisis response agency will be required, under the bill, to maintain an individual service record for each adult who is served thereby. Each mobile crisis response agency and temporary stabilization unit will be eligible for reimbursement, as described in the bill, for the services provided thereby under the bill's provisions. Any person seeking to deliver crisis response services or stabilization management services as a member of a mobile crisis response team, or as a staff member at a temporary stabilization unit, will be required to comply with the criminal history record background check requirements established by P.L.1999, c.358 (C.30:6D-63 et seq.), which are applicable to "community agency employees," as a condition of the person's employment. The bill also requires all direct care staff members providing services at group homes for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to successfully complete a course of training on: 1) the de-escalation and stabilization of crisis episodes in adults with disabilities; 2) behavioral analysis and management; and 3) behavioral health crisis recognition and identification. The training would also be required to inform direct care staff members of the mobile crisis response system established under the bill, and the procedures that may be used to obtain assistance from a mobile crisis response team whenever a group home resident is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The bill also requires the commissioner to, on or before July 16, 2022, designate a crisis hotline center or centers to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline from anywhere within the State 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A designated hotline center is to have an active agreement with the administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) for participation within the network. To ensure cohesive and coordinated crisis care, a designated hotline center is to utilize technology that is interoperable between and across crisis and emergency response systems used throughout the State and with the Administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill provides that a designated hotline center is to have the authority to deploy crisis and outgoing services, including mobile crisis teams, and coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services as appropriate and according to guidelines and best practices established by the NSPL. A designated hotline center is to coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services for individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline through appropriate information sharing regarding availability of services. A designated hotline center is to be utilized by the mobile crisis response system to refer an eligible adult for mobile crisis response services and stabilization management services pursuant to the bill. The commissioner is to have primary oversight of suicide prevention and crisis service activities and essential coordination with a designated 9-8-8 hotline center. A designated hotline center is to meet the requirements set forth by NSPL for serving high risk and specialized populations as identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including training requirements and policies for transferring such callers to an appropriate specialized center or subnetworks within or outside the NSPL network and for providing linguistically and culturally competent care. A designated hotline center is to provide follow-up services to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline consistent with guidance and policies established by the NSPL. Under the bill, the commissioner is to provide onsite response services for crisis calls utilizing State or local mobile crisis teams. A mobile crisis team is to include a behavioral health team, licensed behavioral health professionals, and peers, or a behavioral health team and peers embedded within an emergency medical services entity. A mobile crisis team is to collaborate on data and crisis response protocols with local law enforcement agencies and include police as co-responders in behavioral health teams, and licensed behavioral health professionals and peers, only as needed to respond to high-risk situations that are unmanageable without law enforcement. A mobile crisis team is to be designed in partnership with community members, including people with experience utilizing crisis services. The commissioner is to establish and maintain a 9-8-8 trust fund for the purposes of creating and maintaining a Statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system pursuant to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and the Federal Communication Commission's rules adopted July 16, 2020, and national guidelines for crisis care. The fund is to consist of: monies from a Statewide 9-8-8 fee assessed on users pursuant to the bill's provisions; appropriations, if any; grants and gifts intended for deposit in the fund; interest, premiums, gains, or other earnings on the fund; and any other monies that are deposited in or transferred to the fund. Under the bill, monies in the fund: do not revert at the end of any fiscal year and remain available for the purposes of the fund in subsequent fiscal years; are not subject to transfer to any other fund or to transfer, assignment, or reassignment for any other use or purpose outside of those specified in the bill; and are continuously dedicated for the purposes of the fund. The bill provides that the commissioner, consistent with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, is to establish a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee on each resident that is a subscriber of commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services at a fixed rate that provides for the creation, operation, and maintenance of a Statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis system and the continuum of services provided pursuant to federal guidelines for crisis services. Under the bill, the 9-8-8 fee is not to be applied to mobile service users who receive benefits under the federal Lifeline program as defined in 47 CFR 54.401. | In Committee |
| A1372 | "Palisades Cliffs Protection and Planning Act"; concerns preservation of Palisades cliffs and creates Palisades Cliffs Preservation Council. | This bill, "Palisades Cliffs Protection and Planning Act," would provide for the preservation of the Palisades cliffs and create the Palisades Cliffs Preservation Council. The council created by the bill would constitute a political subdivision of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions, would have 10 voting members appointed by the governing bodies of the municipalities within the Palisades cliffs area, and would be conferred with powers, duties, and responsibilities associated with preserving and protecting the Palisades cliffs. Additionally, the bill creates the Palisades Planning Region that would consist of that land within the municipalities which extends up to 2000 feet east of the Palisades cliff crest at each location along the Palisades cliffs. The bill provides that unless approved by the council, no development may be constructed in the Palisades Planning Region unless the maximum height of the proposed development, including any mechanical structures to be constructed atop the building or structure, is at or below the height whereby the sightline looking east from the crest directly to the west of the proposed development would include at least the eastern half of the Hudson River above the proposed building or structure. Where there is no discernable crest immediately to the west of the proposed development, except as otherwise specified in this bill, the height of the beginning of the sightline looking east would be the elevation of the surface of the portion of Palisades Avenue directly west of the proposed building or structure. Under the bill, on or before March 31 in each year, the council is required to make an annual report of its activities for the preceding calendar year to the governing body and the chief executive officer of the municipalities and Bergen and Hudson counties. Each such report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its operations during the preceding year. | In Committee |
| A1069 | Requires school district to notify registered apprenticeship programs of upcoming college or career fair. | This bill requires a school district that intends to host a college or career fair for high school students to notify each registered apprenticeship program offered in the county in which the school district is located of the college or career fair. Under the bill, the notification is required to include:· the planned date, time, and location of the college or career fair; and · information on how an apprenticeship program may register with the school district to participate in the college or career fair. | In Committee |
| A1264 | Establishes crime of gang shoplifting. | This bill establishes the crime of gang shoplifting as a crime of the third degree. A person commits the crime of gang shoplifting if, in concert or participation with one or more other persons, the person enters the premises of a store or retail mercantile establishment and in an open and conspicuous manner: (1) purposely or knowingly takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any item displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of the item or converting the item to the use of the person without paying to the merchant the full retail value thereof; or (2) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly tampers with tangible property within or on the premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment so as to endanger any person, or the property or premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment, including the damaging or destroying of any item on the premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment. 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. A person who commits gang shoplifting is required to minimum term of imprisonment of not less than one year, during which time the person is not eligible for parole. It is the intent of the sponsor to address the rise in flash mobs which organize the looting of stores in an open and conspicuous manner. | In Committee |
| A2475 | Requires school districts to include instruction on significance of Juneteenth Independence Day as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. | Juneteenth Independence Day is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The day commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, in which Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and that the enslaved were made free through the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, the celebration of Juneteenth symbolizes African American freedom, celebrates the abolition of slavery, and reminds all Americans of the significant contributions African Americans have made to society. It is also a time for self-improvement and for reflection and education on the United States' history regarding slavery and its legacy. In 2004, a State law was enacted that designated the third Saturday in June of each year as Juneteenth Independence Day in New Jersey to commemorate and celebrate the emancipation of African Americans and foster respect for all cultures. Pursuant to that law, school districts were permitted to offer instruction regarding the day at an appropriate place in the curriculum. This bill would require school districts to provide instruction on the events and historical and cultural significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. The instruction would provide students with information on, at a minimum: the events that occurred on Juneteenth Independence Day; the historical context in which Juneteenth Independence Day occurred; why word of the end of the Civil War did not reach enslaved persons in Texas until approximately two months after the war's conclusion and why word of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach those individuals until nearly two and a half years after it took effect; and what Juneteenth Independence Day means and symbolizes in United States history and how communities across the country celebrate and reflect on the day. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education will provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to enhance students' overall understanding of Juneteenth Independence Day and its historical and cultural significance. | In Committee |
| A2476 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges. | This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to conduct a study to determine the extent and causes of the outmigration of New Jersey's high school graduates to out-of-State colleges and universities. The study will include, but need not be limited to:· a survey of high school seniors enrolled in public and nonpublic schools in the State to determine the reasons why a student might choose an out-of-State institution;· a review of the academic characteristics of students who choose an in-State institution and students who choose an out-of-State institution;· a review of the socio-economic characteristics of the families of students who choose an in-State institution and the families who choose an out-of-State institution;· a review of the academic quality of the out-of-State institutions in which New Jersey high school graduates choose to enroll and a comparison of the academic ranking of those institutions with New Jersey's public and independent institutions of higher education;· a survey of and consultation with public and nonpublic high school guidance counselors on the reasons for the outmigration of high school graduates; · an analysis of the extent to which the outmigration of high school graduates is impacted by the small geographic size of the State and the desire of college students to experience independent living at a distance from their families; and · a review of available literature and data on the outmigration of high school graduates in New Jersey and other states. The bill requires the secretary to prepare and submit a report of the study's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| A613 | Requires certain corporations to appoint women to board of directors. | This bill requires publicly held domestic and foreign corporations based in New Jersey to appoint women to their boards of directors, in order to increase gender diversity in corporate governing roles. Research indicates that women serving on boards of directors of publicly held corporations will boost the economy, improve opportunities for women in the workplace, and improve the performance and protect the value of corporations for shareholders and stockholders, including retirees. Under the bill, a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation whose principal executive office is located in this State would be required to have a minimum of one female director on its board by December 31, 2023. Additionally, by December 31, 2025 a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation located in this State would be required to have a minimum of: one female director if the corporation has four or fewer directors; two female directors if the corporation has five directors; and at least three female directors if the corporation has six or more directors. To determine compliance with this requirement, the bill requires a corporation to file with the Secretary of State a list of all of its directors and their terms of service and identify the number of directors that are female. The bill provides that a corporation that violates the bill is subject to the following penalties: $100,000 for a first violation and $300,000 for a subsequent violation for each director seat required to be held by a female which is not held by a female during at least a portion of a calendar year; and $100,000 for failure to file board member information with the Secretary of State in a timely manner. Any fine collected would be used by the Secretary of State to offset the cost of administering the bill's provisions. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of State to report, by July 1, 2023, the number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations in this State and the number of female directors on each corporation's board. By March 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State would report: (1) a list of corporations subject to, and in compliance with, the requirements of this bill; (2) the number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations that moved their United States headquarters to New Jersey from another state or from New Jersey to another state; and (3) the number of corporations that were subject to the bill's provisions during the preceding year, but are no longer publicly traded. This bill is similar to a California law to increase the gender diversity of corporate leadership, by requiring California-based publicly held corporations to appoint women to their boards of directors. Other countries have also addressed the lack of gender diversity on corporate boards by instituting quotas mandating 30 to 40 percent of seats to be held by women directors, including in Norway, which since 2003 requires 40 percent female representation on corporate boards, and many other European nations, such as France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Spain. | 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 |
| A577 | Authorizes provision of comprehensive health care coverage to certain undocumented immigrants and children. | This bill extends comprehensive NJ FamilyCare coverage to pregnant undocumented immigrants, and their dependent children up to the age of one year, who reside in the State and do not qualify for such coverage under existing law. Pregnant undocumented individuals would be eligible for full NJ FamilyCare benefits through the end of the 60-day period beginning on the last day of the individual's pregnancy. Under existing State and federal law, undocumented immigrants may receive Medicaid coverage only for care and services necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition, which federal statute defines as including emergency labor and delivery. The bill defines "undocumented immigrant" as an immigrant who resides in the State, but is unable to document the immigrant's status as an eligible alien, as defined in the State's Medicaid statute, or to demonstrate that the immigrant is lawfully present in the United States. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to attempt to maximize federal financial participation for the provision of comprehensive NJ FamilyCare benefits for pregnant undocumented immigrants and their dependent children under the age of one year; the bill would remain inoperable until the commissioner receives a determination of federal financial participation regarding the bill's provisions. If federal matching funds are not available, comprehensive NJ FamilyCare benefits for this new eligibility group would commence upon the appropriation of State funds designated for this purpose. The bill additionally stipulates that comprehensive NJ FamilyCare benefits will be provided to this new eligibility group only to the extent allowable under federal statute. | In Committee |
| A2218 | Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of residence to second degree crime under certain circumstances. | This bill creates the first degree crime of home invasion and makes this crime subject to the No Early Release Act. In addition, the bill upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances. Specifically, under the provisions of the bill, a person commits the crime of home invasion if he or she enters a person's residence with the intent to commit a robbery, a first or second degree crime, or certain kidnapping and sexual crimes or offenses when another person or persons are present and the actor: 1) uses force or inflicts bodily injury on a person in the residence; 2) threatens a person in the residence with, or purposely or knowingly, puts the person in fear of immediate bodily injury; 3) commits, attempts to commit, or threatens to commit any first or second degree crime or certain kidnapping and sexual crimes and offenses; or 4) is armed with or threatens the use of a deadly weapon or explosive. The bill requires a mandatory term of imprisonment of between 10 years and 30 years for the crime of home invasion. Additionally, the convicted offender would be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, without possibility of parole, since the bill includes the crime of home invasion under the No Early Release Act. A convicted offender also could be subject to a fine of up to $200,000 (the ordinary fine amount applicable to first degree crimes). As to burglary, this crime is upgraded to a second degree crime if a person enters a residence when a resident or any other person, other than a person acting in concert with the actor, is present in the home. The bill provides that knowledge that another person was in the home would not be an element of this upgraded crime, and it would not be a defense that the offender was unaware that another person was present in the home when they entered the residence. The upgraded crime would be punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine up to $150,000, or both. Under current law, burglary is only a crime of the second degree if the defendant inflicted, attempted to inflict, or threatened bodily injury or was armed during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree (ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of between three to five years, a fine not up to $15,000, or both). | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A1266 | Permits surviving spouse of retired member of PFRS to be enrolled in SHBP and to continue to receive pension benefit after remarriage in certain circumstances. | Under this bill, certain surviving spouses of retired members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) will receive State-paid health care benefits through the State Health Benefits Program and a continuation of pension benefits after remarriage. The surviving spouse of a retired member of the PFRS who died prior to, on, or after the effective date of this bill and who was receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance at the time of death will be eligible to enroll for health care benefits coverage in the State Health Benefits Program after the effective date of this bill and the annual premiums for such coverage for the surviving spouse and any dependent children will be paid in full by the State. Such a surviving spouse will also be eligible to continue to receive upon remarriage the pension benefit provided by current law to surviving spouses of deceased retired members. The State will be responsible for any increase in contributions to the retirement system required of employers other than the State due to the continuation of the payment of the pension benefit after remarriage. This bill will only apply if the surviving spouse provides documentation, approved by the Board of Trustees of the PFRS, demonstrating that the injury that caused the disability, the complications from that disability, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused by the disability was a significant contributing factor in the retired member's death. An eligible surviving spouse whose pension was terminated due to remarriage prior to the effective date of this bill may apply to the board to have the pension benefit reinstated and payable again commencing from the date of application. | In Committee |
| A587 | Establishes weatherization and energy efficiency pilot program to address open cockloft space between certain buildings; appropriates $30 million. | This bill would establish the "Urban Area Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Pilot Program Act" to address the energy efficiency and safety problems created by cockloft and attic spaces that are open or improperly sealed between a residential building and another building. Open cockloft spaces, defined in the bill to include open attic spaces, exist at the top of many buildings in urban areas of the State, reducing energy efficiency and fire safety. The pilot program established by the bill would operate in Union City, the City of Trenton, and the City of Camden, the "participating municipalities," because these locations are disproportionately affected by open cockloft spaces. The building code enforcing agency of a municipality participating in the pilot program would, within one year of the bill's effective date, conduct an inventory of the residential buildings to determine the number of open cockloft spaces that would benefit from weatherization and energy efficiency measures. If a property is identified in an inventory as containing an open cockloft space, then the municipality would provide the property owner with an option to engage in weatherization and energy efficiency measures. Before committing to these measures, however, the municipality would provide the owner with an opportunity to demonstrate if they qualify as low- or moderate-income. If the owner is low- or moderate-income, the owner would be eligible to obtain weatherization and energy efficiency measures at no cost. If the owner is not low- or moderate-income, the owner would be given the option to pay for weatherization and energy efficiency measures through a property tax special assessment, payable in quarterly installments over 10-years. The weatherization and energy efficiency measures provided by the pilot program would consist of the installation of one or more fire-rated separations in open cockloft spaces between buildings. Fire alarms and carbon monoxide sensor devices would also be provided in spaces where required by the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L. 1975, c. 217 (N.J.S.A.52:27D-119 et seq.) or the "Uniform Fire Safety Act," P.L.1983, c.383 (N.J.S.A.52:27D-192 et seq.). At the option of the owner, weatherization and energy efficiency measures may also include the addition of insulation, vapor barriers, or installing passive or active attic ventilation, when such improvements would be beneficial. Subject to the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (N.J.S.A.40A:11-1 et seq.), the bill permits a participating municipality to enter into agreements with one or more private parties to assist the municipal enforcing agency in pilot program implementation. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the objectives of the bill. Notwithstanding the statutory limitations that ordinarily restrict the use of regulatory guidance documents, the bill permits the commissioner to prepare and disseminate regulatory guidance documents in advance of the adoption of regulations as necessary for the administration of the bill. The bill requires pilot program municipalities to share information with the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") in order to enable the effectiveness of the pilot program to be assessed. The bill would require DCA to prepare and submit reports, on at least an annual basis, to the Governor and the Legislature to provide information on the progress and effectiveness of the pilot program. Within 6 months following the expenditure of all pilot program funding, DCA would also submit a final report to the Governor and the Legislature. The bill would appropriate $30,000,000 from the funds provided to the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2. Of this sum, $10,000,000 would be provided to each to the three participating municipalities. The bill would require the sum provided to each municipality to be maintained in an account separate from any other account, and to be used exclusively for purposes authorized by the bill. | In Committee |
| A1072 | Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, to establish a Military Suicide Prevention Task Force. The purpose of the task force will be to reduce military suicides and provide a plan for the elimination of all military suicides. The task force will recommend comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing suicide among members of the military, active duty and veterans, and will recommend ways to establish and execute plans and programs to implement those strategies. The task force will consist of 17 members, and it will be the duty of the task force to: identify and review the issues and concerns facing active duty service members and veterans; recommend measures the State should take to address the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate; examine data, research, programs, and initiatives related to military suicide, including the physical, social, emotional, and mental impact of military service, with a focus on deployments; identify evidence-based best practices to increase awareness of veteran suicide prevention hot lines, in New Jersey or nationally, and other crisis resources with proven effectiveness to reduce military suicide; identify effective strategies for promoting lifelong physical, social, emotional, and mental health of service members and veterans, and develop recommendations to implement those strategies; review the laws, regulations, and public policies governing services provided to active duty service members and veterans of this State, and determine whether those services are currently being performed in the most effective manner; and determine whether those services can be performed more efficiently and effectively by a county or municipal government and whether services now being provided by a county or municipal government may be more efficiently and effectively performed by State government. The task force will submit periodic reports, no less than twice a year, concerning the findings and actions related to its duties to the Governor and the Legislature. | 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 |
| A3097 | Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for certain vehicular offenses. | This bill establishes a presumption of pretrial detention for a person who commits reckless vehicular homicide or strict liability vehicular homicide. A person is guilty of strict liability vehicular homicide, a crime of the third degree, if the person commits vehicular homicide by driving while intoxicated. A person commits second degree reckless vehicular homicide if the person was operating an auto recklessly while under the influence in violation of N.J.S.A.39:4-50. Reckless vehicular homicide is a first degree crime if the defendant was operating the auto in violation of N.J.S.A.39:4-50 while on school property, within 1,000 feet of school property, or driving through a school crossing under certain circumstances. Under current law, there is a rebuttable presumption that a defendant who is charged with murder or a crime that subjects the defendant to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment is to be detained pending trial. The rebuttable presumption applies when a prosecutor makes a motion for pretrial detention, and may be rebutted upon a showing of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, in favor of the defendant. This bill provides that the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention also applies to defendants charged with reckless vehicular homicide and strict liability vehicular homicide as established pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:11-5 and N.J.S.A.2C:11-5.3. A defendant charged pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:11-5 or N.J.S.A.2C:11-5.3 would be subject to forfeiture of the auto or vessel which was used in the commission of the offense, unless the defendant establishes at a hearing, which may occur at the time of sentencing, by a preponderance of the evidence that such forfeiture would constitute a serious hardship to the family of the defendant that outweighs the need to deter such conduct by the defendant and others. Finally, the bill also permits a court, if deciding against the pretrial detention of a defendant for a violation of the reckless driving or strict liability vehicular homicide provisions, to order the suspension or revocation of the defendant's license. | In Committee |
| A1162 | Clarifies that "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" covers elder abuse in domestic settings. | This bill clarifies that the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), covers various forms of physical and non-physical elder abuse in domestic settings. Although the existing findings and declarations to the act reference the Legislature's intention of addressing elder abuse (and abuse against disabled persons) "on an equal basis as violence against spouses and children," the bill updates the findings and declarations to expressly reference elder abuse by current or former household members in its many possible forms; that is, all such "emotional, psychological, and physical [domestic] violence" against the elderly. It also updates the existing definition of "victim of domestic violence" under the act, which currently covers "any person who is 18 years of age or older," to expressly include a reference to an elderly person in a domestic setting, who is not otherwise protected pursuant to P.L.1977, c.239 (C.52:27G-1 et seq.)as an institutionalized elderly person in a public or private facility or institution. | 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 |
| AJR44 | Designates June of each year as "Immigrant Heritage Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of June of each year as "Immigrant Heritage Month" in New Jersey. More than one out of every five residents in New Jersey is an immigrant, making it the state with the fifth-largest population of immigrants in the country. New Jersey has maintained a strong immigrant population to become one of the most diverse states in the country, with Jersey City cited as the most diverse mid-sized city in the nation in 2018. Immigrants account for a large portion of economic success in the State. They make up more than a quarter of the workforce and nearly fifty percent of the jobs in the computer and mathematical science industries in New Jersey. Approximately 48 percent of New Jersey residents with master's degrees and 41 percent of doctorate degrees in a scientific specialty are immigrants. The State also boasts one of the highest percentages in the country of high-skilled workers here on H1-B visas. Moreover, immigrants own 47 percent of "main street" businesses in New Jersey, earning nearly $4.4 billion a year annually, and run one-fifth of self-employed businesses in the State, which generate approximately $3.3 billion in revenue each year. These businesses help make New Jersey the state with the second-highest number of jobs created by immigrant-owned businesses in the nation. Immigrant households in New Jersey also provide up to an estimated $54.6 billion in spending power each year. | 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 |
| A1142 | Prohibits harassing or taking of certain wildlife at competitive event; establishes penalties. | This bill prohibits the harassing or taking of certain wildlife (defined as "covered wildlife" in the bill) at a competitive event, except in conjunction with a field trial or field day authorized by a license issued pursuant to R.S.23:4-26. The bill also prohibits any person from organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting, or participating in a competitive event at which the participants harass or take covered wildlife except in conjunction with such an authorized field trial or field day. "Covered wildlife" is defined as a bobcat, coyote, crow, fox, mink, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, weasel, woodchuck, or the dead body or parts thereof. The bill provides that a person who violates the prohibitions in the bill would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and, in addition to the applicable penalties pursuant to Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, would also have suspended for five years: 1) any license or permit issued to the person by the Division of Fish and Wildlife; and 2) all privileges to take or possess wildlife. A disorderly persons offense is subject to a penalty of up to six months of imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000, or both. This bill requires any covered wildlife injured as a result of a competitive event to be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or State licensed veterinarian for proper treatment or to be euthanized if necessary. The bill authorizes the Division of Fish and Wildlife to forfeit the remains of any covered wildlife killed at a competitive event held in violation of this bill or euthanized as a result of the competitive event. Forfeited remains would become property of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The bill directs municipal police officers, the State Police, and law enforcement officers in the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Division of Parks and Forestry in the Department of Environmental Protection to enforce the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A1836 | Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to disseminate outage information to customers through autodialed telephone call, text message, and electronic mail alert service. | This bill requires an electric, gas, and water public utility (utility) to develop and implement a plan to disseminate information concerning service outages through an autodialed telephone call (robocall), text message, and electronic mail alert service, using the customer contact information on record with the utility. The robocall, text message, and electronic mail alert service is to be maintained by the utility and is to disseminate information such as the location and estimated length of the service outage, contact information for the utility and emergency services, information on how to report any other service problem related to the service outage, and any relevant updates as the situation to address the service outage progresses. The bill allows appropriate State, county, and municipal entities to disseminate information made available by the utilities through their own robocall, text message, and electronic mail alert services. | In Committee |
| A1637 | Establishes Council of Women in Higher Education in Department of State to study and promote women's issues within institutions of higher education. | This bill establishes the "Council of Women in Higher Education." The council will be located in the Department of State and will consist of 39 members as follows: two women from each four-year public institution of higher education selected by the institution's governing board; one woman from each independent institution of higher education selected by the institution's governing board; and two women representing the county college sector selected by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. It will be the mission of the council to foster and promote the advancement of women and women's issues within institutions of higher education throughout New Jersey. To accomplish this mission, the council will: review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Higher Education, the New Jersey Presidents' Council, and the governing boards of institutions of higher education on existing programs focused on women's issues, or on proposals for new programs; compile statistics on the number of women employed at institutions of higher education and the number of courses and programs on women's issues offered at institutions of higher education; advance higher education opportunities for women, set goals, and study and make recommendations on deficiencies in the advancement of women and the availability of women's programs at institutions of higher education; meet with local and State leaders to further the participation of women in local and State government; create outreach programs for elementary and high school students to foster their involvement in the study, promotion, and advancement of women's issues; and participate in such other initiatives as the council deems advisable. Under the bill, the council will publish an annual report which will include a statement of the council's long-term goals and objectives related to the advancement of women and women's issues within institutions of higher education in the State; and the council's accomplishments, initiatives, and areas of study during the reporting period. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A1850 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of certain hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. | This bill provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for the purchase of certain hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The credits are available to both businesses and individuals. The credits are available for the taxpayer tax periods beginning in calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025. For hydrogen fuel cell vehicles purchased in 2023 tax periods, a taxpayer will be allowed a credit in an amount of 25 percent of the cost, up to $15,000 per vehicle. For vehicles purchased and installed in 2024 tax periods, the credit is 15 percent of the cost, up to $9,000 per vehicle. For a vehicle purchased and installed in 2025 tax periods, the credit is eight percent of the cost, up to $5,000 per vehicle. To qualify for the bill's tax credits, the taxpayer must file an application for a certification with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection that the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle purchased by the taxpayer is a qualified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are electrically powered and they produce only water vapor as an emission. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles typically have a longer range than battery-powered electric vehicles and they can be refueled in approximately the same time and manner as a gasoline-powered vehicle. This bill would encourage New Jersey businesses to purchase hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by defraying their purchase costs. | In Committee |
| A3313 | Creates advisory council to oversee revision of core curriculum content standards. | Under this bill, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Education, is directed to appoint a Core Curriculum Content Standards Advisory Council to assist and advise the State Board in the ongoing review of core curriculum content standards. The advisory council will consist of 15 members chosen from among the K-12 education, higher education, and business communities and shall also include student and parent representatives. The bill directs the Core Curriculum Content Standards Advisory Council to establish a subcommittee for each of the subject areas of the core curriculum content standards. The bill directs each subcommittee to review the existing standards for its subject area. Under the bill, the subcommittee will: (1) review relevant research on the subject area and identify areas in the standards where revision is appropriate; (2) examine curriculum standards for the subject area adopted by other states, countries, and entities; (3) collect feedback on the existing State standards from teachers, parents, and other stakeholders through the development of an online survey and make feedback available to the public via Internet posting; (4) solicit feedback from appropriate content related professional organizations, associations, and societies; and (5) write a report detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the standards. Under the bill, each subcommittee will revise the standards to reflect its research findings. In lieu of revisions, a subcommittee may recommend the adoption of a highly-regarded set of standards from another state or country or by working with a consortium of states to revise and develop a set of standards. The subcommittee will then submit the revised standards to the Core Curriculum Content Standards Advisory Council for its review and approval. Upon the receipt of revised standards from a subcommittee, the Core Curriculum Content Standards Advisory Council will review and finalize the standards before forwarding them to the Commissioner of Education for consideration and adoption by the State Board of Education. The Commissioner of Education may submit standards to the State Board of Education that are different than those submitted by the Core Curriculum Content Standards Advisory Council, along with a written justification and explanation of any changes that were made. | In Committee |
| A1857 | Allows gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for purchase of classroom supplies. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. | In Committee |
| A2751 | Establishes teacher recruitment grant program in DOE; appropriates $6 million to DOE. | This bill establishes a competitive grant program in the Department of Education to provide funding to no less than two eligible organizations that recruit, train, place, and retain new teachers for long-term-employment in underserved school districts. The selected organizations would receive a grant equal to the amount of private contributions that the organizations receive, not to exceed $1 million each year, for three years. For the purposes of the grant program, an underserved school district is one in which at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, and which is experiencing a teacher workforce shortage as determined by the Commissioner of Education. | In Committee |
| A2446 | Establishes loan redemption program for certain bilingual education teachers. | The bill establishes a loan redemption program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for teachers who teach in a bilingual education or English as a second language program at public schools. Under the bill, a program participant must be a resident of New Jersey and execute a contract with the authority. The authority will give priority under the program to teachers who are employed at a low performing public school, including a charter school or a renaissance school. The redemption of loans under the program will equal 25 percent of the participant's eligible student loan expenses, up to $5,000, in return for each consecutive year of full-time employment as a teacher who teaches in a bilingual education or English as a second language program at a public school in which at least 10 percent of the students are enrolled in a bilingual education or English as a second language program. The total amount of eligible student loan expenses that would be redeemed under the program by a program participant, for four full school years of service, will not exceed $20,000. A program participant would not be required to teach at the same public school for four consecutive years. The bill directs the authority to annually post in a prominent location on its Internet website a list of low-performing schools at which a public school teacher may be employed in order to qualify for loan redemption under the bill. A program participant who has entered into a redemption contract with the authority may nullify the contract by submitting written notification to the authority and assuming full responsibility for repayment of principal and interest on the full amount of his loans or that portion of the loans which has not been redeemed by the State in return for fulfillment of the contract. In the event of a program participant's death or total and permanent disability, the authority will nullify the service obligation of the program participant. The nullification will terminate the authority's obligations under the loan redemption contract. The authority will annually submit a report on the loan redemption program to the Governor and the Legislature no later than August 1 of each year. The report will include, but not be limited to, the total number of participants receiving loan redemption under the program, the total number of participants who withdrew from the program or failed to complete the program's employment requirement, and the effect of the program on filling vacant teaching positions in a bilingual education or English as a second language program. | In Committee |
| A1860 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; appropriates $20 million. | This bill increases the Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care and mental health services according to the Medicare payment rate for the same services. Under the bill, primary care services means the same as defined under section 1202 of the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," and includes evaluation and management services, which cover the non-procedural services patients receive from a provider, and services related to immunization administration. Mental health services means procedures or services rendered by a health care provider, in a traditional setting as well in an integrated behavioral health setting or via a collaborative care program, for the treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse. Under the bill, commencing on July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Medicaid reimbursement rate for primary care and mental health services is required to be no less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to such services under part B of the federal Medicare program. Primary care and mental health services include those services furnished by: (1) a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; (2) a health care professional, including but not limited to an advance practice nurse or a physician assistant, who is working in the area of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; or (3) a midwife. Mental health services additionally include those services furnished by a health care provider with one of the following specialty designations: licensed clinical social worker, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, or psychiatrist. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require any decrease in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for a primary care or mental health service from the previous fiscal year's reimbursement level for the same service. Moreover, the requirements established under the bill apply whether the services are reimbursed under the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the Medicaid managed care delivery system, and only to services delivered by approved Medicaid providers. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services, no later than July 1, 2024, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature providing information on the implementation of the bill, including data indicating any changes regarding access to primary care and mental health services, as well as the quality of care of these services, for Medicaid beneficiaries following any rate increases associated with the bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A918 | Establishes Employer-Based Child Care Assistance Partnership Program in DCF. | This bill establishes the Employer-Based Child Care Assistance Partnership Program in the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The purpose of the program is to incentivize employers to contribute to employee child care costs by providing State funds for such contributions in order to ensure that the working parents of this State and their children have access to affordable, high-quality child care services. Participation in the program will be voluntary, and the DCF is to regulate and oversee the activities associated with the program. Under the bill, an employer who wishes to provide child care assistance to an employee under the program and a child care provider seeking to participate in the program will submit a one-time application to the DCF, which will enroll the employer or child care provider in the program. Upon enrollment, the employer may enroll employees by submitting a standardized certification form to the DCF that includes, among other things, the amount of employer's contribution to the employee's child care provider. The amount of State matching funds will be based on the employee's household income. If the total amount of the employer contribution and State matching funds do not cover the employee's total child care costs, the employee will be responsible for the balance of the costs. The bill sets forth certain circumstances under which participation in the program will be terminated, including the failure by the employer to make a contribution payment, the failure of the employee to pay the balance of child care costs not covered under the program, a child care provider ceasing to qualify for the program, or voluntary termination by the employer or employee. The bill creates in the Department of the Treasury a dedicated, non-lapsing fund, to be known as the Employer-Based Child Care Assistance Partnership Fund. The fund will be the repository for monies made available to implement the provisions established in the bill. All monies expended for the purpose of providing State matching funds against contributions made employers to employee child care costs are to be paid from the fund. The bill also requires the DCF to issue a report about the program's efficacy within one year after the program is established, and annually thereafter, to the Governor and to the Legislature. The report is to be posted on the DCF's website and made available to the public upon request. | In Committee |
| A2783 | "New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act"; establishes certain requirements and penalties regarding firearm storage; repeals law governing minor's access to firearm; requires AG to establish public awareness campaign regarding firearm storage; appropriates $500,000. | This bill, titled the "New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act," establishes penalties for improper storage of a firearm; requires a warning to be issued to firearms purchasers; and requires the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign regarding the risks associated with improper storage. The bill also makes an appropriation, and repeals the provisions of current law establishing penalties for only a minor's access of an improperly stored firearm.Under current law, there are storage requirements and penalties imposed if a minor accesses a loaded firearm that is not in use. However, there currently are no general requirements for storing a firearm when not in use. This bill requires a legal owner of a firearm to: (1) store or secure a firearm that is not in use at a premises under the owner's control unloaded, in a gun safe or securely locked box or container; and (2) store ammunition separately from the firearm. The provisions of the bill do not apply to active law enforcement officers authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to law, provided that when a person under the age of 18 is on premises under the control of the officer, the firearm must be: (a) stored in a gun safe or securely locked box or container; or (b) stored in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or inaccessible to a person under the age of 18. The bill also provides that its provisions do not apply to a lawful owner or a licensed retail dealer that displays the firearm, unloaded, for the purposes of sale or exhibition, provided that any firearm on the premises under the lawful owner's or licensed retail dealer's control, and that is not on display for the purposes of sale or exhibition, must be stored in a manner as defined by the bill. Under the bill, the failure of a firearm owner to properly store a firearm in accordance with the provisions of the bill will give rise to a permissive inference that the legal owner acted knowingly or recklessly in engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death to another person. The bill requires the court to notify a person convicted of a crime or offense involving an improperly stored firearm that he or she is prohibited from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm, and from receiving or retaining a permit to purchase a handgun (PPH) or a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC). The court also is required to order a defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender to a law enforcement officer of any firearm that has not already been seized or surrendered, as well as any PPH or FPIC. Within five days of the entry of an order, the defendant may arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed retail dealer. The dealer then has 10 days to take possession of the firearm. A law enforcement officer accepting a surrendered firearm is to provide the defendant with a receipt to be presented to the prosecutor as proof that the firearm was surrendered. If a firearm is surrendered to a law enforcement officer, but not sold to a licensed retail dealer, the officer is authorized to dispose of the firearm in accordance with the State's civil asset forfeiture laws. In addition, the bill requires a retail dealer or employee to notify a firearms purchaser and post signage, explaining the New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act and warning of the dangers associated with having a firearm in the home and the penalties imposed for unlawful access of an improperly stored firearm. The provisions of the bill also require the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign to inform and educate the public about the provisions of the bill, including the requirements and penalties imposed under the bill, and the dangers associated with the presence of a loaded, unsecured firearm in the home. The public awareness campaign is to be implemented in media outlets which include, but are not limited to: Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television ads, and other media outlets deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. The bill appropriates $500,000 to fund the public awareness campaign. The bill also requires the Attorney General to collect and analyze data related to implementation of the bill, including the number of violations that have occurred and the disposition of each violation. The Attorney General is required to study the overall impact of the bill, considering the effectiveness of the bill. The Attorney General also is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature summarizing the analysis and study conducted pursuant to the bill, and make the report available to the public on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The report is to be submitted and published by November 1st of each year. Finally, the bill repeals current law governing a minor's access to a firearm, to be replaced with the requirements and penalties established under the bill. | In Committee |
| A3310 | Requires certain local government community benefit agreements dedicate resources for affordable housing purposes. | This bill would prohibit county and municipal governing bodies from entering into certain "community benefits agreements" for large cash payments, unless the agreement requires that 50 percent or more of that cash payment be dedicated to affordable housing purposes within the local community. Affordable housing purposes under this bill would mean the creation or rehabilitation of low or moderate income housing as those terms are defined by the "Fair Housing Act." The bill defines a community benefit agreement as a binding legal agreement involving the governing body of a municipality or county and a developer of a commercial or residential project under which the developer agrees to pay for or provide certain resources to accommodate and benefit local community interests. In exchange, for these community benefits, the governing body of the local unit and other community stakeholders agree to approve or provide support for the developer's project. Community benefits agreements can be an important and valuable tool for local government units and the communities which these local units serve. These agreements can provide funding for local services and benefits to the community, including, but not limited to, funding and other resources for infrastructure, housing, workforce training, and development. This bill would assure that when a large cash payment is realized by a local government as a result of an agreement, a substantial portion of such a monetary payment is utilized to address affordable housing needs within the community. | In Committee |
| A896 | Establishes "Minority-Serving County College Stabilization Act" in Office of Secretary of Higher Education; appropriates $15 million. | This bill establishes the "Minority-Serving County College Stabilization Program" in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and makes an appropriation of $15 million for the bill's purposes. Under the bill, the program will provide grants to minority-serving county colleges that experience: a declining enrollment of full-time undergraduate students of at least 10 percent during the two years immediately preceding the submission of a stabilization plan; and a reduction in full-time instructional faculty and staff due to fiscal reasons during the two years immediately preceding the submission of a stabilization plan. A minority-serving county college that wishes to participate in the program may submit a stabilization plan to the Secretary of Higher Education. The stabilization plan is required to contain the following: (1) a statement describing the nature of the fiscal distress experienced by the minority-serving county college; (2) a plan to address the declining enrollment of the minority- serving county college; (3) a plan to provide restoration and stabilization of staff and support for students; (4) strategies for deploying resources specifically to improve instructional and instructional support capacity and encourage the enrollment and retention of students; (5) input from faculty and staff employed at the college, which will be evidenced in the form of a letter of support from each of the majority representatives of the respective campus collective bargaining units; (6) input from the broader community of the minority-serving county college, which will be evidenced in the form of a public hearing and formal authorization from the board of trustees of the college; and (7) the grant amount requested by the county college. The secretary is directed to establish the timelines and procedures for the submission of the stabilization plan. The bill directs the secretary to award grants under the program based upon review of the stabilization plan and subject to the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program. The secretary is required to make disbursements from the fund sufficient for qualified institutions to carry out their approved stabilization plans. The bill requires that, within 180 days of receiving a grant through the program, the minority-serving county college will submit a report to the secretary detailing the approved and proposed expenditures made with the funds. The college is required, within 180 days of the submission of the first report, to submit a second report to the secretary that details the expenditures made with the remaining funds. The reports are required to be made available on an Internet website that is operated by or on behalf of the minority-serving county college. Additionally, the bill directs the secretary to consult with the respective campus collective bargaining agents in order to review the reports. The secretary may seek input from the faculty and staff employed at the college and request additional financial information from the minority-serving county college in order to review the reports. To effectuate the provisions of the bill, there is appropriated to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education the sum of $15,000,000, of which $7,500,000 will be appropriated from the General Fund and of which $7,500,000 will be appropriated from funds received by the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," including, but not limited to, funds allocated to the State under the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," or any other federal funding provided to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on institutions of higher education. A minority-serving county college that receives a grant pursuant to the provisions of this bill will be required to spend the funds in accordance with its approved stabilization plan. If, at the end of a fiscal year, there are unspent monies from the program, the secretary is directed by the bill to distribute these funds to all minority-serving county colleges on a per student basis. | In Committee |
| A593 | Requires local boards of education to employ certain number of staff with expertise in student mental health. | This bill requires local boards of education to employ and assign on a full-time basis to each school within the school district at least two staff members with professional expertise in student mental health. Persons eligible to fulfill this requirement include licensed school counselors and school psychologists. The bill further provides that, for each school with student enrollment above 500, the board is required to employ and assign on a full-time basis additional staff members with professional expertise in student mental health in a manner that is proportional to student enrollment. | In Committee |
| A3296 | Requires New Jersey Law Revision Commission to identify statutes containing racially discriminatory language. | This bill requires the New Jersey Law Revision Commission (NJLRC) to identify racially discriminatory laws and propose ways in which those laws could be amended or repealed. Currently, the NJLRC is required to undertake a continuous examination of New Jersey statutory law in order to ensure it is properly adapted to present social needs and secures better administration of justice. Specifically, the commission identifies defective, anachronistic, redundant, or conflicting provisions and recommends to the Legislature ways these issues can be remedied. The commission also receives and considers recommendations from the public, government officials, and academic organizations on ways in which the laws of this state can be harmonized with modern concepts and conditions. In light of this preexisting statutory mandate, the commission is uniquely qualified for this new task. Historically, both northern and southern states passed laws with the purpose and effect of discriminating against people of color. New Jersey was no exception to this phenomenon as it was the first northern state to restrict the vote to white men and became the last northern state to abolish slavery. Although race relations have dramatically improved since the Civil Rights Movement, there is still more that can be done to ensure all citizens are treated equally under the law. While many racially discriminatory laws have been repealed by the Legislature or invalidated by subsequent court decisions, more of these problematic laws may still be a part of New Jersey's statutory code. For these reasons, a continuous effort to identify and propose ways in which these laws can be amended or repealed is one way historic wrongs can be corrected to ensure a better future for all citizens regardless of their race. | In Committee |
| A592 | Requires local boards of education to employ at least one school social worker per school. | This bill requires local boards of education to employ and assign on a full-time basis to each school within the school district at least one school social worker. The bill further provides that, for each school with student enrollment above 500, the board is required to employ and assign on a full-time basis additional school social workers in a manner that is proportional to student enrollment. | In Committee |
| A847 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion to provide Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas. The bill provides that the grants will be allocated by the Commissioner of Education for the following purposes: improving, retrofitting, and rebuilding playgrounds, public swimming pools, and other recreational infrastructure; reopening parks that have not been in operation for a long period of time; and establishing, enhancing, and procuring equipment and other materials for mentorship programs and organized after school and summer educational programs that would include computer science education, home economics education, and education concerning other life-building skills. | In Committee |
| A923 | Establishes Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.The purpose of the program is to address the current and projected critical shortage of educators in the State by providing an incentive for the State's top high school graduates to pursue a career in teaching. The program will provide loan redemption to finance the undergraduate or graduate study of program participants in exchange for full-time employment as an educator at a public school in the State. The bill establishes certain eligibility requirements for the program, and requires the authority to establish additional academic eligibility requirements, including quantitative measures of academic aptitude and achievement. The bill directs the authority to, subject to the availability of funds and a sufficient number of qualified applicants, select a minimum of 100 high school graduates each year to be eligible to receive an initial student loan to pursue a course of study at an institution of higher education in the State. Program participants may apply for loan renewal for four additional years, with the total loan received by any participant not to exceed $40,000 during undergraduate studies, and an additional $10,000 during graduate studies. The bill requires a program participant to enter into a written contract with the authority to participate in the program. The redemption of loans under the program is not to exceed $10,000 for each full year of service satisfactorily completed by the program participant. The total loan redemption amount for a program participant, for five years of service, is not to exceed $50,000. The bill provides that a program participant who has entered into a redemption contract with the authority may nullify that contract by submitting written notification to the authority and assuming full responsibility for repayment of the full amount of the participant's loan or that portion of the loan that has not been redeemed by the State in return for partial fulfillment of the contract. Finally, in the case of a program participant's death or total or permanent disability, the authority is required to nullify the service obligation of the participant, thereby terminating the participant's service obligation; or where continued enforcement of the contract may result in extreme hardship, the authority may nullify or suspend the participant's service obligation. | In Committee |
| A3285 | Allows person on police officer or firefighter eligible list who is unable to complete requirements for employment due to certain military service to have name placed on subsequent eligible list. | The purpose of this bill is to offer a second opportunity for employment to a member of the National Guard or the Reserves who could not accept a position as a police officer or firefighter because of service to the nation. It allows a person who previously passed or subsequently passes a civil service examination for the position of police officer or firefighter, but who was unable or is unable to complete any other requirements for employment because of active duty in the National Guard or the Reserves, to have the person's name placed in order by score on a subsequent eligible list (designated by the person) for the same type of position. This privilege would be available to Guardsmen and Reservists called to at least 30 days of continuous active duty after September 11, 2001 and prior to the termination of operation "Enduring Freedom." Any such person who met the maximum age requirement for a position at the announced closing date of the civil service examination on which the first list of eligibles is based will be deemed to have met such maximum age requirement on the date that the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list. | In Committee |
| A893 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Indigenous people as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. | This bill requires a board of education to include age-appropriate instruction on the history and contributions of the Indigenous people of the Americas for students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. A board of education would be required to adopt policies and procedures pertaining to the selection of instructional materials to implement the requirements of the bill and would be required to select materials that portray the cultural diversity of Indigenous people. The New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs will also be required to provide assistance and advice to school districts in implementing the instructional requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3300 | "HOPE Initiative Act;" requires establishment of public awareness campaign to educate citizens about dangers and causes of, and appropriate responses to, heroin and opioid addiction. | This bill would require the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services to establish and oversee a public awareness campaign that would be known as the "Heroin and Opioid Drug Public Education (HOPE) Initiative." The HOPE Initiative would be designed to combat the growing heroin and opioid epidemic in this State by educating the public about the dangers and causes of heroin and opioid addiction, and the appropriate responses thereto. The bill would require the division to work in consultation with the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, and, as appropriate, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, in developing, coordinating, implementing, and overseeing the HOPE Initiative. The HOPE Initiative would provide for the coordinated and widespread public dissemination of individual case stories and other generalized information that is designed to: - identify the pathways that can lead to opioid abuse and heroin use, and the reasons why opioid abuse may evolve into heroin use; - show the new face of heroin and opioid addiction, and rebut the commonly accepted myths and stereotypes about heroin users and opioid abusers; - condemn and stigmatize the abuse and diversion of prescription opioid drugs, while recognizing the legitimate use of those same opioid drugs as medications; - describe the effects and warning signs of heroin use and opioid abuse, so as to better enable members of the public to determine when help is needed; - show the link that exists between heroin and opioid addiction and suicidal behavior; - identify the pathways that are available for individuals to seek help in association with their own, or another person's, opioid or heroin addiction, and indicate the various telephone hotline systems that exist in the State for persons who wish to report a case of drug abuse or engage in substance abuse treatment; - highlight the provisions of the "Overdose Prevention Act," P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et seq.) that provide for the application of civil and criminal immunity to persons who seek medical assistance for a drug overdose; - highlight the availability of naloxone hydrochloride as a means to avert death from a heroin or opioid overdose, identify pathways for members of the public to obtain a prescription for naloxone and training in the emergency administration of naloxone, and promote the proper use of naloxone in crisis situations; - highlight the benefits of substance abuse treatment and the capacity of such treatment to allow for the reclaiming of lives that have been upset by addiction, and underscore the fact that relapses occur not because treatment is ineffective, but because of the nature of addiction, which is a recurring, relapsing disorder; - highlight the benefits of medication-assisted therapy using methadone, buprenorphine, or other similar drugs, and de-stigmatize the use of such medication-assisted therapy; - identify the methods that can be used by an individual to help finance the costs of substance abuse treatment; - identify the steps that individuals can take to prevent and deter family members, friends, students, patients, co-workers, and others from first experimenting with inappropriately obtained prescription opioid medications, and from misusing or mismanaging lawfully prescribed opioid medications; - identify the proper methods for safeguarding, and for safely disposing of, legitimately prescribed opioid medications; and - address any other issues that the division may deem appropriate and necessary to proactively educate the public about the State's heroin and opioid epidemic and the actions that can be taken by members of the public to mitigate the epidemic's effects. The information to be provided through the HOPE Initiative would be disseminated using every available type of media, including print media, television and radio, Internet and social media, billboards, and non-traditional media, such as milk cartons and water bottles. In addition, the division would be required to employ a variety of complementary educational themes and messages, which would be tailored to appeal to different target audiences in the State. At a minimum, the initiative would be required to incorporate: (1) at least one message that is directed at, and is tailored to influence and resonate with, individuals who are personally at risk of heroin use or opioid abuse, or who have already started down a pathway to addiction; and (2) at least one message that is directed at, and is tailored to influence and resonate with, other individuals, such as the family members and friends of addicted persons, as well as teachers, school nurses, medical practitioners, and employers. The bill would require information under the HOPE Initiative to be disseminated using culturally and linguistically appropriate means, in a manner that demonstrates respect for individual dignity and cultural differences. The bill would authorize the division to enter into public-private partnerships with pharmaceutical or health care insurance companies that provide services in the State, in order to facilitate the dissemination of information under the HOPE Initiative. On at least an annual basis, the division would be required to convene at least one focus group and conduct a survey of households in the State, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the initiative. Within 120 days after the completion of the annual focus group meeting and household survey, the division would be required to take appropriate action, as needed, to refine or improve the HOPE Initiative, such as by revising the educational themes and messages that are employed thereunder, in order to ensure that the initiative has the greatest positive impact on each target audience in the State. Within 180 days after the completion of each annual focus group meeting and household survey, the division would be required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature showing the findings from the focus group meeting and household survey; providing a summary of the actions that have been undertaken by the division to improve the HOPE Initiative in response to that focus group meeting and household survey; and providing any recommendations for legislative or executive action that may be necessary to facilitate the ongoing success of the initiative. The Commissioner of Human Services would be authorized to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A3290 | Allows certain senior citizens to apply for rent increase limit. | This bill is intended to assure affordable rental housing for a significant portion of New Jersey's senior citizen population. The bill would permit a tenant to apply to the Commissioner of Community Affairs for protected senior citizen tenant status so long as the tenant:· is 55 or more years old;· is not in the federal section 8 voucher program or the State rental assistance program, or a participant in another rental assistance program that disqualifies the resident pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the commissioner; · has lived in a dwelling unit in a particular building or structure that is not public housing for at least the previous 10 years as their principal residence; and · has an annual household income of $80,000 or less during the calendar year prior to the year the bill takes effect, to be adjusted annually. The bill provides that the annual income limitation for eligibility for protected senior citizen tenant status will be the same as the income limitation for eligibility under the homestead property tax reimbursement program, P.L.1997, c.348 (C.54:4-8.67 et al.). A person meeting those requirements would be granted protected senior citizen status and their landlord would be so notified. A landlord would be required to limit any rent increase to the annual index rate factor promulgated by the commissioner for that particular county. The annual index rate factor would be 75% of the increase in the average consumer price index, determined on an annual basis. For each county the commissioner would use the consumer price index applicable either to the New York metropolitan area or the Philadelphia metropolitan area, as appropriate to the location and economic conditions of the county, as determined by the commissioner. A landlord who increases the rent of a protected senior citizen tenant above the allowable amount would be liable for damages in an amount equal to the greater of $500 or three times the rent difference, plus reasonable attorney fees in a summary proceeding. A landlord facing undue hardship as a result of a tenant with protected senior citizen tenant status would be entitled to apply to the commissioner for a hardship waiver of the annual index rate factor. The commissioner could then set the rent at a level to ensure that the landlord does not suffer undue hardship. However, a waiver would have no effect on restrictions established by a municipal rent control or rent leveling ordinance. If a person who has been granted protected senior citizen tenant status resides in a municipality with a rent control or rent leveling ordinance, then this bill only allows the landlord to raise rent on that tenant by the amount permitted under the ordinance, or by the amount permitted by this bill, whichever amount is less. | In Committee |
| A856 | Establishes Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as principal department in Executive Branch and specifies functions, powers, and duties of department. | This bill establishes the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) as a new principal department within the Executive Branch. The bill specifies the commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. The commissioner serves as the administrator and chief executive officer of the DDEI. The functions, powers, and duties of the commissioner are set forth in this bill and will include consulting and assisting on efforts by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of Treasury to attempt to use underrepresented financial businesses to provide brokerage and investment management services; consulting and assisting on diversity, equity, and inclusion in investments by the State, and its political subdivisions, in the allocation of loans and grants for business formation, and in the provision of low interest loans and down payment support for homeowners; and consulting and assisting on diversity, equity, and inclusion in procurement by the State and its political subdivisions. The bill transfers certain State offices, units, and responsibilities to the DDEI. The functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Small Business Registration and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Services Unit in the Department of the Treasury would be transferred to the DDEI. Additionally, the DDEI would be responsible for the operation and continued development of the central registry, known as the Selective Assistance Vendor Information (SAVI II) database, which lists businesses certified as eligible to perform contracts under any State set-aside program. The bill requires Statewide and State agency-specific strategic plans for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in State government workforce. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in consultation with the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, and Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission must establish a coordinated Statewide initiative to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the State government workforce. Under the bill, the head of each State agency must, no later than 45 days following the issuance of the Statewide diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategic plan, and annually thereafter, develop and submit to Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategic plan. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to issue guidance on and State agencies to address: (1) paid internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships; (2) strengthening partnerships and recruitment with diverse communities and institutions; (3) pay equity (4) data collection (5) ensuring accessibility for State employees with disabilities; (6) evaluating the existence of any barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face in accessing State employment opportunities; and (7) the availability and use of diversity training programs. This bill establishes a requirement, to be overseen and enforced by the new department, that any entity which receives a development subsidy or financial assistance from the State submit and implement a strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The plan is intended to assist corporations and not-for-profit entities in better understanding the State's demographics, while affording minority-owned and women-owned businesses more opportunities to participate in the procurement of goods and services to the public and private sector. The bill specifies what information an entity is required to include in the strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan. Each recipient of a development subsidy or financial assistance is required, for the duration of the subsidy or five years, whichever is longer, to submit annual reports on the progress of the recipient towards achieving its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals for the reporting period. This bill also transfers the Division on Civil Rights to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The division currently is in the Department of Law and Public Safety and is under the direction of the Attorney General, in conjunction with a commission consisting of seven public members appointed by the Governor. Under the bill, the commissioner of the department assumes the responsibilities of the Attorney General. The public member commission continues in its current capacity. | In Committee |
| A1167 | Requires local recreation departments and youth serving organizations to have defibrillators for youth athletic events. | The bill requires that beginning on September 1, 2020, municipal or county recreation departments and nonprofit youth serving organizations, which organize, sponsor, or are otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, must ensure that there is available on site an automated external defibrillator (AED) at each youth athletic event and practice held on the department's or organization's home field. A recreation department or youth serving organization will be deemed to be in compliance with the AED requirement if a State-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has an AED available for use on site. A recreation department or youth serving organization and its employees, umpires, coaches, and licensed athletic trainers will be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of an AED. | In Committee |
| A3307 | Prohibits certain employment actions against employees affected by a declared state of emergency. | This bill prohibits an employer from taking any adverse employment actions against an employee who is unable to actively work or perform regular duties at the employer's place of business due to a declared state of emergency. The bill also prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to use any sick, personal, or other leave, paid or unpaid, for an absence from work due to a state of emergency. The bill prohibits an employer from discharging from employment or taking any other adverse action against an employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or other privileges of employment because the employee does not actively work and perform all regular duties at the employer's place of business due to a state of emergency during the time in which the state of emergency is in effect and applies to the areas where the employee lives or works and emergency management officials have advised individuals in those areas to evacuate or to not travel. The bill does not require an employer to pay any employee who is not actively working. The bill requires an employee who is unable to work due to a state of emergency to make every possible effort to notify the employer of the absence and return to work as soon as possible, but not later than the first shift or regularly scheduled work hours occurring after the declaration of the state of emergency is rescinded, or after an emergency management official has deemed the situation to be safe, whichever occurs first. The bill also provides that an employer who violates the provisions of the bill will be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. Finally, the bill defines "employee" to exclude physicians or other medical personnel or other personnel required to maintain essential healthcare services; "employer" as an employer or employer's agent, representative, or designee, but not any: public safety agency or any contractor of the agency that contracts to provide emergency repair, street clearing or other emergency services; contractor that contracts with private facility owners to provide street clearing for those facilities; licensed health care facilities; and not any public utility or public utility contractor; "public safety agency" as a division of a municipality, a county, or the State which dispatches, provides, or contracts to obtain, law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, or other emergency services; and "state of emergency" as a natural or man-made disaster or emergency for which a state of emergency has been declared by the Governor. | In Committee |
| A3291 | Prohibits certain demolitions without inspection for pest infestation. | This bill requires pest inspections prior to certain building demolitions in order to prevent pest infestations from migrating to adjacent buildings. This bill requires either a health officer or another local health agency employee, certified by the State Department of Health, or a commercial pesticide applicator, certified by the State Department of Environmental Protection for general and household pest control, to inspect certain buildings for mice, rats, roaches, and other pests before the demolition, and issue a certification indicating that pests are not present within or on the perimeter of the building at levels that place any nearby building at risk for infestation. If a severe pest presence does exist in the building to be demolished, then the pesticide applicator or local health agency shall be required to ensure that extermination takes place in the building prior to issuing the certification. No certification shall be required prior to demolition if no other building exists that is both located within 10 feet of the building to be demolished, and is on a different property. The inspection shall occur within two months of the construction permit issuance for demolition, and the certification shall be filed with the construction official before the issuance of the permit. Any certification that is issued by a pesticide applicator shall be filed with the health officer, in addition to the construction official, no later than five days before the construction permit issuance. At any time before construction permit issuance, the health officer may disapprove of the pesticide applicator's certification, and require a new inspection and new extermination be conducted before construction permit issuance. Certification shall not be required before demolition if the construction official determines that an immediate danger is posed by a structurally unsafe building. The construction permit applicant shall be responsible for the cost of any pest inspection and extermination required by this bill. The requirements of this bill would become operational on the first day of the eighth month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AR45 | Urges Congress to establish national infrastructure bank. | This resolution respectfully urges Congress to pass H.R.3339, establishing a national infrastructure bank. American infrastructure is in dire need of investment, as outlined by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Increasing frequency of extreme weather events further strains infrastructure approaching the end of its useful life. In New Jersey alone, less than 30 percent of the roads and bridges are in good condition. As host to a large portion of the northeast corridor, New Jersey moves national and international trade, and millions of people each day along deteriorating structures. Nationally, broadband access, modernization of the energy grid, and remediation of the water supply systems are of paramount importance. Economic vitality, national security, public safety and quality of life, are dependent on sound infrastructure. Current funding mechanisms do not address the scope of the need. Direct competitors of the United States rely on an infrastructure funding method invented and previously used by America. H.R.3339 addresses funding shortfalls for large, innovative infrastructure projects by establishing a national infrastructure bank, perpetually generating funds in a manner similar to a commercial bank. A dedicated, regenerative, nonpartisan funding mechanism is required to remedy inadequacies in our energy grid, transportation and other systems, in addition to preparing us for a future of increasing extreme weather conditions. | In Committee |
| A873 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas; stipulates uses of, and eligibility criteria for, funds. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion to provide Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas. The bill provides that the grants will be allocated by the Commissioner of Education for the following purposes: improving, retrofitting, and rebuilding playgrounds, public swimming pools, and other recreational infrastructure; reopening parks that have not been in operation for a long period of time; and establishing, enhancing, and procuring equipment and other materials for mentorship programs, public and nonprofit youth sports organizations and recreational programs, organized after school and summer educational programs that include computer science education, home economics education, and education concerning other life-building skills. Under the bill, grants would only be made available to municipalities that are members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA). The NJUMA is an association comprised of urban and rural municipalities that is dedicated to working with State and federal lawmakers and officials to develop appropriate and effective public policy measures that benefit the State's urban centers and to help lawmakers understand how public policy affects New Jersey's cities and municipalities. Member municipalities of the NJUMA display a disproportionate need for youth sports and educational programs. This bill would provide these municipalities, and the youth populations of the municipalities, with access to funding to improve, create, and support youth programs and facilities. Ensuring funding for the purposes described under the bill would represent a meaningful investment in the educational and social-emotional development of children in the eligible municipalities and provide them with stimulating after school and summer safe havens. | In Committee |
| A835 | Criminalizes certain actions of individuals who offer rental of residential property that they do not own or legally possess. | This bill would criminalize certain actions by "imposter landlords," who rent out or advertise for rent residential dwellings they do not own or lawfully possess. This bill provides that a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and in violation of the New Jersey consumer fraud act ("CFA"), P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), by claiming ownership or possession of a residential dwelling without the permission of the lawful owner or the owner's agent in order to rent the property out or obtain another benefit. The bill provides that a person would also be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and in violation of the CFA, if those actions or representations cause another person to take possession of a residential dwelling in order to collect rent or obtain another benefit, without permission of the lawful owner or the owner's agent. A crime of the fourth degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Violations of the CFA may result in an award of treble damages and court costs in an action initiated by the plaintiff, and authorize the Attorney General to initiate an action on the victim's behalf. These types of frauds are often conducted through the internet, via postings to online marketplaces such as Craigslist. This bill does not apply to tenants, subtenants, lessees, sublessees, or assignees who have a lawful occupancy interest in a property. The bill also would not apply to a real estate professional operating under a good-faith understanding that a client, customer, or potential client or customer, has a lawful interest in a residential dwelling. The bill would not impose any form of criminal or civil liability on an interactive computer service, as defined in federal law under 47 U.S.C. s.230. Finally, a person in violation of the provisions of this bill would not be immune from potential actions for theft, common law fraud, or any other civil or criminal liability not expressly described in the bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A841 | Requires BPU, electric power suppliers, and gas suppliers to publish certain information related to filing of customer complaints. | This bill requires electric power suppliers and gas suppliers (energy suppliers) to provide, in addition to all other requirements under current law, the phone number and website for filing complaints with the Board of Public Utilities, Division of Customer Assistance (BPU), and an explanation of the practice known as "slamming," which is the unauthorized change of a customer's electric power supplier or gas supplier, with customer contract summaries. The bill also requires energy suppliers, electric power utilities, and gas utilities to provide, in addition to all other requirements under current law, the phone number and website for filing complaints with the BPU on customer bills. The bill also requires the BPU to publish on its website, on a quarterly basis, a detailed report regarding customer complaints that does not include the names or other personal information of the customers who complained, but includes the names of the electric and gas public utilities, energy suppliers, private aggregators, and energy agents against which the complaints were filed. | In Committee |
| A2391 | Concerns carbon monoxide detectors in certain multiple dwellings and certain hotels. | This bill would further protect occupants of dwelling units in certain newly constructed multiple dwellings and certain newly constructed hotels by requiring monitored carbon monoxide detectors. The bill would require that any dwelling unit in a newly constructed multiple dwelling or newly constructed hotel that is required to be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector and a monitored fire alarm system, also be equipped with a monitored carbon monoxide system. The bill defines a "monitored fire alarm system" as a fire detection or suppression system which, in addition to sounding a localized siren or alert, also transmits a notification to the local fire department or emergency services entity in order to alert that entity of a potential fire emergency requiring response from the department or entity. A "monitored carbon monoxide system" is defined by the bill as a carbon monoxide sensor device which, in addition to sounding a localized siren or alert, also transmits a notification to the local fire department or emergency services entity in order to alert that entity of a potential carbon monoxide emergency requiring response from the department or entity. | In Committee |
| A872 | Establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with certain firearm offenses be detained prior to trial. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime or as a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm in violation of section 6 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:39-7) 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. Under section 6 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:39-7), persons convicted of certain serious crimes are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. A violation of this statute constitutes a crime of the second degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under this bill, if a court finds probable cause that a defendant possessed a firearm during the commission of a crime or was a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm 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 safety of any other person or the community. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. This rebuttable presumption applies under current law 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. | In Committee |
| A1703 | Establishes confidentiality of landlord-tenant court records; addresses adverse actions on rental applications. | This bill would preserve the confidentiality of the court records of landlord-tenant actions under certain circumstances. The bill defines the term "court records" expansively to include any record containing information regarding a past or current landlord-tenant action, and any record of the filing of a landlord-tenant action. The bill defines the term "landlord-tenant action" as any action brought by or against a landlord or tenant in the Special Civil part of the New Jersey Superior Court. The bill specifically provides that the court record of a landlord-tenant action will remain confidential and unavailable to the public for the first 60 days after and including the date the action is filed. Under the bill, the court record of a landlord-tenant action will remain confidential and unavailable to the public indefinitely unless the action results in a judgment for possession. The bill provides that if a landlord-tenant action results in an unconditional judgment for possession, the court record of the action will become public on the later of the 61st day after the date the action was filed or within 45 days after the date the matter is completely resolved. However, if the matter is appealed by either party, the court record remains confidential and unavailable to the public until the conclusion of the appeal, and will only be made available to the public if the landlord prevails. The bill also provides that the court record of a landlord-tenant action will remain confidential and unavailable to the public although a judgment for possession has been entered, if the judgment is subject to conditions that, if met by the tenant, may result in the judgment being vacated and the matter dismissed. However, if the court finds, after notice to the tenant and an opportunity to be heard, that the conditions have not been met, the court record shall be made available to the public at the conclusion of an appeal or an opportunity to appeal the judgment. Under the bill, the court record of a landlord-tenant action will remain confidential and unavailable to the public after entry of a judgment for possession if the tenant files a timely order to show cause seeking to vacate the judgment prior to being physically locked out of the housing unit. In this circumstance, the court record will remain confidential and unavailable to the public until the order to show cause is resolved, and will remain confidential and unavailable to the public if the tenant prevails. The bill provides that the court record of any cause of action brought by a tenant asserting a legal right against a landlord will remain confidential and unavailable to the public indefinitely, regardless of whether the tenant prevails, unless the tenant voluntarily consents to making the court record available to the public. The bill also addresses the use of court records by landlords when evaluating prospective tenants. The bill prohibits a landlord, when evaluating a prospective tenant, from considering a landlord-tenant action brought by or against a tenant that did not result in a judgment for possession, or which did result in a judgment for possession but was then dismissed or reversed. The bill also prohibits landlords from considering a judgment for possession that was entered and executed against a prospective or existing tenant three or more years prior to the tenant's application for tenancy. Additionally, the bill would require a landlord who takes an adverse action on a rental application to provide written notice of the adverse action to the prospective tenant, stating the reasons for the adverse action. The adverse action notice must disclose any screening information about the prospective tenant accessed by the landlord, and must append any screening report about the prospective tenant that was accessed by the landlord. The bill would authorize imposition of a penalty on a landlord who violates the bill's provisions concerning the improper screening of tenants. Specifically, the bill provides that in addition to any other penalty provided by law, a landlord will be liable for a penalty of not less than $1,000 for a first offense, and not less than $5,000 for a second and each subsequent offense, plus reasonable attorney fees. This penalty would be exclusive of, and in addition to, any moneys or property ordered to be paid or restored to any person in interest. | In Committee |
| A2421 | Establishes "Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program" in Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Camden, and Mercer counties; appropriates $400,000. | This bill establishes the Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program ("pilot program") to assist certain low-income households in the payment of rental security deposits. The bill also appropriates monies from the General Fund to support the pilot program. Under the pilot program, the Commissioner of Community Affairs ("commissioner") would provide insurance for the security deposits of approved households. After entering into a residential lease agreement, an approved household would be required to pay one-twelfth of the security deposit as an added monthly payment. If, prior to paying the full balance of the security deposit, the household violated the lease agreement, then the commissioner would be required to reimburse the amounts owed to the landlord. The reimbursement may not, however, exceed the portion of the security deposit not yet paid by the tenant, or the actual amount of damages that the landlord may collect from the security deposit. Thereafter, the household would be required to refund the commissioner in the amount of the reimbursement. The pilot program would operate in Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Camden, and Mercer counties for a minimum of three years. In addition to other eligibility requirements established by the commissioner, the bill provides that only households qualifying for "very low income housing," as defined in the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-304), would be eligible for the pilot program. Under the bill, the commissioner would provide each approved household with a letter of security deposit commitment, which may be used by the household, within six months of receipt, to enter into a lease agreement in lieu of a full security deposit payment. However, security deposit assistance would only be provided when the monthly rent does not exceed 40 percent of the household's monthly income. Any landlord who refuses rent to a household because of the household's participation in the pilot program would be deemed to violate the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-12). The bill also establishes the "security deposit assistance fund" as a separate, non-lapsing, dedicated account in the General Fund. Under the bill, the security deposit reimbursements provided by the commissioner to landlords would be payable from the "security deposit assistance fund." The bill appropriates $400,000 from the General Fund to the "security deposit assistance fund" to implement the pilot program. Under the bill, the commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before the first day of the 36th month following the commencement of the pilot program, to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program. | In Committee |
| A3264 | Establishes "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." The purpose of the task force is to study recent trends in eviction actions against residents of this State, identify the impact of evictions on renters, landlords, local governments, and the State, and make recommendations for legislation and strategies to create more effective and efficient policies regarding housing and evictions in the State. The task force will consider: (1) the causes and consequences of eviction at the State and local level; (2) the prevalence of eviction actions throughout the State; (3) the unmet legal needs of New Jersey residents facing eviction, including the costs associated with legal assistance and any funding mechanisms that may be utilized for the provision of legal assistance; (4) existing laws, rules, or regulations in this State that govern housing in general, and the eviction process in particular; (5) pending legislation in this State that addresses the eviction process; (6) pending legislation and existing programs in other states or jurisdictions that address the eviction crisis in the United States; (7) how affordable housing issues may exacerbate the eviction epidemic in this State; (8) how the eviction crisis may impact rates of homelessness in this State; (9) how the eviction process can be made more transparent, fair, and equitable for both residents and landlords; and (10) any other considerations the task force deems appropriate towards improving the eviction crisis in this State. The task force will be comprised of 23 members as follows: (1) the Commissioners of Community Affairs, Human Services, and Health, and the Attorney General, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; (2) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who will each be of different political parties; and two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who will each be of different political parties; (3) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, including one who is the dean of a law school located in this State; and (4) 13 public members, to be appointed by the Governor no later than the 60th day after the effective date of this bill, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Apartment Association; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Share Housing Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Legal Services of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Tenants Organization; one person upon the recommendation of the Bergen County Housing, Health, and Human Services Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness; one person upon the recommendation of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of Family Promise of New Jersey; and three members of the public who have a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the commissioner's designee will serve as chairperson of the task force. The members will service without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force. The task force may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs to provide staff support to the task force. Finally, the task force is to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, along with any legislation that it desires to recommend for adoption by the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the date of organization of the task force, at which point the task force will expire. | In Committee |
| A3309 | Imposes $0.25 surcharge on alcoholic beverages to be dedicated to Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund. | This bill provides for a $0.25 fee to be included in the price of each alcoholic beverage sold in certain municipalities for the purpose of funding alcohol education, rehabilitation and enforcement. Under the bill, the holder of a retail liquor license authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or bar which is located in a municipality with 200 or more of these licenses currently active or inactive is required to charge a fee of $0.25 to be included in the price of each alcoholic beverage sold on the licensed premises. These fees are to be collected by the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and deposited in the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund (AEREF). The AEREF supports programs aimed at alcohol and drug abusers. It is funded by an excise tax on licensed manufacturers, wholesalers, and State distributors of alcoholic beverages. The AEREF also receives moneys from a $100 fee paid by convicted drunk drivers. Proceeds from the AEREF are dedicated as follows: 75 percent to rehabilitation, 15 percent to enforcement, and 10 percent to education. The proceeds are distributed to the State's 21 counties according to a statutory formula based on population, income, and need. Under this bill, the AEREF also would receive the proceeds from the $0.25 per drink fee imposed by the bill on alcoholic beverages sold in restaurants and bars in municipalities with a large number of retail liquor licenses. | In Committee |
| A1865 | Establishes "Mission Critical Long-Term Care Teams"; provides for identification of and intervention at long-term care facilities at risk of operational and financial distress. | This bill provides for the establishment of Mission Critical Long-Term Care Teams, which will be responsible for identifying long-term care facilities for which progressive levels of oversight and direct intervention may be necessary to prevent the decline of health and safety at the facility or the disruption of necessary health care services at the facility. Each Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team will work collaboratively with long-term care facilities to improve the financial and operating results of the facility with a focus on resident health and safety. Each Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team established by the Commissioner of Health is to comprise four individuals with relevant expertise in long-term care administration and management, financial management, nursing care, infection prevention, social work, quality improvement, safety, and continuing professional education. The commissioner will establish specific indicators by which a long-term care facility may be evaluated for: operational and financial soundness, and the thresholds at which it may be considered to be in operational or financial distress or at risk of operational or financial distress; and the facility's capacity to ensure the rights afforded by State law to residents and to deliver the quality of care required by applicable licensing standards for the facility. When a survey or inspection conducted, or complaint received, by the Division of Health Facility Survey and Field Operations in the Department of Health (DOH), or by any other individual in the DOH, identifies a facility at risk based on any of the indicators established by the commissioner, the commissioner may dispatch a Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team to evaluate the facility and advise the facility as to any corrective measures it should take to resolve any identified issues. The commissioner may also dispatch a Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team at the request of facility management. The bill requires that any facility to which a Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team is dispatched cooperate with the team, and that the facility grant both the Mission Critical Long-Term Care Team and the DOH access to all physical plant operations and locations and to all financial, operational, and programmatic information requested | In Committee |
| A1600 | Requires school districts to take certain actions in circumstances when school meal bill is in arrears; prohibits shaming students with school meal bills in arrears; prohibits certain district actions in collecting unpaid school meal fees. | In February of 2015, the Legislature enacted P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) to establish a process that a school district must follow prior to denying a school breakfast or a school lunch to a student due to the fact that the student's school breakfast or school lunch bill was in arrears. The purpose of the law was to ensure that a student was not suddenly denied a school breakfast or school lunch, and that the student's parent or guardian received proper notice of the arrearage and an adequate opportunity to address the arrearage prior to the school district making a determination to deny the student school meals. This bill clarifies that nothing in section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) requires a school district to deny school breakfast or school lunch to a student whose bill is in arrears, but rather to provide adequate notice and opportunity to the student's parent or guardian if the district determines to take such an action. The bill amends that same section of law to require that, if a student's parent or guardian has not made full payment of a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill in arrears by the end of 10 school days, a school district must provide notice of any action to be taken by the school district in response to a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill being in arrears. The bill also amends that section of law to include a number of provisions regarding a school district's responsibilities when a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears. Pursuant to the bill, prior to contacting the parent to provide notice of the school meal bill in arrears, the school district is required to exhaust all options and methods to directly certify the student for the free or reduced priced meal program. If the school district is not able to directly certify the student, when the district sends the notification of the arrearage to the parent, it must include a paper copy of, or an electronic link to, an application for the school meal program and contact the parent to encourage submission of the application. The bill includes a provision that requires school districts to ensure that a student whose school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears is not shamed, treated differently, forced to go to the end of the food line, or served a meal that differs from what a student whose bill is not in arrears would receive. Under the bill, a district may not permit any action directed at a student to collect unpaid school meal fees. Districts may attempt to collect unpaid school meal fees from parents, but the districts are not permitted to threaten to make a child protective services report solely in regard to the arrearage. | In Committee |
| A1920 | Extends child care subsidies to families earning up to 300 percent of federal poverty level; appropriates funds. | This bill raises the annual household income limit for determining initial income eligibility under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. Currently, initial eligibility determination in the State's subsidized child care assistance program is limited to families that report a maximum annual gross family income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $55,500 for a family of four in 2022. However, according to the most recent ALICE Report by the United Ways of New Jersey, the average ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - Household Survival Budget in the State was $88,224 for a family of four in 2018. In 2018, 37 percent of New Jersey's 3.2 million households struggled to make ends meet, with 27 percent of these households categorized as ALICE households. This bill raises the maximum initial income eligibility, and subsequent redetermination income eligibility, for the State's subsidized child care assistance program to 300 percent of the FPL, which is $83,250 for a family of four in 2022. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to establish and utilize at least four tiers to determine initial income eligibility and placement on the Division of Family Development's co-payment schedule for child care services under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. The bill specifies that nothing in its provisions precludes the commissioner from establishing a child care assistance income threshold that is higher than 300 percent of the FPL. The bill additionally appropriates such sums as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill, which appropriation will be in an amount determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to approval by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Suspend Rule 22:5b | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 33 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 |