Legislator
Legislator > Declan O'Scanlon
State Senator
Declan O'Scanlon
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 13
In Office - Started: 01/09/2018
contact info
Holmdel Office
101 Crawfords Corner Road
Suite 4332
Holmdel, NJ 07733
Suite 4332
Holmdel, NJ 07733
Phone: 732-444-1838
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2886 | Requires pharmacies to provide certain information regarding insulin manufacturer assistance programs. | Requires pharmacies to provide certain information regarding insulin manufacturer assistance programs. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5141 | Establishes historic distillery license; allows consumption of licensee's products on and off licensed premises under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes a historic distillery license to be issued for use in connection with a premises which is included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Under the bill, the license holder would be allowed to manufacture any distilled alcoholic beverages and rectify, blend, treat and mix, and fortify, blend, and treat fermented alcoholic beverages. In addition, the license holder would be entitled to sell distilled alcoholic beverages at retail to consumers on the licensed premises of the distillery for consumption on the premises. The license holder also would be entitled to sell this product for consumption off the premises in a quantity of not more than five liters per person. The bill does not establish a limitation on the amount of distilled alcoholic beverages that the holder of this license would be entitled to manufacture. Under current law, the holder of a craft distillery license is limited to annually producing 20,000 gallons or less of distilled alcohol beverages. The license fee would be $1,000. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Passed |
| S4402 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | In Committee |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Passed |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Passed |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Passed |
| S1034 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | In Committee |
| S2223 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill codifies the current policy of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report summarizing compensation awards granted to eligible victims. Under the bill, the report is to summarize compensation awarded to victims during the previous fiscal year. The number of applications for compensation, the number of applications granted and denied and the reasons for the dispositions, the amount of awards, demographics concerning awards, services for which awards were provided, funding received by the office, and any other information deemed relevant by the VCCO also is to be included in the report. The bill requires the report to be completed within six months following the last day of the previous fiscal year. The report is to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature, as well as made available on the official website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. | In Committee |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Passed |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill codifies the current policy of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report summarizing compensation awards granted to eligible victims. Under the bill, the report is to summarize compensation awarded to victims during the previous fiscal year. The report is also to include the number of applications for compensation, the number of applications granted and denied and the reasons for the dispositions, the amount of awards, demographics concerning awards, services for which awards were provided, funding received by the office, and any other information deemed relevant by the Attorney General and the Executive Director of the VCCO. The bill requires the report to be completed within six months following the last day of the previous fiscal year. The report is to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature, as well as made available on the official website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. | Passed |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Passed |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Passed |
| S3607 | Extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | This bill extends accidental death benefits for survivors of certain State Police Retirement System (SPRS) retirees. Under current law, the surviving spouse or child of a retired member of the SPRS who died on or before July 8, 2019 and had been receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance is permitted to apply to receive accidental death benefits if the retired member had a qualifying condition or impairment of health due to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. This bill removes the limitation that only a surviving spouse or child of a qualifying SPRS retiree who died before July 8, 2019 is eligible, so that the provisions will apply regardless of when the SPRS retiree died. In addition, this bill establishes eligibility for a surviving spouse or child of a qualifying SPRS member who had been receiving an ordinary disability retirement, a special retirement, or a service retirement. This bill prohibits a written and sworn statement from being required when applying for the accidental death benefits. Under current law, a spouse or child is only eligible for accidental death benefits if the member's or retiree's death was the result of a qualifying condition or impairment of health which the medical board determines to be caused by participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. This bill also allows the World Trade Center Health Program to make this determination. Under current law, the spouse of a deceased retired member who is receiving a pension due to the death of that member on or before July 8, 2019 is eligible to apply to the board of trustees and, upon approval of the application by the board, will receive the accidental death benefits if the surviving spouse submits sufficient documentation that the deceased retiree would have qualified for a retirement. This bill also allows the spouse to apply if the member did qualify for retirement or if the member previously filed the required written and sworn statement. This bill requires notification to SPRS surviving spouses and children of the changes made by the bill by certified mail within 60 days after the bill's effective date. Under current law, a surviving spouse, former surviving spouse, or surviving child, or any legal guardian of the surviving child, must submit an application not later than two years after the effective date of the law. This bill allows survivors to submit an application not later than two years after the date of the member or retiree's death, or two years after the effective date of this bill, whichever is later. Under current law, a surviving spouse or former surviving spouse or surviving child, or any legal guardian of the surviving child, is prohibited from being granted a retroactive payment based upon the difference between the benefit the person would have received if the benefit had been applicable on the date of death of the retiree and the benefit that the person has received from that date of death to the effective date of the law. This bill also provides that these survivors are prohibited from being granted a retroactive payment based upon the difference between the benefit the person would have received if the benefit had been applicable on the date of death of the retiree and the benefit that the person has received from that date of death to the date of the application approval if the date of approval is later than the effective date of the law. | Crossed Over |
| S3426 | Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service firefighter applicants. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to establish and maintain a mentoring program for civil service firefighter applicants. The purpose of the mentoring program would be to assist applicants residing in a municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level through the civil service application, examination, and selection process, and to help address obstacles unique to their circumstances. The program will include a study group to help applicants in any municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level with the resources needed to compete with applicants in other communities that benefit from outside private study groups. The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. The program will be designed to provide mentoring to an applicant for the duration of the exam cycle, until the mentee completes the hiring process. The commission would develop criteria to determine eligibility in the program as a mentor and as a mentee. A mentor may be a current or former firefighter in good standing who obtained a firefighter position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed appropriate by the commission. A mentor or mentee may be removed from the mentoring program for good cause as determined by the commission. A mentee would be removed from the program upon the mentee's acceptance of an offer of employment. An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times within a 10-year period. A former mentee may be eligible to participate in the program as a mentor. No monies would be provided to a mentor to participate in the program, and no fees would be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. At least once a year, the commission would review the program for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs and purpose of the program. | Crossed Over |
| S1148 | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S1989 | Enhances criminal penalties for persons invloved in certain human trafficking activities. | Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities. | Crossed Over |
| S276 | Requires limited liability company to disclose ownership information when submitting deed for recording. | Requires limited liability company to disclose ownership information when submitting deed for recording. | In Committee |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | An Act concerning public brawls and disorderly conduct and amending N.J.S.2C:33-1 and N.J.S.2C:33-2. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3813 | Establishes historic distillery license; allows consumption of licensee's products on and off licensed premises under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes a historic distillery license to be issued for use in connection with a premises which is included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Under the bill, the license holder would be allowed to manufacture any distilled alcoholic beverages and rectify, blend, treat and mix, and fortify, blend, and treat fermented alcoholic beverages. In addition, the license holder would be entitled to sell distilled alcoholic beverages at retail to consumers on the licensed premises of the distillery for consumption on the premises. The license holder also would be entitled to sell this product for consumption off the premises in a quantity of not more than five liters per person. The bill does not establish a limitation on the amount of distilled alcoholic beverages that the holder of this license would be entitled to manufacture. Under current law, the holder of a craft distillery license is limited to annually producing 20,000 gallons or less of distilled alcohol beverages. The license fee would be $1,000. | In Committee |
| S4401 | Establishes Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program. | This bill codifies in permanent law the ARRIVE Together Crisis Response Pilot Program established pursuant to P.L.2022, c.36. The bill establishes the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program in the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS). The bill requires the Attorney General (AG) to issue guidelines for a mental health services provider or mental health services agency to contract with a law enforcement agency to respond to a request for assistance involving a person alleged, reported or suspected to be experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis. The bill permits an eligible police force to participate in the ARRIVE Together Program, including the Division of State Police, a county police department or force established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-106, a municipal police department or force established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-118, or any other police department or force the AG deems appropriate. Under the bill, a law enforcement agency that chooses to participate in the ARRIVE Together Program is required to designate at least one person as the crisis response support coordinator to develop and implement the agency's procedures to comply with AG's guidance. The bill also requires the county prosecutors to designate a county crisis response support coordinator to develop and implement county level guidance issued by the AG and to provide documentation or information to the AG as necessary. The bill also provides certain protections for personal identifying information. In the bill, "personal identifying information" is defined as information pertaining to the assessment, diagnosis, treatment or health status of an individual, including but not limited to an individual's name or identity; whether the individual is the subject of an emergency call or other report; whether the individual is alleged or suspected to be experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis or other emergency, incident or distress; and whether the individual is receiving an assessment for crisis intervention, a mental health screening, or other support services through the ARRIVE Together Program. Under the bill, personal identifying information is confidential and is not to be disclosed except upon express consent of the individual subject to an ARRIVE Together response, as determined necessary by the AG to implement the provisions of the bill, or as otherwise required by court or by law. Information and records created by a law enforcement agency solely as a result of the ARRIVE Together Program or maintained by the DLPS for the ARRIVE Together Program are also confidential and exempt from the open public records act, P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), under the bill. Finally, the bill supplements the Good Samaritan Act, P.L.1963, c.140 (C.2A:62A-1 et seq.), by providing that a licensed mental health services provider or mental health services agency contracted to provide crisis response services for the ARRIVE Together Program or a substantially similar program would not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any acts or omissions taken in good faith. | In Committee |
| SJR151 | Designates July 30 of each year as "Brian Sicknick Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates July 30 of each year as "Brian Sicknick Day" in New Jersey. On January 6, 2021, Officer Brian Sicknick was called upon to protect the United States Capitol. Officer Sicknick, who had served with the United States Capitol Police for more than 12 years, lost his life in the line of duty as a direct result of courageously defending Congress and the Capitol. Officer Sicknick was born on July 30, 1978 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His life can best be described as dedicated to public service. Officer Sicknick joined the United States Capitol Police in July of 2008 and on his most recent assignment he served on the First Responders Unit. During his career, Officer Sicknick became a member of the mountain bike unit. His duties included patrolling the grounds and protecting those he was sworn to serve, as well as the public at large that visited the Capitol on a daily basis. It is altogether fitting and proper to designate July 30 of each year as "Brian Sicknick Day" in New Jersey to recognize Officer Brian Sicknick who lost his life protecting the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. | In Committee |
| S3914 | Prohibits aquaculture of any species of octopus for purpose of human consumption. | This bill prohibits the aquaculture of any species of octopus for the purpose of human consumption. In addition, this bill prohibits a business entity from selling, possessing, or transporting any species of octopus that is the result or product of aquaculture. Any violation of the bill's provisions would be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000, and each day during which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The practice of octopus aquaculture has raised ethical and environmental concerns due to the highly advanced cognitive abilities and complex behaviors exhibited by these animals. Octopus farming practices and conditions, including inadequate living environments and confinement, may subject octopus to significant stress and suffering, compromise their well-being, and lead to adverse behavioral changes. As carnivores, octopuses require a high-protein diet sourced from wild fish and shellfish which could substantially increase demand on marine resources, further depleting fish stocks and disrupting marine ecosystems. Additionally, octopus aquaculture poses further risks to the marine ecosystems due to the heightened potential for the spread of infectious pathogens, which may impact other marine species and ecosystems. | In Committee |
| S4405 | Concerns parking violations that obstruct NJT bus operations and bicycle lanes in certain circumstances. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to issue citations for covered violations as evidenced by recorded images captured by bus obstruction monitoring systems. The bill requires a designated employee of the corporation or a contracted law enforcement agency to review recorded images for covered violations. The corporation is required to install and operate bus obstruction monitoring systems on buses owned and operated by the corporation, or operated under contract with the corporation, to capture recorded images of motor vehicles during the commission of a covered violation and to issue citations for covered violations. The number of buses to be equipped with bus obstruction monitoring systems is to be determined by the corporation. Under the bill, a bus obstruction monitoring system may only be used if it is operated by a bus obstruction monitoring system operator and a sign is affixed to the bus alerting drivers that the bus is equipped with a bus obstruction monitoring system. Under the bill, a bus obstruction monitoring system is to only retain recorded images of motor vehicles that contain evidence of a covered violation. Recorded images from a bus obstruction monitoring system may be retained for up to six months or 60 days after final disposition of the citation, whichever is later, if the record images contain evidence of a covered violation. If the recorded images do not contain evidence of a covered violation, the recorded images are required to be destroyed within 15 days after the recorded images were first captured. Recorded images are to be stored on secured servers or encrypted digital storage systems that meet or exceed State information security standards established by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Recorded images are not deemed a government record and are not to be discoverable as a government record by any person, entity, or governmental agency, except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter. Additionally, recorded images are not permitted to be offered as evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding not directly related to a covered violation. A bus obstruction monitoring system may not use biometric identification techniques, including facial recognition technology. A bus obstruction monitoring system operator is required to complete training by the manufacturer of the bus obstruction monitoring system in the procedures for setting up, testing, and operating the bus obstruction monitoring system. Upon completion of the training, the manufacturer is required to issue a signed certificate to the bus obstruction monitoring system operator, which certificate is to be admissible as evidence in any administrative or judicial proceeding for a covered violation. In addition, a bus obstruction monitoring system operator is required to perform manufacturer-specified functionality tests of each bus obstruction monitoring system prior to the start of daily service and at regular intervals throughout the day, as required by the manufacturer. Each test is to confirm proper operation of the camera, time and date stamp, location tracking, and image capture functions. A bus obstruction monitoring system operator is also required to complete and sign a test verification log for each bus obstruction monitoring system, which log is to meet certain requirements under the bill. Under the bill, no motor vehicle is permitted to stop, stand, or park in a dedicated bus lane, bus stop zone, or designated bicycle lane. Citations issued by a bus obstruction monitoring system for a covered violation may be contested on certain grounds as provided in the bill. An owner or operator of a motor vehicle who received a citation for a covered violation has 30 days from the date on which the citation was mailed to contest the alleged covered violation. If an owner or operator of a motor vehicle violates the bill's provisions, as captured by a bus obstruction monitoring system, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle is subject to a fine of $45 for the first offense. Subsequent offenses within that 12-month period are to increase by $45, with a maximum fine of $135 per offense. The corporation is permitted to retain any fines collected pursuant to the bill for the purposes of covering administrative costs of administering the bus obstruction monitoring system program. Any excess revenue from fines collected pursuant to the program is to be used to fund Access Link services. Additionally, the corporation is prohibited from entering into any agreement for bus obstruction monitoring systems or bus obstruction monitoring system operator services that bases contractor compensation on the amount of revenue generated in monetary fines collected. Prior to issuing any citations or fines for covered violations, the corporation is required to issue warning notices for 60 days following the date that active enforcement is implemented. The corporation is required to issue a public announcement regarding the corporation's implementation of the bus obstruction monitoring system and to provide the public with information about the bus obstruction monitoring system on the corporation's Internet website contemporaneous with the warning notice period. The bill requires the corporation to submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature regarding the bus obstruction monitoring system, which report is to include certain information. With this bill, the sponsor intends to enhance safety for passengers boarding and alighting from buses particularly at designated bus stops, as well as for pedestrians, cyclists, and micro mobility users who often share curbside and lane space. By keeping bus stops, bus lanes, and adjacent bike lanes clear of obstructing motor vehicles, the bill aims to improve transit reliability, reduce delays, and promote safer and more accessible streets for all users. | In Committee |
| S4434 | Prohibits application of State aid growth limit on certain school districts in 2025-2026 school year. | This bill prohibits the application of any State aid growth limit to the amount of uncapped fiscal year (FY) 2026 State school aid calculated for a school district that experienced a net decrease in actual State school aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. Under the FY 2026 State aid notices, the Department of Education calculated the amount of uncapped equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security aid, and transportation aid for which a school district would be eligible in the 2025-2026 school year. The department then determined that no school district would be eligible for an increase in the sum of these aid categories of greater than six percent when compared to the amount of State school aid the district received in these aid categories, plus any adjustment aid the district may have received, in the 2024-2025 school year. If the increase in the district's FY 2026 uncapped State school aid total in these categories is greater than six percent, the department reduced the sum of the district's State aid entitlement in these categories through the application of a State aid growth limit so that the increase is no greater than six percent. This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Education from applying any State aid growth limit to increases in a school district's uncapped State school aid for the 2025-2026 school year if the school district experienced a net decrease in the amount of State school aid received between the 2017-2018 school year and the 2024-2025 school year. | In Committee |
| S4331 | Prohibits local government from naming its property after foreign terrorist organization. | This bill prohibits a local government from naming property under its ownership or control, including, but not limited to, a road, bridge, school, building, neighborhood, community, or park, after a group, that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government, or after land controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill requires the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (office), to develop and publish a list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands controlled by foreign terrorist organizations, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill defines a "local government" as a municipality, county, school district, or other political subdivision of the State, or any public board, commission, committee, authority, or agency which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority, or agency. The bill requires a local government to remove or dismantle signs, street pole banners, plaques, or other forms of displays of support for, or the naming of property after, a foreign terrorist organization, under the control or ownership of the local government within 30 days following the bill's enactment. Within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the bill requires a local government that has named property under its control or ownership after a foreign terrorist organization to rename the property so that it does not identify the name of as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill requires the State to reimburse local governments for both of these costs, upon application. If a local government violates the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, for each day in which the local government is in violation of the bill, is directed to deduct a portion of the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government. The daily deduction is to be in an amount equal to the result of dividing the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government by the total number of days in the fiscal year in which the State aid is allocated. The bill provides that the division, in consultation with the office, is to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3059 | Makes use of front registration plate optional for certain vehicles. | This bill permits operators of passenger automobiles and motorcycles registered in the State to display only one rear license plate. The bill specifies that any person who was issued two license plates prior to the effective date of the bill may return one of those plates to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission free of charge. Additionally, individuals may request the issuance of only one registration plate instead of two. | In Committee |
| A4751 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of service credit in the State Police Retirement System for certain military and police service and amending P.L.1965, c.89 and P.L.2013, c.87. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2606 | Requires Medicaid reimbursement of mental health rehabilitation services provided via clubhouse program. | Requires Medicaid reimbursement of mental health rehabilitation services provided via clubhouse program. | Crossed Over |
| A2813 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | An Act concerning the Social Work Licensure Compact and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1548 | Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions. | An Act concerning school district policies on student sun protection and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2688 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | This bill will enter New Jersey into the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact establishes a multistate license system in which an individual licensed at the clinical, master's or bachelor's level in social work needs only to obtain licensure in one state that is a party to the compact in order to practice as a social worker in another member state to the compact, so long as certain requirements established under the compact are met by the individual. Under the bill, provisions are established regarding, among other items, the authority of a member state's licensing authority; how an adverse action against a multistate licensee is managed; the set-up of the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission and its Executive Committee; the collection of data on member states; and how to withdraw from the compact, if sought by a member state. | In Committee |
| S3507 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3098 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | In Committee |
| S3952 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | In Committee |
| S3955 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | In Committee |
| S3606 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | This bill allows a member of the New Jersey State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase credit in the retirement system for military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, the period of enrollment in the New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as a class two special law enforcement officer prior to becoming a member. Under current law, a period of service in the United States Armed Forces qualifies as military service that a member of the SPRS may purchase for retirement purposes. This bill permits the purchase of the period of enrollment in a United States military service academy. The military service academies are the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy. These four service academies educate young people to serve as commissioned officers in the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. They are the only academies whose students are on active duty in the United State Armed Forces from the day they enter the academy, with the rank of cadet and midshipman, and subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This bill also allows a member of the SPRS to purchase credit in the retirement system for graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy or for employment as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both, prior to becoming a member. The bill provides that a member may purchase credit for all or a portion of such service rendered while enrolled in the New Jersey State Police Academy or employed by a public employer as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both. Under the bill, the SPRS credit purchased for enrollment in the New Jersey State Police Academy or employment as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both, is equivalent to service in the State Police as a member of the SPRS in qualifying for retirement benefits. | In Committee |
| S4275 | Prohibits State contractors from distributing data to foreign adversaries. | This bill prohibits State contractors from selling, transferring, disclosing, or providing data to a foreign adversary. Pursuant to the bill, a person or entity that sells, transfers, discloses, or provides data to foreign adversaries, or entities directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary, will be placed on a list by the Department of the Treasury and will not be permitted to contract with State agencies, subcontract with State contractors, file or renew a Public Works Contractor Registration, receive an economic development subsidy from the Economic Development Authority, be awarded a municipal property tax abatement, make or enter into a payment in-lieu of property tax agreement, apply for or receive a tax clearance certificate from the Division of Taxation, be certified as an urban renewal entity for purposes of the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," or be designated as a redeveloper by a public agency for the purposes of the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." The bill also prohibits the State from banking with, having or holding stock, debt, or other equity investments of, or maintaining insurance coverage through a policy issued by a financial institution that has sold, transferred, disclosed, or provided data to a foreign adversary or an entity directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary. | In Committee |
| S4274 | Allows active duty members of United States military to carry firearm at all times. | This bill allows active duty members of the United States Armed Forces or of the National Guard to carry a personal or service rifle or handgun at all times in this State. Current law permits members of the military to carry weapons authorized by the appropriate military authorities while on duty or while traveling between places of duty. Under the bill, military personnel may only carry firearms authorized for civilian use in New Jersey while off duty. Recently, terrorist organizations claiming affiliation with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have threatened to attack members of the military and their families within the United States. Whether motivated by terrorism or otherwise, members of the military have been targeted in the 2007 plot to attack Fort Dix, the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, the 2009 attack on an Army recruiting center in Little Rock, the 2013 shootings at the Washington Navy Yard, and the 2015 attacks on a recruiting center and a Navy Reserve facility in Chattanooga. This bill would permit members of the military stationed in New Jersey to carry a firearm at all times in order to protect themselves, their families, or other unarmed civilians in the event of a terrorist attack. | In Committee |
| S4157 | Requires DCA to enable certain construction subcode applicants to electronically submit certain materials for permit application review; limits requirements for physical seal on documents at worksite. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to accept electronic submissions from a licensed plumbing, electrical, or heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractor corresponding to the contractor's discipline. Submissions for which the bill requires DCA to accept electronic submissions include, but are not limited to, subcode application forms or documents supporting the applications, such as shop drawings or documents displaying the calculations necessary for compliance with the electrical, fire protection, or energy subcode. The bill prohibits DCA from requiring the physical seal or signature of these contractors to be affixed to the subcode application form. Additionally, this bill prohibits DCA from requiring physical copies of plans at the worksite of a licensed plumbing, electrical, or heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractor to have an affixed physical seal. This bill is to take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Community Affairs is permitted to take anticipatory actions necessary to comply with the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3506 | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | In Committee |
| S3695 | Requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by each school district. | Requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by each school district. | Crossed Over |
| S1688 | Prohibits certain non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions in employment contracts. | Prohibits certain non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions in employment contracts. | In Committee |
| S2386 | Provides gross income tax credit to active members of volunteer emergency service organizations for use of personal motor vehicle in performance of active duty. | This bill establishes a refundable gross income tax credit to provide reimbursement to active members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads for the use of their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The amount of the credit is determined by multiplying the business standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service for transportation or travel expenses by the number of miles the taxpayer actually and necessarily traveled by the taxpayer in the tax year using their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The maximum amount of the credit would be $500. If married individuals filing a joint return both qualify, they would be allowed a joint credit of up to $1,000. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer would, in the taxable year for which the credit was claimed, have to: (1) have been an unpaid member in good standing of the organization; and (2) have completed "qualifying service" with the organization. The bill defines "qualifying service" as: (a) for a volunteer who does not have duty hours, (i) active participation in at least 60 percent of the regular alarms or other calls to active duty to which the organization responds during the taxable year, (ii) recorded attendance at not less than 60 percent of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, (iii) participation in all of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, and (iv) performance during the year of not less than 60 percent of any other miscellaneous duty required by the organization; or (b) for a volunteer who does have duty hours, performance of at least 400 duty hours during the year, of which no more than 50 percent could be for drills or other training classes or exercises. The bill requires each volunteer emergency services organization to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, on or before January 15 of each year, a list of the active members of the organization during the prior tax year. The certification will assist the Division of Taxation in verifying a taxpayer's eligibility for a gross income tax credit under the bill. | Crossed Over |
| S364 | Adds fusion to types of Class I renewable energies as defined for purposes of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act." | Adds fusion to types of Class I renewable energies as defined for purposes of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act." | Crossed Over |
| S3190 | Requires certain juveniles to appear before court in county where incident giving rise to delinquency complaint allegedly occurred. | Requires certain juveniles to appear before court in county where incident giving rise to delinquency complaint allegedly occurred. | Crossed Over |
| S4008 | Imposes locational restriction on construction of a new crematory. | Imposes locational restriction on construction of a new crematory. | In Committee |
| S3565 | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S116 | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | In Committee |
| S1000 | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| S4099 | Requires automatic voter registration to be available when applying for certain licenses and permits. | This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at an agency, office, or local police force providing certain licenses and permits. The bill requires the automatic voter registration process to be available for persons applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, all around sportsman licenses, beaver trapping, wild turkey, or deer permits under the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and firearms purchaser identification cards or permits to carry handguns at local police forces or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the respective agencies, offices, and local police forces to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). The bill also adds licenses to operate a power vessel, also known as boating licenses, under the NJMVC's current automatic voter registration process. Under the bill, any agency, office, or local police force that provides the above mentioned licenses and permits, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| S3643 | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | In Committee |
| S4066 | Establishes that final restraining order survives plaintiff's death where other persons are also protected; requires prosecutors to provide notice of defendant's release to other persons protected by order. | This bill amends the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act ("PDVA") to expressly provide that a domestic violence final restraining order survives the death of the person protected by the restraining order, where that restraining order also protects other persons besides just the recipient. This bill also amends the law to require that prosecutors provide notice of a defendant's release be given to other persons protected by a final restraining order, in addition to just notifying the restraining order's recipient. Under current law, a final restraining order issued in this State is permanent and does not have an automatic expiration date or event, such as the death of the recipient. A final restraining order can, however, be dissolved or modified upon good cause shown if one of the parties files an application with the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court, but only if the judge who dissolves or modifies the order is the same judge who entered the order or has available a complete record of the hearing or hearings on which the order was based. However, this bill would clarify that a domestic violence final restraining order that also protects other persons, besides just the recipient, does not terminate upon the recipient's death. This bill further directs prosecutors to notify, not only a victim of domestic violence, but also any other person who is listed as a protected person on any domestic violence final restraining order, upon a domestic violence defendant's release from custody. Under current law, whenever a defendant charged with a crime or an offense involving domestic violence is released from custody the prosecuting agency is to notify the victim. However, there is no such notification requirement for any other person who is listed as a protected person on any domestic violence final restraining order. This bill adds this requirement. | In Committee |
| S1659 | Requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome and requires installation of signage in certain women's rooms to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. | This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome in grades four through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. This bill would also require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets. The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill would require the menstrual toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department. Under the bill, "group A or M occupancy" means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in the most recently adopted New Jersey International Building Code. Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade five are excluded from the "group A or M occupancy" definition. This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly. Women that use tampons and similar devices have a higher risk of contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches. As menstrual toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion. Menstrual toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. This bill is in honor of Madalyn "Maddy" Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017, just days after contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida. | In Committee |
| S1411 | Requires stress testing on State's ability to provide services in various economic conditions. | This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to, once every third year, conduct and report on a stress test analysis of the State's ability to maintain services and provide necessary assistance to residents in various economic conditions. The stress test analyses required by this bill would include: (1) long- and short-term projections of major funding sources, including revenues from major taxes and funding from the federal government; (2) a comparison between projections of major funding sources and historical trends for each of those funding sources; (3) an analysis of expenditures that are likely to increase or decrease in various economic conditions; (4) an accounting of the State's reserves, including amounts deposited into the "Surplus Revenue Fund"; and (5) options that the State has to respond to, and lessen the negative impact of, economic recessions. Under the bill, the Department of the Treasury is required to make the stress test analyses publicly accessible on its website, and include it as part of the Governor's annual budget message. | Crossed Over |
| S2498 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain educator common application and web portal. | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain educator common application and web portal. | Crossed Over |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2814 | 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. | In Committee |
| SJR49 | Designates March 30th of each year "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day." | Designates March 30th of each year "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day." | In Committee |
| S988 | Requires DOE and DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results. | This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results. In July 2016, the State Board of Education adopted regulations requiring every school in the State to test for lead in drinking water. Shortly thereafter, in January 2017, the Department of Children and Families adopted regulations requiring each child care facility in the State to test for lead in drinking water. While lead test results were required to be submitted to the respective departments and made available to children and parents, there is currently no centralized database for, or report on, this data available to the public and policy makers. Such a centralized database would allow policy makers and the public to better understand the extent of lead contamination in schools and child care centers in the State and allow policy makers to do the necessary analysis to effectuate remedial funding and technical assistance. This bill would require the DOE and the DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and childcare centers to report their lead testing results electronically. Under the bill, within 90 days after establishment of the databases, each school and childcare center that was required pursuant to law or regulation to test for lead would be required to submit or resubmit its test results and any other required information via the online reporting system. The DOE and DCF would be required to compile the test results on their respective Internet websites for access by the public. Finally, the bill would require both departments to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the extent of lead contamination in the drinking water of schools and child care centers, the associated need for assistance with remediation activities, and recommendations for how the State can assist schools and child care centers with remediating lead in drinking water. This bill stems from recommendations in the Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure's final report, released in January 2018. | In Committee |
| S2978 | 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. | In Committee |
| S3537 | Requires State to bear partial cost of transportation of certain homeless students to school. | This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence. Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student's parent or guardian remains homeless for that period. In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless. | In Committee |
| S2901 | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | This bill permits a public high school student in the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade who participates in a school-sponsored sport and who is scheduled to attend a physical education course during the athletic season of that sport to substitute the physical education course with a study hall. The student who chooses to substitute the physical education course with a study hall is to receive for participation in the sport the number of high school graduation credits equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course. The bill requires the parent or guardian of the student to provide the school district with written approval for the substitution. The coach of the school-sponsored sport is given the responsibility to certify to the school district the student's participation in the sport. The bill provides that the school district is to determine which school athletic activities constitute a school-sponsored sport. Only student-athletes participating in school-sponsored sports will be permitted to elect to substitute study hall for physical education during that athletic season. This bill does not exempt students from the statutory requirement that they attend at least two and one-half hours per school week of health and safety education courses, when these courses are scheduled. This bill also does not affect the physical education requirement for students in grades one through eight or for high school students who do not participate in school-sponsored sports. | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3860 | Requires school district capital project referendums to be voted on at primary or general elections, or certain municipal or special elections. | This bill requires school district capital project referendums to be voted on only during the June primary elections and the November general elections. Under current law, a school district capital project referendum may take place during an annual or special school election. An annual school election may be held in April or November, and a special election may be held on the fourth Tuesday in January, the second Tuesday in March, the last Tuesday in September, or the second Tuesday in December. This bill will mandate that school district capital project referendums may only be held during the June primary elections or the November general elections, during an already occurring special election being held for another purpose, or during a municipal election held regularly outside of the June primary election and November general election, when that election includes all of the legal voters of the school district. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to coordinate with the county clerk of each county on how the school district capital project referendum questions are to be displayed on a June primary election ballot. | In Committee |
| A4447 | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | An Act concerning health care practitioner referrals and amending P.L.1989, c.19. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S359 | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay fee to MVC in certain circumstances. | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay fee to MVC in certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3817 | Requires DEP to implement Advanced Clean Trucks regulations no earlier than January 1, 2027. | This bill would delay the implementation of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP's) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations to January 1, 2027. Under current law, N.J.A.C. 7:27-31.3, the regulations would become operative on January 1, 2025. The DEP adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in 2021. Pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the DEP is authorized to implement California's Low Emission Vehicle Program in New Jersey. The ACT regulations would require, among other things, that manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty motor vehicles sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions vehicles, capping at 40 percent to 75 percent of annual sales in 2035, depending on the type of vehicle sold. | In Committee |
| A4811 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3257 | Allows law enforcement agencies to distribute epinephrine to officers; requires training. | Allows law enforcement agencies to distribute epinephrine to officers; requires training. | In Committee |
| S3809 | Requires converting portion of Paramus and Menlo Park veterans' memorial homes into single occupancy rooms; requires upgrades to ventilation systems; provides Adjutant General discretion for additional room considerations. | Under this bill and subject to the availability of federal funds provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and federal funds provided or made accessible to the State from the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will convert at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park and at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus to single occupancy rooms. The rooms will be equipped with negative pressure ventilation to support infectious disease control measures, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems will be upgraded throughout the two homes to infection control system standards. If the federal funds are not sufficient to accomplish the conversions and upgrades, there will be appropriated such sums from the General Fund as necessary, in amounts subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, for use by the department to accomplish the changes outlined in the bill. | In Committee |
| S3089 | Concerns sexual assault forensic evidence kits. | Concerns sexual assault forensic evidence kits. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2505 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain an educator common application and web portal. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain an educator common application and web portal, which is required to be fully operational within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The purpose of the web portal is to allow an educator to submit a single common application to apply for employment at the public schools of the State. Under the bill, the common application and web portal will: (1) maximize the ability of educators to connect with public schools that have employment openings; (2) increase the degree of information sharing regarding employment opportunities for educators; and (3) maintain high standards for data privacy and security. The bill permits the commissioner to contract with a private vendor to effectuate the bill's purposes. The bill also clarifies that nothing in the bill will be construed to prevent a school district or public school employer from using its own application process or web portal or from requiring additional materials from applicants who apply for employment using the common application and web portal established pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2283 | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | In Committee |
| S1388 | Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes. | This bill resolves an apparent conflict between provisions in chapter 10 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes, which permit municipalities to offer group health insurance benefits to volunteer fire fighters and emergency responders, and provisions in chapter 27A of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes regarding small employer health benefits plans. For example, although N.J.S.40A:10-30 authorizes a municipality to provide group health plans to volunteer firefighters, those volunteers are not considered eligible employees under the small employer health benefits plan statutes. This bill clarifies that these volunteers, as well as emergency responders, may be included in the group of eligible employees in municipalities regarded as small employers, and thereby receive coverage under the same group plan. | In Committee |
| S3602 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | Introduced |
| S3242 | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | In Committee |
| S3455 | Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses. | Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses. | Vetoed |
| S3555 | Requires DOT to study use of zipper merge method on State roadways. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department), within 30 days of the bill's effective date, to commence a year-long study on the usage of the zipper merge method and its effectiveness in reducing congestion and improving traffic flow on roads where construction or infrastructure projects are taking place, causing the closure of one or more lanes. Under the bill, the study is to include, at a minimum: (1) a review of existing research and studies on the zipper merge method conducted by other states or transportation agencies; (2) an evaluation of the feasibility and potential benefits of implementing the zipper merge method on roads where construction or other infrastructure projects are taking place, causing the closure of one or more lanes; (3) an analysis of the impact of the zipper merge method on traffic safety and the potential for reducing accidents and conflicts; and (4) an identification of any necessary infrastructure modifications or signage requirements for the implementation of the zipper merge method. If the study's findings support the implementation of the zipper merge method, the department is required to develop a plan for implementing the zipper merge method on State roadways where construction or infrastructure projects are taking place, causing the closure of one or more lanes. The bill also requires the department to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within six months after completion of the study. The report is to include the study's findings and, if the study's findings support the implementation of the zipper merge method, the plan developed by the department under the bill. The bill defines "zipper merge method" as a method of merging vehicles at a merge point that involves the operators of the merging vehicles: (1) using both lanes of traffic until the vehicles reach the merge point; and (2) once the vehicles reach the merge point, alternating yielding the right-of-way into the single traffic lane. In addition, the bill defines "merge point" as the point at which two traffic lanes merge into one traffic lane. | In Committee |
| S3548 | Requires penalty for false or fraudulent voter registration to be displayed on Motor Vehicle Commission electronic signature pads. | This bill requires penalties for false or fraudulent voter registration to be stated on voter registration forms completed on electronic signature pads at Motor Vehicle Commission agency locations. Paper voter registration forms include the following penalty statement: "I UNDERSTAND THAT ANY FALSE OR FRAUDULENT REGISTRATION MAY SUBJECT ME TO A FINE OF UP TO $15,000, IMPRISONMENT UP TO FIVE YEARS, OR BOTH PURSUANT TO R.S.19:34-1." This bill requires that the statement, or substantively the same notice and affirmation of the penalty, is included on the electronic signature pads for Motor Vehicle Commission customers registering to vote. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4581 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program projects for FY 2025. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance the cost of certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3471 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program projects for FY2025. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $7,198,045 to provide low-interest loans to local government units that undertake one of six eligible hazard mitigation and resilience projects listed in the bill. The loans represent the NJIB's implementation of the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) for fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025). The CHAMP program was established by the "Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program Revolving Loan Fund Act," P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.), in order to implement the federal "Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act" (STORM act), Pub. L. 116-284, in New Jersey. The bill would permit the NJIB to use any loan repayments received to date, and the amounts for capitalized interest and interest accrued pursuant to a loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Community Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program, in order to fund the CHAMP for FY 2025. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to utilize certain funds generated by the operation of the bank, including, but not limited to, proceeds from the sale of bonds, the revenues derived from investments, and loan repayments, to defray the NJIB's FY 2025 operating expenses. Since its creation in 2023, the NJIB, in partnership with the State Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Law and Public Safety, applied for federal STORM Act funds and received approximately $7 million to finance the construction of hazard mitigation and resilience projects with the mission of reducing the cost of financing these projects for New Jersey counties and municipalities. | In Committee |
| S2493 | Establishes minimum base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate of $1,100 for special care nursing facility with neurologically impaired young adult unit. | This bill establishes a minimum base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate of $1,100 for special care nursing facilities which operate a neurologically impaired young adult unit. Under the bill, a special care nursing facility is defined as a nursing facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) that is not a unit attached to, or on the same campus as, a rehabilitation or acute care hospital and is not a distinct unit within a NJ FamilyCare-certified conventional nursing facility, and which has been approved by the Department of Human Services to provide care to NJ FamilyCare recipients who require specialized nursing facility services beyond the scope of a conventional nursing facility Specifically, the bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to reimburse a special care nursing facility, issued a certificate of need by the Department of Health as of July 1, 2023 to operate a neurologically impaired young adult unit, a base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate that is, at a minimum, the greater of the special care nursing facility's FY 2022 base NJ FamilyCare per diem reimbursement rate or $1,100 per diem. This bill applies to reimbursements beginning January 1, 2024 and only those facilities in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations concerning licensure, patient safety, and quality of care. | Crossed Over |
| S2491 | Increases maximum number of respite care service hours funded through DCF for certain families. | An Act concerning respite care, and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1709 | Clarifies that certain beach owners and lessees have no duty to keep beach safe or to warn of hazards; provides immunity from liability, in certain cases, for injuries occurring on beach or in adjacent waters. | This bill would clarify the duties and liabilities of private beach owners and lessees with respect to injuries suffered by beachgoers, either while on the beach or while on or in the adjacent ocean or other adjacent tidal waters. Specifically, the bill would provide that any private beach owner or lessee who allows, or who is required by the State to provide, public access to the beach premises for sport and recreational activities will have no duty: (1) to keep the beach premises safe for entry or use, by members of the public, for sport and recreational activities, regardless of whether the beach premises is maintained in its natural condition, is improved, or is used as part of a commercial enterprise; or (2) during any period of time in which the beach premises, or any portion thereof, is unguarded, to post or maintain signs or notices warning visitors to the unguarded beach area of the potential or actual dangers that may exist or arise as a result of the natural conditions of the beach or adjacent tidal waters, or due to the use of any structure or improvement, or the engagement in sport and recreational activities, thereon or therein. The bill would further provide that, regardless of whether any public warning or notice of potential or actual dangers is provided, a private beach owner or lessee will not be liable to any person for injury or death resulting or caused thereto when such person is accessing the beach premises or the adjacent tidal waters for sport and recreational purposes at any time when the beach premises, or the relevant portion thereof where injury or death occurs, is unguarded. An "unguarded beach area" is defined, by the bill, to mean any portion of privately owned beach premises, or the entirety of such premises, as the case may be, where or whenever there is no attendant, on-duty lifeguard available, on-site, to monitor the safety of visitors and respond to injuries occurring on the premises or relevant portion thereof, as the case may be, and on or in the tidal waters adjacent thereto. "Unguarded beach area" would include any portion of a privately owned beach premises which is situated outside of the designated and demarked boundaries of a guarded beach area; and any guarded beach area, during any period of time in which the ordinarily attendant, on-duty lifeguard is not on-site and available for duty. The bill would also provide a private beach owner with immunity from liability for injury or death resulting or caused to a person who is accessing the beach premises or adjacent tidal waters for sport and recreational purposes at any time of day when the beach premises, or the relevant portion thereof where injury or death occurs, is guarded by an attendant, on-duty lifeguard, except in those cases where the injury or death has resulted from: (1) the willful or malicious failure, either by the attendant, on-duty lifeguard or by the beach owner or lessee, to guard or warn against a dangerous or potentially dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity, including, but not limited to, a dangerous or potentially dangerous weather, ocean, tidal, or current condition, or a dangerous or potentially dangerous sport or recreational activity, which is present or occurring at the guarded beach area or in the adjacent tidal waters; (2) acts of negligence, either on the part of the attendant lifeguard or on the part of the beach owner or lessee, where permission to engage in sport and recreational activities on the beach premises was granted for a consideration other than the consideration, if any, paid to the owner or lessee by the State; or (3) acts of gross negligence, on the part of the beach owner or lessee, where the injured party has entered upon or is using the guarded beach area or adjacent tidal waters for a use or purpose unrelated to public access purposes. The immunities and associated duty of care exemptions, which would be applied to private beach owners and lessees under the bill, are consistent with existing limitations on liability and exemptions from duties of care that are currently applicable, under Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, to the owners of various agricultural, horticultural, conserved, and other environmentally regulated lands, whenever a member of the public, who is permitted or required to have access such lands for sport and recreational purposes, is injured or dies either as a result of the natural or improved conditions of such lands or as a result of engaging in sport or recreational activities thereon. | In Committee |
| S3489 | Establishes Bureau of Short-Term Local Government Note Investments and requires bureau to bid on or offer to purchase certain short term obligations issued by local governments. | This bill requires the State of New Jersey to take steps to maximize its returns in short-term investments made through the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund and the State's pension and annuity funds. The bill establishes a Bureau of Short-Term Local Government Note Investments in the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury. The bureau would be supervised by a chief who would work under the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury. The bill requires the bureau to monitor the sale of short-term local government notes and allows the bureau to submit responsible bids or offers to purchase short-term notes issued by local governments the investment would generate a rate of return of at least one percent higher to United States Treasury Obligations with a similar maturity. The bill also authorizes the bureau to purchase short-term notes issued by local units that do not otherwise meet the minimum credit rating requirements established by current State regulations, if the issuers' finances and financial systems are regulated by the State of New Jersey, or another state determined by the bureau to have a similar local finance regulatory structure that protects investors in case there is a substantive default on the payment of the notes. In addition to increasing the State's investment returns, this bill is intended to spur competition for the purchase of short-term local government debt and reduce the interest rates charged to certain underserved local governments that experience high borrowing costs even through the notes issued by those local government units have proven to be extremely safe investments. | In Committee |
| SCR81 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2025, $1,500 in tax year 2026, $2,000 in tax year 2027, and $2,500 in tax year 2028, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| S2535 | 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, currently at $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 $9.09 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| S2010 | Requires minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding. | This bill supplements the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977" and requires a minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding, thereby reinstating New Jersey's only State appropriated, unrestricted fund for local health departments. Such appropriation will be expended in accordance to the provisions of the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977." From 1966 to 2010, under the "State Health Aid Act" and later amended as the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," the State provided local health departments with flexibility to address local needs, emerging threats, and other priorities via the appropriation of dedicated funds. The State eliminated Public Health Priority Funding in the FY 2011 Appropriations Act. For context, in FY 2010, Public Health Priority Funding amounted to approximately 15 percent of the total funding for local health departments. Currently, local health departments in New Jersey are funded via local property taxes and State and federal funding that is designated for specific purposes, such as vaccines or environmental health services. | In Committee |
| S3352 | Establishes third degree crime for certain trespasses involving victim of domestic violence. | This bill provides that a person commits a crime of the third degree if, intending to cause annoyance or injury or intending to commit a crime, the person enters the dwelling of a victim of domestic violence protected by a domestic violence restraining order against the actor. Moreover, the bill creates a presumption that the actor did intend to cause annoyance or injury or to commit a crime if a domestic violence restraining order is in place, or if the actor has been convicted of or charged with a crime or offense arising from a domestic violence incident involving the victim. Finally, the bill provides that no presumption of nonincarceration shall apply to persons convicted of such crime. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S2181 | Eliminates requirement for State residency of public school employees for period of three years. | Eliminates requirement for State residency of public school employees for period of three years. | Crossed Over |
| S2438 | Requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention of certain repeat offenders. | Requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention of certain repeat offenders. | In Committee |
| S1059 | Establishes Law Enforcement Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program; appropriates $3 million. | Due to the nature of law enforcement work, with its associated risks, danger, and stress, law enforcement officers face a high probability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. Law enforcement officers commonly feel that disclosure of mental illness will result in negative professional consequences up to and including job loss, creating a culture in which officers often do not divulge mental health struggles and do not seek appropriate and necessary treatment. Family members of law enforcement officers often face unique stressors related to their loved ones' employment and may have an elevated need for mental health services. To address these concerns, the bill establishes the Law Enforcement Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to award grants to mental health providers to provide confidential mental health services to law enforcement officers or family members of the law enforcement officers who are in a mental health crisis or suicidal. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to develop an application by which a mental health provider may apply for a grant for funding to provide mental health services pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The commissioner is required to establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program. The bill provides that consideration is to be given to the geographical location of mental health providers and the areas where they provide services in order to facilitate patients traveling less than one hour to receive mental health services, to the greatest extent possible. Under the bill, the commissioner is to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program and make the application available on the department's Internet website. Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner is required to review the application and, subject to the availability of funds, award a grant to each approved grant applicant. Additionally, under the bill, the commissioner is required to publish a list of approved mental health providers on the department's Internet website. | In Committee |
| S1075 | Establishes "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program; appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" and appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to this fund to support the "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program in the current fiscal year and ongoing. The "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program is a 24-hour confidential peer support hotline and service for law enforcement personnel and their families. This program is currently operated at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care's National Call Center. The Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program currently receives up to $400,000 annually from Body Armor Replacement Funds pursuant to R.S.39:5-41. This bill would dedicate an additional $500,000 to the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support the Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program. | In Committee |
| S3270 | Permits public high school student-athletes to opt out of physical education during their athletic seasons. | This bill permits a public high school student who participates in a school-sponsored sport and is scheduled to attend a physical education course during the athletic season of that sport to substitute the physical education course with a study hall. The student who chooses to substitute the physical education course with a study hall is to receive for participation in the sport the number of high school graduation credits equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course. This bill does not exempt students from the statutory requirement that they attend at least two and one-half hours per school week of health and safety education courses, when these courses are scheduled. This bill also does not affect the physical education requirement for students in grades one through eight or for high school students who do not participate in school-sponsored sports. It is the sponsor's belief that high school student athletes are meeting the statutory physical education requirements by their participation in school-sponsored sports. These same student athletes are in need of additional time to devote to their academic studies and preparation for post-secondary education. It is the intent of this bill to provide these students additional time during the school day to address their educational needs. | In Committee |
| S3210 | Requires institution of higher education to adopt policy on use of campus facilities and grounds for camping. | This bill directs the governing board of each institution of higher education to develop and adopt a policy on the use of campus facilities and grounds for camping. Under the bill, the policy is to require any person or group seeking to camp at the institution to obtain prior approval from the institution. The bill defines "camping" to mean the pitching of tents or the overnight use of sleeping bags, blankets, makeshift shelters, motor homes, campers, or camp trailers for any purpose. | In Committee |
| S3211 | Prohibits institution of higher education from using cultural competency as criteria for consideration in making certain personnel determinations. | This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from including among the criteria used to review a candidate for employment or promotion the following criteria: (1) the candidate's cultural competency skills; or (2) the candidate's knowledge of any particular ethnic or religious group. The bill further provides that, in the event an institution of higher education is determined by the Secretary of Higher Education to not be in compliance with the bill's provisions, the institution becomes ineligible for any State support for its operational and capital costs. The bill includes an exemption to the bill's provisions for positions in which cultural competency skills or knowledge of a particular ethnic or religious group is essential to the position, as determined by the Secretary of Higher Education. | In Committee |
| S3208 | Prohibits institution of higher education which boycotts or divests from Israel-supporting or Israeli businesses from receiving State funds. | This bill prohibits an institution of higher education which boycotts or divests from Israel-supporting businesses or Israeli businesses from receiving State funds. Under the bill, an institution of higher education is prohibited from receiving State operating aid; the proceeds State-supported revenue bonds that are issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority; the proceeds of State general obligation bonds; or funds awarded to a student enrolled in the institution distributed through any State student assistance or scholarship program administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority if the institution, including all endowment funds, subdivisions, departments, and sections of the institution: boycotts the goods, products, or businesses of Israel; boycotts entities doing business with Israel; boycotts companies operating in Israel or Israeli-controlled territory; divests from any investment due to a company's support, either through in-kind or for-profit, of Israel; or supports or participates in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. | In Committee |
| S3209 | Prohibits flags of designated terrorist organizations from being displayed or flown on State property. | This bill prohibits the flag of a United States Department of State-designated terrorist organization from being displayed or flown on State property. Any State entity occupying State property that permits such a flag to be displayed or flown will be penalized by the immediate loss of State or other funding in such amount as the Secretary of State and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury determine is necessary and appropriate. All such penalties will be deposited in the General Fund for reallocation by the State Treasurer as may be permissible. Under the bill, "State property" means land and improvements owned or leased by the State and includes, but is not limited to, State offices, hospitals, parks and recreational areas, institutions, and schools, including colleges and universities, together with abutting vacant land held for future use for the same purposes. The bill does not prohibit the displaying or flying of such flags for news, theatrical, historical, or educational purposes. | In Committee |
| S3213 | Prohibits institution of higher education from establishing scholarship fund or student assistance program limited to students who are citizens or permanent residents of country or territory controlled by terrorist organization. | This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from establishing a scholarship fund or student assistance program that is only available to students enrolled in the institution who are citizens or permanent residents of a country or territory that is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the United States Secretary of State. An institution that violates the provisions of the bill is prohibited from receiving: State operating aid; the proceeds of State-supported revenue bonds that are issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority; the proceeds of State general obligation bonds; or funds awarded to a student enrolled in the institution and distributed through any State student assistance or scholarship program administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The bill is in response to encampments on the lawns of Voorhees Mall at Rutgers University-New Brunswick by students demanding various actions from the institution in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. One of the demands requested by the students was, "the acceptance of at least 10 displaced Gazan students to study at Rutgers University on scholarship." The institution reached an agreement with the student group, agreeing to meet 8 out of 10 of the demands, including the acceptance of the Gazan students, in return for an end to the encampment. | In Committee |
| SR101 | Condemns Rutgers University's acquiescence to anti-Semitic protests. | This resolution condemns Rutgers, The State University's acquiescence to anti-Semitic protests. In response to the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, students at institutions of higher education across the country established protests and encampments to protest the conflict, including Rutgers University-New Brunswick. On April 29, 2024 student protestors at Rutgers established an encampment on the lawns of Voorhees mall, disturbing the operations of the institution, glorifying the violence Hamas has inflicted on the Israeli people, and utilizing anti-Semitic rhetoric. The student protestors demanded 10 actions from Rutgers, including: a divestment of funds from any corporation materially participating in, benefitting from, or otherwise supporting the State of Israel; the termination of the institution's partnership with Tel Aviv University; the establishment of a memorandum of understanding with Birzeit University; the acceptance of, and scholarships for, 10 Gazan students; a statement from President Jonathan Holloway referring to the conflict as a genocide and advocating for a ceasefire; hiring based on cultural competency; and full amnesty for those participating in the encampment. Rutgers accepted eight out of 10 of the demands in return for an end to the encampment. In acquiescing to eight of the 10 demands, the administration of Rutgers displayed a blatant disregard for its Jewish and pro-Israel students. The glorification of violence and use of anti-Semitic rhetoric, a form of hate speech, and the acceptance of this hate speech by the administration, creates a hostile learning and working environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff. Therefore, due to the anti-Semitic practices of the administration of the institution, it is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature to condemn the institution's acquiescence to the demands of the anti-Semitic protestors. | In Committee |
| S3214 | Provides gross income tax exclusion for capital gains from sale of certain employer securities. | This bill provides a gross income tax exclusion for certain capital gains from the sale of employer securities of a non-publically traded business with fewer than 500 employees, whose headquarters or base of operations is in this State, to an employee stock ownership plan, a New Jersey S corporation owned by an employee stock ownership plan, or an eligible worker-owned cooperative, benefiting employees of the business in this State, if upon completion of the transaction the employee stock ownership plan, New Jersey S corporation owned by an employee stock ownership plan, or eligible worker-owned cooperative plan owns at least 30 percent of all outstanding employer securities issued by the business. The purpose of this bill is to incentivize small businesses to establish employee stock ownership plans. An employee stock ownership plan allows companies to share ownership with employees without requiring employees to invest their own money. In addition, this bill encourages small business owners to sell their businesses to the very employees that contributed to their success. This will help to ensure that local businesses are not sold to out-of-state buyers, which is often detrimental to the fabric of local communities. | In Committee |
| S2820 | Requires additional information in assessment notices required to be provided to property taxpayers. | This bill would require additional information regarding the assessment of real property to be provided in the assessment notifications required to be mailed to property taxpayers annually. Current law requires each municipal assessor to annually provide each of New Jersey's property owners with access to, and notice of, their annual property assessment. Information about a property owner's assessment is important, because the assessment is the basis of the calculation of the annual property tax bill. R.S.54:4-38 law requires public advertisement of the ability to review the municipality's tax lists. Section 32 of P.L.1991, c.75 (C.54:4-38.1) requires the individual mailing of the assessment notice to each taxpayer. The existing notice provided to taxpayers lists only the prior year's taxes and the current year's assessed value. The purpose of this bill is to provide property owners with a significantly better understanding as to how they are being taxed by expanding the contents of the assessment notice that is currently required by section 32 of P.L.1991, c.75 (C.54:4-38.1). The bill would require the addition of the following information in the assessment notice: With respect to the prior tax year: the prior year's taxes; the prior year's final assessment; the Director's ratio of assessed to true value in the taxing district or an assessed to market value ratio of 100 percent if a revaluation or reassessment was implemented; and the implied prior year's market value calculated by dividing the prior year's final assessment by either the Director's ratio, or by 100 percent if a revaluation or reassessment was implemented. With respect to the current tax year: the current year's assessment; the Director's ratio of assessed to true value in the taxing district or an assessed to market value ratio of 100 percent if a revaluation or reassessment was implemented; and the estimated market value calculated by dividing the current year's assessment by either the Director's ratio, or by 100 percent if a revaluation or reassessment was implemented. | In Committee |
| S3067 | Prohibits State from disclosing New Jersey driver's license holders' personal information to other states seeking to issue speed camera or red light camera citations. | This bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and other State entities from disclosing the personal information of New Jersey drivers to another state for the purpose of allowing the other state to impose or collect a fine resulting from an alleged violation committed in that state and captured by a speed control device or a traffic signal monitoring system, commonly referred to as a red light camera. The bill defines "personal information" to mean any information that identifies an individual, which information may include an individual's photograph, social security number, driver identification number, name, address, or telephone number. The bill also provides definitions for the following terms: interstate motor vehicle information network, speed control device, and traffic control signal monitoring system. | In Committee |
| S3129 | 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 |
| S3099 | Concerns justified use of force and deadly force. | This bill revises the law concerning the justified use of force and deadly force. Under the bill, a person is justified in using or threatening to use force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other person's imminent use of unlawful force. A person who uses or threatens to use such force does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use such force. The bill provides that a person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to the person or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a crime set forth in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.126 (C.2C:43-7.1). The referenced crimes are those enumerated in the "Three Strikes" law. They include murder; aggravated manslaughter; manslaughter; kidnapping; aggravated sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated assault; burglary; and unlawful possession of a weapon. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force under the bill does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person is not engaged in the commission of a crime and is in a place where the person has a right to be. The bill repeals the current statutes concerning the use of force and deadly force, set out in N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7. | In Committee |
| S3076 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
| S3093 | Establishes expedited ejectment proceeding to remove certain unauthorized real property occupants. | This bill establishes an expedited ejectment proceeding to remove certain unauthorized occupants of real property. In an action by a property owner in the Superior Court to obtain possession of real property from a person occupying the property without the consent of the owner, without color of title, and without making any prior payment for the occupancy, the bill requires the court to, within three business days of receiving a verified complaint, allow a hearing on the complaint to proceed. The court is required to notify the real property owner or the owner's agent of the court's determination. If the court allows a special expedited ejectment proceeding, the court is required to fix the date of the hearing, to occur on or before the fifth business day following the court's determination. In the complaint filed by the real property owner or the owner's agent, the real property owner or the owner's agent is required to certify the following:· that prior to the submission of the complaint to the court, the property occupant has been provided with written notice of the complaint or written notice has been posted prominently on the real property;· the person verifying the complaint is the property owner or the owner's agent;· the occupant of the property has never been a lawful tenant of the property, and does not lawfully own or possess the real property; · the occupant of the property has never paid rent to the property owner or the owner's agent; and · the occupant of the property has never had a written lease or other written permission from the property owner or the owner's agent, to reside on the property. In addition to any notice that the Administrative Director of the Courts may determine to be appropriate, a property occupant, who is the subject of a complaint submitted in accordance with the bill, would be provided with written notice of the date, time, and location of the special expedited ejectment proceeding within 24 hours of scheduling. If, in a special expedited ejectment proceeding, the court determines that the information certified by the owner or the owner's agent is accurate, the bill requires the court to issue a writ of possession. An officer of the court is required by the bill to remove the unauthorized occupant following the issuance of the writ of possession. The bill provides that the court would be authorized to extend the timeline requirements, if necessary in the interest of justice, in extraordinary circumstances. The bill provides that a person commits a crime of the third degree if the person knowingly forges a document for the purpose of availing oneself of, or circumventing, the special ejectment proceeding processes established in the bill. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, and a fine of up to $15,000. As a result of existing provisions of chapter 39 of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, which this bill supplements, a property owner who prevails in an action initiated pursuant to the bill, would recover all damages proximately caused by the unlawful occupancy, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Additionally, the bill provides that a prevailing property owner would be entitled to treble damages for all damages proximately caused by the unlawful entry and detainer. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment, and would apply to an action for a writ of possession initiated on or after that date. | In Committee |
| S636 | Reduces amount of supervised counseling experience required for professional counselor licensure. | This bill reduces the amount of supervised full-time counseling experience in a professional counseling setting required for professional counselor licensure. Current law, under the "Professional Counselor Licensing Act," P.L.1993, c.340 (C.45:8B-34 et seq.), requires that applicants for a professional counseling license complete at least three years of supervised full-time counseling experience in a professional counseling setting acceptable to the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, one year of which may be obtained prior to the granting of the master's degree. An applicant may eliminate one year of the required supervised counseling experience by substituting 30 graduate semester hours beyond the master's degree if those graduate semester hours are clearly related to counseling and are acceptable to the committee. In no case, however, may the applicant have less than one year of supervised professional counseling experience after the granting of the master's degree. This bill revises these requirements to provide that an applicant is only required to complete at least two years, instead of three, or 3000 hours of supervised full-time counseling experience in a professional counseling setting, one year or 1500 hours of which may be obtained prior to the granting of the master's degree. The bill also provides that an applicant may eliminate one year or 1500 hours of the required supervised counseling experience by substituting certain graduate semester hours beyond the master's degree; however, an applicant cannot have less than one year or 1500 hours of supervised professional counseling experience after the granting of the master's degree. | In Committee |
| S1649 | Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons. | Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons. | In Committee |
| S2909 | Authorizes voluntary donation of expired food or food waste to farmers; authorizes donations if farmer waives liability. | This bill authorizes any retail seller or distributor to donate expired food or food waste to a farmer for use as animal feed, provided the farmer signs and submits to the retail seller or distributor a liability waiver. The bill also directs the Farm Liaison, established pursuant to P.L.2019, c.94 (C.4:1-48), to: 1) collaborate with farmers and retail sellers and distributors to develop contacts and networks to request, process, and receive expired food or food waste donations; and 2) coordinate communications about expired food or food waste available for donation and distribution. The bill specifies the liability waiver provide that the person signing the waiver: 1) understands and accepts the potential dangers and negative impacts for people or animals consuming expired food or food waste; 2) releases the retail seller or distributor from any liability with regard to the donated expired food or food waste; and 3) waives any right to legal action as a result of accepting the donated expired food or food waste. | In Committee |
| S2839 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| S2650 | Exempts from sales and use tax sales of carbon monoxide detectors and any device or equipment sold for residential use to detect, warn of, abate, or extinguish fires. | This bill exempts from the New Jersey sales and use tax sales of smoke alarms, smoke detectors, fire alarms, heat-activated sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, or any other devices or equipment sold for residential use to detect, warn of, abate, or extinguish fires, or to detect or warn of the presence of carbon monoxide. | In Committee |
| S2597 | Permits individual holding a nursing multistate license to be eligible for school nurse certification. | This bill permits registered nurses holding a nursing multistate license to be eligible for an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement, a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, and a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. P.L.2019, c.172 (C.45:11A-9 et seq.) entered the State into the enhanced multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (eNCL). The eNLC provides for a mutual recognition model of nurse licensure in which a nurse needs to obtain one license from the nurse's state of residence in order to be permitted to practice nursing in any other state that is a party to the compact, as long as the nurse complies with the state practice laws of the state in which the patient is located at the time that care is rendered. This bill amends current law to permit a nurse holding a multistate license through the eNCL to be eligible for an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement, a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, and a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. | In Committee |
| S1062 | Makes various revisions to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. | This bill makes various revisions to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. The Victims' Rights Amendment to the New Jersey Constitution, enacted by the voters in 1991 as paragraph 22 of Article I, makes crime victims' rights a constitutional mandate and specifically provides that victims "shall be entitled to those rights and remedies as may be provided by the Legislature." Under the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, crime victims and witnesses are to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse by any person including the defendant or any other person acting in support of or on behalf of the defendant, due to the involvement of the victim or witness in the criminal justice process. This bill expands the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights by expanding the process for plea agreements. Under current law, victims and witnesses have the opportunity to consult with the prosecuting authority prior to the conclusion of plea negotiations. The bill grants victims and witnesses the opportunity to communicate with the prosecuting authority any perspective the victim may have on considerations related to plea negotiations with the defendant prior to the beginning of any plea negotiations, to consult with the prosecuting authority prior to the conclusion of any plea negotiations, and to have the prosecutor advise the court of the consultation and the victim's position regarding the plea. The bill requires the prosecutor to advise the court of the victim's position unless the victim affirmatively requests otherwise. The bill also allows a court to establish a procedure by which judges in criminal cases may ascertain whether a victim has been afforded an adequate opportunity to communicate and consult with the prosecuting authority on a plea agreement, including whether the prosecuting authority made sufficient efforts to contact the victim in matters in which contact did not occur. In addition, the bill requires law enforcement agencies to furnish, upon request, incident reports to a victim or the victim's attorney when there is a pending application for a domestic violence restraining order or pending application for a sexual assault restraining order within 24 hours or as soon as practicable but in no event more than five days after the date the report is requested. The bill also expands the definition of victim to include the parent or legal guardian of a minor victim acting on behalf of the minor victim. Finally, the bill clarifies that the Victim Witness and Advocacy Fund is to award grants to legal support services. The bill also removes enumerated organizations eligible for grants under current law and provides that organizations eligible to receive grants are to include service providers and county-based programs throughout the State which serve victims of violence. | In Committee |
| S2555 | Regulates residential mental health treatment facilities. | This bill regulates residential mental health treatment facilities. Under the bill, residential mental health treatment facilities, as defined in the bill, are to: (1) provide mental health services or treatment in a manner that is consistent with the Level 3.5 level of care according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine in a 24 hours per day and seven days per week, structured living environment for patients who require such support, and in instances where inpatient hospitalization treatment is unnecessary; (2) provide health services or treatment for limited periods of time with the goal of preparing patients to move into the community at lower levels of care; and (3) provide health services or treatment without any retrospective review or concurrent review of medical necessity. The bill provides that no residential mental health treatment facility is to operate within this State except pursuant to a license obtained from the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), upon an application made therefor. The applicant is to be required to furnish evidence of the facility's ability to comply with the minimum standards for licensure established by the commissioner and of the good moral character of the facility's owners. Under the bill, the commissioner is to issue a license to a residential mental health treatment facility if the applicant is of good moral character and the facility is in compliance with the bill's provisions. There is to be a presumption in favor of an applicant's good moral character if the applicant is currently licensed and in good standing in this State as a mental health program pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:121 et seq. A residential mental health treatment facility is not to be licensed to operate at the same location as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program. The bill amends section 19 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-7a) to exempt residential mental health treatment facilities from the certificate of need requirement. The certificate of need program is a regulatory process that is administered by the Office of Certificate of Need and Healthcare Facility Licensure with the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Under the certificate of need program, certain health care facilities are required to obtain the DOH's approval prior to constructing, relocating, or renovating their facilities. Finally, the bill provides that the commissioner is to adopt rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for the licensure of residential health treatment facilities and the treatment of patients therein, and if feasible, structure the rules and regulations similarly to the regulations which are applicable to residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs, as set forth in N.J.A.C.8:111 et seq. | In Committee |
| S991 | Establishes permanent unit in Office of Emergency Management to address access and functional needs of residents related to disasters and emergencies. | This bill requires the State Office of Emergency Management to establish a permanent unit in the office to serve the needs of State residents with access and functional needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on residents of New Jersey with disabilities, older adults, and other at-risk groups, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as the consequences of other types of disasters and emergencies. In 2018, the CDC estimated that 24.6% of New Jersey adult residents had a disability, which is a sizeable portion of the State's population. The economic impact on people with disabilities and their families, as well as the burden on individual health as a result of the pandemic, are an existential threat to the disability community. Accordingly, it is in the public interest for the State to engage in comprehensive planning and coordination within the northern, central, and southern regions of the State to support residents with access and functional needs. | In Committee |
| S2439 | Allows persons who qualify under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to become law enforcement and corrections officers. | This bill allows persons who have been granted relief under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law enforcement officers, State and county correctional police officers, and juvenile corrections officers. Under current law, a person is required to be a United States citizen as a prerequisite to being appointed as a law enforcement or corrections officer. The DACA program was established by the federal government to protect from deportation certain noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children and allow them to receive work permits. Under this bill, persons who qualify under the DACA program would be eligible to become law enforcement or corrections officers. The bill also clarifies that a person who qualifies under the DACA program and is appointed as a law enforcement or corrections officer would be entitled carry a firearm in the course of the officer's employment and when required by the officer's supervising authority. | In Committee |
| S1470 | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | This bill provides that a public safety worker who participated in the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and is treated or monitored through the World Trade Center Health Program established by the Centers for Disease Control is presumed to be compensable under the State workers' compensation law without respect to when the worker files his claim for compensation, except that the claim is required to be filed within two years after the effective date of the bill. A worker is deemed ineligible for the benefits if the worker is eligible for benefits for the same injury, illness, or death under workers' compensation programs of other states or the federal government. The bill requires the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State, and each county, municipality, regional or joint public safety entity, or other agency involved in the public safety, to notify all active and retired personnel and next-of-kin, if the personnel are deceased, of the presumption of compensability within three months of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1410 | Eliminates use of census-based funding of special education aid in school funding law. | Under the provisions of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), the State provides special education aid to school districts using the census-based method. Under this method, districts receive funding for special education based on the assumption that a fixed percent of the total student population requires special education services, rather than using the actual number of special education students to determine the amount of State aid that school districts will receive. This bill eliminates the use of the census-based methodology, and calculates State aid for special education based on the actual number of special education students included in the district's resident enrollment. | In Committee |
| S938 | Requires DMVA assist discharged service members who have diagnosed service-connected mental health condition with petitions to change discharge designation. | This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to assist former service members of the Armed Forces who were separated from the service with an other than honorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or a dishonorable discharge who have since been diagnosed with a service-connected mental health condition. The DMVA would assist these former service members with the appropriate and necessary forms and conditions to petition the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to have the designation of the discharge changed and recorded as honorable. Under current law, the DMVA creates, publishes, and distributes, material to all public agencies of the availability of assistance, and utilizes a uniform process to provide the assistance to former service members who were separated from the service with a general or other than honorable discharge due solely to their sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. This bill expands this assistance to include former service members diagnosed with a service-connected mental health conditions. Former service members who have the designation of their discharge changed will be eligible for the same rights, privileges, and benefits currently offered to service members who were honorably discharged. No fee will be charged to a former service member for seeking assistance, and information related to the change in the designation of a discharge will be confidential and not accessible to the public as a government record. This bill defines "service-connected mental health condition" as a condition defined to be consistent with generally recognized independent standards of current medical practice referenced in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that has been diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional, in which the mental health professional deems the condition to be connected, in whole or in part, with a service member's service in the Armed Forces of the United States. | In Committee |
| S2009 | Requires certain boards of education to select minimum of three financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide tax sheltered annuity plans. | This bill requires a board of education of a school district with a student enrollment of at least 1,000 students that offers a 403(b) plan to school district employees to select a minimum of three financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide services to the 403(b) plan. If fewer than three such financial institutions or pension management organizations are available, the board of education must select the number of financial institutions or pension management organizations available to meet the requirements of the bill. A financial institution or pension management organization that provides services to the 403(b) plan under the bill must: (1) enter into an agreement with the board of education that requires the financial institution or pension management organization to provide in an electronic format all data necessary for the administration of the 403(b) plan as determined by the board of education; and (2) provide all data required by the board of education to facilitate disclosure of all fees, charges, expenses, commissions, compensation, and payments to third parties related to investments offered under the 403(b) plan. A board of education would not be responsible for any investment loss or failure of an investment to earn any specific return for the services provided by the selected financial institutions or pension management organizations providing services to the 403(b) plan. | In Committee |
| S1657 | Criminalizes impounding cat or dog in shelter, pound, or kennel without consent of other party. | This bill criminalizes the surrendering or releasing of a cat or dog into the custody of, and impound with, a shelter, pound, or kennel in divorce or dissolution of a civil union matters, without the consent of the other party. The bill provides that it is a disorderly persons offense for a person to surrender or release a cat or dog in the custody of and impounded with a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound, pending any matrimonial action or action for dissolution of a civil union brought in this State or elsewhere, or after judgment of divorce or dissolution or maintenance, whether obtained in this State or elsewhere, without the consent of the other party. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| S1663 | Provides act of domestic violence or child endangerment committed during state of emergency may be classified one degree higher than underlying offense. | This bill provides that an act of domestic violence or child endangerment committed by a person during a state of emergency may be classified one degree higher than the underlying offense. Under current law, a person may be arrested, and a criminal complaint may be filed against a person accused of an act of domestic violence, as that term is defined in the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991, if the law enforcement officer finds probable cause to believe that the person has committed an act of domestic violence. The law enforcement officer is required to arrest a person and file a criminal complaint if the officer responds to the incident and finds probable cause that an act of domestic violence has occurred and: (1) the victim exhibits signs of injury caused by an act of domestic violence, (2) a warrant is in effect, (3) the person has violated an existing domestic violence order, or (4) there is probable cause to believe that a weapon was involved in the act of domestic violence. Under the bill, an offense for which a criminal complaint is filed against a person for an act of domestic violence or an offense involving endangering the welfare of a child may, at the prosecutor's discretion, be classified one degree higher than the underlying offense if it occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency. | In Committee |
| S1703 | Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance. | This bill adds $2.35 billion from the General Fund to the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund," and appropriates a total of $4.32 billion from the fund to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of providing funds to each municipality and county in the State to be used by the municipality or county to retire and defease local debt or to fund capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than issuing additional local debt. The total amount of funds appropriated by the bill includes $1.97 billion in currently unallocated balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. Under the bill, $3.0 billion would be allocated to each municipality on an equal per capita basis wherein each municipality receives the same dollar amount per resident. The remaining $1.32 billion appropriated by the bill would be allocated to each county on an equal per capita basis. The bill requires that all funds appropriated by the bill be distributed to each municipality and each county within 30 days of enactment. The State budget has recently benefited from debt reduction and avoidance from prior appropriations to the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention account, though typically only after funds have remained in the account for inordinately long periods of time while inflation destroys its value. Local governments can frequently have significant debt which can be equally or more expensive for taxpayers than State debt. Local governments have compelling infrastructure and capital needs that include, but are not limited to: water, sewer, parks, flooding, storm water, public safety, emergency medical services, community development, and traffic improvements. The State's budgeting process has frequently provided only small and symbolic amounts of assistance towards local infrastructure and capital improvements and only after burdensome, inefficient, and politicized processes that chose winners and losers based on favoritism. The sponsor believes it is sound public policy to quickly and efficiently direct remaining balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund towards debt reduction and avoidance that benefits property taxpayers and all residents of the State through a fair and reasonable allocation process. | In Committee |
| S1668 | Extends eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans. | Under current law, to be considered a veteran and eligible for certain State civil service preference benefits and pension benefits as a public employee, a person must have served during specific dates or in specific locations. This bill changes the definition of veteran and removes the requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations for the civil service preference benefits and the pension provisions of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Under this bill, a veteran will be defined as any resident of this State released under other than dishonorable conditions from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, a Reserve component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard in a federal active duty status. Today's modern military requires the essential services of all military and Reserve personnel, regardless of location or duty assignment, to fulfill the military's mission in time of war or peace. The purpose of this bill is to recognize that all military personnel, regardless of their location or assigned duties serve our nation. Military personnel who served domestically, including responders to 9-11, served our nation and should be considered veterans for pension and civil service purposes. | In Committee |
| SCR24 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $1,250, beginning in 2024. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, to be increased by $50 each year over a period of four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| SCR50 | Amends Constitution to dedicate money credited to the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" to maintain 9-1-1 system and emergency response. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution prohibiting money from being drawn from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" for any purpose or in any manner other than as established under current law.Under current law, money from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" is used for funding the State's capital equipment, facilities, and operating expenses that arise from emergency response, emergency response training, operating the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services, operating the Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission, implementing the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission concerning 9-1-1 service, planning, designing, or implementing automatic location identification technology, and planning, designing, or acquiring replacement equipment or systems related to enhanced 9-1-1 network service. In the past, money from the trust fund account has been used for other purposes.This amendment to the State Constitution prohibits money in the trust fund account from being used for any other purpose other than those established under current law. | In Committee |
| S793 | Establishes "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection (RSVP-3) Pilot Program." | This bill establishes in the Department of Law and Public Safety a three-year "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection (RSVP-3) Pilot Program" in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union and in cities of the first class, which include Jersey City and Newark. This program is designed to train law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school staff, and students to identify and report behaviors that signal potential threats to school safety with the intention of giving the school community the tools it needs to detect and prevent school violence before it occurs. According to the sponsor, this bill is intended to provide the State with an opportunity to learn the most effective ways to prevent school shootings from occurring in New Jersey and fulfill its duty to provide a thorough and efficient education that is safe and secure. Following the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education launched a collaborative effort through the Safe School Initiative to perform an extensive examination of 37 incidents of targeted school shootings and school attacks that occurred in the United States from 1974 through May 2000. The focus of the Safe School Initiative was on examining the thinking, planning, and other behaviors of students who carried out school attacks, with particular attention given to identifying pre-attack behaviors and communications that might be detectable and could assist in preventing some future attacks. The RSVP-3 pilot program builds upon on an initiative developed in Morris County that is based on many of the key findings of the Safe School Initiative. This bill requires the Attorney General to work in collaboration with the Commissioner of Health and Commissioner of Education to accomplish the goals of the pilot program which include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the creation of a threat assessment measurement tool for use by law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school employees, and students to evaluate a potential threat of school violence; (2) the development of a scientifically based school violence threat assessment and management training curriculum concerning the identification of behaviors that indicate a potential risk of school violence and the need to report these behaviors; (3) the delivery of the school violence threat assessment and management training curriculum to law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school employees, and students; (4) the development of an effective mechanism to immediately report an identified threat of school violence; and (5) the establishment of procedures for addressing and eliminating an identified threat of school violence. The Attorney General is required to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report containing an evaluation of the pilot program and a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be continued as a Statewide program. In addition, the bill provides for an appropriation from the general fund in the amount necessary to implement the provisions and effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1665 | Requires ABC to waive certain alcoholic beverage license renewal fees in response to COVID-19 pandemic; allows municipalities to waive renewal fees. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to waive the renewal fees for plenary retail consumption licenses, which allow bars and restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages. In addition, the bill requires the director to waive the renewal fees to hold a limited brewery license and restricted brewery license. The bill further allows municipal governing bodies to also waive the municipal renewal fees to hold a plenary retail consumption license. Under current law, the holder of a plenary retail consumption license is required to pay to the ABC an annual $200 license renewal fee. These license holders also are required to pay the municipal governing body in which the licensed premises is situated an annual fee established by ordinance of $250 to $2,500. A person who holds a limited brewery license, also known as a "microbrewery" license, is entitled to brew and distribute beer to retailers and manufacturers, but is limited in the amount of beer that he or she may brew in one year. A person holding this license is prohibited from brewing an amount in excess of 300,000 barrels of 31 fluid gallons capacity per year. The fees to hold a limited brewery license are graduated based on the amount of beer brewed per year and are between $1,250 and $7,500 per year. A restricted brewery license, also known as a "brew pub" license, is only issued to a person who also holds a plenary retail consumption license generally issued to bars and restaurants. The brew pub license allows the licensee to brew the beer, while the consumption license allows the licensee to sell that beer and other alcoholic beverages directly to restaurant patrons. The annual fee to hold a restricted brewery license is $1,250 for up to 1,000 barrels holding 31gallons and an additional $250 for every additional 1,000 barrels produced. This bill would take effect immediately and be retroactive to March 9, 2020, which is the date on which the Governor declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. License holders who had already paid their annual renewal fee following March 9th would be entitled to receive a reimbursement for the cost of the fee. This temporary enactment has an effective date that expires: (1) on the date on which the coronavirus-related occupancy or customer seating restrictions no longer apply to these licensed premises; or (2) 12 months following the date of the bill's enactment, whichever date occurs later. | In Committee |
| S1704 | Reinstates penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcohol and cannabis as disorderly person offense. | This bill reinstates the criminal penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages, cannabis, marijuana, and hashish as a disorderly person offense. A disorderly person offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. This bill also re-establishes a minimum fine of $500 and re-establishes the penalty of a six month suspension of driving privileges. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement, Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act" ("CREAMMA"), P.L.2021, c.16, established a penalty for underage possession and consumption of cannabis and marijuana equivalent to the penalty for underage alcohol. Shortly after CREAMMA was enacted, the criminal penalties for underage alcohol and cannabis were replaced with a system of non-punitive written warnings, under P.L.2021, c.25, and P.L.2021, c.38. It is the sponsor's view that the written warning scheme has proven ineffectual in curbing underage use and abuse of alcohol and cannabis, as demonstrated by a sharp rise in 2022 and 2023 in the number of police complaints regarding underage parties where alcohol and cannabis were found, particularly in the beach communities along the Jersey Shore. It is the sponsor's intent to control underage alcohol and cannabis use and abuse by reinstating the threat of criminal prosecution, as well as driver's license suspension. | In Committee |
| S1983 | 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 |
| S1694 | Establishes Office of Leave Time Compliance in DCA to ensure municipal, county, and school district compliance with accumulated sick leave and vacation leave laws. | This bill establishes the Office of Leave Time Compliance in the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The purpose of the office is to ensure that municipal, county, and school district policies and procedures comply with State laws concerning the accumulation and payment for unused sick leave and the accumulation of unused vacation leave for municipal, county, or school district employees. Under the bill, the Director of the Division of Local Government Services would appoint a coordinator to oversee the office. The coordinator would organize and direct the work of the office, including the work of such professional and clerical staff as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the office. The duties of the coordinator would, at a minimum, include: (1) developing guidelines for distribution to the governing body of each municipality, county, and school district on the interpretation and implementation of on existing accumulated sick leave and vacation leave laws; and (2) ensuring compliance with the laws by:· requiring municipalities, counties, and school districts to submit information concerning sick leave payouts made to employees to the office in a manner and on such forms as determined by the coordinator. Prior to submission, the information would need to be certified by a business administrator or finance officer; and· conducting assessments and reviews of the sick leave and vacation leave accrual systems and controls used by municipalities, counties, and school districts in this State, and either: certifying that the systems and controls are in compliance with State requirements; or issue a notice of noncompliance to the governing body of the municipality, county, or school district along with a corrective action plan to follow in order to achieve compliance. The bill requires the coordinator to submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature which includes a description of: the sick leave payouts made to employees and the assessment of the sick leave and vacation leave accrual systems utilized by municipalities, counties, and school districts; enforcement actions taken by the coordinator during the previous year; and recommendations the coordinator deems appropriate and necessary concerning the oversight of leave time compliance. | In Committee |
| SCR40 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase to $500 veterans' property tax deduction. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to: $300 in calendar year 2023, $350 in calendar year 2024, $400 in calendar year 2025, $450 in calendar year 2026 and $500 in calendar year 2027 and for each year thereafter. The veterans' property tax deduction provided for in the State Constitution was last increased in 1999, when the amount of the annual deduction was raised from $50 to $250 over four years. | In Committee |
| SR49 | Urges immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of marine life off the coast of New Jersey. | This resolution urges the State and federal governments to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of whales and dolphins off the coast of New Jersey. Since December 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recorded at least twelve whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey, eight of which have been humpback whales. In addition, there were also five deaths of dolphins recorded in February 2023 alone. Most of these deaths remain unexplained, but have occurred in or near areas of offshore wind energy development. Given the unprecedented number of these recent deaths, their occurrence in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants State and federal investigation. A possible cause of these deaths is the increased use of sonar and other underwater mapping technologies for the development of offshore wind energy projects, which may interfere with marine mammals' ability to hear, communicate, and navigate underwater. Therefore, an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects' impact on marine life can be conducted. | In Committee |
| S442 | Increases penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. | This bill would increase the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. Fentanyl is an anesthetic and analgesic, first synthesized in the 1950's, that in recent years has become a drug of abuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and is potentially lethal even at very low doses. Under current law, set out in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:35-5 and section 6 of P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-6), unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both. Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both. However, the fine imposed for the third degree offense involving fentanyl is increased to up to $75,000. Under the bill, the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl would match the penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing heroin or cocaine under current law. The bill provides that unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of five ounces or more would be a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both. Under the bill the defendant would be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant would be ineligible for parole. The defendant would also be sentenced to pay an increased fine of up to $500,000. The bill provides that if the quantity of fentanyl unlawfully manufactured, distributed, or dispensed is one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the quantity is less than one-half ounce, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the third degree with an increased fine of up to $75,000. | In Committee |
| S1699 | Requires registration and regulation of certain hemp-derived cannabinoids manufactured and sold in this State. | Pursuant to P.L.2019, c.238, known as the "New Jersey Hemp Farming Act," the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is designated as the primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp in the State. The department is responsible for promulgating regulation plans under which the State monitors and regulates hemp production, an agricultural crop which the State actively promotes, and which permits farmers and businesses to cultivate, handle and process hemp, and to sell hemp products for commercial purposes (and which is excluded from the definition of a controlled substance due to the presence of hemp or hemp-derived cannabinoids). Hemp-derived products manufactured outside the regulatory structure, while not illegal in New Jersey, remain unregulated, although chemical conversion processes can make hemp derived cannabinoid products, such as Delta 8, have psychoactive properties similar to the THC in legalized cannabis, and contain unknown but harmful byproducts of the conversion process. This bill establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Commission as the regulatory body for hemp-derived cannabinoids for purposes of registration and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. The bill further provides for existing laboratories to test hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Section 1. This section contains legislative findings and declarations including the following: hemp-derived cannabinoid products can contain more psychoactive cannabis than is lawfully permitted to be sold in unregulated form, and yet, such products are being sold in New Jersey outside the regulatory structure for cannabis and hemp. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission is uniquely positioned to implement a regulatory structure, including, tracking through establishing a registration requirement for hemp-derived cannabinoid products manufactured outside the New Jersey regulatory structure, and other health, safety and testing requirements. Section 2. This section defines key terms which aid in distinguishing cannabinoid products with psychoactive properties from those with non-psychoactive properties. A key term, "cannabinoid" means the naturally occurring chemical compound found in cannabis. The main cannabinoids found in cannabis plants are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which, in simplified terms, is psychoactive, and cannabidiol (CBD) which is non-psychoactive. Through a conversion process, known as isomerization, legal CBD products, such as Delta-8, have been found to contain psychoactive properties, and potentially harmful byproduct from the conversion process. Since many products are sold in convenience stores and gas stations, the bill targets retail merchants, defined in the bill as "hemp-derived cannabinoid retailers," to register products sold through their locations. Section 3. This section amends N.J.S.A. 24:6I-34, concerned with commission activities associated with the personal use of cannabis, to grant powers which enable the commission to perform duties prescribed in the bill. Jurisdiction, supervision, duties, functions, and powers are extended to hemp-derived cannabinoid products manufactured outside the New Jersey regulatory structure. The commission is empowered to regulate the purchase, sale, transportation, and delivery of hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with the provision of this bill, and to adopt, amend, or repeal regulations as necessary. Subsection d. of this section adds the Commissioner of Agriculture as a consultant agency for the adoption of regulations by the commission. Section 4. This section establishes specific areas for regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including registration requirements, permit requirements for hemp-derived cannabinoid retailers, security requirements, age requirements to prevent the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products with detectable THC to persons under 21 years of age, labeling and packaging requirements, unannounced visits, and civil penalties for failure to comply with regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of the bill. Section 5. This section amends N.J.S.A. 24:6I-17, concerned with the testing of cannabis, to require that samples of cannabinoid product manufactured outside the New Jersey regulatory structure be tested by a laboratory licensed pursuant to N.J.S.A.24:6I-18 (testing laboratories) or pursuant to N.J.S.A.24:6I-35 (cannabis testing laboratories). Section 6. This section authorizes the testing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products at testing laboratories currently licensed to test medical cannabis and medical cannabis products, usable cannabis, cannabis products, cannabis extracts, and other cannabis resins. Section 7. This section provides that a retail establishment that offers for sale hemp-derived cannabinoid products prior to the passage of this bill shall have a period of one year from passage to comply with the provisions of the bill. It is not the intention of the sponsor to ban hemp-derived cannabinoids, such as Delta-8, but to require registration of such products, and to impose health and safety requirements through a regulatory structure. | In Committee |
| S1678 | Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation. | This bill permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes, due and paid in a calendar year on the taxpayer's principal residence, from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. Under current law, a taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of property taxes due and paid in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. If the taxpayer is a renter, the taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of the amount of "rent constituting property tax," which is defined in P.L.1996, c.60, s.2 (C.54A:3A-16) to mean 18 percent of rent, due and paid in the calendar year from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. This bill eliminates these $15,000 maximum allowable deductions, thereby permitting a taxpayer to deduct the full amount of property taxes, or rent constituting property taxes, due and paid by the taxpayer in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence. | In Committee |
| S1690 | Revises hotel sanitization protocols to remove requirement that occupied guest rooms be cleaned and sanitized daily. | This bill revises the protocols the Commissioner of Health is required to promulgate with regard to hotel sanitization to remove a requirement that the protocols require hotels ensure that every occupied guest room is cleaned and sanitized every day, and that the room is provided with an adequate supply of clean towels, sheets, and pillowcases and that the towels, sheets, and pillowcases are changed no less frequently than once every day. It is the sponsor's belief that requiring hotels to provide these services on a daily basis, even when guests do not want them, is a costly and wasteful practice. | In Committee |
| S1700 | Permits court to incarcerate persons who violate conditions of special probation; requires monitoring of incarcerated person. | This bill permits the court, after ordering an eligible drug or alcohol-dependent person to special probation, to sentence a person to imprisonment for a violation of any conditions of the probation. Upon a first violation of any terms or requirements of special probation, the court may sentence the person to a term of incarceration of 24 to 48 hours. Issuing a sentence of incarceration will be an alternative option to the revocation of a person's special probation as established pursuant to the State's rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol dependent persons. The court is required to designate an appropriate agency to monitor or supervise the person while incarcerated and requires the designated entity to report to the court the person's status. The court may order the period of incarceration if it deems that the person will successfully complete the treatment program if: (i) permitted to continue on special probation or, (ii) confinement of the person would motivate the person to make satisfactory progress in treatment once special probation is continued. The court may only order this incarceration once, unless the court is convinced there are compelling and extraordinary reasons to justify issuing a subsequent sentence of incarceration. The prosecutor may appeal the decision of the court to order a second sentence. | In Committee |
| S1686 | Requires school districts to institute policies to improve emergency communications to increase school security. | The bill requires each school district to:· provide all persons employed or assigned to school security positions with a two-way radio for communicating directly with emergency responders; · develop procedures to notify parents and other appropriate persons of school emergency situations through multiple communication platforms, such as telephone calls, text messages, and mass email; and · test the functionality of all of its emergency communication systems on at least a monthly basis. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to develop strategies to encourage:· school districts to review and update their existing school safety and security plans to ensure that they clearly identify who is responsible for contacting the primary emergency response agency in the event of any emergency and that they employ plain language to notify the school population that an emergency condition exists;· school districts to implement measures to ensure that all teachers and other school employees have the ability to communicate with the school administration while school is in session. The means of communication may be in the form of classroom telephones, portable radios, intercom systems, cell phones, or other such means as determined by the school district; and · the use of new technologies to allow communication among all essential personnel during school emergencies. | In Committee |
| S1666 | Removes criminal liability for law enforcement officers who have investigative encounter with underage person for possession of alcohol or cannabis unless civil rights are violated. | This bill provides that a law enforcement officer is not criminally liable for deprivation of civil rights for certain interactions with an underage person who possesses or consumes alcohol, marijuana, or certain cannabis items unless the officer acted with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Under current law, a law enforcement officer, when responding to a call for service or upon the initiation of any other law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation concerning the unlawful possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis item by a person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items, may be guilty of a crime of official deprivation of civil rights under certain circumstances. Current law imposes criminal liability regardless of whether the officer's act was done with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity, which motivation is required to be proven for other acts of criminal deprivation of civil rights under section 2 of P.L.2003, c.31 (C.2C:30-6). Under this bill, a law enforcement officer who purposely intimidates or discriminates against an underage person because of the person's race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity by engaging in a law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation concerning the underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis would be guilty of deprivation of civil rights. | In Committee |
| S1058 | Requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided to victims of domestic violence upon request. | This bill requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided, upon request, to victims of domestic violence. Under the bill, a domestic violence victim, or the victim's legal representative, may request copies of certain records from the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a domestic violence complaint. If the release of the records would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, the records are required to either be redacted so that release to the victim does not jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, or released pursuant to a protective order. A person who disseminates a copy of a law enforcement record in violation of a protective order issued under the bill may be subject to criminal prosecution.The following records may be requested:· photographs taken by a law enforcement officer;· law enforcement officer body worn camera or dashboard camera footage;· 9-1-1 transcript or recording; or · contents of the police report. The bill clarifies that the right to access records provided under the bill is in addition to the right of a victim to obtain records under current law pursuant to the open public records act (OPRA) or the Rules of Court. The records are to be provided at no charge within 10 calendar days of the request. If the law enforcement agency is unable to produce a copy of a requested record within the 10-day period, the law enforcement agency may request additional time from the court. If granted additional time, the law enforcement agency is to provide a copy of the records to the victim or victim's legal representative within 24 hours after the record becomes available. A record is to be provided in accordance with the request of the victim or victim's representative. A victim of domestic violence who is seeking to access law enforcement agency records under the bill, but who is not seeking other relief in the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court may enforce their right of access pursuant to OPRA on an expedited basis. The victim shall not be required to complete a formal OPRA request form to access the records. Under current law, a hearing is to be held in the family part within 10 days of the filing of a domestic violence complaint. If a plaintiff has requested records pursuant to the provisions of the bill but has not received the records as of the date of the original or rescheduled hearing, the law enforcement agency's failure to provide the requested records is to be noted on the record prior to the court making a final determination on the request for restraints. The absence of law enforcement records is not to be a basis to deny relief. The bill also provides that a party to a domestic violence complaint may request the release or unsealing of expunged records. The records may be provided to either party, the county prosecutor, Criminal Division of the Superior Court, or Attorney General, in relation to a domestic violence temporary or final restraining order, weapons forfeiture complaint, or a temporary or final extreme risk protective order. Under the bill, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding brought pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" would estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any proceeding brought under the bill. | Dead |
| S1660 | Increases membership and provides for certain meeting requirements of Council on Local Mandates. | This bill amends existing law to increase the Council on Local Mandates (council) membership to 12 members and requires the Governor to appoint three members upon certain recommendations of the executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The bill also requires the council to meet at least quarterly to review and provide an opinion to be made available to the public concerning the State budget and any executive order of the Governor it deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S725 | Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings. | This bill would criminalize unlawful occupancy of a dwelling, also known as "squatting." Currently, squatting is not a criminal act. In order to lawfully evict a squatter, the owner of the property must apply to the court for a writ of possession. This bill would create three criminal offenses: housebreaking, unlawful occupancy, and unlawful reentry. They would be crimes of the fourth degree. Housebreaking. Under the bill, a person who forcibly enters an uninhabited or vacant dwelling knowing or having reason to believe that such entry is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner, with the intent to take up residence or provide a residency to another therein, would be guilty of housebreaking. The bill provides that a person is presumed to know that an entry is without the permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Occupancy. The bill provides that a person who takes up residence in an uninhabited or vacant dwelling and knows or has reason to believe that such residency is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner is guilty of unlawful occupancy. A person is presumed to know that the residency is without the permission of the owner or an authorized representative unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner, and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Reentry. The bill provides that a person commits unlawful reentry if an owner of real property has recovered possession of the property from the person pursuant to a court order and, without the authority of the court or permission of the owner, the person reenters the property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1680 | Requires that in-service training for school employees on safety and security include component on behavioral threat assessment. | Under current State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:16-5.1(d), each board of education is required to provide an in-service training program for school district employees to enable them to recognize and appropriately respond to safety and security concerns. This bill would require that the in-service training program include a component on establishing a behavioral threat assessment team in each school district for the purpose of identifying students who pose a potential safety risk and preventing targeted violence in the district. Under the bill, the training for a behavioral threat assessment team must include information on the following: identifying students who may pose a threat to school safety; assessing the actions, communications, and specific circumstances that suggest a potential risk of violence; and providing appropriate resources to prevent potential violent incidents. The bill provides that a behavioral threat assessment team must be multidisciplinary in membership and, to the extent possible, must include the following individuals: (1) a school psychologist, school counselor, school social worker, or other school employee with expertise in student counseling; (2) a teaching staff member; (3) a school principal or other senior school administrator; and (4) a safe schools resource officer or school employee who serves as a school liaison to law enforcement. Additional school employees may serve as regular members of the team or may be consulted during the threat assessment process, as determined to be appropriate by the team. The bill directs the Department of Education, in consultation with State law enforcement agencies and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, to develop guidelines for school districts regarding the establishment and training of behavioral threat assessment teams. | In Committee |
| SCR15 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Senate concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| SCR60 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for Statewide initiative and referendum. | This concurrent resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to provide the people of the State with the power of indirect initiative and referendum.This constitutional amendment provides the people with the ability to propose to the Legislature a constitutional amendment or new law and to place before the Legislature the question of the continuance in force of any existing law. The Legislature (and the Governor, in the case of a proposal to enact or repeal a law) are to respond to such a proposal within two months; otherwise, the people are to have the power to adopt or enact the proposed constitutional amendment or new law, or to reject the existing law, at the polls. The power of initiative and referendum is not to include the power to propose constitutional amendments or laws to require or prohibit the siting of any facility in a specific county or class of counties, or in a specific municipality or class of municipalities.To qualify a constitutional amendment for submission to the Legislature, the petition which proposes it must contain a number of signatures equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast for the office of Governor in the State in the gubernatorial election preceding certification of the petition for circulation. To qualify a law of enactment or repeal, proposed by an initiative petition or referendum petition, respectively, for submission to the Legislature, the petition which proposes it must contain a number of signatures equal to at least 6% of the number of votes cast for the office of Governor in the State in the gubernatorial election preceding certification of the petition for circulation. These signature requirements would apply regionally as well as Statewide: the petition must include signatures from five counties in the northeastern region of the State (the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union), five counties in the northwestern region of the State (the counties of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren), five counties in the central region of the State (the counties of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean), and six counties in the southern region of the State (the counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem), equal in number to at least 10% or 6%, as appropriate, of the votes cast for the office of Governor in that preceding gubernatorial election within those regions. A limit on the time allowed for collecting the required number of signatures may be established by law but shall not be less than one year.Before a petition could be submitted to the Legislature, it is to be filed with the Secretary of State, who is to have 60 days to determine whether the petition was signed by sufficient numbers of registered voters. The Secretary of State is authorized to make this determination on the basis of a sample of the signatures to the petition chosen in accordance with appropriate random sampling techniques. If not found within the 60-day period to have been signed by insufficient numbers of registered voters, the petition could be submitted to the Legislature.Once a constitutional amendment or law of enactment proposed by initiative petition or a law of repeal proposed by referendum petition is submitted to the Legislature, the Legislature (and the Governor, in the case of a proposal to enact or repeal a law) would have such period of time as shall be established by law, but not exceeding two months, in which to propose a substantially similar constitutional amendment, enact a substantially similar law of enactment, or enact the repeal, as appropriate. In the absence of such timely response, the proposed constitutional amendment or law of enactment or repeal is to be submitted to the people.The constitutional amendment provides that, prior to the submission to the voters of a proposed law or repealer, any party may seek a declaratory judgment from the New Jersey Supreme Court that the law or repealer violates the federal Constitution or law or would be invalid under the State Constitution.If a constitutional amendment or law proposed by initiative petition and submitted to the people is not approved, or a law whose continuance is the subject of a public question submitted to the people in a referendum is not rejected, then neither that amendment, law or public question, nor one to effect the same or substantially the same change, may be submitted to the people for approval or rejection, as appropriate, before the second general election thereafter. If a law proposed by initiative petition is enacted by the people or a law in response to such a petition is enacted by the Legislature and the Governor, or if an existing law which is the subject of a referendum petition is repealed by the people or the Legislature and the Governor, any revision or repeal of the law so enacted, or reenactment of the law so repealed, would require a three-fourths vote in each House of the Legislature during the first two years following that enactment or repeal or a three-fifths vote in each House during the three years following that two-year period.The constitutional amendment provides that no law proposed by an initiative or referendum petition and approved by the people shall be subject to the veto power of the Governor. It also states that if conflicting constitutional amendments or laws proposed by the initiative process are approved by the people at the same election, the one receiving the highest number of affirmative votes is to be deemed approved. | In Committee |
| S2014 | Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, a report that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| S1692 | Requires municipalities to publish employee supplemental payment policies electronically and to provide enhanced notice and oversight of payments. | This bill would require municipalities to electronically publish supplemental payment policies for municipal employees and to provide advanced notice of payments to be made pursuant to supplemental payment policies. The bill would require the governing body of a municipality that maintains a supplemental payment policy for municipal employees or proposes a resolution, or other action, to establish or modify a supplemental payment policy for any individual employee or group of its employees, to publish the policy or policies on the municipality's Internet website, if the municipality maintains an Internet website. If a municipality does not maintain an Internet website, the municipality would be required to submit the supplemental payment policy or proposed supplemental payment policy to the Department of Community Affairs for publication on the department's Internet website. The bill provides that a "supplemental payment" means a payment to an employee of a municipality in excess of the employee's regular compensation or reimbursement to the employee for actual costs incurred by the employee related to the person's employment with the municipality. The bill would require a municipal governing body to approve any supplemental payment to any individual municipal employee by resolution of the governing body at a public meeting. The bill would further require that the municipality: 1) provide advanced notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the public meeting, and 2) make supporting documentation for the supplemental payment accessible, both as provided for in the bill. By requiring that all supplemental payments beyond standard pay be posted publicly and approved by a municipality's governing body, it is the intent of the sponsor to ensure that municipal taxpayers are made aware of the financial impacts of this additional compensation. The bill would take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment. | In Committee |
| S1387 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| SCR48 | Urges Congress and President to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from Jones Act. | This concurrent resolution urges the Congress and President of the United States to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from certain provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act. Certain provisions of the Jones Act require that all goods shipped by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S. flagships that are constructed primarily in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and permanent residents. These shipping restrictions have a disparate impact on U.S. island states and territories because these island economies import goods primarily by sea. U.S. shipping companies are often more expensive than foreign shipping companies, which drives up the cost of goods shipped by these companies to U.S. island states and territories, and results in higher prices for residents. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the U.S. and is subject to the provisions of the Jones Act. On September 20, 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria, a category four hurricane and the strongest storm to hit the island in nearly a century. Prior to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico had been suffering from an acute financial crisis and had accumulated $74 billion in debt. Hurricane Maria, compounded by the effects of the financial crisis, destroyed most buildings and infrastructure on the island, leaving nearly all 3.4 million residents without power and in need of food, clothing, medicine, and shelter in its immediate aftermath. Additionally, almost half of the electricity on the island is provided by petroleum and approximately a third of electricity is provided by natural gas, both of which must be imported to the island by ship. A permanent exemption from the Jones Act, codified at 46 U.S.C. s.55102, will provide residents of Puerto Rico with the certainty that goods needed for the ongoing recovery of the island will be accessible without restriction from Puerto Rican ports and will help to expedite the recovery process from this unprecedented disaster and from the ongoing financial crisis. | In Committee |
| S1675 | Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits. | This bill requires the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission, which was established pursuant to P.L.2003, c.193 (C.17B:27D-1 et seq.), to periodically, on an ongoing basis, analyze and review the financial impact of all mandated health benefits enacted by the Legislature. The analysis and review of each mandated health benefit shall include:· the impact of the mandated health benefit on total costs to purchasers and benefit costs; · the extent to which the mandated health benefit has increased the appropriate use of the treatment or service; and· the extent to which the mandated health benefit resulted in any savings to the health care system through increased access to preventive care. The bill further provides that: ? two years after the effective date of the bill and every three years thereafter, the commission shall issue reports to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and make any recommendations it deems appropriate, including whether any of the mandated health benefits should be repealed and offered, instead, as a rider to health benefits coverage; and ? the commission may issue such interim reports to the Governor and Legislature on specific mandates, as it deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S1667 | Requires Governor to transmit budget sustainability statement along with annual budget message. | This bill requires the Governor's annual budget message to include a budget sustainability statement. This bill is intended to improve the stability of the State fisc by requiring the Executive Branch to engage in budget planning practices covering two full fiscal years. The budget sustainability statement will provide an analysis of the feasibility of funding the appropriations at the level proposed in the budget message in the next succeeding fiscal year without increasing taxes or reducing the State's undesignated fund balance. The bill also requires the budget sustainability statement to consist of an accounting of all one-time, non-recurring State revenues, an estimate of any decline in State revenue collections due to the expiration of a law authorizing the imposition of a tax or fee, and estimates of any increases in appropriations required to make debt service payments and meet other contractual obligations, including collective bargaining agreements, and to support public assistance program, such as the State Medicaid Program and Work First New Jersey. Any increases in appropriations projected in the budget sustainability statement may be offset by a reasonable estimate of the amount of additional State revenue anticipated to be collected in the fiscal year next following the succeeding fiscal year and any estimated decrease in appropriations required pursuant to the State Constitution, or any provision of law or contract. | In Committee |
| S999 | "Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry. | This bill requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to the manufacturing industry. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, Commissioner of Education, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, and representatives of the business community, will promote and support the implementation of the manufacturing career pathway offered through the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative operated by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce Development to provide students interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing with the instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in the manufacturing or advanced manufacturing sectors. The manufacturing career pathway will include traditional and advanced manufacturing processes and methods of production including, but not limited to, the machinery, technology, tools, and equipment used in a wide range of manufacturing industries. The bill establishes a "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program," to be administered by a three-person commission which will include the Secretary of Higher Education, a representative of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, and a representative of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. The commission will annually award $10 million to New Jersey institutions of higher education, proprietary institutions, and county vocational school districts for the purpose of establishing or expanding programs in the manufacturing fields, and marketing and promoting current programs in the manufacturing fields. Under the bill, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, will designate an existing or newly hired employee of the Business Action Center in the Department of State to act as a liaison between the State and manufacturing businesses located in this State. The duties of the liaison will be to assist manufacturing businesses by:· advertising manufacturing businesses' products or services nationally and internationally through the Business Action Center; · establishing a business referral service where manufacturing businesses may be referred to other State, federal, or private business resource organizations; and· identifying and promoting opportunities throughout the State for postsecondary pathway programs to actively reskill and upskill the current workforce to better meet the needs of manufacturing fields. The Secretary of State is to work with State departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities to direct resources, create incentives, and provide technological, financial, and workforce development opportunities for manufacturing businesses. The bill also establishes in the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, the New Jersey Advanced Manufacturing Council. The council will consist of 11 members who are individuals with experience in the fields of labor, education, or workforce development or training. The bill directs the council to:· convene and enable industry-led, private-public partnerships focused on engaging New Jersey institutions of higher education in manufacturing innovation;· design and implement an advanced manufacturing initiative to facilitate collaboration and information sharing across State departments and agencies;· assist private companies to enhance technological transfer in New Jersey manufacturing industries to help companies overcome technical obstacles to scaling up production of new technologies; and· submit an annual report to the Governor, to the Legislature, and to the State Employment and Training Commission, of its assessments and recommendations to enhance State policy related to the advanced manufacturing industry in New Jersey. | Dead |
| S455 | Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses. | This bill provides that a student attending a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school would not be required to wear a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending. A student would also not be required to wear a face mask while present on a school bus. The bill would not prohibit a student from voluntarily wearing a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending or while the student is present on a school bus. | In Committee |
| S1693 | Restricts establishment of mandates to become vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); establishes reimbursement program to cover certain out-of-pocket costs incurred in obtaining COVID-19 vaccine. | This bill prohibits State, county, and local government entities, as well as public and private child care centers, preschool programs, elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, from mandating that any person be immunized against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The restriction will not apply to health care workers or individuals employed by or providing services at a licensed health care facility who are required to receive the immunization as a condition of working with a medically-vulnerable population. The bill additionally provides that any requirement that health care workers and other individuals working or providing services at a licensed health care facility be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be subject to State and federal laws and health care facility policies that apply to other vaccines that are required for health care workers and other vaccines that are required as a condition of working or providing services at a health care facility, including any exemptions that apply when a vaccine is medically-contraindicated for the individual or when the individual objects to the vaccine based on sincerely-held religious belief. The bill further requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a program to reimburse health care workers and other individuals who are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for out-of-pocket costs. To be eligible for reimbursement, the individual will be required to certify to the DOH: 1) the actual out-of-pocket costs incurred by the individual; 2) that all or part of the cost of the vaccine is not covered by health insurance; 3) that the individual's employer will not cover any portion of the cost of the vaccine that is not covered by health insurance; 4) that the out-of-pocket costs incurred are not a copay, coinsurance, or other cost sharing imposed by the individual's health insurer; and 5) that the out-of-pocket costs of the vaccine represent an undue financial burden to the individual. A person who submits a false certification will be required to repay to the DOH the full amount of any reimbursement received from the program, and will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000, to be collected by and in the name of the DOH. Although several vaccines against COVID-19 have shown promise in slowing the spread of the disease, limiting the severity of symptoms patients experience, and reducing the number of deaths from the disease, the development of COVID-19 vaccines proceeded at an unprecedented pace, and the vaccines first made available to the general public did not completed the full process ordinarily mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety of new drugs and devices for human use. It is the sponsor's belief that, until there is a fuller record concerning the safety, effectiveness, and long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccines being made available to the general public, these vaccines should not be made mandatory outside of certain health care settings. | In Committee |
| S1707 | Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office. | This bill requires the board of trustees of any State or locally-administered pension fund or retirement system to order the forfeiture of all of the earned service credit or pension or other retirement benefit of any member who is convicted of a crime under the laws of this State, or of an offense under the laws of another state or the United States, for misconduct occurring during the member's service in an elective or appointive public office or position which involves or touches the office or position and renders the service dishonorable. This would apply whether or not the fund or system covered the public office or position. Current law provides for the full forfeiture of all of the pension or retirement benefit of any member, elected or appointed, convicted of certain listed crimes involving or touching the office or employment if the pension or benefit is from the system or fund which covered the office or employment involved in the offense. In addition, under current law, a board of trustees of a pension system may order the full or partial forfeiture of the pension of any member for any kind of misconduct which renders the public service dishonorable. The board considers 11 factors in its evaluation of the public service. | In Committee |
| S1986 | Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study, evaluate, and assess the provision of State school aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA). The task force will consist of seven members, including: the Commissioner of Education or a designee; and six public members, each of whom shall have educational experience and expertise in education and municipal finance and school budgeting. Two of the members will be appointed by the Senate President, two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly will each appoint one member. Under the bill, the duty of the task force is to study the effectiveness of, and provide recommendations on potentially improving, various aspects of the SFRA including, but not limited to:? the manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated;? the current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency and the impact on the educational outcomes of those students; ? the weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; ? the current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment;? the formula's use of the census-based funding methodology for determining the amount of State aid a school district receives to educate its special education population and the effects of potentially employing different methodologies; ? the provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; ? the methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid; and ? the impact that the reallocation of State school aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S-2," had on school districts' finances. The bill requires that the task force will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report will be posted in a prominent location on the Internet website of the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| S1696 | Increases penalties for certain motor vehicle theft and carjacking offenses; establishes presumption of pretrial detention in enumerated circumstances. | This bill creates a first degree crime in certain situations related to motor vehicle theft or carjacking. The bill also establishes a presumption that a person who commits this first degree crime is to be detained prior to trial. This bill makes it a first degree crime for an individual to commit theft of a motor vehicle or carjacking and commit subsequent crimes or offenses interdependent of or closely related to the theft or carjacking as part of a sequence of events that took place within a short period of time. A first degree crime is punishable by a term of 10 to 20 years' imprisonment, a $200,000 fine, or both. Under current law, courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of defendants who are found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. The bill provides that if, upon motion by the prosecutor, the court finds probable cause that a defendant committed theft or carjacking of a motor vehicle, and during the course of the theft or carjacking commited subsequent crimes or offenses interdependent of or closely related to the theft or carjacking in a short period of time, there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person be detained pending trial. The 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 the court finds probable cause that the defendant committed murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. | In Committee |
| S753 | Requires certain ambulances to carry epinephrine. | This bill requires certain ambulances to carry epinephrine. Under the bill, each basic life support ambulance and each volunteer first aid, rescue and ambulance squad vehicle is to be equipped with a supply of epinephrine auto-injector devices, and is to be staffed by at least one emergency medical technician certified to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device. The bill defines "basic life support" to mean a basic level of pre-hospital care which includes patient stabilization, airway clearance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemorrhage control, initial wound care and fracture stabilization and other techniques and procedures authorized by the Department of Health. "Emergency medical technician" means a person trained in basic life support services as defined in section 1 of P.L.1985, c.351 (C.26:2K-21) and who is certified by the Department of Health to perform these services. The bill provides that the provisions of the bill are neither to supersede nor affect the application or interpretation of any federal or State guidance, law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary regarding ambulance staffing levels. | In Committee |
| S1653 | Increases term of municipal court judge to five years. | Under current law, each judge of a municipal court serves for a term of three years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. In municipalities governed by a mayor-council form of government, the municipal court judge is appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.The judge of a joint municipal court is nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. In all other municipalities, the municipal judge is appointed by the governing body of the municipality. In a county that has established a central municipal court, the judge of the central municipal court is nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This bill embodies Recommendation No. 32 of the Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees, issued June 2018. According to the report, a longer term of appointment would result in a more experienced bench, provide further stability to the leadership of a municipal court, and represent a shared commitment from all branches of government to provide additional protection to judicial integrity and independence. | In Committee |
| S1420 | Establishes "VETeach Pilot Program" in DOE to facilitate teacher certification of veterans. | This bill establishes the "VETeach Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is to address the shortage of certified public school teachers by taking advantage of the qualified workforce represented by the State's veterans. Under the pilot program, a participating four-year public institution of higher education will enroll, in a 36-month teacher preparation program, veterans who served in the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001. The program will lead to a baccalaureate degree and completion of the requirements necessary to apply to the State Board of Examiners for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, which will authorize the veteran to seek employment as a teacher in grades kindergarten through eight, and in certain secondary education fields. Under the bill, a four-year public institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the pilot program is to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a form prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner is to select up to four institutions to participate in the pilot program. | Dead |
| S1652 | Requires posted speed limit on certain limited access highways be based on speed at which 85 percent of vehicles are traveling; designated as Speed Limit Sanity Act. | This bill, designated as the Speed Limit Sanity Act, requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to determine through traffic engineering speed surveys the speed at which vehicles are traveling on every eligible limited access highway under their jurisdiction. An "eligible limited access highway" is defined to mean a public highway especially designed for through traffic, over which abutters have no easement or right of light, air, or direct access by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon that limited access highway, and which is under the jurisdiction of the DOT, the NJTA, or the SJTA. The posted speed limit for any segment of an eligible limited access highway is to be set at the 85th percentile speed of the highway, as determined by the traffic engineering survey, rounded to the next highest five miles per hour. In addition to traffic engineering studies conducted pursuant to the bill, the DOT, NJTA, and SJTA are allowed to use traffic engineering studies that have been conducted within the two year period prior to the effective date of the bill. The posted speed limit is to be reevaluated through a traffic engineering speed survey not less than once every 10 years and any time the limited access highway is substantially altered. Under the bill, the fine for a speeding violation on any highway where the speed limit has not been based on a traffic engineering study and speed survey is $20 for each offense, until the speed limit is set based on a traffic engineering study and speed survey for the highway. Motor vehicle penalty points or automobile insurance eligibility points are not to be assessed for a speeding violation on any highway where the speed limit has not been based on a traffic engineering study and speed survey until the speed limit is set based on a traffic engineering study and speed survey for the highway. However, the fines and penalties for a violation of a driving under the influence, refusal of a breath alcohol test, operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol while under the legal age to consume alcohol, use of a wireless telephone while driving, or a motor vehicle offense in an area of highway construction, repair, or designated safe area, are to be assessed in addition to the fine of $20 when those violations are committed in combination with a speeding violation. Finally, this bill repeals the "Sixty-Five MPH Speed Limit Implementation Act." | In Committee |
| S1661 | Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave. | This bill prohibits the payment by the State, local governments, and boards of education of supplemental compensation to any current or future public officer or employee for accumulated unused sick leave earned after the bill's effective date. Supplemental compensation for any time earned prior to that date will be payable as under current law. In addition, the bill provides that the payment of supplemental compensation for unused sick leave will be suspended if an officer or employee is indicted for any of the crimes which under current law are grounds for pension forfeiture and that supplemental compensation will be forfeited upon conviction. The bill also requires all public officers and employees to provide medical documentation for absences of six or more consecutive days and imposes penalties for the failure to do so. The bill requires the Attorney General to develop guidelines or establish procedures to ensure that public employers are notified when a public officer or employee is indicted for, or convicted of, any crime or offense that triggers the suspension or forfeiture of payment for supplemental compensation. It also provides that the suspension or forfeiture of payment for supplemental compensation will apply only in the case of crimes or offenses committed after the bill's effective date. The bill will take effect on the first day of the second month following enactment. | In Committee |
| S1650 | Establishes New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council in DHS. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the council will be to: (1) periodically survey and evaluate existing activities, programs, initiatives, and services related to suicide prevention efforts operating throughout the State; (2) develop standards and guidelines for suicide prevention entities operating in the State to report certain data to the council as required under the bill; (3) assist suicide prevention entities by providing standardized guidance, based on prevailing best practices, concerning the content of informational materials made available to persons who report an attempted or completed suicide; (4) provide guidance and assistance to suicide prevention entities concerning compliance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Human Services to implement the provisions of the bill; (5) serve as a centralized hub for reporting, analyzing, and retaining certain non-identifying and de-identified data collected from suicide prevention entities operating within the State, including: the individual's age, gender, race, and ethnicity; whether the suicide was completed; the method of attempted or completed suicide; the person's status as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, undesignated/nonbinary, questioning, queer, or intersex; the person's status a current or former law enforcement officer; the person's status as active or retired military; the municipality in which the attempted or completed suicide occurred; whether the person had previous involvement with a mental health professional or a professional specializing in the treatment of substance use disorders; and any other metric the council requires to be reported, provided that the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families, and the Attorney General have each approved collection of the additional metric by the council; (6) collect information from suicide prevention entities operating within the State concerning the entity's programs, activities, and initiatives related to suicide prevention and intervention, including any requests for proposals issued by the entity, any grants for which the entity applies and whether those grants involve State, federal, or private monies, and any other sources of State, federal, or private funding sought out by the entity; and (7) compile and make available to appropriate entities, including the Department of Health and other State and federal authorities authorized to acquire such data and related information, certain data collected by the council, as well as the council's findings and recommendations related to completed suicides and suicide attempts, provided that any data or other information furnished by the council to another entity does not contain any private or personal identifying information, and the data and other information is furnished in a manner that is not violative of State or federal privacy laws. With regard to the entities that are subject to the reporting requirements under the bill, the term "suicide prevention entity" is defined to mean any entity operating under imprimatur of State authority that engages in activities related to suicide prevention or collecting data specific to attempted and completed suicides, regardless of whether the entity was established by statute, regulation, or executive or administrative action. The council will consist of 25 members, including: the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, Children and Families, Corrections, and Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the executive director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, the Executive Director of the Board of Directors of NJ Transit, the Chief State Medical Examiner, the assistant commissioner of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, the chair of the Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma, and the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; (2) four public members appointed by the Governor, three of whom are to be faculty members at institutions of higher education who have expertise in the area of mental health, and one of whom is to be either a law enforcement officer in the Office of the Attorney General with expertise related to suicide or a mental health professional; (3) four public members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom is to have experience as a mental health professional in the private sector with experience in youth suicide prevention and counseling, one of whom is to have experience as a psychiatrist in the private sector in the provision of services to elderly persons, one of whom is to be a person who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, undesignated/nonbinary, questioning, queer, or intersex, and one of whom is to be a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor who is also a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with individuals in crisis; and (4) four public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two of whom are to be current or former mental health professionals with experience providing services in a secondary school, one of whom is to be a survivor of suicide or have a family member who has been affected by suicide, and one of whom is to have experience as a primary health care practitioner. The public members will serve for a term of five years. The council will be required to issue an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature containing a summary of the data compiled by the council that includes aggregate demographic information about persons who attempt or complete suicide and any findings made by the council concerning attempted and completed suicides. The report will include recommendations for legislation or administrative or other actions as may be necessary to facilitate the accurate and efficient collection of data and promote more effective suicide prevention and intervention activities, programs, and initiatives. | In Committee |
| S1706 | Permits certain passenger automobiles to be registered for more than one year. | This bill permits certain passenger automobiles to be registered for more than one year. Specifically, this bill permits passenger automobiles, that are not new or leased, to be registered for a period of two years. Under current law, these passenger automobiles are required to be registered annually. A person registering a passenger automobile for more than one year is required to prepay the full amount of the registration for the registration period elected by the person. The bill clarifies that the portion of prepayment for passenger automobiles registered for one or two years that is dedicated to the New Jersey Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Response Program Fund, the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund, and the fund established for State Police trooper classes is to be deposited in the respective accounts. The bill also clarifies that the accelerated revenues generated through the implementation of the bill would be calculated and distributed in a manner that is consistent with current State law. The bill provides that a fee of $11 applies for a duplicate registration certificate issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) for a passenger automobile registered for a term of more than 12 months. The bill provides that the annual renewal of special insignia and special vehicle identification cards issued to owners or operators of certain motor vehicles that transport persons with intellectual disabilities may be renewed annually when the vehicle's registration is renewed or at some other time as determined by the chief administrator of the commission. The bill provides that the commission may continue to charge an annual fee for the use and display of special license plates, which is to be charged upon the registration of the passenger automobile. | In Committee |
| S1679 | Establishes price preference program on State contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. | This bill establishes a price preference program for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses competing for State contracts. Under current law, certain purchases or contracts payable out of State funds are publicly advertised and competitively bid on by businesses. The State then awards the contract to the lowest bidder. This bill would establish a price preference of up to 10 percent of the amount of the contract to a qualified disabled veterans' business. If the disabled veterans' business meets the requirements of the contract solicitation and is the lowest bidder due to the preference program, a State agency will enter into a procurement contract with the disabled veterans' business. If two or more qualified disabled veterans' businesses bid on a contract utilizing the preference program, the disabled veterans' business with the lowest bid will be awarded the contract. This bill defines "disabled veteran" to mean a resident of this State who has been certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as having any degree of service-connected disability. This bill defines "qualified disabled veterans' business" to mean an independently owned and operated business that has its principal place of business in the State, at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by persons who are disabled veterans, and the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more disabled veterans or, in the case of a disabled veteran with a permanent and severe disability, are controlled by the spouse of such veteran. | In Committee |
| S1698 | Expands prosecutor's ability to motion for transfer of certain juvenile delinquency cases to adult court. | This bill revises the State's juvenile justice code by expanding the law governing waiver. The current juvenile waiver law requires the prosecutor to file a motion with the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court. If a juvenile is 15 years of age or older and certain conditions are met, the Family Part must waive jurisdiction over the juvenile's case and refer the case to the appropriate adult court and prosecuting authority. Currently, a prosecutor does not have the authority to waive jurisdiction over a case involving a violation of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-2, resisting or eluding arrest while operating a motor vehicle or vessel. Under this bill, a prosecutor would have the authority to motion for a waiver of jurisdiction to include a crime committed under subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-2. Once a waiver of jurisdiction is obtained, the case will proceed as if it originated in adult criminal court where the juvenile will be subject to the sentencing provisions available to that court. Under N.J.S.2C:29-2, it is a crime of the third degree to knowingly flee or attempt to elude a police officer or a law enforcement officer while operating a motor vehicle or vessel. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. However, there is a presumption that, upon conviction, the juvenile will serve any custodial sentence imposed in a State juvenile facility operated by the Juvenile Justice Commission. | In Committee |
| S1702 | Requires court to provide certain defendants with referral for mental health and substance abuse evaluation. | This bill requires the court to provide certain defendants with a referral for a mental health and substance abuse evaluation. Under current law, if certain conditions are met, the court is required to order the pretrial release of certain defendants. Under the provisions of this bill, upon ordering the pretrial release of a defendant, the court is to provide the defendant with a referral for a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and an evaluation for drug and alcohol dependency. The provider of the evaluation is to notify the court if the defendant completes the evaluation. However, under the bill, the court is not required to provide a referral when the court orders the pretrial release of an eligible defendant subject to the condition that the defendant undergo available psychological or psychiatric treatment, including treatment for alcohol or drug dependence, and remain in a specified institution if required for that purpose. | In Committee |
| S2045 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| S634 | Enters New Jersey into Counseling Compact. | This bill enters New Jersey into the Counseling Compact. The Counseling Compact (compact) is an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses. The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. The practice of professional counseling occurs in the state where the client is located at the time of the counseling services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. In addition, the compact is designed to achieve the following objectives: 1) increase public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses; 2) enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety; 3) encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice for licensed professional counselors; 4) support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel; 5) enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information among member states; 6) allow for the use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased access to professional counseling services; 7) support the uniformity of professional counseling licensure requirements throughout the states to promote public safety and public health benefits; 8) invest all member states with the authority to hold a licensed professional counselor accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the client is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of member state licenses; 9) eliminate the necessity for licenses in multiple states; and 10) provide opportunities for interstate practice by licensed professional counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements. The compact is administered by a commission comprising representatives of each of the member states. The commission has certain powers to promulgate rules and bylaws, create a budget, conduct investigations, assess member fees, and to generally enforce the provisions of the compact. The compact sets forth procedures for investigating and disciplining professional counselors for misconduct, as well as for communicating to member states information concerning a professional counselor who is under investigation, has lost the right to practice under the compact, or who has regained the right to practice under the compact. The compact provides that it takes effect when it has been adopted in 10 states. Currently, 16 states have joined the compact: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. | Dead |
| S1689 | Revises requirements for motor vehicle operators overtaking pedestrians, bicyclists, and scooter riders in certain circumstances. | This bill revises the requirements for motor vehicle operators and pedestrians, bicyclists, and scooter riders in circumstances where a motor vehicle is overtaking a pedestrian, bicyclist, or scooter rider on a roadway in the State. The bill requires that bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, and low-speed electric scooters be operated in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.39:4-14.2 in order for a motor vehicle operator to be in violation of the provisions of the bill when overtaking a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed electric scooter. The bill provides that motor vehicle operators are to proceed as follows when overtaking pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders, and personal conveyances:· When overtaking a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed electric scooter proceeding in the same direction as the vehicle, a motor vehicle operator is required to leave a reasonable and safe distance between the vehicle and the bicycle or scooter of not less than four feet until the vehicle has safely passed the bicycle or scooter, except when the bicycle or scooter is traveling in a designated bicycle path;· When overtaking a pedestrian or personal conveyance, the motor vehicle operator is required to leave a reasonable and safe distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian or personal conveyance of not less than four feet until the vehicle has safely passed the pedestrian or personal conveyance; and· If it is safe to do so, a motor vehicle operator overtaking a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed electric scooter proceeding in the same direction, or a pedestrian or personal conveyance, may overtake and pass the bicycle, scooter, pedestrian, or personal conveyance in a no-passing zone. The bill provides that increased penalties for violations that result in bodily injury are only applicable if the motor vehicle operator is determined to be more than 50 percent at fault for the bodily injury. | In Committee |
| SCR13 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by Governor to 14 days. | This constitutional amendment provides that certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by the Governor during a period of a state of emergency will terminate on the 15th day following the date of issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of a concurrent resolution. The constitutional amendment prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially the same effect as the one terminated pursuant to the amendment for the same emergency. The constitutional amendment does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute. | In Committee |
| S1671 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S1662 | Revises Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program; requires all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. | This bill revises the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief ("ETR") Aid Program by requiring all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. Historically, energy providers and public utility companies were required to pay gross receipts and franchise taxes based on their use of public lands. For many decades, these taxes were paid directly to municipalities as a means of compensation for hosting such facilities. In the 1980s, the State began to collect these taxes on behalf of municipalities, distribute a portion of the proceeds to municipalities as State aid, and retain the remaining revenues for other State purposes. In the late 1990s, this practice was continued when the State established the ETR Aid program after reforming the taxation of energy providers and public utility companies. Under current law, the State is required to annually deposit a statutorily determined amount of monies into the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund" and distribute those monies to municipalities as ETR Aid. Every year, the total distribution of ETR Aid is required to increase based on inflation. During any year in which the State fails to provide this aid, the State is required to forego the collections of certain taxes on energy providers and public utilities (e.g., sales tax collections for energy services, corporation business tax collections from certain public utility companies, etc.), hereinafter referred to as "energy taxes." Under this bill, the ETR Aid program would be restructured to reflect the original design of the gross receipts and franchise taxes, wherein all energy taxes were paid directly to municipalities. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, and during each year thereafter, the bill requires the State Treasurer to: (1) determine the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided Statewide; (2) determine the amounts provided to each municipality; (3) direct each energy taxpayer to make direct payment of energy taxes to one or more municipalities; and (4) advise each municipality of the name of each energy taxpayer that would make direct payment of energy taxes to the municipality, the amounts owed therefrom, and the dates on which each payment would be provided. The State Treasurer would also be required to establish additional requirements concerning the payment of ETR Aid, including but not limited to dates on which each payment would be provided. The bill provides that whenever an energy tax payment is made directly to a municipality, the amount of the payment may be taken as a credit against the tax liability of the energy taxpayer, as prescribed by the State Treasurer. Additionally, the bill provides that beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided during any fiscal year is required to equal the greater of: (1) the total amount that would have been otherwise provided under current law; or (2) the total amount of energy taxes due and payable during that fiscal year. Consequently, the bill would prevent the State from retaining any portion of these energy tax collections for other State purposes. Under the bill, if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year exceed the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the difference would be distributed amongst all municipalities in proportion to the equalized assessed valuation of real and personal property owned by all energy taxpayers located within each municipality, as determined by the State Treasurer. Alternatively, the bill also provides that if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year is less than the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the State Treasurer is required to make such additional payments as are necessary, from the Property Tax Relief Fund, to ensure that each municipality receives the amount owed. During any fiscal year in which the State fails to comply with the requirements of this bill, the State would be required to forego the collection of all energy taxes. | In Committee |
| S902 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| S1656 | Establishes certain animal abuse offenses committed in manner manifesting extreme indifference to value of animal's life as crime of second degree; designated as "River's Law." | This bill establishes as a crime of the second degree a violation of paragraph (1) of subsection c. of R.S.4:22-17 committed against a domestic companion animal in a manner manifesting extreme indifference to the value of the animal's life. Paragraph (1) of subsection c. of R.S.4:22-17 makes it unlawful to purposely, knowingly, or recklessly torment, torture, maim, hang, poison, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, cruelly abuse, or needlessly mutilate a living animal or creature. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. These offenses would constitute aggravated animal abuse. The bill is designated as River's Law in recognition of River, an animal that suffered this type of aggravated abuse committed in a manner manifesting extreme indifference to the value of the animal's life. | In Committee |
| S1673 | The "School Safety and Security Act"; establishes penalties for certain criminal acts committed on school property. | This bill, the "School Safety and Security Act," would establish penalties for certain criminal activity related to school safety and security. Under current law, certain criminal acts committed on school property, or committed against a school official or employee are penalized and in some cases are subject to enhanced penalties. However, there is presently no provision in Title 2C, the Criminal Code, which establishes penalties solely for criminal activity related to school safety and security. The bill would establish certain acts related to school safety and security as crimes of the fourth degree. Under subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, an actor would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly enters or remains on school property after having been advised by written or verbal communication, a posting, or other reasonable efforts have been made by the school district or non-public school or any other authorized person to notify the actor that he is not licensed or privileged to do so; or having entered school property, provides false information, name, or identification to any authorized person requesting such information; or assists another to enter school property by ignoring, circumventing, or bypassing any direction, policy, or device specifically designed to identify, authorize or otherwise screen visitors entering the school property after having been advised by written or verbal communication, posting, or other reasonable efforts to advise the actor of such direction, policy, or device; or assists another to enter school property by defeating any security measure or device specifically designed to prevent unauthorized access. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under subsection b. of section 3 of the bill if he purposely or knowingly activates, uses, or tampers with any device utilized, designed, or intended to announce or communicate a crime or emergency, or to initiate a school safety and security plan, non-fire evacuation, lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related response knowing that there is no such crime or emergency and that it is likely to initiate a school safety and security plan, a lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related plan or emergency response. Under subsection c. of section 3 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly damages or tampers with any device, instrument, sign, or system used to monitor or manage the security of a school. Under subsection d. of section 3 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly interferes with, obstructs, or impedes implementation of an activated school safety and security plan or any security protocol, function or drill, intended to provide an emergency response from the school district or non-public school, employee, administrator, or any other authorized person, or to notify and elicit a response from security personnel or law enforcement. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under subsection e. of section 3 of the bill if, with purpose to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he engages in criminal, alarming or threatening behavior; and causes any school district or non-public school, employee, administrator, law enforcement officer, or any other authorized person to initiate, activate, communicate, or otherwise begin protocol pursuant to a school safety and security plan, non-fire evacuation, drill, lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related plan or emergency response, or to notify and elicit a response from security personnel or law enforcement. Pursuant to section 4 of the bill, all information related to plans, locations, diagrams, procedures, drills, or other activity that is part of an established school safety and security plan or other security- related plan or emergency response intended to be used to ensure the safety and security of a school would not be made available to any individual or institution except law enforcement officials; school board members; employees of the school district or non-public school; and any other person or entity otherwise provided by law. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly, without the express written permission of the superintendent of schools of the school district or the chief school administrator of the non-public school, or the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the school is located or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police, films, records, or otherwise documents procedures, drills, or activity that is part of an established school safety and security plan, or other security-related plan or emergency response; or posts any information, video, or procedures on the Internet, social media, or makes public any plans, locations, diagrams, or procedures pursuant to an established school safety and security plan, or other security-related plan or emergency response, intended to be used to ensure the safety and security of the school. The chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police would be required to notify the appropriate superintendent of schools of the school district or the chief school administrator of the non-public school if written permission is granted. This subsection would not apply to law enforcement activities associated with the operation of, or planning or training for, school safety and security or emergency responsiveness, or to news coverage of an emergency. Under subsection a. of section 5 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly stops, impedes, redirects, or otherwise interferes with an established route, operation, or function of a school bus, van, or transportation vehicle engaged in the transportation of children to or from school or a school-sponsored event. Pursuant to subsection b. of section 5 of the bill, a person who, knowing he is not licensed or privileged to do so, enters an occupied school bus without the consent of the school bus driver or authorized school representative would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. This section would not apply to the actions of law enforcement or other established emergency road or utility repair crews in response to emergency traffic conditions. The bill provides that nothing in the bill would preclude an indictment and conviction for any other offense defined by the laws of this State. For the purposes of the bill "school district" would mean any local or regional school district established pursuant to chapter 8 or chapter 13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. "School safety and security plan" would mean the comprehensive plans, procedures, and mechanisms developed by each school district that provide for safety and security in the school district's public elementary and secondary schools and which provide for, at a minimum, the protection of the health, safety, security and welfare of the school population; the prevention of, intervention in, response to and recovery from emergency and crisis situations. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S1393 | Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis. | This bill authorizes the home cultivation of medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient's personal medical use. Specifically, the bill provides that a registered qualifying patient who is 21 years of age or older who provides notice to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission of the intent to home cultivate medical cannabis will be allowed to either home cultivate medical cannabis himself or herself, or authorize a designated caregiver to home cultivate medical cannabis on the patient's behalf. A home cultivator will be allowed to cultivate and possess up to four mature cannabis plants and up to four immature cannabis plants. Medical cannabis may only be home cultivated at the residence of the authorized home cultivator that is on file with the commission. The notice of intent to home cultivate medical cannabis provided to the commission is to specify which individual will home cultivate the medical cannabis. In no case may more than one individual home cultivate medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient at one time. A patient may change the designated home cultivator upon providing 10 days' notice to the commission. At least 10 days after providing the notice of change, but no more than 30 days after providing notice, any medical cannabis plants in the former home cultivator's possession may be transferred to the new designated home cultivator. Any plants that are not transferred to the new home cultivator are to be promptly surrendered to law enforcement for destruction. The failure to provide notice of a change in designated home cultivator will result in the patient's registration with the commission being deemed null and void. The commission will be required to promptly update the registry information for the patient and any affected designated caregiver upon receiving notice of the patient's intent to home cultivate medical cannabis or of a change in who is authorized to home cultivate medical cannabis for the patient. Any designated caregiver of a patient who elects to home cultivate medical cannabis will be authorized to possess, transport, and assist the patient with the administration of home-cultivated medical cannabis in dried form or in any other consumable form, regardless of whether the designated caregiver is designated as the patient's home cultivator. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties as may apply, any individual in possession of home-cultivated medical cannabis in the form of a mature or immature plant or in any consumable form, who sells, donates, or furnishes the home-cultivated medical cannabis to any individual who is not authorized to be in possession of the home-cultivated medical cannabis under the bill, will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. In addition, the individual's registration with the commission will be deemed null and void, and the individual will be permanently ineligible for re-registration with the commission as a qualifying patient, a designated caregiver, or an institutional caregiver. It is the sponsor's intent to expand access to medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients who may find the medical cannabis that is available through a medical cannabis dispensary unaffordable, or who may otherwise benefit from the convenience of home cultivation or the ability to readily access medical cannabis in the strain and form appropriate to the patient's individual treatment needs. Of the 36 states that have approved a comprehensive medical cannabis program, 17, or nearly half, currently allow for home cultivation of medical cannabis: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. | In Committee |
| S1708 | Requires Governor to file annual report disclosing expenditures made from funds provided as allowance. | This bill requires that no later than July 15th of each year, the Governor file with the State Ethics Commission a written report that details each expenditure made by the Governor from the funds provided to him or her during the preceding State fiscal year as an allowance of funds not otherwise appropriated and used for official receptions on behalf of the State, the operation of an official residence, or any similar allowance. The report is to be accompanied by copies of the receipts for each item or service purchased for which an expenditure was made at a cost greater than a de minimus amount, together with: (1) the name and mailing address of the person, business or organization receiving payment; and (2) a brief description of the item or service. The report would be available as a public record and posted on the website of the State Ethics Commission. | In Committee |
| S1684 | Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety. | This bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey Education and Law Enforcement Working Group, to establish a program that provides a means for the public to anonymously report information concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities in schools or the threat of those activities. The program will allow students, parents, school staff, and other community members to anonymously report information through readily accessible methods such as a telephone tip line, that is staffed by trained individuals at reasonable hours each day of the week, and a mobile application. The program must ensure that the identity of the reporting party remains unknown, except in instances where the reporting party voluntarily discloses his identity and verifies that his identity may be shared with law enforcement officers, school officials, and employees operating the program. The bill requires that information received through the program be promptly shared with the appropriate law enforcement agencies or school officials. Under the bill, training will be provided to law enforcement dispatch centers, school districts, nonpublic schools, and other entities determined by the Attorney General on awareness of the program and appropriate response to tips received through the program. Proper guidelines will be provided to students regarding the procedures for reporting potential threats to school safety. In addition, program awareness and education materials will be provided to all public and nonpublic schools in the State. The program established under this bill would be similar to Colorado's "Safe2Tell" program, which provides an anonymous and readily accessible tool for the reporting and sharing of information regarding potential threats to school safety. This bill also requires the Attorney General to annually prepare a report on the program that includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) the total number of reports made to the program, disaggregated by subgroups to be determined by the Attorney General; (2) the dates, times, and means of reporting; (3) the total number of instances of misuse of the program; and (4) a summary of the outcomes and actions taken on reports made to the program. The Attorney General is required to submit the report to the Governor and the Education Committees of the Senate and General Assembly and post the report on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety by January 1 of the year immediately following issuance of the report. | In Committee |
| SR45 | Urges Governor and Attorney General to provide assistance to municipalities in response to unpermitted mass gatherings and "pop-up parties" in New Jersey. | This resolution urges the Governor and the Attorney General to take necessary measures to bolster municipalities' responses to unpermitted mass gatherings and "pop-up parties" across the State. Municipalities require special event permits for activities such as block parties, festivals, flea markets, carnivals, concerts, and non-spontaneous public demonstrations. The permitting process may require up to several months' notice to municipalities so they can effectively predict and adequately prepare the resources and personnel necessary to manage large crowds at particular events. Additionally, the permitting process allows municipalities to deny the permit application if such an event does not seem practical. Local communities in New Jersey, primarily near beaches and other hubs of community activity, have experienced a major increase in spontaneous, unpermitted mass gatherings that bring along disorderly and dangerous conduct. So called "pop-up parties" present a great risk of destructive, crowd-driven behavior and dangers that cannot be foreseen. Local law enforcement and municipal officials have worked together to prevent these unpermitted mass gatherings from taking place with varying degrees of success. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities passed a resolution at its 2022 Conference calling for State assistance and solutions to the myriad issues posed by unpermitted mass gatherings. State assistance may allow municipalities to better anticipate potential unpermitted mass gatherings, hold organizers and attendees who incite hazards accountable for their misdeeds, and dissuade future pop-up gatherings. | In Committee |
| S889 | Establishes grant program for homeless veterans shelters. | The bill would require the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to award grants, subject to the availability of funds, to certain southern New Jersey counties to provide veterans with improved access to homeless shelters. Under the bill, Atlantic County, Cape May County, and Cumberland County may submit applications to the Adjutant General proposing locations for homeless veterans shelters and identifying property the county would provide to the State for the development of a shelter. New Jersey's southern counties are in particular need of shelters for homeless veterans. Because of mobility issues, homeless veterans' access to resources is often limited by geographic location. Various factors may have caused homeless veterans to locate within southern New Jersey counties. However, when conditions, such as extreme cold, require them to seek out temporary shelter, they find themselves isolated from shelters and other facilities that provide resources for veterans. This bill would result in the development of shelters in locations appropriate to meet this need. | In Committee |
| S1664 | Permits municipalities and counties to require requestor of government record to obtain records from agency website. | Under current law, if a person requests records from a municipality or a county that are on that public agency's website, the custodian cannot require the requestor to utilize the website to obtain the requested records. This bill permits a municipal or county records custodian to require the requestor to obtain the record from that agency's website when the information is readily available on the website. The custodian must provide the website address, identify each responsive document, and the specific location on the website of each identified responsive document. The request will be deemed fulfilled upon notification by the custodian to the requestor of the availability and location of each responsive document. If the requestor does not have access to a computer or is unable to print the requested record, the request shall be processed and fulfilled pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), commonly referred to as the open public records act. | In Committee |
| S1651 | Permits counties to establish county-municipal courts with limited, countywide jurisdiction. | This bill would provide for a new type of municipal court, to be known as a "county-municipal court." It would have some similarities in its operation to joint municipal courts that may be established by two or more municipalities pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2B:12-1, but would be established by a county governing body, and the municipalities in that county would agree, by ordinance, to have violations occurring within their municipal boundaries heard in the new court. Any county could establish and administer a county-municipal court. The new court would be an inferior court of limited jurisdiction, adjudicating all matters for which a municipal court currently has jurisdiction pursuant to N.J.S.2B:12-17 et seq., such as violations of county and municipal ordinances, and motor vehicle and traffic laws, as well as handle any criminal pretrial release and pretrial detention hearings for eligible defendants conducted pursuant to the criminal justice reform that took effect January 1, 2017 (see P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.)) as referred by the Assignment Judge for the vicinage pursuant to the Rules of Court. As to the court's creation, a county would establish its new court by ordinance, and that ordinance would provide an initial date on which the court would begin hearing matters. The county would be responsible for providing one or more suitable courtrooms, chambers, offices, equipment and supplies for the county-municipal court in the same county courthouse utilized by the Superior Court in that county. The county could either provide for an administrator and other necessary employees for the county-municipal court and for their compensation or permit, by agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts, for the court's operation by employees and staff of the Superior Court located in the same courthouse. All fees, fines, charges, and costs collected by the county-municipal court would be the same as currently provided by law for municipal courts. Each municipality within a county that establishes a county-municipal court would have to agree, by ordinance enacted and implemented no later than two years next following the date on which the new court would initially begin hearing matters, to have violations occurring within its municipal boundaries heard in the new court. The municipality would not be responsible for any administrative costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the new court. However, if a municipality failed to agree within the two-year period to have violations heard by the new court, the Assignment Judge of the vicinage for the county would order that any violations occurring in the non-compliant municipality be heard in the new court, and the municipality would be responsible for all administrative costs specified in the judge's order until such time as it agreed to have violations heard by that court. If a municipality had previously established a municipal court, the municipality would, in the ordinance joining with the county-municipal court, specify a date on which the previously established municipal court will be abolished and thereafter all violations heard in the new court. The date set forth in the ordinance could be no more than one year next following the date on which the ordinance is enacted. It would not be necessary for all of the county's municipalities to coordinate their court's abolishment and joining with the new county-municipal court to be the same date, as the new court could begin hearing matters even though less than all of the municipalities of the county had abolished their municipal courts and begun having cases heard in the new court. On the date established by a municipality in its ordinance for abolishing its previously established court and initially having violations heard in the new court: (1) all causes and proceeding of whatever character pending in the municipal court would be transferred, along with the files for those causes and proceedings, to the county-municipal court; and (2) all the functions, powers, and duties conferred on the municipal court abolished by the ordinance, to the extent not inconsistent with the functions, powers, and duties of the county-municipal court, would be transferred to and could be exercised by the county-municipal court. All files for causes and proceedings not transferred to the new court, and all books, papers, records, and documents, along with all office equipment, furnishing, and other property of the municipal court abolished by the ordinance would be disposed of by the municipality in a manner set forth in that abolishing ordinance, or one or more subsequent ordinances. The nomination and appointment of judges of a county-municipal court, being a court with jurisdiction extending to more than one municipality, would be done by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as required by the State Constitution under Article VI, Section VI, paragraph 1. Depending upon the type of county government involved in the establishment of the new court, either the county executive or the county governing body would be authorized to submit names of judicial candidates to the Governor for consideration as a potential nominee. Each judge of a county-municipal court would serve for a fixed term of five years. A judge could serve no more than three consecutive five-year terms. If a judge was appointed to complete the remainder of an unexpired term, that judge could serve no more than three additional, consecutive five-year terms. The county prosecutor, not municipal prosecutors, would represent the State, county, or municipality in the prosecution of all offenses and proceedings within the jurisdiction of a county-municipal court. Since the new county-municipal court would hear violations of motor vehicle and traffic laws, the bill would permit an establishing county to use the State's Automated Traffic System that is now used by existing municipal courts to exchange information and assist with court financial accounting, case processing, statistical reporting services, and other components of automated municipal court operations. Additionally, as to all costs, fines, fees and forfeitures of bail imposed by a county-municipal court, these would generally be paid to the county treasury of the county where the court is located, to assist in defraying the county's cost of operating the court. Concerning the bill's overall intent to provide counties the option of establishing county-municipal courts, and the resulting shift of municipal court operations to those counties that establish such courts, it is the opinion of the sponsor that the counties will be able to readily leverage the revenue streams from fines, fees, and other sources generated by the municipal courts being abolished within the counties. Those existing revenue streams, aggregated at the county level, will provide a cost-neutral funding shift to the county for county-municipal court operations. The sponsor further believes that permitting each county-municipal court to assist in handling criminal pretrial release and pretrial detention hearings for eligible defendants when assigned by the Assignment Judge for the vicinage within which a county-municipal court is located will assist the Superior Court, on an as needed basis, with the implementation of the major criminal justice reforms that took effect January 1, 2017. | In Committee |
| S1683 | Provides that school district may not prohibit active or retired law enforcement officer or registered security officer from carrying firearm in performance of school security duties if authorized under State law to carry. | This bill provides that if a school district enters into an agreement for the provision of school security services with an active or retired law enforcement officer, including a safe schools resource officer or a Class Three special law enforcement officer, or with a security officer registered under the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.), the school district may not prohibit that officer from carrying a firearm in school buildings or on school grounds in the performance of his school security duties if that officer is authorized under State law to carry such a firearm. In the wake of the recent school shooting tragedy, many communities have sought the assignment of active or retired law enforcement officers or armed security officers in the public schools. However, some boards of education have prohibited these officers from actually carrying a firearm in the performance of their school security duties. This prohibition does not reflect the desire of many of the residents of these communities who seek the level of protection that an armed officer would provide. This bill would prohibit a school district from imposing such a restriction. | In Committee |
| S2114 | Concerns vaccine mandates and eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain health care workers. | This bill concerns vaccine mandates and the eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain health care workers. Specifically, the bill provides that, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an unemployed individual who is otherwise eligible may not be deemed ineligible to receive unemployment benefits because the individual was terminated or voluntarily left employment as a result of non-compliance with Executive Order 283 of 2022. Executive Order 283 of 2022 requires healthcare facilities and high-risk congregate settings to adopt and implement policies requiring covered workers at covered settings to receive and be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. | In Committee |
| S1677 | Requires menstrual products include ingredient list; requires toxic shock syndrome warnings be printed on tampon package. | This bill establishes the "Feminine Hygiene Products Safety Act." The bill requires menstrual products to include an ingredient list and requires tampon packaging to contain printed warnings concerning the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Under the bill, every package or box containing menstrual products that is sold or offered for sale in this State would be required to contain a label listing all of the ingredients and the percentage of each ingredient. The information would be printed on the package or box, and displayed in a manner that stands alone, and is bold, conspicuous, and easily understandable to consumers. "Menstrual products" are defined in the bill as products manufactured for the purpose of catching menstruation and vaginal discharge, including but not limited to a tampon, sanitary pad, disc, menstrual cup, and underwear. The term also includes disposable and reusable products. The bill also provides that every package or box containing tampons sold or offered for sale in this State would be required to contain two warnings about the dangers of toxic shock syndrome, displayed in a manner that stands alone and is bold, conspicuous, and easily understandable to consumers. The first warning, to be printed on the front of the package or box, would include a safety alert symbol and the signal word "DANGER." The second warning, to be printed on the side and inside flap of the box or package, would include the following: (1) a list of the warning signs of toxic shock syndrome; (2) instructions on action to take if the warning signs appear, including the need to remove the tampon at once and seek medical attention immediately; (3) information concerning the advisability of using tampons with the minimum absorbency needed to control menstrual flow in order to reduce the risk; (4) information concerning avoiding the risk of getting tampon-associated toxic shock syndrome by not using tampons, and reducing the risk by using alternative menstrual products; (5) information concerning the need to seek medical attention before again using tampons if toxic shock syndrome warning signs have occurred in the past, or if a consumer has any questions about toxic shock syndrome or tampon use; and (6) any other information required to be provided to consumers in accordance with federal law or regulation. A violation of the bill's provisions would be an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. | In Committee |
| S160 | Requires MVC to issue one license plate instead of two. | This bill amends current law to require the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue one license plate for each automobile and motorcycle registered in the State. The bill requires that the single license plate be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. The bill specifies that any person who was issued two license plates prior to the effective date of the bill may return one of those plates to the commission. | In Committee |
| S1672 | Allows credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax liability for employing persons with a developmental disability. | This bill allows taxpayers to claim a credit against their corporation business tax liability or gross income tax liability in the amount of 10 percent of salary and wages paid to an employee with a developmental disability. The credit is capped at $3,000 per employee, and the total credit is capped at $60,000 per taxpayer per year. The bill defines "employee with a developmental disability" as an employee of the taxpayer who has a developmental disability as defined in N.J.S.A.30:6D-25 and for who the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services has declared eligible for its services. New Jersey already allows taxpayers to claim a credit for the employment of certain persons with disabilities at an occupational training center or sheltered workshop. This bill allows a credit for any type of employment, but taxpayers will be prohibited from claiming the credit allowed by this bill if in the same year they claim a credit for employment of the same employee at an occupational training center or sheltered workshop. | In Committee |
| S1676 | Requires certain doctors and nurses to ask patients questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock syndrome. | This bill establishes the "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Medical Questions Act." The bill requires nurse practitioners who practices nursing in emergency medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology and physicians who practice emergency medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology to ask patients questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock syndrome. Under the bill, a nurse practitioner or physician is to ask each female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis if the patient has an active menstrual cycle or the date of the last menstrual cycle if the female patient does not have an active menstrual cycle at the time of the medical visit. A nurse practitioner or physician is to ask a female patient with an active menstrual cycle or a recently active menstrual cycle, when the patient most recently used a tampon and if the patient experienced symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using the tampon or soon thereafter. A nurse practitioner or physician is to inform a female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis about signs and symptoms of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. In addition, a nurse practitioner or physician is to offer to test a female patient for toxic shock syndrome if: (1) the patient is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis; (2) the patient has an active or recently active menstrual cycle; and (3) the patient began experiencing symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using a tampon or soon thereafter. | In Committee |
| S1701 | Requires pretrial detention of defendant who violates conditions of pretrial release. | This bill requires pretrial detention of a defendant who violates the conditions of pretrial release. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the criminal justice reform law (CJR), criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Pretrial detention determinations are based on a risk assessment conducted by the Pretrial Services Program, which assesses each eligible defendant detained on a complaint-warrant and makes recommendations to the court as to an appropriate pretrial release decision. Currently, the CJR establishes a rebuttable presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with murder or other serious crimes. The CJR permits a court to revoke the release and order detention pending trial if a defendant violates a condition of release or commits a new crime while on release, but only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that no monetary bail or conditions of release would reasonably assure the defendant's appearance in court and the public's safety, or that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process. The CJR also currently provides that the lowest level distribution offenses involving marijuana or hashish, and possession of marijuana or hashish, are not to be considered a violation of the terms of pretrial release. This bill provides that if a defendant violates any condition of pretrial release, or commits any crime while on release, the court is required to revoke the pretrial release and order the defendant to be detained pending trial. The bill also deletes the provision concerning marijuana and hashish distribution offenses. Thus, under the bill, the lowest level distribution and possession offenses involving marijuana and hashish may be considered violations of the terms of pretrial release. | In Committee |
| SCR61 | Constitutes special committee of Senate and General Assembly entitled "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." | This concurrent resolution constitutes a special committee of the Legislature entitled the "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." The creation of this committee is in response to several news articles highlighting the recommended increase in premiums and periodic charges for the State health care programs and allegations the Governor's Office may have intervened during contract disputes with the State's contractor, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. The committee will review and investigate the recommended increases in the premiums of the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will also investigate allegations that the Governor's Office may have pressured staff at the Department of the Treasury to halt the contract dispute with Horizon and the effort by the department to recoup the $34 million from the contract. Additionally, the committee will review the implementation, if any, of P.L.2019, c.143, which created subaccounts in the State Health Benefits Program Fund and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Fund and also required the State to procure a professional services contract for a third-party medical claims reviewer for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will make recommendations that address this subject. | In Committee |
| S1670 | Limits increase of assessed value of property subject to appeal judgment following implementation of reassessment. | This bill modifies existing law regarding the "freeze" of property tax assessment appeal judgments within taxing districts performing a review and revision of all property to current market value. Under current law appeal judgments on property tax assessments terminate with the tax year immediately preceding the year in which a program for a complete revaluation or complete reassessment of all real property within the district has been put into effect. This bill also allows a termination of property tax assessment appeal judgments in districts performing a review and revision of all property to current market value, but limits the tax increase to the year over year increase in the district's net taxable value of property. The net valuation taxable is the total value of all taxable property in a taxing district. The limiting effect is to honor the property tax proportionate share established by the appeal judgment and ensure fair levy distribution in the subsequent year through the capture of common appreciation of property value. | In Committee |
| S1682 | Requires Police Training Commission to adopt training course on school emergency response. | This bill requires the Police Training Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety to adopt a training course regarding school emergency response, including response to an active shooter threat. The training course must include lockdown drill observations. Under the bill, the training will be administered by the employing agency as part of the in-service training provided to each local police officer in each law enforcement unit operating in this State. The bill further provides that prior to being appointed to permanent status as a local police officer in a law enforcement unit, an individual must complete the training course. Every local police officer appointed prior to the effective date of this bill must, within 36 months of the effective date, satisfactorily complete a training course in school emergency response. | In Committee |
| S1669 | Eliminates requirement for State residency for public officers and employees with limited historic exceptions. | This bill eliminates the requirement that all public officers and employees, with certain exceptions, have their principal residence in this State. This requirement was imposed in 2011. Prior to imposing the requirement on all public officers and employees, R.S.52:14-7 required State residency for the Governor, each member of the Legislature, the head of each principal department of the Executive Branch of State government, and every Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Superior Court, and judge of any inferior court established under the laws of this State. This bill retains the residency requirement for persons holding these positions, but eliminates it for all other public officers and employees covered by R.S.52:14-7. | In Committee |
| S437 | Increases criminal penalties if leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor results in injury or death. | This bill increases the penalties for allowing a minor to gain access to a loaded firearm when such a violation results in bodily injury or death. Under current law, a person who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to a loaded firearm at a premises under the person's control is required to store the firearm in a securely locked box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure, or to secure the firearm with a trigger lock. A person who fails to follow these precautions is guilty of a disorderly person's offense if a minor gains access to the loaded firearm. This bill upgrades this offense to a crime of the fourth degree if a violation of the current law results in bodily injury, and a crime of the third degree if a violation results in serious bodily injury or death. A disorderly person's offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both; a crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Current law defines "bodily injury" as physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. "Serious bodily injury" is defined as bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. In addition, under current law, a person is not guilty of the offense of allowing a minor to obtain a loaded firearm under circumstances where: 1) a minor uses a firearm for activities authorized by current law; or 2) a minor obtained a firearm as a result of an unlawful entry by any person. This bill clarifies that a person also is not guilty of the offense of allowing a minor to obtain a loaded firearm under circumstances where a minor obtained the firearm for the purpose of self-protection, as permitted under current law. | In Committee |
| S1674 | Requires Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax rate reduction if certain Legislative action is taken that includes increases in other State tax rates and revenue; dedicates revenues from certain sales and use tax increases to "Transportation Trust Fund Account." | This bill requires a reduction in the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax rate upon certain legislative action and is intended to keep the Legislature's promise of lower taxes. Specifically, following any Legislative action which repeals, impairs, or amends section 19 of P.L.2016, c.57, concerning a State tax review council, and increases the sales and use tax rate, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer is required to, not later than seven days following the Legislative action, provide a fiscal estimate to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury of the anticipated amount of State revenue to be generated as a result of the Legislative action which increases the sales and use tax rate. The estimate is to be calculated based on the difference in total State revenue collected from the sales and use tax during the preceding State fiscal year and the anticipated total amount of revenue to be collected attributable to the increased tax rate. The bill permits the director to contest the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer's fiscal estimate within seven days of receiving the fiscal estimate. If the director contests the fiscal estimate, the director must forward any necessary information to the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer for the purposes of recalculating the fiscal estimate. The Legislative Budget and Finance Officer is required to consider all information provided by the director for the purposes of potentially recalculating the fiscal estimate and transmitting the certification to the director. If the director does not contest the estimate, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer's fiscal estimate is to be certified and transmitted to the director. On and after the first day of the second month following the certification by the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer to the director, the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax is required to be reduced on a cents-per-gallon basis so that the total revenues collected from the tax are reduced by the amount of increased sales and use tax revenue as provided in the certified estimate. Further, the bill requires the Legislature to annually appropriate an amount equal to the anticipated amount of State revenue to be generated as a result of any Legislative action which increases sales and use tax rate to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account." | In Committee |
| S1655 | Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate. | This bill prohibits a bill that that has been certified for a fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate from being released from committee unless and until the fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate is complete. | In Committee |
| S1658 | Increases penalties for purposely desecrating any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of worship or burial. | This bill would increase the penalties for purposely desecrating any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of worship or burial from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, up to a $10,000 fine, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, up to a $1,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| S2275 | Directs BPU to establish program concerning renewable natural gas; provides gas public utilities with customer rate recovery mechanism for costs associated with program. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program to encourage the procurement of renewable natural gas and investment in renewable natural gas infrastructure by a gas public utility (utility). The bill establishes portfolio targets for the distribution of renewable natural gas to the utility's retail natural gas customers in the State, for energy years 2022 through 2050. The portfolio target begins as a target of up to five percent in each of the energy years 2022 through 2024, and increases up to 30 percent in each of the energy years 2045 through 2050. The bill defines "renewable natural gas" as the following products, processed to meet pipeline quality standards or transportation fuel grade requirements: 1) biogas that meets natural gas pipeline quality standards such that it may blend with, or substitute for, geologic natural gas; 2) hydrogen gas derived from Class I renewable energy or Class II renewable energy; or 3) methane gas derived from any combination of biogas, hydrogen gas, or carbon oxides derived from renewable energy sources, or waste carbon dioxide. The bill requires the BPU to adopt a ratemaking mechanism that ensures the recovery of and on all prudently incurred costs that contribute to a utility's meeting the program's renewable natural gas portfolio targets established in the bill. Under a ratemaking mechanism adopted by the BPU by means of a periodic rate recovery mechanism: 1) any BPU-approved qualified investment and operating cost associated with a qualified investment that contributes to a utility's meeting the program's requirements may be recovered from ratepayers; and 2) any BPU-approved cost of procurement of renewable natural gas from a third party, including from an affiliate of the utility, that contributes to the utility meeting the program's requirements may be recovered from ratepayers. When a utility makes a qualified investment, the costs associated with the qualified investment are to include the cost of capital established in the utility's most recent rate case as well as other incremental costs associated with those qualified investments. The bill requires that when a utility procures renewable natural gas from a third party, the utility is to purchase the renewable natural gas supply at prices and on terms consistent with market conditions in the market for renewable natural gas. A charge assessed to customers for the supply of renewable natural gas is to be regulated by the BPU and be based on the cost to the utility of providing that supply, including the cost of renewable natural gas commodity and capacity, purchased at prices consistent with market conditions in the market for renewable natural gas, and related ancillary and administrative costs. If a utility's total incremental annual cost to meet the requirements of the renewable natural gas program exceeds five percent of the utility's total revenue requirement for an individual year, the utility is no longer authorized to make additional qualified investments under the renewable natural gas program for that year without the approval of the BPU. The bill provides that the total incremental annual cost to meet the portfolio targets of the program are to account for: 1) any value received by the utility upon any resale of renewable natural gas, including any environmental credits that the renewable natural gas producer chooses to include with the sale of the renewable natural gas to the utility; and 2) any savings achieved through avoidance of conventional gas purchases or development, such as avoided pipeline costs or carbon costs. The bill allows the BPU to permit a utility to exceed the program's portfolio targets and, in that instance, the remaining provisions of the bill are to continue to apply. | In Committee |
| S1697 | Increases penalties for motor vehicle theft; authorizes home detention for minors. | This bill increases the penalties for the theft of a motor vehicle generally, and, for minors who commit theft of a motor vehicle. The bill upgrades the crime of theft of a motor vehicle to a second degree crime. Under current law theft of a motor vehicle is a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. The bill also permits a court to order a minor who is convicted of theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle to home detention. A minor sentenced to home detention may leave the residence to: (1) attend in-person court appearances; (2) attend in-person probation appointments; (3) attend in-person attorney appointments after providing proper notice; or (4) for any other reason preapproved by court order. Finally, the bill requires courts to hear the case of a minor within 48 hours of the arrest when the minor commits motor vehicle theft, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (joyriding), or carjacking. | In Committee |
| S1037 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish New Jersey STEM Entrepreneur Fellowship Program to support entrepreneurs in STEM fields. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to establish the New Jersey STEM Entrepreneur Fellowship Program in county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education to support entrepreneurs in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Under the bill, the secretary will fund and administer no less than 20 fellowships. The fellowships may be provided to individuals who have proven to the secretary that they have an idea to create, advance or develop a product in the STEM field which will have a beneficial impact on society and will result in a self-sustaining business in the future. The fellowships will be issued for three years each and will be used primarily to support the entrepreneurs in commercializing the idea and developing a well-structured business. | In Committee |
| S2007 | Establishes "Recovery Tax Credit Program"; incentivizes hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. | This bill establishes the "Recovery Tax Credit Program" (program) to incentivize the hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. Under the bill, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services is required to administer the program to provide tax incentives to certified employers for hiring and employing eligible individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder in part-time or full-time employment in the State. For an employer to be certified under the bill, the employer is required to provide employer sponsored insurance coverage that meets certain minimum essential coverage requirements, and meet certain other requirements. The bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (director) to allocate up to $2,000,000 of tax credits for the program for each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2023, to be credited against the Corporation Business Tax or the Gross Income Tax. To participate in the program, an employer is required to apply annually to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (division) to claim credit based on the number of hours worked by eligible individuals employed during the preceding calendar year. The director is required to issue a tax credit certificate to employers by March 31 each year. The bill specifies that a certified employer is generally entitled to a tax credit equal to the product of $1 multiplied by the number of hours worked by each eligible individual hired and employed by the certified employer during that eligible individual's period of employment, provided that a credit is not to be allowed unless an eligible individual has worked in the State for a minimum of 500 hours for the employer and that the credit per eligible individual is prohibited from exceeding $2,000. The bill further specifies, however, that in determining the amount of credit that any employer may claim, the director is required to review all claims submitted for credit by employers and, to the extent that the total amount claimed by employers exceeds the amount allocated for the program in that calendar year, is required to issue credits on a pro rata basis corresponding to each employer's share of the total claimed amount. Under the bill, a certified employer is permitted to claim a credit for the period starting on the day the employee is hired and ending on December 31 of the immediately succeeding calendar year or the last day of the employee's employment by the certified employer, whichever comes first. If, however, an eligible individual has worked in excess of 500 hours between the date of hiring and December 31 of that year, an employer may elect to compute and claim a credit for such employee for that year based on the hours worked by December 31, or may elect to include the hours worked by the eligible individual in the computation of the credit in the year immediately succeeding the year in which the eligible individual was hired. Under the bill, certified employers are prohibited from claiming a tax credit for hours worked by an eligible individual in excess of 2,000 hours, from claiming credit more than once with respect to any eligible individual, and from aggregating hours worked by two or more employees to reach the minimum number of hours. The bill requires the director to annually provide certain program information to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The director is also required, in consultation with Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the program. Under the bill, the amount of the credits allowed against the taxes imposed are prohibited from exceeding 50 percent of the taxpayer's liability for tax, and may be carried over, if necessary, to the seven privilege periods or taxable years. The bill also provides for the allocation of tax credits under the program to certain certified employers. | In Committee |
| S339 | Requires State Board of Education to permit candidates awaiting teacher certification to submit affidavit to hiring school district affirming certification requirements have been met. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize an alternative means for teaching candidates to secure employment as a teacher with a school district while awaiting the issuance of a certificate of eligibility or certificate of eligibility with advanced standing from the Department of Education. The board would be required to allow a candidate for a certificate to submit to a hiring district a signed affidavit affirming that applicable certification requirements have been met as part of the candidate's application for employment with the hiring district. A candidate who submits an affidavit pursuant to this bill would be required to provide accompanying documentation demonstrating that the candidate has applied for a certificate with the department. In the event that a candidate submits a signed affidavit in good faith and subsequently learned that the certification process is incomplete, the candidate will not be liable to reimburse the district for salary or benefits received. Within 90 days from the date an affidavit has been submitted to a hiring district, a candidate would be required to provide confirmation to the hiring district that a certificate has been issued by the department. A hiring district would be required to terminate a candidate who does not provide confirmation to the district that a certificate has been issued or has been found to have misrepresented information provided on the affidavit. | In Committee |
| S1705 | Protects children from certain mandatory vaccinations as a condition of school attendance. | This bill protects children from certain mandatory vaccinations as a condition of school attendance. The bill provides that, in no case, is the Commissioner of Health, the Governor, or any other entity of State, county, or municipal government to require a child to be immunized against COVID-19 or the human papillomavirus (HPV) as a condition of attendance at a public primary or secondary school. Further, the bill provides that, in no case, is the Commissioner of Health, the Governor, or any other entity of State, county, or municipal government to cause or to require a public primary or secondary school to conduct an inquiry into whether a child is immunized against COVID-19 or HPV. | In Committee |
| SCR78 | Declares Division of State Lottery's new rule concerning online lottery sales inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the final rule adopted by the Division of State Lottery on August 17, 2023 at N.J.A.C. 17:20-1.5, permitting the direct internet sale of lottery tickets by the Division of State Lottery, is not consistent with the legislative intent of the "State Lottery Act". The Division of State Lottery shall have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the rule or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rule in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| S892 | Upgrades burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree; requires mandatory period of parole ineligibility if residence was occupied at time of offense. | This bill would upgrade burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree and provide that an offender is not eligible for early release if a person was present in the residence at the time of the offense. Currently, all burglary offenses are crimes of the third degree unless the offender purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on someone or if the offender is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon, in which case it is a crime of the second degree. This bill would provide that it is also a crime of the second degree to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Additionally, the bill would provide that, if a person was present in the dwelling at the time of the burglary, the offender would be subject to the provisions of subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117 (C.2C:43-7.2), commonly known as the "No Early Release Act (NERA)," which requires that certain offenders must serve a minimum 85% of the sentence of imprisonment imposed for the offense. A crime of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, up to a $150,000 fine, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, up to a $15,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| S1648 | Expands categories of individuals who may bring a claim under wrongful imprisonment statute. | This bill expands the categories of individuals who may bring a claim under the wrongful imprisonment statute, P.L.1997, c.227 (C.52:4C-1 et. seq.). The bill also provides a two-year window during which persons who were ineligible to bring a civil action for wrongful imprisonment may bring an action for damages. Currently, any person who has been convicted and subsequently imprisoned for a crime which he did not commit and for which he did not plead guilty may bring a civil action for damages against the Department of Treasury. This bill would allow a person who was wrongfully convicted of a crime and subsequently wrongfully civilly committed as a "sexually violent predator" in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1998, c.71 (C.30:4-27.24 et al.) to also bring an action for wrongful imprisonment. In addition, any person who entered a guilty plea and was subsequently imprisoned could also bring an action. Statute of Limitations The bill also clarifies the time frame within which an action may be brought. The bill provides that a person may bring a civil action within two years after his conviction is vacated or dismissed, or his release from prison, State supervision including parole, probation, civil commitment, sexual offender registration, or after he has been pardoned, whichever is later. In addition, it provides that any person who has had his conviction vacated, dismissed, or is released from imprisonment, State supervision including parole, probation, civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator" in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1998, c.71 (C.30:4-27.24 et al.), sex offender registration or pardoned on or after December 27, 2013 would have two years from the effective date of this bill to file a suit. Damages In 2013 the Legislature increased the statutory damages amounts awarded in wrongful imprisonment civil actions pursuant to P.L.2013, c.171. Currently, damages cannot exceed twice the amount of the claimant's income in the year prior to the claimant's incarceration or $50,000 for each year of incarceration, whichever is greater. (The 2013 amendment increased the amount from $20,000 to $50,000). The bill does not change this measurement between the greater of income in the year prior to the claimant's incarceration or the total per year amount for each year of incarceration. Instead it adds time spent in civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator." The bill also expands the provisions of the statute to allow for an additional recovery of $25,000 for each year served on State supervision, including parole, probation or as a registered sex offender. Therefore, under the bill damages include (1) twice the amount of the claimant's income in the year prior to his incarceration or civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator"; or (2) $50,000 for each year of incarceration or civil commitment, whichever is greater, and (3) $25,000 for each year served on parole, on probation, or as a registered sex offender after a period of incarceration. In the event that damages exceed $1 million the court could order that the award be paid in an annuity with a payout over a maximum period of 20 years. Applicability Provision Since the amount of recovery was increased in 2013 by section 6 of P.L.2013, c.171 and applied to a claimant released from imprisonment or granted a pardon on or after the effective date of the 2013 enactment, the bill provides a tiered applicability provision to clarify the damages provision. The provisions of P.L.1997, c.227 (C.52:4C-1 et al.) and P.L.2013, c.171 would apply to any claimant released from imprisonment, or granted a pardon on or after the effective date of P.L.2013, c.171 which is December 27, 2013. The provisions of this bill would apply to any claimant whose conviction was vacated or dismissed, or who was released from imprisonment, parole, probation, civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator" or removed from the sex offender registry, or granted a pardon on or after December 27, 2013, the effective date of P.L.2013, c.171, and who has not previously been awarded damages. Such a claimant would have two years from the effective date of this bill to bring an action for damages. And finally, a person who was previously ineligible to bring a civil action for damages under section 3 of P.L.1997, c.227 (C.52:4C-3) or section 6 of P.L.2013, c.171 on grounds that the person pled guilty to the crime for which he was convicted would have two years from the effective date of the bill to bring a civil action for damages.Public Defender- Lien on Property of Defendant The bill would also amend section 17 of P.L.1967, c.43 (C.2A:158A-17) to add the cross reference to section 6 of P.L.2013, c.171 (C.52:4C-7). This section was amended by the 2013 enactment to clarify that the public defender would discharge any lien for services rendered concerning a crime where the defendant is awarded damages pursuant to the wrong imprisonment statute. | In Committee |
| S962 | Prohibits mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 as condition of attending public K-12 schools. | This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Health and other State governmental entities from requiring immunization against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a condition of attendance at a public primary or secondary school. | In Committee |
| S1691 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to appoint special auditor to investigate claims of abuse of public funds at public institutions of higher education. | This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to appoint a special auditor to investigate claims of abuse of public funds at public institutions of higher education. Any person would be able to file a complaint alleging abuse of public funds to the special auditor. Upon receipt of a complaint, the special auditor would be required to serve a copy of the complaint on each individual named therein and provide each named individual with the opportunity to submit a written statement under oath. The special auditor would subsequently decide whether probable cause exists to credit the allegations in the complaint. If the special auditor determines that probable cause exists, the special auditor would conduct an investigation into the allegation of abuse of public funds. In making a determination regarding an alleged abuse of public funds, the burden of proof would be on the accusing party to establish an abuse of public funds. Upon completion of the investigation, the special auditor would determine whether the conduct complained of constitutes an abuse of public funds or whether the complaint should be dismissed, and state in writing their findings. The special auditor would be required to issue a decision regarding the complaint within 90 days of receiving the complaint. If an entity of a public institution of higher education is found to have abused public funds, the entity would be required to repay to the State the total amount of funds deemed to have been misused. The institution would also be fined an amount equal to the total cost of the investigation multiplied by 1.25. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education would use funds received as a result of any fines issued to fund future investigations. A governing board of a public institution of higher education, or any employee of the board, would be prohibited from taking any retaliatory action against an employee or a student at the public institution of higher education because the individual: (1) submits a complaint of abuse of public funds to the special auditor; or (2) provides information to, or testifies before, the special auditor conducting an investigation into an allegation of abuse of public funds. | In Committee |
| S2011 | Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. | This bill increases from $25 million to $50 million the amount that is annually credited to the Shore Protection Fund from the collection of realty transfer fees. The realty transfer fee is imposed on the recording of deeds transferring real property and is calculated on the basis of the amount paid in the deed. The basic rate is $1.75 for each $500 of consideration, of which $0.50 is retained by the county and $1.25 is the State share. Currently, the first $25 million of the State share collected annually is credited to the Shore Protection Fund. | In Committee |
| S1695 | Restricts authorization of new debt by State Treasurer. | This bill prohibits the State Treasurer from authorizing new State debt through appropriations-backed bonds unless: (1) there is no available balance in the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; or (2) the present value of debt service per $1,000 of face value of appropriations-backed bonds being issued is less than the present value of debt service per $1,000 of face value of appropriations-backed bonds that could be retired or defeased though the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund." When the fund has an unexpended and uncommitted balance, the bill requires the State Treasurer to immediately notify the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, whenever the State Treasurer is facilitating the issuance of new appropriations-backed bonds and would be required to certify that State bonds with higher amounts of debt service that could otherwise be retired or defeased do not remain outstanding, or that the issuance of new State debt is in compliance with applicable law. The bill is intended to address instances where the State Treasurer has been authorizing new State debt with payment schedules beginning a decade into the future, declining to pay back debt with high rates of interest despite availability of funds, and choosing to defease debt with lower interest rates. By regulating the issuance of new State debt in accordance with the provisions of this bill, the State can ensure responsible management of its debt obligations. | In Committee |
| S1681 | Requires Commissioner of Education to review school safety and security plans. | Pursuant to State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:16-5.1, each school district must develop and annually update a districtwide school safety and security plan. Currently, a school district may submit its plan to the Department of Education's Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning for review. Under this bill, all school districts would be required to, no later than six months following the effective date, submit the plan to the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner will review districts' plans and submit a written report to each district that details any weaknesses that have been identified and recommend solutions. No later than three years following the bill's effective date, the commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature summarizing the results of the reviews. | In Committee |
| S58 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| SCR59 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for election of Attorney General. | This proposed Constitutional amendment would provide for the election by the voters of the State Attorney General. Currently, the Attorney General is appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve during the Governor's term of office. The Attorney General would be the chief law officer of the State and must be an attorney in good standing and licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey. The Attorney General would be elected by the legally qualified voters of this State at the general election held during the first year of the full term of the Governor. The term of office of the Attorney General would be four years, beginning at noon of the third Tuesday in January next following the election, and ending at noon on the third Tuesday in January four years thereafter. The Attorney General would have to be at least 30 years old. The Attorney General would have to be a citizen of the United States for at least 20 years and a resident of this State for seven years. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Attorney General resulting from any cause, or in the event of the incapacity or impeachment of the Attorney General, the functions, powers, duties and emoluments of the office would devolve upon such officers and in the order of succession as would be provided by law. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Attorney General, an Attorney General would be elected to fill the unexpired term at the next general election, unless the vacancy shall occur within seventy days immediately preceding a general election, in which case the Attorney General would be elected at the second succeeding general election. The Attorney General would exercise such powers and perform such duties as may now or hereafter be conferred upon or required of the Attorney General, either by the Constitution or by the common and statutory law of the State. No diminution in the functions, powers, and duties of the Attorney General, whether by law or by executive order or proclamation, enacted, adopted or issued after the election of any person to that office, could take effect until another person has been elected to succeed that person and has qualified into office. The Attorney General will receive for services a salary which will not be less than four-fifths of the salary received by the Governor. | In Committee |
| S1685 | Permits use of tents and other fixtures for outdoor dining on certain property. | This bill would permit the use of tents and other fixtures for outdoor dining on certain property. The bill would allow the owners and operators of restaurants, bars, distilleries, or breweries to use outdoor spaces which they own or lease and which are located on, or adjacent to, their business premises, as an extension of their business premises for the purpose of conducting sales of food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages if so licensed. The bill defines outdoor spaces as including patios and decks, both covered and uncovered, yards, walkways, and parking lots, or a portion thereof. The bill would also allow the owners and operators of those establishments to use public sidewalks, as defined in the bill, as an extension of their business premises for that purpose, as well. The bill requires owners and operators of those establishments seeking to utilize outdoor spaces or public sidewalks as extensions of their business premises pursuant to the provisions of the bill to file an application with the municipal zoning officer, including information concerning the use of the outdoor spaces or public sidewalks, as appropriate, pursuant to the requirements set forth in the bill. The bill allows the use of tents, canopies, umbrellas, tables, chairs, and other fixtures on these premises as long as the tent, canopy, umbrella, table, chairs, or other fixture conforms to all applicable fire safety and construction code provisions. The bill specifies that these tents, canopies, umbrellas, tables, chairs, and other fixtures would be deemed a permitted use for the time period encompassing the first day of April through the first day of December of each year. The bill, further clarifies that any administrative rule or regulation which governs the use of tents, canopies, umbrellas, tables, chairs, and other fixtures during the winter, specifically the time period encompassing the second day of December through the last day of March, would not be impacted by the provisions of the bill. The bill is to take effect immediately or upon the expiration of sections 1 through 8 of P.L.2021, c.15, whichever is later. P.L.2021, c.15 was enacted on February 5, 2021, in part, to temporarily expand opportunities for restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries to provide outdoor dining in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and is to expire by its own terms. This bill would make several provisions of that law permanent | In Committee |
| S1687 | Requires emergency medical technicians and firefighters to receive training concerning electric vehicle fires. | This bill requires emergency medical technicians and firefighters within the State to be trained on the risks associated with electric vehicles and in the safe and effective management of electric vehicle fires. Under this bill, the Division of Fire Safety, in consultation with the New Jersey Fire and Emergency Medical Services Institute, will adopt a training course for firefighters. The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, the New Jersey Fire and Emergency Medical Services Institute, and the New Jersey State First Aid Council, will adopt a training course for emergency medical technicians. For the last 20 years, there has been increased interest in and use of electric vehicles. While the risk of an electric vehicle fire is low, managing an electric vehicle fire requires specialized training since a lithium-ion battery can burn hotter and for a longer period of time than a gasoline engine. | In Committee |
| S1654 | Provides for development of searchable "Municipal Penalty Database." | This bill would require the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Office of Information Technology, to design, develop, and maintain a database that contains and displays information about the monetary penalties imposed and collected by municipalities for the violation of municipal ordinances. The "Municipal Penalty Database" would be publicly available and accessible from the Division of Local Government Services Internet website. The "Municipal Penalty Database," would display a quarterly report for each municipality setting forth: · each type of violation prescribed by ordinance, · the monetary penalty amount, amounts, or range prescribed by ordinance,· the number of occurrences of each type of violation during the prior three-month period, and · the total amount collected by the municipality for each type of violation during the prior three-month period. The database would also retain and display each prior quarterly report. The bill requires the Division of Local Government Services to adopt rules to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill requires each municipality to submit information to the Division of Local Government Services on a quarterly or more frequent basis, in the manner the division may require, information about the monetary penalties the municipality has imposed and collected for the violation of each type of ordinance. If a municipality does not comply with this requirement, the Division of Local Government Services would prohibit the municipality from imposing and collecting a fine in excess of $25 as a penalty for the violation of any of its ordinances until the division determines that the municipality has satisfactorily complied with the requirement. Additionally, a person cited for violating an ordinance during a period of time that the municipality is not in compliance with this requirement may affirmatively assert the provisions of the bill as a defense against the ability of the municipality to impose and collect a fine in excess of $25 as a penalty for violation of the ordinance. | In Committee |
| S1355 | Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance. | This bill prevents future tax increases on employee wages in support of the State's system of providing unemployment benefits by prohibiting the unemployment tax wage base from rising above the rate in effect for calendar year 2022, and allocates $100 million to the unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance. Current law requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to effectively increase taxes on employee wages by annually adjusting the wage base used to calculate employee unemployment taxes. The bill would halt this adjustment to the wage base. The wage base amount determined for 2022 would be used for employee unemployment taxes in calendar year 2023 and subsequent calendar years, unless the calculation would result in a lower wage base, in which case the lower wage base would be used. Employee wage taxes are regressive. It is the sponsor's view that administratively increasing the tax every year is unfair to low and middle class employees. In lieu of additional employee payroll tax increases to support the unemployment compensation fund, the bill appropriates funds from other sources in amounts estimated to sufficiently substitute alternative resources from the next two years of foregone revenues due to a freeze on tax increases. In future years, the State would need to identify further appropriations of alternative resources to the unemployment compensation fund in lieu of employee payroll tax increases to ensure its solvency. | In Committee |
| S4700 | Regulates medication administration in certain residential facilities. | Regulates medication administration in certain residential facilities. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 13 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2018 | |
| NJ | District 13 | House | Republican | Out of Office | 01/01/2012 | 01/21/2024 |
| NJ | District 12 | House | Republican | Out of Office | 01/08/2008 | 01/21/2024 |