Legislator
Legislator > Cleopatra Tucker
State Assemblymember
Cleopatra Tucker
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 28
In Office - Started: 01/08/2008
contact info
Newark Office
1079 Bergen St.
Newark, NJ 07112
Newark, NJ 07112
Phone: 973-926-4320
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Passed |
| A5520 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | In Committee |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Passed |
| A5621 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $2.4 billion to provide loans to local governments and privately-owned water companies (project sponsors) for a portion of the costs of water infrastructure projects, for the purpose of implementing the State fiscal year 2026 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP). A companion bill, Assembly Bill No. 5622 of this session, would appropriate certain federal and State moneys to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the purpose of partially funding the costs of the clean water and drinking water projects enumerated by the bill. The bill would authorize the NJIB to provide loans to fund the following projects: (1) in subsection a. of section 2 of the bill, a list of two projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $5.2 million in estimated total loan amounts; (2) in subsection b. of section 2 of the bill, a list of four projects to improve drinking water systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $19 million in estimated total loan amounts; (3) in subsection c. of section 3 of the bill, a list of four projects in the Pinelands area that are receiving funding under the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302 to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $15.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; (4) in subsection a. of section 4 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2026 Clean Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 151 projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $1.7 billion in estimated total loan amounts; and (5) in subsection b. of section 4 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2026 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 59 projects to improve drinking water systems, representing $651.7 million in estimated total loan amounts. The bill would also appropriate to the NJIB an amount up to $1.5 billion, as necessary, to make short-term or temporary loans to project sponsors on the "Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List," which is required to be submitted to the Legislature by the DEP Commissioner. The bill would also appropriate to the NJIB the amount needed to fund project sponsors on the "Environmental Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Project Priority List," which is also required to be submitted to the Legislature by the DEP Commissioner. In addition, the bill would appropriate available funds from the "Economic Development and Infrastructure Improvement Revolving Fund" created pursuant to the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2021, P.L.2020, c.97, to provide debt service reserves or guarantees to certain local government units for the purpose of making them eligible to receive a loan from the NJIB to finance the environmental infrastructure component of a redevelopment project. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to transfer moneys between various State funds, for the purpose of funding the NJEIFP and providing the State match for federal funding provided under the federal laws, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, as detailed in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill. The bill would establish certain requirements on loans to project sponsors made by the NJIB pursuant to the bill, as enumerated in section 6 of the bill. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to decrease or increase the loan amounts it provides, subject to certain conditions enumerated in sections 7 and 8 of the bill. Finally, the bill would authorize the NJIB to utilize certain moneys to fund its annual operating expenses. | In Committee |
| A4878 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | This bill extends certain options in regard to grades to dependents of service members enrolled in public institutions of higher education who cannot complete a course due to an unplanned military obligation of the service member. The bill also clarifies the scope of existing grade options and establishes additional grade options. Under current law, a student enrolled in public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course due to a deployment, mobilization, reassignment, or other military obligation as a service member has four options in regard to the grade for the course. If the student has completed at least eight weeks of the course, the student may choose to receive a (1) letter grade; (2) pass or fail grade; (3) grade of incomplete; or (4) withdrawal. If the student has completed fewer than eight weeks of the course, the student's options are limited to choosing between receiving an incomplete grade and withdrawing from the course. Current law also specifies that a student who accepts a grade of pass or fail may, within a year of returning to the institution, complete the course work to receive a letter grade. Under the bill, these grade options are to also be made available to the dependents of the service member. The bill defines a "dependent" as a dependent child or spouse of the service member. The bill clarifies that the deployment, mobilization, reassignment or other military obligation preventing the service member or dependent from completing the course be unplanned. The bill also changes the demarcating line of course completion from eight weeks to 55 percent of the duration of the course. If the service member or dependent has completed 55 percent of the duration of the course, receipt of a letter grade would only be granted if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the service member or dependent has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. A grade of pass or fail would also be based on whether the faculty member determines the member or dependent completed sufficient work and there is sufficient evidence of meeting the course requirements. The bill also adds the options of receiving a temporary grade or transferring into an equivalent online section of the course when available and with appropriate approval. The options are to be subject to the approval of the teacher, department, registrar, or appropriate office at the institution, If the service member or dependent has completed less than 55 percent of the duration of the course, the service member or dependent may receive an incomplete for the grade only if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the student or dependent has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. The service member or dependent also has an added option of transferring into an equivalent online section of the course when available and with appropriate approval. The options shall be subject to the approval of the teacher, department, the registrar, or the appropriate office at the institution, Finally, the bill specifies that the service member or dependent who initially chose to accept a pass or fail grade, but subsequently returns to the institution within a year to complete course work to receive a letter grade, may contact the faculty member who taught the course, the academic chair of the department offering the course, the registrar, or the appropriate office at the institution to establish a plan for completing the course work to receive the grade. | In Committee |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Passed |
| SJR30 | Designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." | This joint resolution designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 260 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty. In the United States, one million women become widowed each year. Seventy percent of all married women will be widowed in their lifetime. Many widows are far younger than one may guess, as the median age of a widow is 59, according to the United States Census Bureau. Widows are often unsupported by our country's social services, programs, and policies. Many widows face challenges even years after the loss of a loved one, including financial and legal difficulties, mental and physical health issues, and the loss of health insurance. It is important to draw attention to the experiences and realities of widows, including the need for increased bereavement leave, changes to Social Security regulations regarding widows, and the plight of widows in other countries. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3172 | Requires DHS to disregard certain federal pension benefits for veterans in making Medicaid eligibility determinations. | This bill requires that the Department of Human Services disregard United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Aid and Attendance pension benefits when making Medicaid eligibility determinations for certain veterans, aged 65 years and older, who require in-home or nursing home care due to illness or disability. The dollar value of the Aid and Attendance benefit, which is an "add-on" payment to the base VA Pension benefit available to veterans and the surviving spouses of veterans with an annual income and resources below a predetermined threshold, could potentially render a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran, ineligible for State Medicaid benefits. To qualify for Aid and Attendance pension benefits, a veteran is required to: · need in-home assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) due to disability or illness;· currently reside in a nursing home or assisted living facility due to a loss of physical or mental abilities caused by illness or disability;· be confined to bed, or spend a substantive portion of the day in bed, due to illness; or· be diagnosed with limited eyesight, despite the use of corrective lenses. Veterans applying for Aid and Attendance benefits are also required to be aged 65 years or older, have received an honorable discharge after at least 90 days of active duty military service, and currently receive VA Pension benefits. The surviving spouse of a veteran may also qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, provided the spouses meets the VA's eligibility criteria. VA Pension benefits, including Aid and Attendance benefits, are based on the difference between a veteran's countable income and the maximum amount of VA Pension benefits payable to an individual veteran, as determined annually by the United States Congress. The VA defines "countable income" as including the veteran's Social Security Benefits, retirement and investment payments, and any income received by dependents of the veteran. The maximum VA pension amount, also called the "Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR)," is based on a veteran's individual circumstances, such as whether the veteran is married to another veteran who also qualifies for a VA Pension benefit, the number of dependents the veteran has, and whether the veteran is disabled, thereby qualifying for certain pension "add-on" payments, such as the Aid and Attendance benefit. The VA adjusts MAPRs to provide an annual cost-of-living increase. The MAPR for a single veteran with no dependents who qualifies for the Aid and Attendance benefit is $24,610. A veteran who qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits, and can claim either a dependent spouse or child, has a 2022 MAPR of $29,175; the veteran may add $2,523 to the MAPR amount for each eligible dependent. The largest MAPR amount, which is for a married couple who are both veterans and both qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, totals $39,036 annually. If the couple has dependent children, $2,523 is added per dependent child to the annual benefit payment. To qualify for any form of VA pension benefits in 2022, a veteran's "net worth," including the veteran's and spouse's assets and annual income, may not surpass $138,489. Assets are defined as including investments, furniture, boats, and land and buildings owned by the veteran or the veteran's spouse, with the exception of a primary residence and a car. Income includes salary or hourly pay, tips, commissions, bonuses, and overtime pay, but does not include unreimbursed medical expenses or educational expenses. Given that a veteran is required to be at least 65 years in order to qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits through the VA, most veterans receiving these benefits would qualify for federal Medicare benefits as well. Certain veterans who qualify for State Medicaid benefits would also be eligible for one of three federal Medicare Savings Programs available to low-income senior citizens. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to ensure that our State's veterans are not disqualified from eligibility for Medicaid benefits due to receipt of VA Aid and Attendance benefits, which provide critical financial resources that help qualifying veterans and their surviving spouses afford the high cost of in-home and nursing home care. | In Committee |
| A4083 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | In Committee |
| A3157 | Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish a Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who die by suicide. The department, through its regional network of Veteran Service Officers will provide the family members and volunteer caregivers with information and an application for the program, when it is aware that the cause of death of a veteran is by suicide, and provide assistance with completing and filing the forms. A funeral director will also provide the information, application, and assistance when it is known that the cause of death of a veteran in their custody is by suicide. The bill requires the department to match the family members and volunteer caregivers with clinicians. No fee will be charged to the family member or volunteer caregiver, and the clinicians will donate their time. The application for bereavement counseling will be available for up to five years after the death of the veteran, and counseling sessions will be available for a period of up to 24 months after an application for bereavement counseling has been approved and a clinician assigned. An individual will be eligible for a maximum of 30 counseling hours per year. The department will create a system for monitoring and verifying the donated hours. The department will provide notice about the program on its Internet site and any other locations and manner as the department deems appropriate. Under the bill, family member means a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, legal guardian, romantic partner, or any person residing in the veteran's household. Volunteer caregiver means a person who is 18 years of age or older, is a member of a qualified veterans' organization, and has provided care in the form of counseling or social work to the veteran for a minimum of three months prior to the death by suicide of the veteran. This term will not include a person such as a licensed or professional caregiver, counselor, or social worker, and a person who received compensation for services. Veteran means a person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service and died by suicide. | Crossed Over |
| AJR45 | Designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." | This joint resolution designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 260 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty. In the United States, one million women become widowed each year. Seventy percent of all married women will be widowed in their lifetime. Many widows are far younger than one may guess, as the median age of a widow is 59, according to the United States Census Bureau. Widows are often unsupported by our country's social services, programs, and policies. Many widows face challenges even years after the loss of a loved one, including financial and legal difficulties, mental and physical health issues, and the loss of health insurance. It is important to draw attention to the experiences and realities of widows, including the need for increased bereavement leave, changes to Social Security regulations regarding widows, and the plight of widows in other countries. | In Committee |
| A1825 | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | An Act concerning step therapy protocols and supplementing Titles 30 and 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR211 | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4723 | Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Development and Business Opportunities. | Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Development and Business Opportunities. | In Committee |
| A4586 | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | In Committee |
| S2423 | Renames Juvenile Justice Commission as Youth Justice Commission. | An Act renaming the Juvenile Justice Commission and amending the various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3169 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | In Committee |
| A4365 | Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success; appropriates $4.0 million. | This bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs, which will develop strategies to promote the well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and encourage family success. The council will consist of 25 members, including the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees, who will serve ex officio, and 17 public members, who will be representatives of certain entities that provide services to children and families, or have certain experience with receiving family services in New Jersey. The council will manage the development and implementation of a Statewide initiative concerning the social and economic well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and the provision of holistic, age and developmentally appropriate services that support a child's development from birth to young adulthood. In order to implement the Statewide initiative, the council will: (1) advocate for a State Bill of Rights for Infants, Children, Youth, and Families, which will provide a framework for the initiative; (2) identify and develop policies, strategies, and financial priorities that promote family success; (3) recommend policies to improve the efficacy of existing State and community-based services and programs; (4) explore strategies to leverage public and private funding to provide preventive services; and (5) establish community recovery and family success councils in each county. The goal of the Statewide initiative will be to: promote positive family relationships, community connections, and preventive services to ensure financial security, quality education, health, safety, and permanency for infants, children, youth, and families through an integrated service planning and delivery system. The bill defines "distress services" to mean services to remediate circumstances that endanger the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of infants, children, and youth; and "preventative services" as those services that promote the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of the target populations and divert the need for distress services. The council will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that will include recommendations for legislative and administrative actions on the use of public and private resources to support family success initiatives and preventive services for all families. The bill appropriates $4.0 million from the General Fund to the council to implement the provisions of the bill, and provides that the council may use any unexpended appropriations in the succeeding fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A4696 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| S1445 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | An Act concerning military service members at public institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A5048 | Enhances protections under Law Against Discrimination for persons serving in military and military veterans. | This bill enhances certain protections under the Law Against Discrimination ("LAD"). Military Service. Currently, the LAD bars discrimination based on "liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States." The bill broadens this provision to specifically bar discrimination against persons currently serving in the military and military veterans. The bill defines this additional protected class of persons as those in active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard, and those who have been discharged or released from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard. Job Protection for Military Service. The bill makes it an unlawful employment practice under the LAD for employers to deny reemployment to employees who take leave for military service. This provision is in compliance with the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, 18 U.S.C. s.4301 et seq. Gender-neutral Language. Under the bill, gendered language in the LAD is changed to gender-neutral language. For example, in N.J.S.A.10:5-39, the provision in the LAD that sets out an affirmative action program for veterans, the bill replaces the phrase "soldier, sailor, marine, airman, nurse or army field clerk" with "enlisted person or officer." Unlawful Discrimination. The bill adds the term "unlawful" before "discrimination" throughout the LAD to clarify that the LAD prohibits only unlawful discrimination. The LAD does not apply to discrimination that may be lawful. For example, practices that result in a disproportionately negative impact on members of a protected class constitute unlawful discrimination only if the entity engaging in the practices cannot show that it is using the practices for a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest or cannot show that there is a less discriminatory alternative that meets that interest. | In Committee |
| A5306 | Extends affordable housing preference to certain allied South Korean veterans. | This bill extends the existing affordable housing preference for United States veterans to South Korean veterans who, as determined by the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, served in the Vietnam conflict as allies to the United States; and are a citizens and residents of this State. The bill also extends certain existing affordable housing preferences to surviving spouses and caretakers of South Korean veterans who served in the Vietnam conflict as allies to the United States. The bill's provisions apply to affordable housing in housing projects that are financed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, public housing authorities, county improvement authorities, redevelopment agencies, and the Department of Community Affairs, when acting as a public housing authority. This bill would take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Adjutant General of Military and Veterans' Affairs, would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5307 | Permits DMVA to receive voluntary contributions for veteran suicide prevention public service announcements. | This bill permits the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) to accept gifts, grants, or donations from the public and private sectors for the purpose of public service announcements for the prevention of veteran suicide. Revenues received by the department will be deposited into a special nonlapsing fund maintained by the State Treasurer. | In Committee |
| A3678 | Renames Juvenile Justice Commission as Youth Justice Commission. | Renames Juvenile Justice Commission as Youth Justice Commission. | In Committee |
| A3803 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | This bill requires a public institution of higher education to readmit an undergraduate student who withdrew from the institution due to the student's service in the uniformed services, including service in the Armed Forces, or as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal or State authority. Under the bill, the institution is required to readmit the student with the same academic status as the student had when the student last attended the institution. The bill also provides that readmission is to be granted upon written request by the student for the next academic semester beginning after the date of the request. Finally, the bill provides that an institution cannot charge an application or other fee for a readmission request made pursuant to the bill's provisions. This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed. | In Committee |
| A3679 | Establishes New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program. | Establishes New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program. | In Committee |
| A5160 | Provides PERS members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of PERS. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5158 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5142 | Requires school bus personnel members working with students with disabilities to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features. | This bill requires school bus drivers, school bus aides, and any other individual who works, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities to call the 911 emergency telephone service for assistance in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on the school bus. A school bus personnel member is required to report that call to the Office of Special Education in the Department of Education. Under the bill, a board of education, or a school bus contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education, that employs a school bus personnel member, as well as the office, is to maintain a record of the calls. A board of education, or a school bus contractor as applicable, is required to ensure that certain training related to school bus safety and interacting with students with disabilities are provided to each school bus personnel member who works on a school bus transporting students with disabilities. Pursuant to current law, these training programs are required to be administered to school bus drivers and school bus aides. The bill expands these programs to cover all other school bus personnel members who work, and are responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities. A board of education or school bus contractor that does not properly administer these training programs is to be subject to applicable penalties established under current law. Pursuant to the bill, the parent or guardian of a student with disabilities, who believes that a school bus personnel member did not properly call the 911 emergency telephone service in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency, may file a complaint with the Office of Special Education within the Department of Education. A school bus personnel member who is found by the office to have violated the provisions concerning 911 emergency notification and follow-up reporting requirements is to be liable for certain civil penalties. The bill also requires a school bus that transports one or more students with disabilities to be equipped with: 1) a video camera on the interior of the school bus to monitor student safety while the students are being transported; 2) a global positioning system that provides information about the location and speed of each school bus in real time; and 3) two-way communications equipment, which may include, but not be limited to, a cellular or other wireless telephone. Under the bill, any video footage collected from a video camera and any data collected from a global positioning system is to be retained for not less than 180 days from the date it was recorded. Finally, the bill requires that each in-terminal school bus inspection conducted by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is to provide for the inspection of the equipment required to be installed on school buses pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| A3161 | Broadens eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve component thereof. The benefits in the bill are (1) a civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| AJR66 | Commemorates 71st anniversary of armistice that ended Korean War. | The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea invaded the Republic of Korea in a surprise and unprovoked attack. A few days later, the United Nations' Security Council declared that the attack conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was a violation of peace. Shortly after, United Nations members were urged to support the Republic of Korea in its defense. Twenty-two countries, including the United States, got involved in the Korean War by supplying the Republic of Korea with fighting units and medical services. From the 1.7 million American soldiers who served in the Korean War, more than 33,000 died and more than 100,000 were injured. More than 191,000 New Jersey residents served in the military during the Korean War, and 836 New Jersey residents were killed or missing in action during the war. After the Korean War ended, the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a mutual defense treaty, which established an alliance between both countries. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea that was formed through sacrifice and shared hardship. Although the Korean War led to the death of 2.5 million individuals, this war is often referred to as the "forgotten war" for the lack of attention it has received compared to other, more well-known international conflicts. Therefore, the State of New Jersey commemorates the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953. | Crossed Over |
| A5042 | Requires public entities purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency; requires Division of Purchase and Property establish training protocols for all purchasing agents; grants Central Nonprofit Agency right of first refusal. | Under current law, State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State that are authorized to purchase goods and services are required to make a good faith effort to purchase five percent of such goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency, an agency established by the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." Under the bill, such State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State will be required to purchase five percent of goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The bill clarifies reporting and oversight requirements. Under the bill, the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury must submit a report of purchasing data to the Central Nonprofit Agency for the Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside program no more than six months after the effective date of this bill, and on a quarterly basis thereafter. In addition, the Department of the Treasury will be required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the compliance of State and local government entities and political subdivisions with the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Division of Purchase and Property, in collaboration with the Central Nonprofit Agency, must establish training protocols for all purchasing agents employed by State or local government entities or political subdivisions required to meet the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Central Nonprofit Agency will have a right of first refusal for all goods and services that may otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog so long as the Central Nonprofit Agency can deliver the goods or services that would otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog at a price that is within 15 percent of fair market value. The "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" assists persons who are blind or have a severe disability with achieving maximum personal independence through productive employment by assuring a continuous market for their goods and services, which are produced at qualified rehabilitation facilities and distributed through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The Central Nonprofit Agency is designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to facilitate the distribution of orders received from various State agencies as provided in the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." This bill furthers the goals of the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" to assist in the productive employment of individuals with special needs. | In Committee |
| A5046 | Revises credentialing process for physicians attempting to enter a health insurance carrier's provider network. | This bill makes changes to the existing health insurance carrier credentialing process to facilitate transparency and enforcement. First, the bill requires a carrier committee reviewing a credentialing application to notify the applicant within 30 days following submission of the application whether the application is incomplete. If the committee does not notify the applicant of an incomplete application within 30 days, the application is to be deemed complete. In addition, the bill requires carriers to include on their Internet websites the universal participation and renewal forms and an explanation of the credentialing process, including a list of all the documents required for participation and renewal and any expected timelines. The bill also provides that if a physician, while waiting to receive a credential to participate in the provider network of a carrier, is delivering health care services to covered persons within the network, the carrier is required to reimburse the physician for services delivered as of the date the credentialing application was filed, if the application is approved by the carrier. Under the bill, carriers are prohibited from requiring a physician who is already credentialed with the carrier and who changes employers or health care facilities within this State to submit a new application or renewal form to participate in the carrier's network solely on the basis that the physician changed employers or health care facilities. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to receive, investigate, and enforce alleged violations of law relating to the credentialing process. | In Committee |
| AR165 | Urges President and Congress of United States to enact federal legislation providing proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact federal legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The United States of America and the State of New Jersey are forever grateful to the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States and who sacrifice their lives to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of this nation. However, in the course of their selfless sacrifice for this nation, many veterans unfortunately experience permanent disabilities that can limit their ability to support themselves and their families. In recognition of the sacrifice and service of these veterans, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities receive the benefits necessary to enjoy a stable quality of life, without the fear of suffering catastrophic financial hardship. While the State of New Jersey currently provides crucial tax relief to these veterans in the form of a total property tax exemption for veterans with 100 percent service-connected disabilities, this assistance is unfortunately unavailable to veterans who live with similar disabilities in other states. To ensure that all veterans throughout the country receive property tax relief commensurate with the severity of their disabilities, there is an urgent need for the federal government to enact legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The provision of proportional property tax relief would entitle veterans with a service-connected disability to an annual property tax benefit based on a designated percentage of the property taxes paid by the veteran, as determined by the veteran's disability rating assigned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. However, to ensure that these benefits target the veterans most in need of assistance, this proportional property tax relief should be limited to those veterans with annual income up to $200,000, and the federal benefits should only be provided for the principal residences of eligible veterans. In providing this proportional property tax relief, the federal government would honor its duty and obligation to support the selfless men and women who sacrificed their well-being for the betterment of this great nation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4987 | Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." | This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that is in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| A4941 | Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service. | Current law provides that a teaching staff member may receive up to four years of credit, in computing length of service for seniority purposes, for military service. This bill provides a similar benefit to educational support professionals. Under the bill, every educational support professional who has served in the active military of the United States and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits is to receive equivalent years of employment or seniority credit, up to four years, for that service as if the professional had been employed for the same period of time at the school district. Any military service is to be credited towards this employment or seniority credit, including service that occurred prior to the professional's employment as an educational support professional. | In Committee |
| A4943 | Mandates certain licensed mental health professional are qualified to provide behavioral health care supports through home and community-based services program administered by Division of Developmental Disabilities. | This bill mandates that a licensed mental health professional for which the provision of behavioral supports is included in their scope of practice be considered to have met the qualifications to provide such supports to individuals with developmental disabilities through the home and community-based services program administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services. | In Committee |
| A4724 | Establishes sheltered market program for certain business enterprises seeking State contracts. | This bill establishes a sheltered market program that allows for State agencies, with the approval of the Chief Diversity Officer, to designate certain public contracts for availability to contractors who have been certified by the Department of the Treasury. This program will be available to contractors who are certified as a disabled veterans' business, minority business, women's business, small business, economically or socially disadvantaged business, LGTBQ+-owned business, or veteran-owned business. The bill directs the Chief Diversity Officer to establish criteria for determining which contracts should be designated for this program, including the degree of historical underutilization of qualified business enterprises based on a review of qualified business enterprises in the State's central certification registry or a State-commissioned disparity study. State agencies will be permitted to object to the designation of certain contracts for the program if they determine such designation would be contrary to an important State public policy, the practical limitations of the agency or contract, or an applicable legal order. The bill also requires that State agencies publish all contracts or categories of contracts approved for the sheltered market program on their respective websites prior to opening such contracts for bidding, and the chief publishes such contracts on the department's website. The bill further requires State agencies and the chief to conduct outreach regarding available contracts under the sheltered market program to qualified business enterprises and State agencies to conduct general or pre-bid submission conferences or workshops to help potential bidders understand the bidding process for the sheltered market program. State agencies will also be required to offer each bidder to a contract designated for the sheltered market program the option to debrief on the process following the award of the contract and conclusion of any challenges to contract awards after the expiration of the time period for challenges to be filed. This bill will require each State agency to submit an annual report to the chief on the implementation of the sheltered market program, including: (1) the number and dollar value of contracts awarded to qualified business enterprises under the sheltered market program; (2) the total number, the percentage, the total dollar value, and the percentage dollar value of contracts awarded by State agencies to qualified business enterprises eligible for participation in the sheltered market program; (3) recommendations for continuing, modifying, or terminating the sheltered market program; and (4) a description of efforts undertaken to increase contracting with qualified business enterprises. The bill provides that a State contract will not be awarded under the sheltered market program for a term to exceed three years, and that each contract will include termination for cause and termination for convenience clauses, consistent with the State agency's standard terms and conditions. Finally, the bill requires that prime contractors awarded contracts under the terms of the bill make a good faith effort to offer subcontracting opportunities to qualified business enterprises. The bill provides that failure on the part of a contractor to demonstrate a good faith effort may be cause for the rejection of bids made by that contractor. In determining whether a good faith effort has been made, the State agency and the chief will consider whether the contractor has advertised the opportunity to qualified business enterprises and (1) whether qualified business enterprises exhibited interest in working with the prime contractor on a particular project by attending, or having attended, a pre-bid conference, if any, scheduled by the State agency awarding the contract; and (2) whether qualified business enterprises, which have been solicited by the contractor, have responded in a timely fashion to the contractor's request to engage qualified business enterprises prior to the State agency's bid date. The chief and the State agency will also consider whether the contractor provided timely written notification of subcontracting opportunities to qualified business enterprises that appear in the State's central certification registry and whether the contractor can reasonably structure the amount of work to be performed under subcontracts to increase the likelihood of participation by qualified business enterprises. | In Committee |
| A4722 | Requires State agencies to make good faith effort to increase awarding of contracts procured without advertisement to minority- and women-owned businesses. | This bill requires State agencies, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property, and the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction, as the case may be, to make a good faith effort to achieve a goal of increasing the awarding of goods and services contracts procured without advertisement to certified minority-owned and women-owned businesses by 30 percent in the aggregate within five years of the effective date of this bill. The State Treasurer will develop guidelines and directives for State agencies and directors that will be used toward the effort to achieve such goal. Each State agency will submit a report to the State Treasurer detailing the efforts made by that agency to achieve such goal every 30 days. The State Treasurer will submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature detailing the efforts made by all State agencies and the directors to achieve such goal every six months. | In Committee |
| A4719 | Requires certain notifications to subcontractors listed on bid for State contract by prime contractor. | Requires certain notifications to subcontractors listed on bid for State contract by prime contractor. | In Committee |
| A4744 | Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), when offering employment, to consider, and when feasible prioritize, individuals who are minorities and women. The bill also requires the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA, when awarding contracts for service, to consider, and when feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women's businesses. Finally, the bill requires the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to publish on their respective Internet websites information concerning: (1) the number of employees employed by the entity by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average salary range for each group; and (2) the number of contractors the entity has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average contract awarded for each group.The bill requires the information to be maintained and updated on a quarterly basis. The enactment of substantially similar legislation by New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, is required before the bill's provisions concerning the PANYNJ and the DRPA become operative. | In Committee |
| A4648 | Provides for State agencies to issue advanced payments to certified business enterprises awarded State contracts. | The purpose of this bill is to assist certified business enterprises that wish to bid on public contracts or work as subcontractors, but lack the capital to initiate the work required for such contracts. This bill allows a State agency responsible for awarding any public contract for construction, goods and services, or professional services to issue an advanced payment of up to 10 percent of the total value of the contract, if the business being awarded the contract is a certified business enterprise in this State. The bill also requires that the contractor share this advanced payment with its subcontractors, if a subcontractor is also a certified business enterprise. The subcontractor will receive an amount equal to the proportion of the value of the contract for which they are responsible, and the contractor is required to provide this amount to the subcontractor within 60 days of the contractor receiving an advanced payment. Under the terms of the bill, any contractor or subcontractor that does not begin or complete the work for which the advanced payments were issued and received will be liable for repayment of such amounts. The Division of Revenue Business Certification Program in the Department of the Treasury issues certifications to enterprises that are small businesses, LGBTQ+ businesses, minority and women-owned businesses, veteran and disabled veteran-owned businesses, and businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. | In Committee |
| A4548 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employers of certain persons with disabilities. | This bill provides corporation business and gross income tax credits to taxpayers that employ certain persons with disabilities. The credit would be for up to 15 percent of the wages paid by the taxpayer during a taxable year to a qualifying employee with a disability, not to exceed $2,000 per qualified employee. To claim the credit, a taxpayer would be required to submit an application to the Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for certification that the employee has a disability for purposes of qualifying for the credit. A copy of the certification would be included with the taxpayer's tax return. The contents of the certification would only state the fact the employee has a qualifying disability and not disclose any private or confidential health information. The bill requires the director to establish an application process and prescribe the form and manner through which a taxpayer may submit an application to obtain a certification from the director that an employee is a qualified employee with a disability for purposes of the tax credit. The bill provides that applications would be deemed approved and written authorizations are deemed issued if the director fails to make a determination regarding within 90 calendar days of the date a complete application is received or if the director fails to issue a written authorization within five calendar days of the date a determination is made. The bill defines a "qualified employee with a disability" as a person with a disability recognized under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C. s. 12102). A qualified employee is also required to be employed by the taxpayer for at least 35 hours a week and paid wages at a rate of no less than $15 per hour. A taxpayer would be unable to claim the credit for the wages paid to a person with a disability who works for the taxpayer as an independent contractor or on a consulting basis. | In Committee |
| A4721 | Requires Department of Treasury to update New Jersey Disparity Study every five years. | This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature updates to the New Jersey Disparity Study of 2024 every five years, beginning with January 1, 2029. The updates will include changes in the availability and utilization of small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in State procurement. | In Committee |
| A4720 | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses. | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses. | In Committee |
| A4725 | Requires State agencies to make good faith effort towards certain goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors. | This bill requires State agencies to make a good faith effort towards goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors in the State procurement process. In January 2024, a New Jersey Disparity Study was conducted on the availability and utilization of small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and their experience in the State procurement process. Across all types of contracts, minority and women-owned businesses received about 10 percent of prime contract dollars and about 36 percent of subcontract dollars. The study determined that minority and women-owned businesses are capable of fulfilling large State contracts if they were to be awarded the contracts and there are measurable differences for minority and women-owned businesses across all types of contracts. Under this bill, the Chief Diversity Officer is required to recommission the statewide disparity study regarding the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in State contracts. The study and its findings must be completed by August 15, 2029. Each State agency is required to structure procurement procedures for contracts made directly or indirectly to minority and women-owned businesses to attempt good faith effort towards increased utilization of minority and women-owned businesses with regard to total annual statewide procurement across all types of contracts. Each agency is also required to develop and adopt agency specific goals based on the findings of the most recent disparity study and must be consistent with the findings of the disparity study. The bill requires each contractor to develop a utilization plan on the use of minority and women-owned businesses as subcontractors during the bidding process. The bill also establishes a waiver procedure for contractors who have made a good faith effort to comply with the minority and women-owned business participation requirements. The bill establishes a complaint procedure for State agencies who have reason to believe that a good faith effort was not made by the contractor. The bill contains a sunset provision and will expire on December 31, 2029 if the required recommissioned disparity study does not indicate a measurable disparity for minority and women-owned businesses in the State contract procurement process. | In Committee |
| A4487 | Requires State Contract Managers to monitor work conducted by subcontractors on State contracts. | Requires State Contract Managers to monitor work conducted by subcontractors on State contracts. | In Committee |
| A885 | Requires State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct study of utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in State procurement process. | This bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer to study disabled veteran-owned businesses to determine whether disparities exist between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process. The Chief Diversity Officer will prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report containing the study's findings and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for disabled veteran-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the State. After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity Officer may, in the officer's discretion, prepare and submit additional reports identifying the extent to which previous recommendations have been successfully implemented and any impact the implementation of such recommendations have had on State procurement in the preceding years. Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs. | In Committee |
| A4666 | Prohibits sale and use of certain gas-powered leaf blowers; provides CBT credit for purchase of electric leaf blower that replaces gas-powered leaf blower. | This bill would prohibit, beginning two years after the bill's effective date, the sale or distribution of a gas-powered leaf blower that has a two-stroke engine for use or operation in the State. The bill would prohibit, beginning four years after the bill's effective date, the use or operation of a gas-powered leaf blower that has a two-stroke engine within the State. In addition, the bill would prohibit, beginning four years after the bill's effective date, the use or operation of a gas-powered leaf blower that has a four-stroke engine within any residential area of the State. The bill would also limit the permitted use of a gas-powered leaf blower that has a four-stroke engine to non-residential areas of the State during the following times of the year: (1) March 15 through May 15; and (2) October 15 through December 15. As defined in the bill, "gas-powered leaf blower" means a leaf blower that has a two-stroke or four-stroke engine and uses gasoline or a gasoline and oil blend as fuel. As defined in the bill, "residential area" means an area that is listed in the zoning ordinance of the applicable municipality as a residential zone, and which surrounds a building or structure or complex of buildings or structures that is primarily used for residential purposes, including, but not limited to, the area surrounding a single-family home, multi-family residential property, mobile home, residential apartment building, hotel, boarding house, motel, dormitory, or dwelling unit. Any commercial entity that violates the provisions of section 1 of the bill would receive a warning for a first offense and would be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense. Other persons would receive a warning for a first offense and would subject to a civil penalty of $25 for each subsequent offense. In the case of a continuing violation, each day during which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The bill authorizes State and local law enforcement agencies to have the exclusive authority of enforcing the bill's provisions. The bill also incentivizes the enforcement of the bill's provisions by permitting any penalty recovered to be retained by the enforcing government entity. The bill would exempt gas-powered blowers designed and utilized for the application of pest management products, and would prohibit municipalities and counties from adopting ordinances restricting the use of such blowers. The bill would also provide that municipalities may adopt ordinances regulating the sale or operation of gas-powered leaf blowers, provided that they are at least as stringent as the bill's provisions. The bill would also incentivize the sale of, and replacement of gas-powered leaf blowers with, electric leaf blowers by providing a tax credit against the corporation business tax to compensate a taxpayer for certain costs incurred in the purchase of an electric leaf blower. The tax credit would be available for a period of six years. As defined by the bill, "electric leaf blower" means a leaf blower that is powered by electricity and includes plug-in electric leaf blowers or battery-powered electric leaf blowers. The amount of the tax credit provided by the bill may not exceed 50 percent of the full cost of purchasing the electric leaf blower, including the cost of any batteries or charging equipment that may be required. To qualify for the tax credit, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection (commissioner) for a certification that provides: (1) that the electric leaf blower purchased by the taxpayer is eligible for the tax credit; and (2) the amount of the tax credit. The application to the commissioner would be required to demonstrate that the electric leaf blower was purchased prior to applying for the tax credit. The application would be required to include a receipt demonstrating the cost of the electric leaf blower, the cost of any batteries or charging equipment purchased, a certification that a pre-existing gas-powered leaf blower was replaced by the electric leaf blower purchased, and any other information determined relevant by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill would require the DEP, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation, to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill's provisions. The bill would also require, no later than one year after the bill's effective date, the DEP to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the purchase of electric leaf blowers and the replacement of gas-powered leaf blowers with electric leaf blowers. | In Committee |
| A4656 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| A4637 | Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians. | The bill provides that it is a violation of the consumer fraud act for a veterinarian to intentionally misrepresent, including through the use of euphemisms, code words, or otherwise, the information required under current law to be provided to the owner of a dead domestic companion animal undergoing testing for rabies. An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. In addition, the bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop a poster and pamphlet with information relating to rabies vaccines and quarantine and testing protocols. Veterinarians are required to display the poster in office reception areas and to distribute the pamphlets to certain customers. Lastly, the bill requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a trauma-informed mental health protection training certification program for veterinarians and staff. The program is optional, and those who complete it are to receive a certification from the division. | In Committee |
| A4561 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| A4496 | Revises visitation and reporting rules for professional guardians. | This bill revises the duty of professional guardians to meet with and report on the status of an incapacitated ward. At present, persons appointed guardian of the person of a ward, including persons appointed to serve as registered professional guardians, have an obligation to visit the ward and to maintain sufficient contact with the ward to know the ward's capacities, limitations, needs, opportunities and physical and mental health. N.J.S.A.3B:12-57 provides general rules for guardians, which include that the guardian personally visit the ward not less than once every three months, or as deemed appropriate by the court, and otherwise maintain sufficient contact with the ward to know the ward's capacities, limitations, needs, opportunities and physical and mental health. This bill would require a registered professional guardian, who is compensated for guardianship services, to personally meet with the ward not less than once every three weeks, or as deemed appropriate by the court. The bill further provides that a family member of the ward may, upon motion to the Court, request a report be prepared by a registered professional guardian concerning the condition of the ward and the condition of the ward's estate which has been subject to the guardian's possession or control as ordered by the court. | In Committee |
| A3175 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. | In Committee |
| A4427 | Promotes trauma-informed care in State to mitigate negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (department) to develop and implement a program to promote trauma-informed care in order to mitigate the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress in this State. In implementing the program, the department will, at a minimum: a. develop a trauma-informed care toolkit of resources that provide trauma awareness and self-care education for State employees, increase recognition of signs of adverse child experience exposure, and offer effective interventions to mitigate trauma and build resilience, which toolkit is to be shared across all State agencies and organizations for use at service delivery access points; b. promote a Trauma Awareness Month in New Jersey with appropriate events to be held across the State; c. share information with State employees and community partners on educational and professional development opportunities related to adverse childhood experiences and building resilience; d. create a recognition program for individuals who work in the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum, which may include individuals, divisions within an agency, and community partners, such as schools and school districts; e. identify gaps in available services or service capacity along the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum for children and their caregivers Statewide; f. develop a comprehensive plan focused on early intervention for children and their caregivers exposed to adverse childhood experiences in order to help prevent, and remedy the impact of, abuse and neglect; and g. coordinate the collection, evaluation, and reporting of adverse childhood experience data in the State. The bill requires each State agency that provides services for children and adults to implement best practices for providing trauma-informed care, which will include, but not be limited to: offering regularly scheduled training to staff to increase their knowledge about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress on short-term and long-term health outcomes; promoting strategies to enhance staff resilience and self-care; using trauma-specific language in requests for proposals and in service contracts with providers, when appropriate; and implementing evidence-informed services to prevent and respond to toxic stress and build resilience in children, adults, and communities. | In Committee |
| A4438 | Revises out-of-State reciprocity for elevator, escalator, and moving walkway mechanic's license. | This bill revises the rules concerning out-of-State reciprocity for elevator, escalator, and moving walkway mechanic's licenses. Current law provides that the Elevator, Escalator, and Moving Walkway Mechanics Licensing Board may in its discretion grant licenses without examination to applicants so licensed by other states; provided that equal reciprocity is provided for New Jersey licensed mechanics by the law of the applicant's domiciliary state and that the domiciliary state's standards are equal to or comparable to those of this State. This bill removes the requirement of equal reciprocity, thereby allowing the board to grant licenses without examination to applicants with comparable licenses in other states, provided that the domiciliary state's standards are equal to or comparable to those of this State, even if the domiciliary state does not provide reciprocity to New Jersey licensees. | In Committee |
| A4388 | Allows court to consider previous care when granting letters of guardianship for incapacitated person. | This bill clarifies the order of eligibility of certain persons for letters of guardianship. The bill maintains the existing priority status of the spouse or domestic partner of the incapacitated person to receive letters of guardianship. If no spouse or domestic partner is available, able, or willing to accept letters of guardianship, then letters are to be granted to the incapacitated person's heirs or friends. The bill provides that in granting letters of guardianship, the court may give consideration to a person or persons who can demonstrate that they provided previous care in the best interest of the incapacitated person or their estate. Finally, the bill explicitly states that the appointed guardian is required to perform the duties and responsibilities of guardianship in the best interest of the incapacitated person, whether appointed as guardian for the person, guardian for the estate, or guardian of the person and estate. | In Committee |
| A4385 | Requires vehicle identification number be stamped on catalytic converters of motor vehicles. | According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, theft of catalytic converters has dramatically increased in recent years. In 2019, approximately 3,400 claims of catalytic converter theft were filed. In 2020, the number of claims more than tripled. Under this bill, car manufacturers would be required to engrave or stamp the vehicle identification number onto the catalytic converter of a motor vehicle sold within the State. It is the sponsor's belief that this bill is necessary given the increasing number of thefts, and that once scrap yards and would-be thieves become aware of the new requirements, thefts will decrease. | In Committee |
| AJR178 | Urges US Department of Veterans Affairs to study use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans. | This joint resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to study the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans. While serving their country, military members can come across various traumatic events through circumstances such as war zone deployment, training accidents, and military sexual trauma. Among veterans using health care provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 23 percent had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their life. PTSD can cause chemical changes in the body's hormonal system and autonomic nervous system, as well as changes to brain activity and structure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been effective in treating disruptions of brain structure and functions, making it a potential alternative treatment for PTSD. In 2017, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced it would offer HBOT as a treatment option for a small group of veterans with PTSD symptoms resistant to standard treatments. Additionally, two evidence briefs on the use of HBOT to treat veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD in whom other treatments have not been successful were prepared for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. On April 16, 2024, legislation establishing a pilot program at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish HBOT for veterans who have PTSD or TBI passed the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health by voice vote. It is important that a study on the efficacy of HBOT be conducted to determine if the treatment will bring about beneficial changes for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly serve the nation and risk their lives to protect our freedom. | In Committee |
| A4369 | Permits 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections for local school board. | Under current law, any person who is at least 18 years of age, who is a citizen of the United States, and who is a resident of the district in which they wish to vote, is entitled to register and vote in elections in this State. This bill permits 16 and 17-year-olds, who are U.S. citizens and residents of New Jersey, to vote only in their local school elections for school board members. The bill does not allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in any other election. The bill directs the Secretary of State to promulgate rules that: (1) create a registration form and a process to register 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, which conforms as nearly as possible to the equivalent form and process utilized for all other eligible voters; (2) establish a method of verifying the identity of registered 16 and 17-year-old voters which conforms as nearly as possible to the methods utilized for all other eligible voters; (3) provide for the design of paper ballots on which 16 and 17-year-olds may vote for school board members; and (4) ensure the provisions of this act are implemented effectively and in a manner compatible with all other elections held in this State. This bill does not require action on the part of any school board or municipality in order to implement its provisions. | In Committee |
| A4387 | Allows students to use portion of opportunity grant awards under Educational Opportunity Fund program during summer session. | This bill provides that a student may elect to use a portion of an opportunity grant funded through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), during the summer session following the academic year for courses that fulfill graduation requirements or award credits in the student's academic major. The student would be responsible for notifying the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of the intent to use a portion of the award during the summer. The Secretary of Higher Education would adjust the amount of the student's award that will be disbursed during the academic year, and notify the student that using a portion of the grant during the summer session will reduce the amount of the award that will be disbursed during the academic year. The secretary would also be required to annually report the number of students who did and did not use a portion of a grant award to enroll in courses during the summer, and the number and percent of these students who graduated within 100 percent and 150 percent of average completion time. This bill implements a recommendation of the College Affordability Study Commission which released its final report in September 2016. | In Committee |
| A3992 | Increases penalties for certain prohibited sales of tobacco and vapor products. | Increases penalties for certain prohibited sales of tobacco and vapor products. | In Committee |
| A3173 | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | In Committee |
| A3160 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator in DMVA. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| A3143 | Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires a veteran to serve for at least 90 days, exclusive of certain types of initial training, in order to be eligible for any of the veterans' benefits identified in the bill. The bill also requires a veteran of a Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, to serve the entire period to which called to federal active service, exclusive of training, in order to be eligible for the veterans' benefits. A veteran who is discharged as the result of a service-connected disability will be eligible even if the veteran has not completed the 90 day service period or the period to which called to federal active service. The benefits that an eligible veteran could apply for are (1) a civil service hiring preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF and PERS. In addition, the surviving spouse of a veteran or of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof killed while in active service is eligible in certain instances for a civil service preference. The bill also provides that an active service member of the United States Armed Forces or a member of a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who has not been discharged from service is eligible for the civil service hiring preference provided that the member otherwise qualifies as a veteran. Eligibility for civil service hiring preference is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A4228 | Revises eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services. | This bill revises the eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services. Under the bill, a Medicaid enrollee is to be deemed eligible to receive adult medical day care services if the individual: (1) requires assistance or supervision with at least one activity of daily living; (2) possesses a letter or prescription from a physician recommending the individual receive adult medical day care services; and (3) furnishes an up-to-date copy of the individual's medical history and a current report of a physical examination of the individual completed by a physician. The bill defines "activity of daily living" to mean a function or task that is completed for self-care. "Activity of daily living" is to include, but is not to be limited to: dressing, bathing, toilet use, transfer, locomotion, bed mobility, and eating. "Adult medical day care" means a community-based group program designed to meet the needs of functionally or cognitively impaired adults through an individual plan of care structured to provide a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day but less than 24 hours. Adult medical day care allows individuals with a functional impairment to remain in a community setting, rather than being institutionalized, and is the preferred method of providing services to this population. It is the sponsor's belief that the current eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services are too onerous, and prevent people who would benefit from adult medical day care services from receiving those services while remaining in their own communities. It is the sponsor's intent to ease the eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services in order to expand the population benefitting from those services. | In Committee |
| A4149 | Revises infection control regulation in long-term care facilities. | This bill amends current law to revise infection control regulations in long-term care facilities. The bill's amendments to N.J.S.A.26:2H-12.87: 1) remove the requirement for a long-term care facility to assign to the facility's infection prevention and control committee a physician who has completed an infectious disease fellowship; 2) revise infection preventionist qualifications to include certification under the American Health Care Association Infection Preventionist Specialized Training program, or under the Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training course; 3) restrict the infection preventionist to membership in no more than five infection prevention and control committees; 4) require the infection preventionist to perform other duties within his or her scope of practice when infection preventionist duties are not required; 5) remove the requirement for the infection preventionist to be a managerial employee; 6) provide that in the case of a long-term care facility with a licensed bed capacity equal to more than 100 beds or that provides on-site hemodialysis services, an infection preventionist is to be employed on a part-time basis, or on a full-time basis if it is determined to be necessary based on the facility's risk assessment that is required pursuant to federal law; 7) require that in addition to the infection preventionist, the infection prevention and control committee is also to be responsible for: contributing to the development of policies, procedures, and a training curriculum for long-term care facility staff based on best practices and clinical expertise; monitoring the implementation of infection prevention and control policies and recommending disciplinary measures for staff who routinely violate those policies; assessing the facility's infection prevention and control program by conducting internal quality improvement audits; and ensuring that all employees are trained in infection prevention at such intervals as determined by the Department of Health; and 8) remove a provision that was dated to February 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| A4131 | Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program. | This bill would establish the Office of Clean Energy Equity ("office") in the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The office would be charged with promoting, guiding, and overseeing the equitable deployment of clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs and technologies in overburdened communities, and the equitable provision of the tangible benefits of clean energy, increased energy efficiency, and energy storage at the household and community level, including clean energy asset ownership, energy cost savings, and employment and economic opportunities, to overburdened communities. The bill would require the BPU to: (1) establish onsite solar or community solar programs, which benefit 250,000 low income households or 35 percent of the low income households in the State, whichever is larger, by 2030, with the goal of reducing these households' average energy burden to below six percent of household income; and (2) require the establishment of a minimum of 1,600 megawatt hours of energy storage to benefit overburdened communities by 2030. In addition, the BPU, in cooperation with the office, would be required to: integrate workforce development training into all clean energy and energy storage programs established by the BPU; provide outreach and recruitment campaign grants to community-based organizations to increase participation in clean energy and energy efficiency programs; develop, in coordination with community-based organizations, outreach materials in multiple languages; appoint a community liaison and establish an advisory board consisting of representatives of overburdened communities to review and evaluate the clean energy and energy storage programs available to overburdened communities; and coordinate with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) concerning their responsibilities pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of the bill. The bill would require the BPU to direct no less than 10 percent of the BPU's annual total clean energy budget, or at least $50 million annually, whichever is greater, to the office for the purposes of the bill. The BPU would be authorized to allocate additional funding, staff, and resources to the office as it determines appropriate. In addition, the bill would require the office, in collaboration with the DLWD, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT), and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) to establish program guidelines for clean energy job training and workforce development grants to be issued by the EDA, Department of Education (DOE), and the DLWD. The grants would be issued to community-based, diversity-focused nonprofit organizations, community colleges, vocational-technical schools, and other organizations to develop energy efficiency or clean energy paid workforce training programs that provide training to at least 2,500 individuals from overburdened communities by 2025. Under the bill, it would be a condition of a grant award that the programs be updated every two years to ensure that they prepare participants adequately for the current job market in the solar energy or clean energy industry. The bill would also direct the DLWD, in coordination with community-based organizations, to develop programs to provide entrepreneurial training, mentoring, apprenticeships, investment capital, loans, or other training, capacity building, technical, and financial support to residents of overburdened communities to help launch new clean energy enterprises or establish careers in the clean energy workforce. The bill would also direct the DCA, in consultation with the office, to require the all new construction located in an overburdened community be solar ready, subject to any specific exemptions that the DCA and the BPU deem reasonable and necessary and that the DCA adopts as rules and regulations. The bill would also require the DCA to give preference to applications for onsite, community solar, energy storage, or other clean energy projects that are sited in overburdened communities or include minority or women-owned businesses. Lastly, the bill would amend the law establishing the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program to require that the eventual permanent community solar program provide for access to solar energy projects for low and moderate income customers, in accordance with the requirements of the bill. In addition, the bill would require that the permanent community solar program be consistent with any land use provisions of the permanent successor to the SREC program. | In Committee |
| AR108 | Urges United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. | This Assembly resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The citizens of this nation and State are indebted to the sacrifice and heroism of all who have bravely served in the Armed Forces of the United States. In return for their sacrifices, this country has made a commitment to meeting the health care needs of veterans. As of 2023, 338,012 veterans live in New Jersey, with 119,200 of them residing in the southern counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem. Currently, there is no federal Department of Veterans Affairs inpatient hospital facility in southern New Jersey, making it necessary for veterans needing inpatient care to travel long distances to northern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. The East Orange Veterans Medical Center is the largest health care facility serving veterans from southern New Jersey, which is over two hours away from some veterans. In New Jersey, the average resident lives approximately 12 minutes away from the closest hospital, therefore, requiring veterans to travel multiple hours for medical care is unjust. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is an ideal location for an inpatient hospital facility for veterans from southern New Jersey as it shortens the travel distance for these veterans. Additionally, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst provides a variety of other services to veterans, therefore, making trips to the base efficient and convenient for veterans and their families. It is fitting and appropriate for the State to take steps to ensure that our nation's promise of health care access is kept to the veterans of southern New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A904 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey." | This bill establishes the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey" and is modeled after the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York." Under the bill, all statutes, rules, and regulations, in this State including all local laws or ordinances related to the elective franchise must be construed liberally in favor of: (1) protecting the right of voters to have their ballot cast and counted; (2) ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote; and (3) ensuring voters of race, color, and language-minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process in registering to vote and voting. The bill prohibits the authority to prescribe or maintain voting or elections policies and practices to be so exercised as to unnecessarily deny or abridge the right to vote. The bill also prohibits a county board of elections or political subdivision from using a method of election that has the effect of impairing the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections, as a result of vote dilution. The bill requires any policy and practice that burdens the right to vote must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling policy justification that must be supported by substantial evidence. The bill provides factors for determining if a violation of the bill has occurred, including if a voter's right to vote has been violated or if the voter has experienced vote dilution. Under the bill, if a violation of the provision of the bill occurs, the bill provides a remedy process, including for apportionment and redistricting maps. The bill provides that after a New Jersey Voting Rights Act notification letter is mailed from a prospective plaintiff to a political subdivision the political submission may pass a New Jersey Voting Rights Act resolution reaffirming: (1) the political subdivision's intention to enact and implement a remedy for a potential violation of the bill; (2) specific steps the political subdivision will undertake to facilitate approval and implementation of such a remedy; and (3) a schedule for enacting and implementing such a remedy. The bill provides that if the governing body of a political subdivision lacks the authority under this act or applicable State law or local laws to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, or fails to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, within 90 days after the passage of the resolution, or if the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined by the bill, the governing body of the political subdivision must coordinate with the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to resolve the violation, including reaffirming that any proposal is unlikely to violate the United States Constitution, New Jersey Constitution, or any federal or State law, would not diminish the ability of protected class members to participate in the political process and to elect their preferred candidates to office; and is feasible to implement. Under the bill, the Attorney General and the Division on Civil Rights are provided with certain preclearance powers. The bill provides that if certain political subdivisions that have been the subject to court order or government enforcement action based on violations of the bill; the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, or a voting-related violation of the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution, may be subject to preclearance, which is the process of obtaining prior approval from the Division on Civil Rights or a court of this State for any changes related to election procedures in that political subdivision. The bill provides assistance to language-minority groups. Under the bill, a county board of elections or a political subdivision that administers elections must provide language-related assistance in voting and elections to a language-minority group in a political subdivision if, based on data from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey, or data of comparable quality collected by a public office, that: (1) more than two percent, but in no instance fewer than 300 individuals, of the citizens of voting age of a political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient; or (2) more than 4,000 of the citizens of voting age of such political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient. The bill further provides that a county board of elections or political subdivision required to provide language assistance to a particular language-minority group pursuant to this section must provide voting materials in the covered language of an equal quality of the corresponding English language materials, including registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots. Under the bill, any aggrieved persons or organization whose membership includes aggrieved persons or members of a protected class, organization whose mission, in whole or in part, is to ensure voting access and such mission would be hindered by a violation of this bill, or the Attorney General may file an action pursuant to the bill in court. The bill provides that any action or investigation to enforce any provision of this bill, the Attorney General would have the authority to take proof and determine relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil and criminal laws of this State. The bill also contains a severability provision. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, or other portion of the bill is for any reason held or declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or preempted by federal law, or the applicability of that portion to any person or facility is held invalid, the remainder of the bill would not thereby be deemed to be unconstitutional, preempted, or invalid. The purpose of this bill is to: (1) encourage participation in the elective franchise by all eligible voters to the maximum extent; (2) ensure that eligible voters who are members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups have an equal opportunity to participate in the political processes of this State and exercise the elective franchise; (3) improve the quality and availability of demographic and election data; and (4) protect eligible voters against intimidation and deceptive practices. This bill would take effect on the first day of the 18th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Attorney General may take any anticipatory action in advance thereof. | Dead |
| A3261 | Concerns outreach and training for minorities and women in the construction industry. | Concerns outreach and training for minorities and women in the construction industry. | In Committee |
| A3991 | Directs State Board of Education to authorize general science endorsement to instructional certificate. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a general science endorsement to an instructional certificate. The endorsement authorizes the holder to teach any science course in grades nine through 12. The bill defines "instructional certificate" as a certificate of eligibility, certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, provisional certificate, or standard instructional certificate. The bill requires a candidate seeking an instructional certificate with a general science endorsement to: (1) possess a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in biology, chemistry, physics, or a related field; (2) achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0, or its equivalent; (3) pass a Commissioner of Education-approved basic skills test; (4) pass a commissioner-approved subject matter test, if applicable, and (5) meet any other requirements as established by the commissioner. Under the bill, a teacher who currently holds a biological science, chemistry, earth science, physical science, or physics endorsement to an instructional certificate may apply for an instructional certificate with a general science endorsement provided the teacher meets the requirements set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| A3177 | Establishes New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program in DMVA; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program to assist veterans in applying for and receiving State and federal benefits and to provide training for veterans service officers employed by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The grants will be awarded to qualified veterans' organizations on a competitive basis based on criteria developed by DMVA. An application for a grant must have a detailed outline of the training that will be provided to State veterans service officers or the number of additional veterans service officers the organization will provide to assist veterans with applying for and receiving State and federal benefits, or both. Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature. Under the bill, "qualified veterans' organization" is defined as a nonprofit veterans' organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. This bill also appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the department to defray the costs of the grant program. | In Committee |
| A3176 | Establishes and allocates funds for program to provide mental health services to veterans; appropriates $2 million. | This bill directs the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to establish a program to provide grants to certain veterans organizations to provide mental health services to veterans. The veterans organizations will contract with mental health care professionals to provide the services. The bill appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund for the program. The bill defines "veterans organization" to mean a veterans organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. It shall also include the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group and the New Jersey Catholic Charities Diocese. | In Committee |
| A3174 | Requires counties to specify expenditures concerning veterans' services when submitting budget to Division of Local Government Services in DCA. | This bill requires a county, when submitting its budget to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services for certification, to separately and specifically state expenditures concerning veterans' services, including, but not limited to, transportation and employment counseling services. | In Committee |
| A518 | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | In Committee |
| AJR124 | Designates October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in New Jersey. Postmenopause is the period of time after menopause after a woman's menstrual periods have ceased for 12 consecutive months. Natural postmenopause typically occurs sometime between a woman's late 40s and early 60s, with the average postmenopausal age being 51 years old. Postmenopause is caused by the same hormonal changes that drive the entire menopause transition and can be influenced by internal factors such as fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone hormones and external factors such as lifestyle habits, stress, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. It is a common belief that the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause will disappear once postmenopause begins; however, some women can continue to experience symptoms during postmenopause, which can be very similar to the symptoms experienced during menopause and perimenopause. Postmenopausal women may be at an increased risk for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and urinary tract infections, which are conditions where early awareness of a woman's elevated risk can help women receive appropriate and timely healthcare. A bone density screening test is an example of an important screening tool for postmenopausal women that can help determine the levels of calcium in bones and allow postmenopausal women to take timely action to prevent osteoporosis. Since 2009, the International Menopause Society, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has designated October as World Menopause Awareness Month, with October 18 celebrated as World Menopause Awareness Day with the purpose of raising awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and well-being throughout the menopause process. It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in order to raise awareness about the period of time after menopause, the symptoms and health risks associated with postmenopause, and the disease management options available for women experiencing postmenopause. | In Committee |
| A3147 | Makes consent to register with Selective Service part of driver's license application process for males under age 26. | This bill requires every male United States citizen or immigrant under age 26 who applies for a special learner's permit, an examination permit, a probationary driver's license, a basic driver's license, or a nondriver identification card, or for renewal of a license or identification card, to consent to his registration for the draft in compliance with the requirements of the "Military Selective Service Act," 50 U.S.C. App. 453. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to forward the personal information required for draft registration to the Selective Service System. Submission of an application to the MVC would serve as an indication that the applicant has already registered with the Selective Service or that he is authorizing the chief administrator to forward to the Selective Service the necessary information for registration. The chief administrator is required to print a statement on the application for a permit, driver's license, or nondriver identification card stating that the applicant is consenting to Selective Service registration if required by Federal law or, if under age 18, registration upon attaining age 18. Failure to register or otherwise comply with the "Military Selective Service Act" is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. In addition, violators may be precluded from obtaining student financial aid, job training, government employment and U.S. naturalization. | In Committee |
| A3132 | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | This bill requires professional and occupational boards to issue a license, certificate, or certification to any applicant who received a license and equivalent training, education, or experience while serving or after serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. The person applying for the license, certificate, or certification could have obtained a license and training, education, or experience during or outside of the person's military service. The bill requires a professional and occupational board to issue a license, certificate, or certification to an applicant who presents evidence to the board that: (1) the applicant was honorably discharged from active military service; (2) the applicant's license, certificate, or certification is in good standing in another jurisdiction; and (3) the applicant complies with all other requirements for licensure, including a requirement for examination. The bill also requires each board to provide methods of evaluating equivalent training, education, or experience obtained towards meeting the requirements for the issuance of a license, certificate, or certification. However, no method of evaluation shall operate in such a manner as to require the same number of hours of experience by the applicant. This bill provides reciprocity for veterans with a license, certificate, or certification issued by another jurisdiction. Veterans with these credentials face barriers to entering the job market since occupational licenses are not necessarily portable due to different standards required by individual states; however, often times, a veteran's training, education, and experience as a licensed professional in another state is valuable and transferable. This bill would help veterans licensed in another jurisdiction to obtain their license in New Jersey and more easily find or keep employment in this State. | In Committee |
| A3145 | Grants certain leaves of absence for Vietnam Veterans of America conventions. | This bill adds the Vietnam Veterans of America to the list of organizations whose duly authorized representatives are entitled to receive a leave of absence with pay to attend State and national conventions under R.S.38:23-2, which applies to persons in the service of the State, a county, or a municipality. This bill also removes two defunct organizations from the list. | In Committee |
| A1748 | Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues. | This bill establishes a task force in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to address issues facing members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard returning from overseas deployments involving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and make recommendations on how the State should address those issues. The task force will consist of the following 11 members: the Commissioners of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Health and Senior Services, and Human Services, or their designees; the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee; and the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The Adjutant General will appoint five public members, with at least three persons with knowledge or experience in one of the following areas: demobilization and post deployment; post traumatic stress disorder, family readiness groups or family assistance centers; employer support groups; veterans service officers; issues relevant to women in the military and veteran homeless shelters. It will be the duty of the task force to identify and review the issues and concerns facing servicemembers returning from overseas deployments, and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate. The task force will issue a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate, no later than six months after the task force organizes. | In Committee |
| A3133 | Establishes position of Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson; establishes "School Disconnection Prevention Task Force." | This bill establishes the position of Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson and establishes the "School Disconnection Prevention Task Force." The bill specifically establishes a Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson. The ombudsperson is to be appointed by the Governor, serve at the pleasure of the Governor, and report directly to the Commissioner of Education. Pursuant to the bill, the duties of the ombudsperson include:· collaborating with school districts to develop and implement a Statewide strategic plan of action;· collaborating with a variety of governmental agencies to address the challenges facing student dropouts;· developing best practices consistent with the recommendations of the School Disconnection Prevention Task Force; and· advising the commissioner on ways to prevent students from disconnecting from school and strategies for reengaging students who have disconnected from school. The bill requires the ombudsperson to annually submit a report summarizing services provided, progress in reducing disconnected youth, and recommendations on services and support for disconnected youth to the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the Governor, and the Legislature. This bill also establishes the "School Disconnection Prevention Task Force." The task force consists of 25 members including: the Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson, who will serve as the chair of the task force; the Commissioners of the Departments of Education, Corrections, Labor and Workforce Development, Human Services, and Children and Families; the Secretary of Higher Education; the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission; and 17 members appointed by the Governor. Pursuant to the bill, the duties of the task force include:· examining current data on disconnected youth;· researching programs and initiatives addressing school disconnection;· examining possible contributing factors for students leaving school;· identifying effective ways to reduce the number of disconnected youth; and· advising the Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson on the task force's findings. The bill requires the task force to issue a final report to the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the Governor, and the Legislature no later than nine months after the task force organizes. Additionally, the bill requires the Governor to appear before a legislative reference committee if a Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson is not appointed within one year after the effective date of this bill. Finally, the Commissioner of Education is required to appear before a legislative reference committee one year after the issuance of the final report of the School Disconnection Task Force. | Dead |
| A3185 | Permits dogs as service and emotional support animals at State veterans' residential facilities. | This bill permits veterans to have dogs as service and emotional support animals at a State veterans' residential facility. Under federal law, service animals are permitted on federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property with some restrictions. The federal regulation defines service animals as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal are required to be directly related to the individual's disability. The federal regulation does not include emotional support animals in its definition of service animals; therefore, emotional support animals are not permitted on VA property. Under the bill, the State law is aligned with federal standards by permitting dogs as service animals at State veterans' residential facilities. The bill further expands beyond federal law to permit dogs as emotional support animals at State veterans' residential facilities. As veterans become increasingly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), health care providers are recommending an emotional support animal to many veterans. Under the bill, those veterans with emotional support needs will not be excluded from having a dog on State veterans' residential facility property. The bill prohibits animals other than service animals or emotional support animals on a State veterans' residential facility property unless the animal is present for law enforcement purposes or under the control of the Office of Research and Development in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also requires a veteran accompanied by a service animal or emotional support animal to provide documentation with the following information: (1) the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal or emotional support animal, that lists the work or tasks the animal has been trained to perform; and (2) confirms the service animal or emotional support animal has had a current rabies vaccine as determined by State and local public health requirements, and current core canine vaccines and immunizations as dictated by local veterinary practice standards, which at minimum includes distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2. Under the bill, State veterans' residential facility" means any State veterans' memorial home or Veterans Haven facility. | In Committee |
| A1687 | Establishes Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts to prepare for catastrophic loss of technological services. | This bill establishes the Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts ("S.A.F.E.") to prepare for a catastrophic loss of technological services in this State. This bill establishes the Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts in the State Office of Emergency Management. The purpose of this office is to analyze the potential risks and impacts of a catastrophic loss of technology and develop strategies for enhancing the State's response. The office's functions are to include, but not be limited to, gathering information about the impact of technological dependency; assessing the potential consequences of a catastrophic loss of technology; and developing procedures for managing the loss of technology. In addition, under the bill, the office is to provide quarterly reports to the Governor and Legislature on its research findings and develop a plan for essential services in case of a catastrophic technology loss. The Director of the State Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with the State's Chief Information Officer, is to appoint a director of the office who is qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The State's economy, public safety, and general welfare depend on the availability of technological systems and infrastructure. A catastrophic loss of technology could severely disrupt the State's essential services, including communication systems, medical services, transportation infrastructure, utilities, and financial services. It is essential to proactively address the potential risks from technological dependence and create strategies for managing the consequences of a catastrophic loss of technology. | In Committee |
| A3258 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on interacting with law enforcement as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. | This bill requires school districts to provide instruction on interacting with law enforcement in a manner marked by mutual cooperation and respect, and on the rights of individuals when interacting with a law enforcement official, as part of the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The instruction must provide students with information on: the role and responsibilities of a law enforcement official in providing for public safety; an individual's responsibilities to comply with a directive from a law enforcement official; and an individual's rights under law in interacting with a law enforcement official. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to appoint an advisory committee to assist in the development of a curriculum for the implementation of the instructional requirement, and details the organizations that are to serve on the advisory committee. The bill specifies that the curriculum must consist of two parts, with one part that includes age-appropriate instruction for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through four, and one part designed for the more rigorous instruction of students enrolled in grades five through 12. | In Committee |
| A3142 | Requires parents who intend to home-school their children to inform the school district of that decision; requires school district to maintain record of each home-schooled child in the district. | This bill requires parents who intend to home-school their children to submit to the superintendent of the resident school district by August 15 of each school year a letter informing the superintendent of the decision to home-school the child for that school year. Under the bill, the resident district is required to maintain a record of the name, age, and place of residence of each home-schooled child in the district. | In Committee |
| A3135 | Creates "Community Wealth Preservation Program"; expands access for certain buyers to purchase property from sheriff's sales. | Under the bill, in the case of residential property in which the bidder will occupy the property for at least 84 months, the bidder will have up to 90 business days to complete the sale, with no interest accruing on the balance of the sale for 60 business days following the sale. If the successful bidder does not pay the balance within this 90 business day period, the bidder would forfeit the deposit on the property and be responsible for the payment of accrued interest and fees or penalties incurred as a result of the sale being void, unless the failure to fulfill the balance is due to the bidder's inability to close a mortgage through no fault of the bidder's own. The bill provides that the sheriff require the foreclosing plaintiff to disclose whether the property is vacant, tenant-occupied, or owner-occupied. Under the bill, a bidder may purchase property in a sheriff's sale by way of financing if the bidder provides documentation that the bidder has been pre-approved by a financial institution for financing the property. A bidder, other than the foreclosed upon defendant or the foreclosed upon defendant's next of kin, may only use the financing option if the property will be the bidder's primary residence. If a successful bidder finances the property and does not use the property as a primary residence, the bidder will be subject to a fine of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for each violation thereafter. However, there are exceptions to the penalties if the bidder must vacate the property due to death of the bidder or the bidder's spouse, disability of the bidder or the bidder's spouse, divorce, military deployment, or foreclosure. To be a successful bidder on a residential property the bidder, who is not the plaintiff, who intends to occupy the property and finance the purchase of the property, shall have received eight hours of homebuyer education and counseling from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and shall present certification of completion of that training at the time of purchase. The bill requires each sheriff's office to maintain information, written in plain language, regarding the program to finance the purchase of residential property in a foreclosure sale on its internet website in a manner that is accessible to the public. Additionally, each sheriff's office is to display information, written in plain language, regarding the program in its office in a manner that is conspicuous to the public. The information posted on a sheriff's website or displayed in a sheriff's office concerning the program must contain language notifying the public that the program excludes those purchasing property for investment purposes. For any county in which the primary language of 10 percent or more of the residents is a language other than English, the bill directs the sheriff's office to provide the information required for the program in that other language or languages in addition to English. The alternate language would be determined based on information from the latest federal decennial census. With the exception of sales conducted pursuant to the Community Wealth Preservation Program, the bill increases the fee to be charged by virtue of an execution sale from 4 to 5 percent, or 6 percent to 10 percent, depending on whether the sum involved is greater than or less than $5,000, respectively. The bill also increases the minimum fee to be charged by virtue of an execution sale from $50 to $150. Finally, the bill provides creditors and creditors' agents with immunity from liability for damages to certain vacant and abandoned property so long as reasonable care is exercised, and clarifies that bidders are not authorized to enter the property prior to the time of sale. | In Committee |
| ACR98 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to allow the Legislature to enact a law to extend the preference given to veterans for hiring for civil service positions. The law would determine the eligibility of veterans for the purpose of hiring preferences for civil service positions. Currently, only veterans who served in time of war receive a hiring preference when applying for civil service positions. This amendment would allow veterans who did not serve in time of war also to receive a hiring preference for civil service positions. | In Committee |
| A3167 | Authorizes DMVA to grant preference in awarding contracts to vendors that employ veterans. | The purpose of this bill is to help alleviate the high rate of unemployment among military veterans by creating an incentive for vendors seeking contracts with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to employ veterans. The bill provides that in awarding contracts for the purchase of goods or services by the department, with or without public advertising for bids, the Adjutant General may grant a preference to vendors based upon the number of full-time employees of that vendor who are veterans. If the Adjutant General determines to grant such a preference for a particular contract, the Adjutant General will determine for each of the top three vendors the number of the vendor's full-time employees and the number of the vendor's full-time employees who are veterans. The contract will be awarded to the vendor having the highest percentage of such employees who are veterans. The bill defines "veteran" to include a disabled veteran. In making this determination, the Adjutant General may rely on information submitted by each vendor. However, the Adjutant General must verify that information within 30 calendar days and if it is determined that any business has knowingly and willfully misrepresented the number of its employees or the number of its employees who are veterans, the Adjutant General will immediately debar that business and its principals from contracting with the department for a period of five years. If the misrepresentation was committed by the vendor that has been awarded the contract, the Adjutant General will also terminate that contract. The department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq., will adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the bill's provisions. This act will be known and may be cited as the "Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment (BRAVE) Act." | In Committee |
| A3159 | Establishes price preference program on State contracts for businesses owned by women veterans or women in military service. | This bill establishes a price preference program for businesses owned by women who are veterans or who are serving in the United States Armed Forces that are 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 business owned by a woman veteran or a woman serving in the military. If the business meets the requirements of the contract solicitation and is the lowest bidder due to the preference, a State agency will enter into a procurement contract with that business. If two or more qualified businesses bid on a contract utilizing the preference program, the business with the lowest bid will be awarded the contract. This bill defines "woman veteran" to mean a resident of this State who identifies as female and was honorably discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service in a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, and defines "woman serving in the military" to mean a resident of this State who identifies as female and is serving in the United States Armed Forces on full time active duty status, or who has completed Initial Entry Training. This bill defines "qualified 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 women veterans or women serving in the military, and the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women veterans or women serving in the military, or, in the case of a woman veteran with a permanent and severe disability, are controlled by the spouse of such veteran. | In Committee |
| A1694 | Criminalizes owner or landlord knowingly renting dwelling to tenant that is illegal occupancy which causes serious bodily injury to or death of another person. | This bill makes it a fourth degree crime for an owner or landlord to knowingly rent a dwelling to a tenant that is an illegal occupancy which causes serious bodily injury to or the death of another person. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under current law, an owner or landlord who rents a dwelling to a tenant that is an illegal occupancy may be subject to certain civil penalties and fines as set forth in N.J.S.A.2A:18-61.1 et seq. including, but not limited to, reimbursing a tenant for relocation expenses in the amount equal to six times the monthly rent if the tenant is evicted for illegal occupancy. A conviction under this bill would not preclude the imposition of any other criminal, civil, or administrative remedy or penalty provided by any other provision of law. "Illegal occupancy" is defined in the bill as an occupancy in residential premises that fails to comply with local or State housing regulations or codes, local zoning ordinances, or has violations affecting the health and safety of the tenants. | In Committee |
| ACR97 | Urges Governor to develop plan for applying to VA State Home Construction Grant Program. | This resolution respectfully urges the Governor to develop a plan for applying to the State Home Construction Grant Program under the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 1866, New Jersey Governor Marcus L. Ward introduced the concept of veterans homes in the United States after having concern for the wounded and sick soldiers of the Civil War. There are currently 162 state veterans homes across the United States, with the following three located in New Jersey: (1) Veterans Memorial Home-Paramus; (2) Veterans Memorial Home-Menlo Park; and (3) Veterans Memorial Home-Vineland. These New Jersey state veterans homes provide around-the-clock care and supply a crucial need for veterans with low incomes and veterans seeking care as they grow older. With over half of the adult veteran population being age 65 and older, it is imperative that New Jersey provide for these deserving individuals. The current State veterans homes provide services for 948 residents, but this covers just a small portion of the over 350,000 veterans in New Jersey. The VA State Home Construction Grant Program assists with construction, renovation, or repair of State-owned and operated nursing homes, domiciliaries, and adult day health care facilities by providing federal grants of up to 65 percent of the total cost. It is important that New Jersey strive to offer increased availability of these essential services for veterans who have served the United States. | In Committee |
| A603 | Expands municipal court conditional dismissal program to include defendants charged with certain drug offenses; requires defendant's participation in various programs and services; allows dismissal of charges after one-year probationary period. | This bill would expand the current conditional dismissal program in municipal court to include certain drug offenses and to require the defendant to participate in various programs and services. Under the current conditional dismissal program, set out in P.L.2013, c.158 (2C:43-13.1 et seq,), first-time offenders charged with certain disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses may, at the discretion of the municipal court, after a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt, but prior to the entry of a judgment of conviction and with appropriate notice to the prosecutor, apply to the municipal court for entry into the program. As a condition of the application, the defendant must submit to fingerprint identification procedures to allow verification of his criminal history. Under the conditional dismissal program, the municipal court will place the defendant under a probation monitoring status for a period of one year. The court may also impose financial obligations and other terms and conditions. A defendant may apply to the court for an extension of a term of conditional dismissal to allow sufficient time to pay financial obligations imposed by the court, and a judge may also extend a defendant's conditional dismissal term for good cause. If a participant is convicted of any crime or offense during his participation or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions imposed by the court, the court may enter a judgment of conviction and impose a fine, penalty, or other assessment which may be imposed in accordance with the defendant's prior guilty plea or finding of guilt. At the end of the term of conditional dismissal, if the defendant has not been convicted of any subsequent crime or offense, and has complied with any other terms and conditions imposed by the municipal court, the court may terminate probation and dismiss the proceedings against the defendant. Once the proceedings are dismissed, the offense is not deemed a conviction for purposes of any disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law, or for the purposes of determining whether a second or subsequent offense has occurred. Currently, a defendant is not eligible for participation in the municipal court conditional dismissal program if he is charged with certain offenses, including, among others, any disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense involving controlled dangerous substances under chapter 35 or 36 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. The bill eliminates this provision, so that a defendant charged with any of these offenses would be eligible to participate in conditional dismissal. The bill also requires that, as a condition of participation in the conditional dismissal program, the defendant must participate in appropriate programs and services as directed by the court. The defendant would not be charged a fee for participation in any such programs. The programs shall include, but are not limited to: (1) substance abuse treatment, including but not limited to medication-assisted treatment as defined in paragraph (7) of subsection f. of N.J.S.2C:35-14; (2) health and mental health services, including referral to medical providers; (3) assistance in obtaining health insurance, such as Medicaid; (4) assistance in obtaining any other benefits the defendant may be entitled to, such as veterans' benefits; (5) assistance in obtaining personal identification; (6) assistance in payment of motor vehicle surcharges; (7) vocational training; (8) job placement; (9) housing assistance; (10) educational assistance; (11) transportation assistance; and (12) referral to legal assistance. The bill is similar to the "Pathway to Change Pilot Program" in Atlantic County municipal courts. | In Committee |
| A1814 | Requires DOH to establish maternity care evaluation protocols. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) to develop comprehensive policies and procedures to be followed by every hospital providing inpatient maternity services, and every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), in the State, for the collection and dissemination of data on maternity care. The bill would require the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a maternity care evaluation protocol that every hospital and every birthing center would be required to follow in order to collect hospital discharge data relevant to maternity care, including, but not limited to de-identified information outlined under the bill. The Department of Health is to evaluate the data collected under the maternity care evaluation protocol for the purposes of: facilitating a data-based review of the provision of maternity care services in the State in order to identify potential improvements in the provisions of such services; generating Statewide perinatal and provider-level quality metrics; establishing Statewide and regional objective benchmarks that promote improvements in maternal health outcomes and the quality of maternity care, and comparing the performance every hospital and birthing center in the State to such benchmarks; identifying data quality issues that may directly impact the performance of hospitals and birthing centers in providing maternity care services; encouraging hospitals and birthing centers that provide inpatient maternity services to participate in quality improvement collaboratives; and researching the association between clinical practices, the quality of maternal care, and maternal health care outcomes. No later than one year after the enactment of the bill, and every year after, the commissioner would report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the findings of the evaluation required pursuant to the bill. The report would include any recommendations for legislative action that the commissioner deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| A1812 | Clarifies statutory exemptions from mandatory immunization requirements for child care center and school attendance. | This bill revises the requirements concerning exemptions from mandatory student immunization requirements. Under the bill, provisions in the State Sanitary Code, or provisions otherwise set forth in statute or regulation, which require the immunization of children in public or private licensed child care centers and students at public or private elementary or secondary schools and institutions of higher education, are to provide for an exemption from the mandatory immunization requirements based upon a statement submitted to the child care center, elementary or secondary school, or institution of higher education, as applicable, using a standard form designated by the Department of Health by a licensed physician, doctor of osteopathy, or advanced practice nurse indicating: (1) that the vaccine is medically contraindicated for a specific period of time; (2) the professional's full name, address, and national provider identifier (or the national provider identifier of the professional's collaborating physician); and (3) the reasons for the medical contraindication, which are to be valid medical reasons consistent with guidelines issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The child or student will be exempt from receiving the indicated vaccination for the stated period of time. In addition, the bill authorizes an exemption from mandatory immunization requirements for a child or student who has a sibling who experienced a vaccine injury. To qualify for the exemption, the child or student will be required to submit to the Department of Health documentation of a final determination of vaccine injury issued through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services or a final judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that includes a finding of vaccine injury. Documentation of the department's approval of a sibling vaccine injury exemption will be submitted to the school or child care center by the child or student, or by the child or student's parent or guardian, if the child or student is a minor. Medical and sibling vaccine injury exemptions may be subject to review and approval by a physician employed by or consulting for the county or local board of health, and may be audited by county and local boards of health. Approved medical and sibling vaccine injury exemptions will be forwarded for inclusion in the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS). The bill requires the NJIIS to be updated no later than one year after the effective date of the bill to allow for the inclusion of medical exemption information, and to allow for a printable report of information included in the registry. The bill prohibits a public child care center, elementary or secondary school, or institution of higher education from exempting a child or student from a mandatory immunization unless the child or student, or the child's or student's parent or guardian if the child or student is a minor, complies with all of the applicable requirements set forth in the bill. The bill allows nonpublic child care centers, preschool programs, elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education to adopt a policy authorizing the admission of children and students who are not in full compliance with mandatory immunization requirements and who do not meet the requirements for a medical or sibling vaccine injury exemption, provided that the facility requires each child or student enrolled in the child care center, preschool program, school, or institution of higher education, or the child's or student's parent or guardian if the child or student is a minor, to sign an acknowledgement form, at the time of enrollment, that sets forth the facility's policy with regard to admitting children or students who are not in full compliance with mandatory immunization requirements, and that indicates the immunization rates for the facility for the prior academic year. The child care center, preschool program, school, or institution of higher education will additionally be required to prominently post its policy concerning the admission of children or students who are not fully immunized, and the facility's immunization rates for the prior academic year, at each entrance to the facility. The Commissioner of Health will be required to adopt rules and regulations concerning the format of acknowledgement forms used by nonpublic schools for this purpose. A child or student who is not in compliance with mandatory immunization requirements who seeks to attend the nonpublic child care center, preschool program, school, or institution of higher education will be required to provide the facility with written notice of which specific immunization requirements the child or student is not in compliance with and sign a form that states that the child or student, or the child or student's parent or guardian, as applicable, understands the risks and benefits of vaccination and acknowledges that the child or student may be excluded from attendance in the event of the occurrence of a communicable disease or condition or threat of a communicable disease or condition. The bill provides that the current statutory list of uses for the NJIIS is nonexclusive. The bill additionally removes a provision of current law that provides that an agency, organization, or other entity authorized to access information in the NJIIS may not use any report made by a health care provider in any punitive manner against the provider. The bill provides the Commissioner of Health with expedited rulemaking authority in order to provide guidance to child care centers, schools, and public health authorities, as they will need to implement its provisions on a timely basis, including creating acknowledgement forms that may be used by nonpublic institutions that admit children and students who are not fully compliant with mandatory immunization requirements. The provisions of the bill will take effect 180 days after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A3158 | Requires Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman submit annual report to veterans' facility oversight boards. | This bill would require the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to submit an annual report to the oversight board of each veterans' facility. The report would summarize the office's activities relating to the care and quality of life at veterans' facilities for the previous fiscal year, document significant problems in the system of care and services at veterans' facilities, indicate and analyze trends in the system of care and services at veterans' facilities, and set forth any opinions or recommendations which will further the State's capacity in resolving complaints, encouraging quality care and ensuring the health, safety, welfare or civil and human rights of elderly patients, residents and clients at veterans' facilities, including suggestions or recommendations for legislative consideration and for changes in the policy or rules and regulations of government agencies. The report required by this bill would be similar to the annual report currently submitted to the Governor and the Legislature each year concerning all long-term care facilities in the State. | In Committee |
| A2224 | Establishes gross income tax credit for cost of certain postage for sending goods to members of United States Armed Forces and National Guard who are serving their country away from home. | This bill establishes a gross income tax credit for the amount of postage taxpayers pay the United States Postal Service to send parcels as priority mail to individuals serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard at military installations in the United States or abroad. Homesickness frequently befalls members of the Armed Forces and the National Guard while serving their country afield. To boost their morale, many send military personnel packages with cherished items from back home. The cost of postage can strain the ability of the home front to take care of those stationed or deployed afield. In allowing a tax credit for certain postage expenses, this bill removes a cost-prohibitive deterrent to sending goods of appreciation and caring to loved ones serving away from home. | In Committee |
| A3263 | Establishes the "Safe and Sanitary Rental Housing Act." | Too many residents of the State of New Jersey are currently residing in rental housing units that fail to meet minimum standards of safety and sanitation. Landlords should be held accountable for the health and safety of their tenants with respect to their housing, and should be required to provide safe and sanitary housing accommodations. Accordingly, this bill implements various changes to State rental housing laws in the areas of landlord registration requirements, inspection of multiple dwellings, warranty of habitability, and distribution of certain information.Warranty of Habitability Section 3 of the bill provides that in any action before the court in which a tenant asserts a warrant of habitability violation by a landlord who accepts a rental subsidy, the court is required to notify The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) within two business days. Upon notice to DCA, the Bureau of Housing Inspection (BHI) is required to inspect the property within 10 days. A hearing to determine violation of the warranty of habitability may not be set by the court prior to the completion of the inspection by the BHI. If it is determined by the court that failure to pay rent was due to a significant violation of the warranty of habitability of the premises, the court will direct the deposit of the tenant portion of rental payments with a court-appointed administrator for use in remedying the defective condition. The State or public housing authority, as the case may be, will retain the discretion to withhold any portion of the rental subsidy until a reinspection by BHI determines every significant violation has been remedied. Landlord Registration Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 address issues related to registration of landlords. Current law requires landlords to register with the municipality in which the rental premises is located, or with DCA, depending on circumstances. Section 4 of the bill prohibits the entering of a judgment of possession by any court for a premises covered by section 2 of P.L.1974, c.49 (C.2A:18-61.1) unless the landlord has been registered for at least 90 days. Under section 5 of the bill, landlords are required to include the following additional information in a landlord registration: (1) in the case of a record owner that is a corporation, limited liability company, or other legal or commercial entity, the names and Social Security numbers of residence of the members, directors, officers, and registered agents, as applicable; and (2) for each person required to be named in the registration - a telephone number where someone can be reached at all times; a street address of residence; and an active email address. Section 5 also requires that a landlord who accepts rental subsidies may not be granted State funding, or a tax abatement or exemption, for rehabilitation of a premises unless the landlord has been registered for at least 90 days. "Rental subsidy" is defined as funds paid to a landlord pursuant to federal project-based or tenant-based federal Housing Choice Voucher (section 8) Program rental assistance or paid as a rental assistance grant pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1). Section 6 of the bill requires landlords to annually certify, by July 1, that the certificate of registration is accurate, and contains current information. Under section 7 of the bill, a landlord who fails to register as required by law shall be liable for a penalty of not more than $500 for each offense. Inspections Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 15 of the bill pertain to the inspection, and reinspection, of multiple dwellings. Section 8 of the bill permits the Commissioner of Community Affairs, by rule or regulation, to establish a classification of multiple dwellings in which properties are divided into tiers delineating the frequency of inspections based on criteria set forth in the regulation. Under the provisions of section 9 of the bill, within 30 days of the most recent inspection of a hotel or multiple dwelling, the owner must file with the commissioner an application for a certification of inspection, together with the required fee. A certificate of inspection and the fees would not be required more often than the schedule of inspections set by the commissioner pursuant to section 8 of the bill. Section 10 of the bill pertains to significant violations found following an inspection or reinspection. (A significant violation is defined as a lack of running water, or adequate sewage disposal facilities; infestations, excluding infestations without associated health impacts; structural deficiency; or any other condition that the commissioner may, by rule, identify as a significant violation, that does not constitute an imminent hazard, and which is not caused by, or within the control of, the tenant.) If a significant violation is found following an inspection or reinspection, the commissioner must notify, if applicable, the public housing authority that operates the multiple dwelling within 48 hours of the inspection or reinspection. In the case of a multiple dwelling that participates in federal section 8 housing, the commissioner must notify the Department of Housing and Urban Development New Jersey field officer of the complaint and violation. If the commissioner determines as the result of an inspection of a hotel or multiple dwelling that one or more significant violations exist, the written order served on the owner must identify each violation. If an application for a hearing is filed pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-18), the hearing shall be held within 30 days of the receipt of the application, and the commissioner must render a final decision within 60 days of the date of the hearing. Section 11 of the bill requires the commissioner to establish a program to assist municipalities in making inspection records and landlord information records available to the public on the Internet. Section 12 of the bill requires that the commissioner must promulgate regulations to effectuate the provisions of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). Section 15 of the bill requires that every landlord post in every common area of a tenant-occupied multiple dwelling, and include in a printed notice in the lease, instructions on how to file a tenant complaint with the BHI, and instructions on how to access and use the instructions on how to access and use the comprehensive social services information toll-free telephone hotline service, established pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1991, c.524 (C.30:1-1.1) Eviction Proceedings Section 13 of the bill requires that if a landlord enters any information into a shared database concerning eviction proceedings brought against a residential tenant for non-payment of rent, the landlord must include the following information, which shall be permanently attached to the tenant's record in the database: (1) whether a finding was made on the record that the non-payment of rent was due to a violation of the warranty of habitability of the premises; and (2) the disposition of the proceedings. A landlord or an owner of the shared database who violates this requirement will be liable to a penalty of $500 for each offense. Mail Delivery Section 14 of the bill would permit DCA to mail notices, orders, rules, and decisions, by certified mail, with return receipt requested, and regular mail, and makes other procedural changes to the process of serving those documents. | In Committee |
| A3171 | Requires converting portion of Paramus and Menlo Park veterans' memorial homes into single occupancy rooms; requires upgrades to ventilation systems; provides Adjutant General discretion for additional room considerations. | Under this bill and subject to the availability of federal funds provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and federal funds provided or made accessible to the State from the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will convert at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park and at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus to single occupancy rooms. The rooms will be equipped with negative pressure ventilation to support infectious disease control measures, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems will be upgraded throughout the two homes to infection control system standards. If the federal funds are not sufficient to accomplish the conversions and upgrades, there will be appropriated such sums from the General Fund as necessary, in amounts subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, for use by the department to accomplish the changes outlined in the bill. | In Committee |
| A3166 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $8 million to DHS to increase reimbursement for funeral, burial, and crematory services provided to certain beneficiaries of Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Security Income programs. | This bill makes a FY 2022 supplemental appropriation of $8 million to the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to increase reimbursements issued to funeral homes and cemeteries for funeral, burial, and crematory services provided to eligible persons in the Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Security Income programs, as outlined under N.J.A.C.10:90-8.2, by $1,000 for each eligible person. Currently, pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1985, c.282 (C.44:1-157.1.), the total allowable payment for funeral, burial, and crematory services, including contributions by others, is to be at least 75 percent of the average cost for a proper funeral and burial charged by funeral directors in the locality in which the public assistance recipient is buried or cremated. Under N.J.A.C.10:90-8.5, however, the maximum allowance for adult funeral and cemetery services is $2,770. In addition, family and friends can contribute up to $1,570 without affecting the benefit amount. Therefore, current regulation establishes the total allowable payment for funeral, burial, and crematory services, including contributions by others, at $4,340. Based upon data provided by the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, $4,340 is only approximately 28 percent of the average cost of funeral and cemetery charges in 2021, or $15,268. As such, the current funding policy leaves a funding gap of over $7,000 per funeral and burial provided under the WFNJ and SSI programs, according to the statutory provision that the allowable payment for services is to be at least 75 percent of the average cost for a proper funeral and burial, which in 2021 would be $11,452. This supplemental appropriation of $8 million, therefore, begins to close this gap and increase the financial support provided to the industry to provide these services. This bill provides that the supplemental funds will be used to increase the reimbursement level paid for funeral, burial, and crematory services by $1,000 for each eligible person, rather than by a method determined by the Director of the Division of Family Development, in which the funds are allocated in such a manner that all eligible reimbursements are increased equally in proportion to the total cost of the service provided. The bill provides that the appropriated funds are not to be used to supplant other amounts allocated for the reimbursement of funeral, burial, and crematory services that are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Appropriations Act. According to FY 2022 Budget documents, the department anticipates the division will expend $15.8 million for such expenses in that fiscal year. This supplement, therefore, will increase total expenditures for such services to $23.8 million in FY 2022. | In Committee |
| A3130 | Provides for retained eligibility for members of NJ National Guard or reserve component called to active federal military service who met fire department maximum age requirement at closing date of civil service examination. | This bill provides that any member of the New Jersey National Guard or of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces who is placed on a civil service active open competitive employment list, and who is called to active federal military service prior to the expiration of the list, would be deemed to have met that maximum age requirement on the date on which the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list if the person met the maximum age requirement for appointment as a member of the fire department in a municipality at the announced closing date of the civil service examination from which the first list of eligibles is or was compiled. This same provision already applies to members and officers of the police department. | In Committee |
| A544 | Requires municipality to provide free beach access to certain veterans. | This bill prohibits a shore municipality from charging and collecting any fees for access to beaches and bathing and recreational grounds, and for use of bathing and recreational facilities, by veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, and who either served at least 90 days in active duty or were discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability. Current law permits shore municipalities, by ordinance, to provide free or reduced fee beach access to qualifying veterans. This bill would require shore municipalities to provide free beach access to these qualifying veterans. | In Committee |
| A1750 | Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person. | This bill creates the new offense of theft by financial exploitation of vulnerable person. Under the bill, an actor commits this offense when, being in a position of trust in relation to a senior citizen or a person with a disability, he commits a theft offense against that person. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:20-1 to define a senior citizen as a person 62 years of age or older. A "person with a disability" means a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined to be disabled pursuant to Title II or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.ss.401-433 or 42 U.S.C.ss.1381-1383), or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. Further, a "person in a position of trust" means a person who: (a) is the parent, spouse, adult child, or other relative by blood or affinity of a senior citizen or person with a disability; or (b) is a joint tenant or tenant in common with a senior citizen orperson with a disability; or (c) has a fiduciary obligation to a senior citizen or person with adisability; or (d) receives monetary or other valuable consideration for providing care for a senior citizen or person with a disability; or (e) lives with or provides some component of home care services on a continuing basis to a senior citizen or person with a disability including, but not limited to, a neighbor or friend who does not provide such services on a compensated basis but has access to a senior citizen or person with a disability based on such relationship. The bill provides that theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person shall be graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, it is a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying theft offense. | In Committee |
| A1868 | Prohibits possession and requires registration of body armor in certain circumstances. | This bill establishes prohibitions on the possession of body armor by certain persons and a registration requirement for body armor. The bill provides that it is unlawful for a person to own or otherwise possess body armor unless the person has registered the body armor in accordance with the bill's provisions. The bill requires the Attorney General to establish a registration process for body armor owned prior to the effective date of the bill and provides that an owner has 90 days from the effective date to register each piece of body armor owned in compliance with the registration process. For purchases of body armor occurring after the bill's effective date, a person would be required to meet eligibility criteria established by the Attorney General and obtain a permit to purchase body armor, and a seller of body armor would be required to register the sale of the body armor with the Attorney General. Under the bill, the eligibility criteria would include: (1) law enforcement officers; (2) law enforcement officers who retired in good standing; (3) persons engaged in active duty military service; (4) persons whose duties of employment expose them to serious bodily injury that may be prevented or mitigated by the use of body armor, as determined by the Attorney General; (5) bona fide dealers of body armor; and (6) any other persons meeting good cause eligibility criteria established by the Attorney General. The bill requires the Attorney General to establish a permit to purchase body armor and an application process for a person to obtain the permit. The application is required to include, but need not be limited to an applicant's: name; date of birth; street and mailing address; telephone number; email address; and proof that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria set forth in the bill. The bill provides that the permit would remain in effect for 30 days following issuance. Under the bill, a person is prohibited from selling, giving, transferring, assigning, or otherwise disposing of body armor to a person unless the person purchasing or otherwise taking possession of the body armor has first secured a permit to purchase body armor and displays the same to the seller. Following the sale or other transfer of body armor, a seller is required to take possession of the purchaser's permit to purchase body armor and complete a registration form that includes the personal identifying information of the purchaser and a description of the body armor purchased. The bill requires the seller to submit the registration form and the permit to purchase body armor obtained from the purchaser to the Attorney General within three business days. A seller who violates these provisions would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The provisions of the bill would not apply to: (1) a State or local government entity which purchases or possesses body armor for the purpose of furnishing body armor to employees; or (2) possession of body armor by employees of a State or local government entity during the employee's period of employment and used for employment-related purposes. The registration and permit to purchase body armor provisions of the bill would not apply to a bona fide dealer of body armor who has registered with the Attorney General. A dealer in business prior to the bill's effective date has 60 days following the effective date to register with the Attorney General. Possessing or purchasing body armor in violation of the bill's provisions are both crimes of the third degree. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The bill defines "body armor" as any product sold or offered for sale as personal protective body covering intended to protect against gunfire, regardless of whether the product is to be worn alone or is sold as a complement to another product or garment. The bill additionally amends current law concerning unlawful use of body vests. Under current law, it is a crime of the second or third degree, depending on circumstances, to use a body vest during the commission of certain crimes. The bill redefines the term "body vest" as "body armor" and expands the current law to include all body armor. | In Committee |
| A616 | Transfers jurisdiction over school meals programs from Department of Agriculture to DOE. | This bill would transfer authority over all school meals programs in the State from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to the Department of Education (DOE). A "school meals program" is defined to mean and include: the National School Lunch Program; the federal School Breakfast Program, including a school breakfast after the bell program; the Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option; the Child and Adult Care Food Program; any emergency meals distribution program; and any other similar State or federal nutrition assistance program that is designed to ensure that children enrolled in school, or that children or adults attending a day care center or other, similar temporary care facility, have regular and affordable access to nutritious meals. The transfer of authority under the bill would not affect any civil or criminal actions or proceedings that have been brought by or against the DOA in association with its administration and enforcement of a school meals program, and which are pending as of the bill's effective date. Nor would the transfer affect any order or recommendation that has been made by, or any other matters or administrative proceedings that are pending before, the DOA as of the bill's effective date. The existing orders, rules, and regulations of the DOA that have been issued in relation to the State's school meals programs would also remain in effect until they are either repealed or superseded by rules, regulations, and orders adopted by the DOE pursuant to the bill, whichever occurs first. Although the DOA currently has authority to administer and enforce all school meals programs operating in the State, this authority is superfluous to, and takes the department's attention away from, its main purposes and functions, which are to promote and protect the State's agriculture and agribusiness industries and lands, and to conserve soil and water resources for agricultural purposes. The primary purpose and function of the DOE, by contrast, is to support schools, students, educators, and school districts in order to ensure that students are capable of achieving academic excellence. Because access to nutritional meals is a proven means by which students enhance their capacity for academic success, and because the DOE's mission already requires it to focus on programs geared toward schools and students, the DOE is better positioned, and is the more appropriate department, to administer the school meals programs and to provide assistance to schools, students, parents, and guardians, in association with the operation of those programs. | In Committee |
| A599 | Establishes maternity care standards for general hospitals providing maternity care. | This bill requires the Department of Health to develop maternity care standards for the use of general hospitals that are licensed to provide maternity care. The training standards are to focus on ensuring the safety of maternity care patients throughout the prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods, with the goal of reducing the number of, and disparities in, adverse maternity care outcomes. | In Committee |
| AJR91 | Calls upon Congress to release funds to offset COVID-19 related losses to DMVA's veteran memorial homes, and to fully fund rebuilding two veteran memorial homes. | This Joint Resolution calls upon Congress to release funds to offset COVID-19 related losses to the veteran memorial homes operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). DMVA operates three veteran memorial homes. The homes are located in Paramus, Menlo Park, and Vineland. Collectively, the three memorial homes accommodate approximate 950 veterans, spouses, and the spouses and parents of veterans killed in action. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the residents and staff at the memorial homes. There have been staff and residents infected by the virus, as well as staff and resident deaths related to the virus. COVID-19 has caused a financial hardship to DMVA because of the lost revenue due to a prohibition on new admittances, overtime and contract nursing care, food shortages, and costs related to personal protective equipment. The economic loss to DMVA is projected to be more than $15 million dollars. It is imperative that Congress provide COVID-19 related funding to DMVA for its memorial homes so that the residents have a safe environment, and DMVA can fully and properly operate the memorial homes. In addition, federal funding is urgently needed to rebuild the decaying memorial homes. The Vineland veteran memorial home was rebuilt and rededicated in 2005, while the Paramus and Menlo Park locations are decades old. Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much. They should not have to suffer because of COVID-19 related shortages, or live in decaying buildings. | In Committee |
| A3150 | Modifies laws regarding compensation and leaves of absence for certain public employees who served in the military; requires public employers follow certain policies and procedures for leaves of absence. | This bill makes various changes to the laws concerning termination, compensation, and leaves of absence of certain active and retired members of the United States military, the reserves, and the National Guard who are public employees. N.J.S.A.38:23-1 requires a public employer to provide a paid leave of absence for federal active duty to public employees who are members of the reserves of the United States military, including the National Guard of other states. The employer must provide paid leave for 30 work days per year. Leave after 30 days is provided without pay. Also, N.J.S.A.38A:4-4 requires a public employer to provide a paid leave of absence for State or federal active duty to public employees who are members of the New Jersey National Guard. The employer must provide paid leave for 90 work days per year. Leave after 90 days is provided without pay. This bill provides that the public employee would be entitled to pay for the days over 30 or the days over 90, as appropriate, if pay is provided in an applicable collective negotiations agreement in effect at the time of the leave of absence. If an applicable collective negotiations agreement is not in effect or does not address this matter or a person is not covered by a collective negotiations agreement, the officer or employee will be entitled to pay only if the public employer decides to provide it. Also for the purposes of N.J.S.A.38A:4-4, the bill permits a public employee to use, at the employee's sole discretion, accrued paid leave for State and federal active duty as a member of the New Jersey National Guard and the employer cannot require an employee to use that time for leave. For the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-1, this bill entitles a public employee, during the leave of absence, to payment by the public employer, on behalf of the employee, of any contribution required of the officer or employee to a retirement system or program and to a health care benefits plan or program, in addition to any contribution or payment required of the public employer. For the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-1, this bill entitles a public employee to: (1) leave for one travel day to the active duty location if the officer or employee resides 50 or more miles from the location of duty and checks in to lodgings at or near the duty location for the purpose of resting prior to undertaking the military service obligation; and (2) leave, prior to undertaking the military service obligation, of five days if the length of service will be 30 to 180 days, and of ten days if the length of service will be 181 days or more. Also for the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-1, the bill defines "Federal active duty" to mean: the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority, including active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, and inactive duty training; service on a full time basis in the National Guard; time for medical appointments and consultations, surgery, counseling for post traumatic stress disorder, recuperation, rehabilitation, and recovery from an injury sustained or aggravated as a result of military service; and time for an examination to determine fitness for performing funeral honors duty as authorized by federal law. N.J.S.A.38:23-4.1 defines "emergency" for the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-4, which provides that a public employee who enters the active military service of the United States or of this State in time of war or emergency must be granted a leave of absence for that service and for three months after receiving a discharge from service. If the public employee is incapacitated by injury or sickness at the time of discharge, the leave must be extended until three months after the employee's discharge, or until the expiration of two years from the date of discharge. N.J.S.A.38:23-4 also provides that during the leave, the employee cannot be terminated or laid off if entry into the military occurred in time of war or emergency. During the period of leave, the employee is entitled to all the rights, privileges and benefits of the public employment. The leave may be granted with or without pay. The employee is entitled to resume the employment if he applies before the expiration of the leave. The bill defines "emergency" for the purposes of this statute to include any period of time from September 11, 2001 until the termination of the Global War on Terrorism as declared by the President of the United States. Finally, the bill requires public employers to prepare and maintain written policies and procedures to be followed with regard to leaves of absence by officers and employees who are members of the Armed Forces of the United States and the reserve components thereof, including the National Guard. The policies must specify documentation requirements for leave, and the receipt of required documentation must be acknowledged in writing by the public employer. The policies and procedures must be applied in a uniform and fair manner. Notice of any changes to the policies and procedures must be given promptly to all affected officers and employees and training must be provided to ensure proper implementation and administration. Upon receipt of a request for a leave or absence by an officer or employee, the public employer must inform an officer or employee in writing, within 90 days after the receipt, of any issues or matters regarding the leave request. If the employer does not notify the officer or employee within such time period, the employer will be permanently barred from raising any such issue or matter, or charging the officer or employee with an administrative violation. A public employer must provide a full accounting to an officer or employee of all matters regarding pay within a reasonable period of time and in a reasonable manner. All records for each officer or employee must be maintained by the public employer for a period of not less than 10 years. If in any action brought in a court of law by an officer or employee, a public employer is found to be in violation of any statutes concerning the employment, compensation, or leave of absence of a public officer or employee who served as a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard, the court must award to the officer or employee reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and costs. | In Committee |
| A3162 | Requires DHS to use funds awarded from performance bonuses to increase staffing for processing certain applications and providing certain services. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to use funds received by the Department of Human Services (DHS), as a result of a performance bonus awarded to DHS, for the purpose of increasing the number of trained personnel available to process applications for nutrition assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and public assistance under the Work First New Jersey program, and for providing services to certain individuals served by DHS. If the bonus was awarded for performance in providing assistance under SNAP, the funds are to be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to timely process SNAP applications. Similarly, if the bonus was awarded for performance in providing public assistance under the Work First New Jersey Program, the funds would be used to increase personnel for timely processing of applications under that program. In the case of performance bonuses awarded for providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness, the funds from the bonuses would be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to staff facilities for theses individuals. | In Committee |
| A1940 | Requires domestic violence orders to be issued in other languages in addition to English under certain circumstances. | This bill would: (1) require law enforcement officers, after responding to a domestic violence incident, to provide information to domestic violence victims in English, Spanish, and up 10 additional high demand languages spoken in the State, regarding their right to file for temporary restraining orders and to file criminal complaints; and (2) task the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) with preparing standard templates for temporary and final restraining orders in English, Spanish, and other identified high demand languages for use by law enforcement, municipal courts, and the Superior Court when issuing such orders. Under current law, the information disseminated by law enforcement officers is provided in writing in both English and Spanish. The AOC currently implements, via its Directive #10-22 (September 30, 2022), a revised Judiciary Language Access Plan, which plan includes translating into several other languages information contained in restraining orders among other court documents, policies, and standards used when interacting with persons who are limited in their ability to speak or understand English or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Regarding the dissemination of information in English and Spanish by law enforcement officers, the current law simply states that it "shall be written" in a notice. The bill would specifically assign responsibility for the written materials to the Attorney General and, as previously mentioned, the writing would be made available in English and Spanish, and up to 10 additional "high demand languages spoken in the State." Regarding the issuance of restraining orders by courts, a domestic violence victim is currently permitted to file a domestic violence complaint seeking a temporary restraining order with the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part or, at times when the Family Part is closed, with a judge of the Family Part or judge of the municipal court assigned to accept such complaints and issue a temporary order. See section 12 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-28). To assist these courts as well as law enforcement regarding the issuance of the orders and their service on the alleged abuser, the AOC would prepare standard templates in English, Spanish, and other high demand languages identified in its Language Access Plan, as approved by the Supreme Court, to be provided to the victim and defendant. As to any subsequently issued permanent restraining orders, which are only issued by judges of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part upon a finding of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence, see section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29), multiple standard templates would be prepared by the AOC using the same, above described language criteria to be provided to the victim and defendant. | Dead |
| A3156 | Establishes procedures to prevent and eradicate bedbug infestations in certain residential property. | This bill would require owners of multiple dwellings to maintain a safe and clean living environment free of the presence of bedbugs. This legislation provides that property owners are responsible for maintaining multiple dwellings free of bedbug infestations, and must remove bedbugs at their own expense when they become aware of an infestation in a multiple dwelling. This bill provides that a landlord who does not take prompt action upon written notice that bedbugs have infested a property is financially liable for the consequences. The Department of Health is charged with preparing and publishing a bedbug education document in pamphlet form. The legislation would require multiple dwelling owners to provide tenants with this pamphlet within 90 days after the department makes it available to the public. Owners of multiple dwellings would be required to deliver this pamphlet to tenants, who would be required to sign an acknowledgment that they received this document. If an owner is unable to obtain a signature, the owner shall be deemed in compliance with the delivery requirement if two attempts are made to deliver the pamphlet, one of which shall be by certified or registered mail. This publication would set forth the legal rights and responsibilities of both owners and tenants imposed by this legislation. The pamphlet would advise tenants that their units may be subject to inspection for bedbugs and that the tenants may be responsible for certain costs related to bedbug eradication. If enacted, this legislation would require the owner to deliver the pamphlet before charging certain expenses to tenants or deducting certain expenses from tenants' security deposits. This bill requires owners to act to eradicate bedbugs within 10 days of receiving written notice of the presence of bedbugs in a unit. When a unit is rented for seasonal use, the owner would have only seven days to act. This bill also requires the owner of a multiple dwelling to provide the tenant with 48 hours' notice that access is required to a unit for purposes of eradicating the presence of bedbugs prior to entering the unit for purposes of inspecting for or eradicating bedbugs. This legislation imposes a duty on tenants to notify the owner of the presence of bedbugs in the unit. This legislation also would require a local board of health to act on the owner's behalf to eradicate the presence bedbugs when an owner does not do so. This bill has no financial impact on taxpayers because the property owner is required to reimburse the board when it acts on the owner's behalf. | In Committee |
| A1334 | Provides one-time deduction of $10,000 for certain taxpayers under GIT. | This bill provides a one-time deduction of $10,000 from gross income that can be claimed in addition to other deductions. This deduction applies to households and joint filers earning under $250,000 and single filers earning under $125,000. The purpose of the bill is to provide relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. | In Committee |
| AJR16 | Permits evidence of prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination be admissible as hearsay exception. | This Joint Resolution amends the Rules of Evidence to permit the jury to consider a statement by a declarant as it relates to sexual assault or employment discrimination in certain cases. The resolution permits statements by the declarant relating to sexual assault or employment discrimination when: (i) the complaint was made spontaneously and voluntarily, (ii) within a reasonable amount of time after the crime had occurred, and (iii) to a person the victim ordinarily would turn to for support. The resolution permits admission of declarant's statement for the purposes of assessing the credibility of the complainant with respect to the commission of the offense; to negate the inference that the victim's initial delay or silence means the complaint was fabricated; or when relevant, and to the extent necessary, to explain the investigative process and complete the narrative of events leading to the defendant's arrest. | In Committee |
| A2238 | Requires correctional police officers to wear body worn cameras and security camera systems to be installed in State correctional facilities. | This bill requires correctional police officers to wear a body worn camera (BWC). The bill also requires the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to install a state-of-the-art camera system in State correctional facilities. The bill specifically requires all correctional police officers employed in State correctional facilities to wear a BWC that records audio and video at all times while performing their duties. Specific instances when video and audio functions of the BWC are to remain activated at all times include during a riot, an incident resulting in bodily injury or death, an incident in which the officer exercises the use of force, and an incident that involves suspected criminal activity while meeting with a confidential informant, as well as when directed by the Commissioner of Corrections or a superior officer. The bill sets forth certain exceptions to the BWC requirement. The BWC is to be deactivated when an officer is using the restroom; during a State parole board hearing or court proceeding; during an officer's medical assessment or appointment; during a Department of Corrections (DOC) meeting or when the officer is engaged in representing a union member; and during an interview of a victim alleging a violation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), unless the victim requests that the BWC remain activated during the interview. Exceptions providing for the video capabilities of a BWC to be deactivated, but requiring the audio to remain activated, include during a strip or body cavity search and when an officer is patrolling a restroom or shower facility.The bill generally requires BWC recordings to be retained for a minimum of 180 days from the date of the recording, but longer periods of retention are required under certain circumstances set forth in the bill. The bill requires disciplinary action to be taken against any correctional police officer who fails to adhere to the recording or retention requirements or intentionally interferes with a BWC camera capturing video or audio. The bill requires the DOC to issue a written summary of the provisions of the committee substitute relating to the use of BWCs by correctional police officers and ensure that a copy of the written policy is provided to each inmate, published in the inmate handbook, posted on the DOC website, and prominently posted throughout each State correctional facility. Finally, the bill requires the DOC to install a state-of-the art camera system in each State correctional facility. A study of each facility is required, in consultation with an expert on surveillance cameras in correctional facilities, to develop and implement a plan for installing the camera system. The plan for the camera system is to require an evaluation of the current number and location of cameras in the facility and to the extent possible, incorporate these cameras into the comprehensive plan. Security cameras are to be placed throughout the facility, including identified blind-spots, housing unit hallways and entryways, common spaces, and exterior locations. The plan also is to require systematic oversight and review of the camera footage. At least one corrections officer per shift is required to continuously monitor the camera system. The corrections officer is to immediately report any observed misconduct to the appropriate supervisor, as well as to the corrections ombudsperson. A corrections officer who does not comply with these reporting requirements is subject to administrative sanctions. The plan also is to require security camera footage to be maintained for not less than 90 days and, when necessary, to be retained indefinitely. Upon request, the commissioner is to make this footage available to the Legislature for investigatory purposes. The Legislature is to keep confidential any information garnered from the footage. The bill requires the DOC to submit to the Legislature an annual report evaluating the effectiveness of the camera system. If the report indicates that a change to a camera location is necessary, the DOC is to make that change within 30 days or document why the change can't be made within that time frame. | In Committee |
| A602 | Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to study and develop reparations proposals for African-Americans in this State. The task force would consist of 11 members, comprised of four legislators and seven public members. Three members would be appointed by the Governor and eight members would be appointed by the Legislative leadership. At a minimum, four of the public members would be appointed from persons recommended by organizations concerned with the issues of civil rights, human rights, racial, social and economic justice and equality, reparations and other issues concerning the African-American community. The members of the task force will appoint a chair and a vice chair of the task force. The members of the task force would not be compensated but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. This bill, among other things, requires the task force to: (1) examine the institution of slavery within the State of New Jersey; (2) examine the extent to which the State of New Jersey and the federal government prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of former enslaved persons and their descendants who are considered United States' citizens to economically thrive upon the ending of slavery; (3) examine the lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and on society in New Jersey and the United States; (4) research methods and materials for facilitating education, community dialogue, symbolic acknowledgement, and other formal actions leading toward transformation, reparations remedies, a sense of justice, and economic justice among the descendants of enslaved African people in this State; (5) make recommendations for what remedies should be awarded, through what instrumentalities, and to whom those remedies should be awarded; and (6) address how said recommendations comport with national and international standards of remedy for wrongs and injuries caused by the State. The task force will hold at least six public meetings in different parts of the State, including Camden, Paterson, Newark, New Brunswick, Atlantic City, and Trenton. The Governor will call the first meeting of the task force to occur on or before the first day of the third month after enactment. The task force will issue an interim report of its progress to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 12 months following the initial meeting. The task force will submit its final report and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 24 months following the initial meeting. The task force will expire upon issuance of its final report. | In Committee |
| A1098 | Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests. | This bill would provide free admission to State parks and forests to disabled veterans residing in New Jersey who have been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who have been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree. This bill would also exempt such disabled veterans from any fees for accessing State park beaches by motor vehicle in order to fish there, including fees for mobile sportfishing vehicle permits. State law currently only provides free admission to State parks and forests to New Jersey residents who are 62 or more years of age, totally disabled, or active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training, and current law does not specifically exempt disabled veterans from fees for motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish. This bill would extend free State park and forest admission, as well as free motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish, to all veterans who have incurred a service-connected disability, regardless of the degree of disability. | In Committee |
| A1618 | Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses. | Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields. This information will help New Jersey in its commitment to increasing the participation of female and other underrepresented students in computer science fields. This bill will require each school district to issue a report to the Commissioner of Education by April 30 of each school year on the computer science courses offered in the district. The report will include, but not be limited to, (1) the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses; (2) the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered; (3) the total number of computer science teachers in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and (4) the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level. This bill also requires the commissioner to compile the information reported by the school districts and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year. | In Committee |
| A3151 | Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs. | This bill requires any employer who has one or more employees serving customers or other individuals in a place of public accommodation or other public facility, or otherwise has the ability to provide or deny access to the place or facility, to provide training to their employees regarding the right of an individual with a disability to have a guide or service dog in places of public accommodation or other public facilities under the relevant provisions of State and federal law. The training is to incorporate the list of topics set forth in the pamphlet to be produced by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development under the bill. An employer may satisfy the training requirement of the bill by utilizing training that may be provided at no cost by the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the New Jersey State Bar Association, or any other entity, or may, at its discretion, implement a training program at its own cost. The provisions of the bill require the commissioner to prepare a pamphlet that provides information concerning the rights of an individual with a disability to have a guide or service dog in a place of public accommodation or other public facility. The pamphlet is required to contain a concise list of topics that are to be included in the training required under the bill. The pamphlet is to be made available electronically on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's website. Under the bill, an employer who is required to provide training pursuant to this section is required to distribute to each employee a paper copy of the pamphlet. The employee is required to sign and return to the employer a form acknowledging the employee's receipt of the pamphlet and the form is to be made available for inspection by the commissioner upon request. | In Committee |
| A3164 | Permits municipal, county, and regional police and fire forces to establish five-year residency requirement for police officers and firefighters; allows exceptions to requirement under certain circumstances. | This bill would permit a municipality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting an applicant from obtaining employment with the municipal police department, paid fire department, or part-paid fire department unless the applicant agrees to remain a resident of the municipality for the first five years of employment. Under this bill, county and regional police and fire forces would also have the power to institute a residency requirement. In any municipality with such an ordinance, the applicant would have six months from the date the applicant begins their official duties, following all requisite training, to relocate to the municipality, county, or region served by the force. The bill would allow an exception to this residency requirement if any member of the fire department or police department suffers injury, or a threat of injury, to the member's person, family, or property, committed by another who acts with purpose to: (1) intimidate the member because of their status as a member; (2) manipulate an investigation; or (3) otherwise influence the member to violate their official duty. | In Committee |
| A3153 | Establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers; allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times. | This bill establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers. Under current law, Class Two special law enforcement officers only have full police powers while on duty and are required to return their firearms to the officer in charge of their station at the end of each workday. This bill authorizes all Class Two special law enforcement officers who successfully complete the statutorily required training programs to exercise full police power and carry their firearms at all times when in this State. The bill also allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times while in this State. In addition, the bill establishes new requirements for Class One and Class Two special law enforcement officers. Specifically, the bill requires all special law enforcement officers to be between 21 and 75 years of age and to submit to a drug test at the time of appointment. The bill also waives the training requirements to become a Class Two special law enforcement officer for persons who previously served as a full-time corrections officer, sheriff's officer, or law enforcement officer. This bill also clarifies that Class Two special law enforcement officers are granted the same protections as all law enforcement officers. Under current law, a simple assault is upgraded to an aggravated assault if committed against a law enforcement officer while clearly identifiable as being engaged in official duties or due to law enforcement status. Current law also makes it a fourth degree crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer and a second degree crime to knowingly take or attempt to exercise unlawful control over a law enforcement officer's firearm. This bill clarifies that the same penalties for the crimes of assaulting, impersonating, or disarming a law enforcement officer apply if committed against a Class Two special law enforcement officer. The bill also specifically extends to Class Two special law enforcement officers the same immunity from civil liability granted to regular full-time law enforcement officers. Under the bill, Class Two special law enforcement officers would be permitted to act as security at polling place on the day of an election to ensure that qualified voters are not obstructed from voting. The bill authorizes the automatic expungement of criminal charges that are filed against any law enforcement officer, including any Class Two special law enforcement officer, in the course of official duties if the officer is found not guilty. Class Two special law enforcement officers also would be entitled to paid leave to attend any State or national convention of the Special Police Organization. Under current law, paid leave is only granted to members of an organization affiliated with the New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association, Inc., the Fraternal Order of Police, the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association or the Professional Fire Fighters Association. Currently, special law enforcement officers are prohibited from working more than 20 hours per week except: 1) during periods of emergency, 2) in resort municipalities, 3) or to provide public safety and law enforcement services to a public entity. This bill requires counties and municipalities in which special law enforcement officers work more than 20 hours per week to purchase liability insurance for acts or omissions committed by special law enforcement officers acting in the course of their official duties. The bill also allows a department, commission, or agency to dismiss a complaint filed by a private citizen or an inmate against a regularly appointed, full-time law enforcement officer or Class Two special law enforcement officer without full investigation if it determines that the complaint does not constitute a violation of law or departmental rule or regulation. A complaint filed by a private citizen or an inmate also may be dismissed if the complainant failed to substantially comply with the complaint procedure prescribed by the employing department. Finally, the bill expands the list of retired law enforcement officers who are eligible to receive a permit to carry a handgun to include retired arson investigators and Class Two special law enforcement officers who retire after four years of service. Under current law, certain retired law enforcement officers may annually apply for a permit to carry a handgun, until those officers reach age 75, at which time they are no longer eligible. The permit allows a retired law enforcement officer to carry a handgun at all times. Under this bill, retired arson investigators and Class Two special law enforcement officers who retire after four years of service would be eligible to receive a carry permit. | In Committee |
| A3178 | Special legislation to change name of "Township of South Orange Village" to "South Orange Village"; changes titles of certain municipal officials; permits nonpartisan municipal elections to be moved to November; permits stipend for governing body members. | This bill constitutes special legislation, requested by the Board of Trustees of the Township of South Orange Village in Essex County, to change the municipality's name from the "Township of South Orange Village," to "South Orange Village," and to make other changes to the municipality's special charter. A special charter was granted by the Legislature in 1872, naming the municipality the "Village of South Orange," but was repealed upon the enactment of a new special charter in the form of P.L.1977, c.183, changing the name to the "Township of South Orange Village." This bill amends P.L.1977, c.183 to change the municipality's name to "South Orange Village." Additionally, this bill permits the municipal governing body to move its nonpartisan municipal elections to November. The bill also permits stipends for members of the governing body, consisting of $12,000 for the Mayor, and $8,000 for each council member. Further, this bill removes certain language to make the special charter conform to State law regarding subjects such as vacancies, conflicts of interest, and the powers of governing body members to expel other members of the governing body. Finally, the bill replaces the office of the Village treasurer with the Chief Financial Officer's office, replaces the "Board of Trustees" with the "Council," replaces the "Village President" with the "Mayor," replaces the "Village counsel" with the "Village Attorney," incorporates gender-inclusive language throughout the special charter, and makes technical changes throughout the special charter. | Dead |
| A3154 | Provides forbearance of residential mortgage foreclosures under certain circumstances; places additional requirements on attorneys, residential mortgage lenders, and courts, as part of foreclosure process. | This bill provides that a residential mortgage lender that files and serves, pursuant to the "Fair Foreclosure Act," P.L.1995, c.244 (C.2A:50-53 et al.), a summons and complaint of foreclosure on a high risk mortgage loan, as defined in the bill, shall grant the borrower a six-month period of forbearance, upon written request of the borrower, to pursue a loan workout, loan modification, refinancing, or other alternative through the Judiciary's Foreclosure Mediation Program, if eligible, or another form of mediation or settlement discussion. During the six-month forbearance period, the interest rate on the high risk mortgage loan shall not increase and the creditor shall take no further action to pursue foreclosure of the property. The bill provides that upon serving the summons and complaint in a foreclosure action, the residential mortgage lender shall notify the borrower of the borrower's right to forbearance, and, upon receipt of written request by the borrower, within 30 days of the receipt of the summons and complaint, the residential mortgage lender shall grant the borrower a six-month period of forbearance, beginning on the date the residential mortgage lender receives the borrower's request. Upon receipt of a request for forbearance, the residential mortgage lender shall: (1) suspend all efforts, during the forbearance period, to advance any judicial proceeding in furtherance of the foreclosure action; and (2) notify the court that a forbearance has been granted with the dates that the forbearance period will begin and end. The bill also provides that when a forbearance period is granted by the residential mortgage lender, the borrower and residential mortgage lender shall participate in the Judiciary's Foreclosure Mediation Program, if eligible, or another form of mediation or settlement discussion. If the borrower ceases to occupy the property at any time during the period of forbearance, or if the borrower affirmatively advises the residential mortgage lender, in writing, that the borrower will not participate in the Judiciary's Foreclosure Mediation Program or another form of mediation or settlement discussion, the residential mortgage lender shall notify the court, and upon notification, and approval of the court, the period of forbearance shall be deemed to have ended. The provisions of the bill relating to the six-month period of forbearance shall expire two years following the effective date of the bill. However, a forbearance period shall continue for its entire six-month period notwithstanding the expiration of the bill's provisions. The bill also provides that in addition to any other requirements under law, regulation or court rule, in all residential mortgage foreclosure actions, an attorney filing a foreclosure complaint shall include a certification of diligent inquiry. The certification of diligent inquiry shall certify: (1) that the attorney has communicated with an employee or employees of the plaintiff who: (a) personally reviewed the documents being submitted to support the complaint; and (b) confirmed the accuracy of the documents; (2) the names and titles, and the responsibilities in those titles, of the plaintiff's employees with whom the attorney communicated; (3) that the attorney has reviewed the facts of the case and that, based on the information received pursuant to this section and the attorney's review of the pertinent documents, to the best of the attorney's knowledge, information and belief there is a reasonable basis for the commencement of the action and that the plaintiff is currently the residential mortgage lender entitled to enforce rights under those documents; (4) that the attorney is aware that the failure to comply with these provisions may result in the penalties provided for in the bill or, where the failure constitutes a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, may include sanctions imposed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey; and (5) that the complaint and all documents annexed thereto, comport with the requirements of R.1:4-8(a), which prohibits frivolous litigation, and include the original promissory note, or a copy, and a detailed methodology used to compute the debt. The bill also stipulates that the court may, if it finds that the plaintiff has failed to comply with the provisions of the bill relating to the certificate of diligent inquiry, dismiss the complaint, with or without prejudice, or deny the accrual of any interest, costs, attorney's fees and other fees relating to the mortgage debt. The bill also provides, that in addition to any other requirements under law, regulation, or court rule, in all residential mortgage foreclosure actions, a residential mortgage lender, as a condition of proceeding with a mortgage foreclosure action, shall provide a certification to the court, which states all of the following: (1) the lender owns the mortgage and the note evidencing the mortgage debt, and has attached to the certification, the original note which names the plaintiff as the payee on the note; (2) in the case of an assignment of mortgage, an affidavit, or any other document purporting to confirm the mortgage debt or default on payments, that the lender has not engaged in any creating, signing, or notarizing, by persons who are without knowledge of the facts being attested to; (3) the methodology used to calculate and compute the amount of principal and interest due from the debtor as stated in the complaint and any subsequent pleadings or filings with the court that indicate the amount due from the debtor; and (4) the names of all the parties in interest, including any party whose interest is subordinate to, or affected by, the mortgage foreclosure action and, for each party, a description of the nature of the interest. The bill also stipulates that if the court finds that the plaintiff has failed to comply with the provisions of the bill relating to the certification by the residential mortgage lender, the court may dismiss the complaint, with or without prejudice, or deny the accrual of any interest, costs, attorney's fees and other fees relating to the mortgage debt. The bill also provides that in addition to any other requirements under law, regulation, or court rule, in all residential mortgage foreclosure actions, a court shall: (1) allow an evidentiary hearing for any debtor that requests an evidentiary hearing; (2) allow plaintiffs to place on the record only evidence that is admissible according to court rule and relevant case law; and (3) ensure that the plaintiff in the action owns the mortgage and the note and, in the case of a party that is a foreign trust claiming interest in the note, through participation in a mortgage-backed security or otherwise, the court shall not proceed with the foreclosure action if the foreign trust is not registered to do business in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A3131 | Permits business entities and nonprofit organizations to adopt certain responsibilities related to stormwater management basins; provides corporation business tax credit for adoption of stormwater management basins in certain watersheds. | This bill, to be known as the "Adopt a Stormwater Management Basin Act," would permit a business entity or nonprofit organization ("participating entity") to adopt certain responsibilities related to a stormwater management basin by entering into an agreement with a stormwater management agency. Specifically, under the bill, a stormwater management agency would be authorized to enter into a "stormwater management basin adoption agreement" with a participating entity for the construction, improvement, operation, maintenance, or funding of a stormwater management basin. The agreement could only be entered into at no cost to the stormwater management agency. However, the stormwater management agency would be authorized to provide the participating entity with such materials, supplies, or services that the stormwater management agency deems appropriate. The stormwater management agency would also be authorized to advertise and promote a stormwater management basin adoption program, and provide for appropriate public recognition of a participating entity. No stormwater management basin adoption agreement would be permitted unless the participating entity successfully demonstrates to the stormwater management agency that it is capable of performing its responsibilities in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement and with all State and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to stormwater management. The bill would also establish the grounds and procedures for termination of a stormwater management basin adoption agreement.In addition, the bill would authorize a stormwater management agency to advertise any stormwater management basin adoption program established pursuant to this bill and to provide for appropriate public recognition of a participating entity. Specifically, the stormwater management agency would be authorized to issue a certificate of recognition to the participating entity, and would be further authorized to allow for the erection of certain signs at the stormwater management basin. The erection of signs consistent with municipal ordinances would be subject to certain conditions and in accordance with certain specifications, as set forth by the stormwater management agency.The bill also provides that a stormwater management agency would be protected from claims by any person for injuries or damages that may be caused or sustained by any participating entity, or any employee, agent, contractor, member, or volunteer thereof, during the course of, or as a result of, any activity related to the performance of a stormwater management basin adoption agreement.While performing responsibilities under a stormwater management basin adoption agreement entered into in accordance with the bill, a participating entity and its employees, agents, contractors, members, and volunteers would not be considered to be "public employees" or "State employees" for the purposes of the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," or otherwise be accorded any of the protections set forth therein. Furthermore, any stormwater management basin adoption agreement entered into in accordance with this bill would not be subject to the requirements and provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law."Finally, the bill would provide a tax credit against the corporation business tax for a participating entity that adopts a stormwater management basin located in a qualified watershed. Under the bill a "qualified watershed" means the respective watersheds of Lake Hopatcong in Morris and Sussex counties, Budd Lake in Morris County, Swartswood Lake in Sussex County, Greenwood Lake in Passaic County, and Lake Musconetcong in Morris and Sussex Counties. Specifically, the tax credit would be equal to the amount of the participating entity's certified expenditures incurred under a stormwater management basin adoption agreement, provided, however, the credit could not exceed $1,000 or 50 percent of the taxpayer's total tax liability under the corporation business tax. The bill also establishes procedures by which a taxpayer may apply for the tax credit, including certain requirements related to the certification of eligible expenditures. | In Committee |
| A3168 | Authorizes creation of Woman Veteran license plates. | This bill authorizes the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Woman Veteran license plates. The license plate is to display the words, "Woman Veteran," along with the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. An application to obtain a Woman Veteran license plate is to include satisfactory proof that the applicant is a veteran as evidenced by the applicant's DD-214 form or on a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Woman Veteran license plates. After deducting the cost of producing and publicizing the plates, the additional fees collected will be deposited into the "Woman Veteran License Plate Fund" and the funds will be appropriated annually to the New Jersey Department of Military Veterans' Affairs (department) for programs to benefit female veterans, including providing shelter to homeless female veterans as grants. The Chief Administrator of the commission is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the Woman Veteran license plate program. The bill also requires that the Adjutant General of the department appoint a liaison to represent the department in all communications with the commission regarding the Woman Veteran license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds may not be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Woman Veteran license plate program. The bill requires an individual or entity designated by the department to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates. The bill authorizes the department to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The chief administrator is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the Woman Veteran license plates, until: (1) an individual or entity designated by the department has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Woman Veteran license plate program; and (2) department, or its designee, has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Woman Veteran license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided by the department's designee. The bill expires after 12 months if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| A3187 | Requires Division of Developmental Disabilities, during public health emergency, to develop guidance for in-person visitation at community-based residential settings for individuals with developmental disabilities and require providers to allow such visitation. | This bill would provide for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in the Department of Human Services (DHS), acting in consultation with the Department of Health during a declared public health emergency, to develop guidance for, and to require the operator of a DHS-licensed community-based residential program or group home to allow, in-person visitation between a resident of the community-based residential program or group home and the resident's immediate family members and legal guardian. A "community-based residential program" includes a developmental center, supervised apartment, community care residence, nursing home, or other residential setting for individuals with developmental disabilities, which is licensed and regulated by the DHS. A "group home" is a living arrangement that is operated in a residence or residences leased or owned by an individual licensed by the DHS; which provides the opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to live together in a home, sharing in chores and the overall management of the residence; and in which staff provides supervision, training, or assistance in a variety of forms and intensity as required to assist the individuals as they move toward independence. | In Committee |
| A597 | Permits union officials who represent probation officers to participate in all union activities. | This bill would permit certain union officials who represent probation officers, supervisors, and other related titles in the State Judiciary to participate in union activity, including: lobbying, the commitment of organization funds, and partisan political activity. The bill applies to union officers on full-time leave pursuant to N.J.S.11A:6-12 representing collective negotiations units which represent probation officers, supervisors, and other related titles in the Judiciary. | In Committee |
| A3137 | Requires applicants for liquor licenses and license transfers to notify residents within 200 feet of licensed premises. | This bill requires applicants for State and municipal issued alcoholic beverage licenses, with the exception of transportation or public warehouse licenses, to notify by regular mail any person who resides within 200 feet of the licensed premises if it is located in New Jersey. Under current law, applicants are required to have a notice of the application published once per week for two weeks in a newspaper published and circulated in the municipality where the licensed premises are to be located. If there is no newspaper in the municipality; the notice is to be published in a newspaper in the county in which the licensed premises are located. Since newspaper publication is not required for applications for transportation or public warehouse licenses, applicants for those licenses are exempted from the notice requirement in this bill. Also the bill requires notice by regular mail to any person who resides within 200 feet of the licensed premises in the case of person to person and place to place transfers of alcoholic beverage licenses. These transfers are subject to similar newspaper publication requirements. | In Committee |
| A3149 | Requires minimum temperature in senior citizen housing projects to be maintained at 70 degrees from October 1 to May 1. | This bill requires the landlord of a senior citizen housing project to maintain a heating system adequate to maintain an inside temperature in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closets of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit from October 1 of each year to May 1 of each year. To determine landlord compliance with the bill, room temperature will be measured at least one foot away from any surface at the coldest portion of the space subject to regular use by its occupants. Current law permits a local board of health to adopt ordinances and make rules and regulations establishing minimum heating temperatures for buildings designed to be occupied as residences by more than two families. Current State regulations governing heating standards in hotels, multiple dwelling units, and rooming and boarding houses require dwellings to have heating facilities that are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments to a temperature of at least 68 degrees. The "Standards of Habitability" established by the State Housing Code (N.J.A.C.5:28-1 et seq.) require dwelling owners to supply or furnish heat adequate to maintain an inside temperature in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closets of 68 degrees Fahrenheit from 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. and 65 degrees Fahrenheit from 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M., from October 1 of each year to the next succeeding May 1. | In Committee |
| A3139 | Requires mandatory registration of family day care providers. | This bill makes various statutory changes to the "Family Day Care Provider Registration Act," P.L.1987, c.27 (C.30:5B-16 et seq.). Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to contract with family day care sponsoring organizations for the mandatory registration of family day care providers. Currently, family day care providers are registered on a voluntary basis. The bill also stipulates that a family day care sponsoring organization shall monitor and evaluate a registered family day care provider once every year, instead of every two years as the law allows. Under the provisions of the bill, a family day care sponsoring organization shall make available to parents copies of the permanent records it maintains for each registered family day care provider, upon request. The sponsoring organization shall also provide a program of outreach and public relations to inform parents of the provisions of the bill. The bill requires DCF to prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature which includes, but is not limited to:? the number of registered family day care homes; ? the number of children served and their ages; ? the number of requests by parents for copies of the permanent records of registered family day care providers received by family day care sponsoring organizations; and ? the number of inquiries by parents or guardians to the family day care sponsoring organizations or to the State-operated child care clearinghouse. Finally, the bill stipulates that a summary of the report be made available on the DCF Internet site or in writing to the public, upon request. | In Committee |
| A700 | Requires DOE to include military-connected student identifier in student-level database; requires district inform teacher when military-connected student enrolls in class taught by teacher. | This bill requires the Department of Education to maintain an indicator for military-connected students in its student-level database. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to annually report statistics on the academic engagement and outcomes of these students, including attendance rates, performance on the State assessments, and high school graduation rates. The reported information must be consistent with the provisions of federal law that protect the confidentiality of student records. The bill also allows a parent or guardian to opt their child out of being identified as a military-connected student, in which case the student's classroom teacher will not be notified upon enrollment. | In Committee |
| A1690 | Establishes "NJpass Program" to provide discounted fares to eligible organizations; establishes "GO NJ Transit Card Program" to develop transit cards that can be used to purchase any NJT service. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to establish the "NJpass Program" and the "GO NJ Transit Card Program." The purpose of the NJpass Program is to support workforce development and increase access to public transportation in the State by providing discounted rates to approved classes of certain eligible organizations when purchasing a ticket or pass for a New Jersey Transit Corporation service (corporation service). Under the program, the corporation would be required to contract with eligible organizations that have been approved by the corporation to participate in the NJpass Program to provide discounted rates to approved classes of the eligible organizations. The corporation would be required to establish eligibility criteria and develop an application process for eligible organizations to apply to participate in the NJpass Program. Upon approval of an application, the corporation and the eligible organization will have the opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract to be entered into, including, but not limited to, the amount of the discounted fares to be offered and the types of corporation services to be accessed under the NJpass Program. Following any negotiations necessary between the corporation and the eligible organization, the corporation will enter into a contract with the eligible organization to provide discounted group rates to the approved class of the eligible organization. The terms and conditions of the contract are required to include, at a minimum: (1) the discounted rates to be offered to the approved class of the eligible organization; (2) specific information as to what the approved class of the eligible organization will be; (3) information concerning any limitations on times of use or types of corporation services available to the approved class; and (4) the amount of compensation or reimbursement required from the eligible organization, if any, to cover the administrative costs of the corporation. A contract under the NJpass Program will be valid upon the approval of the corporation for a term of not more than two years, except that the first contract with an eligible organization cannot exceed 12 months. The bill also requires the corporation to establish the "GO NJ Transit Card Program." The purpose of the GO NJ Transit Card Program is to develop GO NJ Transit Cards (transit cards) and a system in which the transit cards can be purchased and utilized to purchase a ticket or pass for any corporation service in the State. Under the program, transit cards would be available for purchase. Individuals who purchase a transit card would be able to load money onto the transit card and utilize the transit card to purchase a ticket or pass for any corporation service within the State. Money loaded onto a transit card never expires. In establishing the transit cards under the GO NJ Transit Card Program, the corporation is required to: (1) develop and implement a fare capping system to ensure individuals who utilize a transit card are paying the lowest authorized fare for any period of travel, without having to pay the full cost upfront; and (2) provide discounted fares, in an amount to be determined by the corporation, to transit card users, which are to be in addition to any other discounted fares already provided by the corporation, including, but not limited to, the discounted fares provided to any senior citizen or person with a disability who receives reduced fares for transportation provided by the corporation, or provided under contract with the corporation. The bill requires the corporation to publish information concerning the NJpass Program and the GO NJ Transit Card Program on its Internet website and update the information as necessary. The bill also requires the corporation to submit reports to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of each of the programs established by the bill. In establishing and implementing the programs, the corporation is required to consider the efforts other states have taken to implement similar programs. | In Committee |
| A3146 | Requires minimum level of police staffing based on municipal population and violent crime rate. | This bill would require municipalities in this State with a population of more than 60,000 people and a violent crime rate exceeding 10.0 per 1,000 residents to maintain a full-time police department or force comprised of at least four police officers per 1,000 residents. Under the bill, the violent crime rate would be based on that which is reported in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) published by the Department of Law and Public Safety. In the UCR, violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. According to the sponsor, the escalating number of murders being committed in this State's urban communities is becoming a public health crisis. An appropriate response to this crisis is to ensure that urban municipalities with high crime rates have sufficient police officers to maintain the public safety. | In Committee |
| A3144 | Permits certain special law enforcement officers to carry firearms at all times when in State. | This bill would permit certain Class Two special law enforcement officers to carry a firearm at all times while in the State. With one exception, all Class Two special law enforcement officers are required to turn in their firearms to the officer in charge of their station at the end of each workday when they go off duty. The one exception applies to Class Two special law enforcement officers who are appointed by the governing body of a municipality having a population in excess of 300,000, according to the 1980 Federal decennial census, and who are residents of that municipality. Current law permits those officers to carry their firearm when they are off duty within that municipality, provided they have successfully completed all the statutorily required training courses. This bill would authorize all Class Two special law enforcement officers appointed by that municipality who have successfully competed the statutorily required training programs to carry their firearms at all times when in the State. | In Committee |
| A3140 | Establishes a 500 foot drug free zone around child care centers. | Under current law, it is a crime of the third degree for any person to distribute, dispense, or possess with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance while on, or within 1,000 feet of, an elementary or secondary school, school board, or school bus. In a recent case, State v. Shelle the New Jersey Supreme Court decided that child care centers, even those that operate small kindergarten classes, are not considered schools for the purposes of the existing drug free school zone law. This bill would expand drug free school zones to include property owned or leased by licensed child care centers and the 500 feet surrounding such a child care center. Child care centers include day care centers, drop-in centers, nighttime centers, recreation centers, day nurseries, nursery and play schools, cooperative child centers, centers for children with special needs, centers serving sick children, infant-toddler programs, school age child care programs, employer supported centers, and kindergartens that are not an integral part of a private educational institution. | In Committee |
| A1959 | Requires New Jersey Supreme Court to issue order dismissing certain charges, complaints, and arrest warrants filed with or issued by municipal courts and unresolved for five years or more; requires AOC to conduct certain studies. | This bill would require the New Jersey Supreme Court to issue an order dismissing certain unresolved charges, complaints, and arrest warrants filed with or issued by any municipal court five years or more prior to the date of enactment of the bill. The bill would apply to disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses. In January 2019 the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a similar order, dismissing over 700,000 unresolved complaints and open warrants in minor municipal court matters that were more than 15 years old (those dating from before January 1, 2003). In its order, the Supreme Court noted that the existence of such old outstanding complaints and open warrants in minor matters "raise questions of fairness, the appropriate use of limited public resources by law enforcement and the courts, the ability of the State to prosecute cases successfully in light of how long matters have been pending and the availability of witnesses, and administrative efficiency." In the view of the sponsor, this bill is a necessary supplement to the 2019 New Jersey Supreme Court order, which only focused on minor municipal matters. This bill would allow the court system to remove a significant portion of its backlog by dismissing unresolved complaints and arrest warrants for charges that do not reach the severity of indictable offenses. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Public Health Emergency currently in effect in New Jersey resulted in the closing of the court system for months, and our courts have still not resumed full operations. It is the view of the sponsor that, in this context, New Jersey must focus on minimizing unnecessary contact and allowing individuals every opportunity to regain their financial footing. Removing the possibility of being summoned into court or arrested on an old warrant for a low-level offense will go a long way towards allowing New Jerseyans, especially those from communities of color, a chance to recover. Specifically, the bill applies to the following unresolved charges, complaints, and arrest warrants that are at least five years old: a. Petty disorderly persons offenses, as defined in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:1-4, including but not limited to: (1) Simple assault committed in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, as set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:12-1; (2) Shoplifting if the value of the merchandise is less than $200, as set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:20-11; (3) Disorderly conduct, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:33-2; and (4) Harassment, as set forth in subsections a., b., or c. of N.J.S.2C:33-4; and b. Disorderly persons offenses, as defined in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:1-4, including but not limited to: (1) Simple assault, other than assault committed in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, as set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:12-1; (2) Lewdness, as set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-14; (3) Bad checks in an amount of less than $200, as set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:21-5; (4) Obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function other than by obstructing the detection or investigation of a crime or the prosecution of a person for a crime, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:29-1; (5) Resisting arrest, as set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:29-2; (6) Disorderly conduct, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:33-2; (7) Use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, as set forth in N.J.S.2C:36-2; and (8) Possession of 50 grams or less of marijuana, including any adulterants or dilutants, or five grams or less of hashish, as set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:35-10. This bill would not apply to any violations of municipal ordinances, providing deference to municipalities to enforce their own laws and continue their collection of revenue. In addition to the provisions discussed above, the bill also provides that, within six months following the effective date of the bill, the Administrative Office of the Courts would submit two reports to the Legislature: (1) A study to determine the feasibility of expanding the municipal court conditional dismissal program set forth in P.L.2013, c.158 (C.2C:43-13.1 et al.) and the conditional discharge program set forth in N.J.S.2C:36A-1 to carry out the provisions of the bill in dismissing and recalling unresolved charges, complaints, and arrest warrants; and (2) A study to determine the feasibility of an initiative similar to the federal "Fugitive Safe Surrender Program," whereby persons charged with non-violent criminal offenses are encouraged to voluntarily surrender in a faith-based or other neutral setting and seek favorable consideration from the courts. | In Committee |
| A3136 | Requires reflective material on children's Halloween costumes. | This bill requires children's Halloween costumes sold at retail to have reflective material that is 1) attached to the costume, or 2) packaged with the costume to be subsequently attached by the buyer. Reflective material increases visibility in unsafe situations and helps to reduce the risk of consequential accidents due to low visibility or darkness. A person who sells a child's Halloween costume without reflective material would pay a penalty of not more than $500 for the first offense and not more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to purchase or make costumes that are brightly colored and clearly visible to motorists. Consumers should decorate or trim costumes and treat bags with reflective tape that glows in the beam of a car's headlights. The commission also recommends that bags or sacks be brightly colored or decorated with reflective tape. According to the CPSC, hundreds of Halloween-related injuries are reported each year. Incidents involve burns, lacerations from pumpkin-carving, falls related to ill-fitting costumes, and injuries from collisions due to impaired vision. Requiring reflective material on costumes marketed to and used by children improves the safety of trick-or-treaters and drivers on Halloween night. | In Committee |
| A642 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| A3141 | Broadens municipal arson investigators' powers. | This bill would broaden the powers currently conferred upon full-time members of arson investigation units. The bill grants such members the same powers and authority possessed by police officers to investigate the crime of arson when the members are anywhere within the territorial limits of the State while engaged in the actual performance of their arson investigation duties. Currently, these members are limited to exercising such police powers within their municipality while engaged in these duties. | In Committee |
| AR90 | Memorializes Department of Defense to authorize changes on certain military service forms of veterans who are transgender. | This resolution memorializes the Secretary of Defense of the United States Department of Defense to authorize changes to the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and give military veterans who are transgender the opportunity to change their DD Form 214 to reflect their current legal names and genders, so that these veterans are able to easily take advantage of and enjoy the same veterans' employment preference benefits, as well as medical, dependent, funeral, and other veterans' benefits, which are enjoyed by other military veterans. These forms are commonly required by federal agencies when veterans apply for benefits. A veteran who is transgender may be uncomfortable explaining a gender and name change so that the veteran may have difficulty or even forego seeking veterans' benefits. Additionally, if transgender status is shared, a veteran may experience discrimination based on that status, or be denied benefits altogether because of discrepancies in current documents and the information on a DD Form 214. | In Committee |
| A3134 | Permits reimbursement of COBRA health benefit costs of survivors of certain deceased public safety employees; appropriates $750,000. | This bill seeks to address the burdensome cost of health insurance, as provided through federal COBRA continuation coverage, by allowing the dependents of certain recently-deceased public safety employees to apply to the State Treasurer for a reimbursement of the cost of the first six months of COBRA continuation coverage. This bill addresses the concern raised by the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission that the prior version of the bill requiring employers to continue coverage for six months after the employee's death would have made dependents ineligible for COBRA coverage altogether. COBRA continuation coverage ordinarily is available for 36 months. This bill is intended to not interfere with dependents' ability to keep COBRA coverage for this full term if desired. The COBRA reimbursement permitted under this bill applies to the spouse and unmarried children of State and local public safety employees, including State and local police, full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters, State and county correctional officers, and members of first aid, emergency, ambulance or rescue squads, if the public safety employee died while on duty, or within 24 hours of going off duty. The COBRA reimbursement is only available so long as the dependents were covered by health insurance through the State Health Benefits Program, or otherwise through the public safety employee's employer, until the time of death. To obtain a COBRA reimbursement, any dependent, for whom the first six months of COBRA coverage ended during the previous calendar year, may apply to the State Treasurer by March 1. The bill appropriates $750,000 to the Department of Treasury for the purpose of funding COBRA reimbursements, and encourages the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funding in future years. If, during any year, the amount of funding dedicated to COBRA reimbursements by the annual appropriations act is less than the total amount applied for by qualifying dependents, then the State Treasurer shall allocate the COBRA reimbursement payments on a pro rata basis according to the amount for which each dependent has applied. | In Committee |
| A594 | Allows direct deposit of adoption subsidy payments. | This bill requires that the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families establish policies and procedures to allow for the disbursement of adoption subsidy payments by direct deposit into an adoptive parent's bank account upon written request of the adoptive parent. Currently, adoption subsidy payments are made by paper check and mailed by the Department of Treasury to the adoptive parent's current mailing address. | In Committee |
| A1375 | Establishes special license plates for veterans. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates to honorably discharged veterans. The license plates authorized by this bill are to bear a design approved by the administrator identifying the registrant as a veteran, in addition to other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. A $15 application fee is required to obtain the special plates, in addition to the normal registration fee. The bill authorizes the administrator to promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance and use of these plates. The bill allows surviving spouses of deceased veterans to retain the special license plates. | In Committee |
| A2188 | Establishes New Jersey Veteran Gravesite Maintenance Grant Program in DMVA. | This bill would establish a grant program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for qualified veterans' organizations to maintain veteran gravesites across the State. DMVA would be required to develop guidelines, procedures, and criteria for applications and awards. The grant recipients would be required to report grant fund use to DMVA. Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature. The bill defines "qualified veterans' organization" as a nonprofit veterans' organization that is a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. | In Committee |
| A2892 | Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income who are veterans or spouses of veterans and provides for annual cost-of-living increase in allowance. | This bill increases the personal needs allowance for veterans and their spouses who are recipients of Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and reside in a nursing home or developmental center, or are patients in a psychiatric hospital. This allowance is used to purchase personal items, such as clothing, grooming aids, newspapers, and other items not regularly provided by the facility in which the recipients reside. The bill provides that the monthly personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $35 to $50, and that the monthly personal needs allowance for recipients of SSI who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $40 to $50. The bill further provides that these amounts will be increased annually, on January 1 of each year, by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits that year. In the case of SSI recipients, the bill provides that the Commissioner of Human Services shall administer the $10 increase provided in the bill if the federal government, which provides the basic allowance, cannot administer the increase. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to apply to the federal government for such Medicaid State plan amendments as may be necessary to increase the personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients, and to seek federal government approval for the commissioner's administrative plan to implement the increase for SSI recipients. The respective increases provided for in the bill will not be operative until such time as the commissioner receives federal approval for the Medicaid State plan amendment and the commissioner's SSI administrative plan. | In Committee |
| A2143 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), to prohibit smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Current law prohibits smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces, with certain exceptions, including indoor public places and workplaces which are within the perimeter of casinos and casino simulcasting facilities and accessible to the public for wagering. This bill would eliminate these exceptions from the smoking ban. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that casino workers are at greater risk for lung and heart disease because of secondhand smoke, and a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that the air in casinos can have up to 50 times more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways. This bill would protect all workers in New Jersey from the hazards of second hand smoke by requiring that casinos and casino simulcasting facilities be smoke-free workplaces. | In Committee |
| A3138 | Prohibits certain sales of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools or religious institutions. | This bill would increase the zone around a school or church, where sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited from the current 200 feet to 1,000 feet. The bill would also apply the 1,000 feet restriction to religious institutions, licensed child care centers, registered family day care homes or unified child care agencies. The bill would exempt sales by persons conducting sales within less than 200 feet from a school who obtained their licenses prior to December 6th, 1933 and persons conducting sales more than 200 feet but less than 1,000 feet from a church or religious institution, school, licensed child care center, registered family day care home or unified child care agency who obtain their licenses prior to the enactment of this bill into law. | In Committee |
| A3170 | Authorizes creation of Combat Action Ribbon license plate. | This bill authorizes special Combat Action Ribbon license plates. The license plate is to display the words "Combat Action Ribbon" and the Combat Action Ribbon emblem. An application to obtain Combat Action Ribbon license plates is to include satisfactory proof that the applicant received the Combat Action Ribbon. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Combat Action Ribbon license plates. After deducting the cost of producing and publicizing the plates, the additional fees collected will be deposited into the "Combat Action Ribbon License Fund" and the funds will be appropriated annually to the New Jersey Department of Military Veterans' Affairs (department) for programs to benefit combat veterans. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Combat Action Ribbon license plate program. The bill authorizes the department to receive funds, in an amount not to exceed a total of $25,000, from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the license plates. The provisions of the bill are to remain inoperative until the commission receives the initial funds. The bill will expire if the funds to initiate the license plate program are not received within 12 months of the effective date. The Combat Action Ribbon was approved for creation by the Secretary of the Navy on February 17, 1969. The honor was created to provide special recognition to any member of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, when the Coast Guard was under the control of the Navy, who actively participated in ground or surface combat. | In Committee |
| A947 | Concerns stalking and related restraining order protections for adoptive children and their adoptive parents victimized by persons whose parental rights to the adoptive children have been terminated. | This bill concerns stalking and related restraining order protections with regard to situations involving adoptive children, their adoptive parents, and the persons whose parental rights for those adoptive children have been terminated. First, the bill would amend provisions under the current law with respect to stalking in order to make the crime of stalking and related restraining order protections expressly applicable to situations involving contact or attempted contact between an adoptive child and former parent whose parental rights have been terminated, which has occurred or is occurring contrary to the instructions of the child's adoptive parent. By doing so, the bill would expressly make such unwanted contact a crime of the third or fourth degree, depending upon various circumstances associated with the stalking. A crime of the third degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both; a crime of the fourth degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. By amending the current law's stalking provisions, the bill would also permit an adoptive parent to obtain a temporary restraining order against the person whose parental rights to the child have been terminated. See P.L.1999, c.47, s.2 (C:2C:12-10.2). Such an order could also be converted into a permanent restraining order upon a judgment of conviction against the person based on a conviction for the crime of stalking. See P.L.1996, c.39, s.3 (C.2C:12-10.1). The bill would also establish restraining order protections for the parent of an adoptive child who is victimized by harassing or violent acts by the person whose parental rights for that adoptive child have been terminated. The bill presents a range of criminal acts that could trigger the imposing of restraints, including assault, terroristic threats, kidnapping, false imprisonment, harassment, and stalking. Restraints that a court may impose pursuant to the bill include: (1) restraining the defendant from entering the residence, property, school, or place of employment of the adoptive parent and requiring the defendant to stay away from any place specifically named and frequented regularly by the adoptive parent; (2) restraining the defendant from making contact with the adoptive parent, including forbidding the defendant from personally or through an agent initiating any communication likely to cause annoyance or alarm including, but not limited to, personal, written, or telephone contact, or contact via electronic device, with the adoptive parent, the adoptive parent's employers, employees, or fellow workers, or others with whom communication would be likely to cause annoyance or alarm to the adoptive parent; and (3) any other relief necessary to protect the adoptive parent at the discretion of the court, including but not limited to requiring the defendant to pay to the victim monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of the act or requiring the defendant to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Restraints imposed by a court pursuant to the bill shall remain in effect for the period of time fixed by the court, which shall not be longer than the maximum term of imprisonment, incarceration, or probation allowed by law for the offense for which the person subject to the order was convicted. When the court imposes restraints pursuant to the bill and the defendant is sentenced to any form of probationary supervision or participation in the Intensive Supervision Program, the court shall make compliance with the restraints an express condition of probation or the Intensive Supervision Program, and this condition shall not dissolve sooner than the conclusion of the probationary supervision or participation in the Intensive Supervision Program. When the court imposes restraints pursuant to the bill and the person is also sentenced to a term of incarceration, compliance with the terms and conditions of the restraints shall be made an express condition of the person's release from confinement or incarceration on parole, and this condition shall not dissolve sooner than the conclusion of that period of parole. Notice of any restraints imposed pursuant to the bill shall be sent by the clerk of the court or other person designated by the court to appropriate law enforcement agencies. The restraints ordered by the court shall be in effect throughout the State, and shall be enforced by all law enforcement officers. A violation of any restraints imposed pursuant to the bill would constitute a criminal act of contempt, and each order including restraints would so state. Criminal contempt is graded as a crime of the fourth degree (term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, fine of up to $10,000, or both). | In Committee |
| AJR90 | Urges United States Department of Defense and New Jersey Civil Service Commission to permit civil service examinations during deployment. | This joint resolution urges the United States Department of Defense and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission to work together to permit deployed military service members to take civil service examinations while deployed. The ability to participate in civil service examinations during deployment would result in service members being in the civil service system when an employment eligibility list is requested by a public employer seeking to hire, increasing their chances of finding employment after their service. Service members would still need to provide proof of veteran status no later than eight days prior to the issuance of an employment list to receive a hiring preference. | In Committee |
| A2513 | Provides employers with various tax incentives for hiring persons with disabilities under insurance premiums tax, corporation business tax and gross income tax. | This bill provides employers with various tax incentives for hiring and accommodating persons with disabilities under the insurance premiums tax, the corporation business tax and the gross income tax. The bill makes the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development the lead agency in handling the determination of the potential members of the population who will qualify as the workers whose employment is the target of the bill. The bill directs the division to identify and certify persons seeking employment who have a "disability" as defined by the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990." That is, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, and which disability constitutes an impediment to obtaining or maintaining employment or to transitioning from school to work. This certification can, if the job-seeker chooses, be taken on interviews for employment and shown to employers, and the certification later assists in employers applying for the credits allowed by the bill. The bill allows employers three credits. First, an employment credit. An employer is allowed a credit equal to 30 percent of up to the first $6,000 of the wages paid by the employer to the qualified employee with a disability during the first year of employment. That is, the employer of a qualified employee with a disability is allowed up to $1,800 in the first year of employment. The employer is also allowed a credit of 20 percent of up to the first $6,000 of the wages paid by the employer to the qualified employee with a disability during the second year of employment. That is, the employer is allowed up to $1,200 in the second year of employment. Second, the bill allows a transportation credit. The employer is allowed a credit equal to up to $600 of the transportation expenses that are incurred by the employer in the taxable period to enable each qualified employee with a disability to travel to and from work. Third, the bill allows an accommodation credit. This is a "piggy-back" of a federal credit for expenditures incurred to make a business accessible to individuals with disabilities. The bill allows an "eligible small business," that is a business with less than $1,000,000 in gross receipts, or if it has higher gross receipts with no more than 30 employees, to take a credit equal to 10 percent of expenditures for the taxable period in excess of $250 but not to exceed $10,250 to increase accessibility for individuals with disabilities, both employees and members of the public. This can include removal of architectural or communications barriers, methods for making aurally delivered materials available to the hearing impaired, methods for making visually delivered materials available to the visually impaired, special equipment or equipment modifications for individuals with disabilities, or similar investments. The bill allows employers, potentially, to take all three of the employment, transportation and accommodation credits. The employment credit allowed by this bill is not a credit for creating "new jobs," but applies to a hire in an existing position or in a newly created position, so, unlike the various "new jobs" credits offered by law (which forbid an employer from taking more than one credit for a single newly-created position) an employer may qualify for the employment credit under this bill and any other employment credit available. | In Committee |
| A1582 | Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed. | This bill provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion must receive an evaluation by a licensed health care professional and written clearance from the licensed health care professional to return to school. In the event that the licensed health care professional provides notice that the student requires restrictions or limitations, the school district 504 team, as defined in N.J.A.C.6A:8-1.3, (a group of persons that makes program and placement decisions according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and 34 CFR § 104.35(c)), must immediately implement the restrictions or limitations and notify all teachers and staff who have contact with the student of the restrictions or limitations. The school district's 504 team would promptly identify the manner in which the restrictions or limitations would be provided to the student during recovery and the need for the continuation or adjustment of the restrictions or limitations, and to determine the duration of the restrictions or limitations. The bill also provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion is prohibited from engaging in any physical activity at school including, but not limited to, recess or physical education. The student may not participate in any physical activity until evaluated by a licensed health care professional and receives written clearance to participate. As defined in the bill, "licensed health care professional" means a health care provider whose scope of practice includes the ability to diagnose and treat a concussion. | In Committee |
| A931 | Increases from 18 to 21 age at which person is eligible to receive firearms purchaser identification. | This bill increases from 18 to 21 the age at which a person is eligible to receive a firearms purchaser identification card used to purchase shotguns and rifles. Under current law, a person 18 years of age and older may obtain a firearms purchaser identification card and a handgun purchaser is required to be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, a person under the age of 21 would be allowed to possess a handgun, rifle, or shot gun under the following circumstances: (1) in the actual presence or under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, or some other person who holds a permit to carry a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card; (2) for the purpose of military drill under the auspices of a legally recognized military organization and under competent supervision; (3) for the purpose of competition, target practice, instruction, and training in and upon a firing range approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the range is located or the National Rifle Association and which is under competent supervision at the time of such supervision or target practice or instruction and training at any location; or (4) for the purpose of hunting during the regularly designated hunting season, provided that the person possesses a valid hunting license and has successfully completed a hunter's safety course taught by a qualified instructor or conservation officer and possesses a certificate indicating the successful completion of such a course. The bill permits active duty military or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of this State to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card while under the age of 21. The bill preserves current law allowing minors to obtain a youth hunting license and apprentice firearm hunting license. Persons between the ages of 18 and 21 who obtained a firearms purchaser identification card prior to the bill's effective date would also be permitted to maintain the card and continue to purchase and possess shotguns and rifles. | In Committee |
| A3163 | Requires municipalities to designate parking spaces for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. | This bill would require the governing body of each municipality to designate a parking space at or near the municipality's city hall or other principal municipal building for the exclusive use of a motor vehicle owned by and transporting a disabled veteran or Purple Heart recipient, which vehicle displays a disabled veteran's or Purple Heart license plate or placard issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The bill would take effect immediately but remain inoperative until the first day of the sixth month following the date of enactment in order to allow municipalities a period of time to comply with the bill's requirements. The Motor Vehicle Commission already issues specialized license plates to persons who qualify as disabled veterans and to active members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Motor Vehicle Commission also issues placards to eligible disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients so that eligible persons who do not have a specialized license plate may qualify for the exemption from payment of municipal parking meter fees that was established by P.L.2015, c.218 (C.39:4-207.10). By reserving parking spots for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients, municipalities will call attention to the significant contributions made by wounded combat veterans, and of their existence in our communities. | In Committee |
| A3155 | Establishes requirements for use of deadly force. | This bill eliminates making an arrest or preventing an escape as justification for the use deadly force. Under current law, the use of deadly force is justified when used to make an arrest under certain circumstances. Specifically, the use of deadly force to effectuate an arrest is justified if the actor effecting the arrest is authorized to act as a peace officer, or has been summoned by and is assisting a peace officer, and reasonably believes that:· the force creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons and that the crime for which the arrest is made was homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, arson, robbery, or burglary of a dwelling; and· there is an imminent threat of deadly force to the actor or a third party; or· the use of deadly force is necessary to thwart the commission of a crime. A correctional police officer, or person authorized to act as a peace officer, is justified in using deadly force under current law if the officer or authorized person reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person committed to a jail, prison, or other institution for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of an offense, so long as the actor believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to an innocent person. This bill amends current law to provide that the use of deadly force to effectuate an arrest is only justified if there is an imminent threat of deadly force to the person using force or a third party. The bill also provides that the use of deadly force may not be used to prevent the escape of a person charged or convicted of an offense. | In Committee |
| A3203 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator for service members. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| A3264 | Establishes "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." The purpose of the task force is to study recent trends in eviction actions against residents of this State, identify the impact of evictions on renters, landlords, local governments, and the State, and make recommendations for legislation and strategies to create more effective and efficient policies regarding housing and evictions in the State. The task force will consider: (1) the causes and consequences of eviction at the State and local level; (2) the prevalence of eviction actions throughout the State; (3) the unmet legal needs of New Jersey residents facing eviction, including the costs associated with legal assistance and any funding mechanisms that may be utilized for the provision of legal assistance; (4) existing laws, rules, or regulations in this State that govern housing in general, and the eviction process in particular; (5) pending legislation in this State that addresses the eviction process; (6) pending legislation and existing programs in other states or jurisdictions that address the eviction crisis in the United States; (7) how affordable housing issues may exacerbate the eviction epidemic in this State; (8) how the eviction crisis may impact rates of homelessness in this State; (9) how the eviction process can be made more transparent, fair, and equitable for both residents and landlords; and (10) any other considerations the task force deems appropriate towards improving the eviction crisis in this State. The task force will be comprised of 23 members as follows: (1) the Commissioners of Community Affairs, Human Services, and Health, and the Attorney General, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; (2) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who will each be of different political parties; and two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who will each be of different political parties; (3) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, including one who is the dean of a law school located in this State; and (4) 13 public members, to be appointed by the Governor no later than the 60th day after the effective date of this bill, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Apartment Association; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Share Housing Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Legal Services of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Tenants Organization; one person upon the recommendation of the Bergen County Housing, Health, and Human Services Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness; one person upon the recommendation of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of Family Promise of New Jersey; and three members of the public who have a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the commissioner's designee will serve as chairperson of the task force. The members will service without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force. The task force may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs to provide staff support to the task force. Finally, the task force is to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, along with any legislation that it desires to recommend for adoption by the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the date of organization of the task force, at which point the task force will expire. | In Committee |
| A2773 | Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms. | This bill enhances protections currently afforded victims of domestic violence by requiring attackers to surrender their firearms while domestic violence restraining orders are in effect or when they are convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense. The bill also requires firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase handguns to be revoked if the holder of the card or permit is convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense. The bill further requires cross-referencing of records to assist in determining whether the alleged attacker owns a firearm and in removing those firearms. Seizure of Weapon at Scene of Domestic Violence The bill requires the prosecutor, prior to returning a firearm seized at the scene of a domestic violence incident, to inform the victim of the availability of restraining orders and the ability to seek revocation of the accused person's card or permit. Domestic Violence Offenders The bill revises the law regarding defendants convicted of domestic violence crimes and offenses by:? Requiring the sentencing court to inform defendants convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense that they are prohibited from possessing a firearm.? Requiring the court to order the defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender of firearms, firearms purchaser identification cards, and permits to purchase a handgun to a law enforcement officer. The bill allows the defendant five days from when the order of conviction is entered to arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed firearms dealer; the dealer has 10 days from the date of the order to take possession of the firearm from the law enforcement agency to which it was surrendered. ? Deeming any identification card and permit that has been issued to the defendant to be immediately revoked and requiring the court to establish a process for notifying the appropriate authorities of the revocation. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer to whom weapons are surrendered to provide the defendant with a receipt naming the defendant, the surrender date, and description of a surrendered item; and requiring the defendant to provide a copy of the receipt to the prosecutor within 48 hours.? Requiring defendants to attest under penalty that they surrendered or do not possess a firearm. ? Permitting the court to order a search for and removal of firearms if there is probable cause that the defendant has failed to surrender firearms and requiring the court to state with specificity the reasons for and the scope of the search and seizure. Domestic Violence Restraining Orders The bill revises the laws governing temporary and final restraining orders issued pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" by: ? Specifying that the plaintiff may provide information concerning firearms to which the defendant has access, including the location of these firearms, if known, on a form to be prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts and clarifying the confidential nature of this information. ? Requiring the law enforcement officer to properly store surrendered or removed firearms and authorizing the officer to charge the defendant a fee for storage during a temporary restraining order.? Specifying that if an order is dismissed, any firearms, cards and permits are to be returned to defendants who are not otherwise disqualified in accordance with the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991."? Requiring the court issuing a final restraining order to order the defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender of firearms, cards, and permits to a law enforcement officer. The bill allows the defendant five days from when the order is entered to arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed firearms dealer; the dealer has 10 days from the date of the order to take possession of the firearm from the law enforcement agency to which it was surrendered. ? Deeming the defendant's cards and permits to be immediately suspended and requiring the court to establish a process for notifying the appropriate authorities of this suspension. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer to whom weapons are surrendered to provide the defendant with a receipt naming the defendant, the surrender date, and description of a surrendered item; and requiring the defendant to provide a copy of the receipt to the prosecutor within 48 hours.? Requiring the defendant to attest under penalty that he surrendered or does not possess a firearm.? Permitting the court to order a search for and removal of firearms if there is probable cause that the defendant has failed to surrender firearms and requiring the court to state with specificity the reasons for and the scope of the search and seizure. ? Requiring the court to order the appropriate law enforcement agency to make a reasonable search of records of firearm ownership before issuing a temporary or final restraining order. Firearms Licensing Current law governing firearms licensing requirements is revised by: ? Requiring law enforcement to search the State's central registry of domestic violence reports as part of the investigation of the applicant for a firearm purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun. ? Requiring records relating to issuance of cards and permits, as well as firearms purchase records, to be made available to prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to enforce the State's domestic violence laws. Current law requires these records to be sent to certain law enforcement agencies, but does not specify how these records may be used. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer or prosecutor in possession of any firearms, cards, or permits surrendered or removed in whole or in part because of domestic violence to prepare an inventory of these items, cross-reference the inventory with records of firearm ownership, and if there are discrepancies, take appropriate action to ensure the defendant does not have access to a firearm. | In Committee |
| A3165 | Prohibits retaliation against inmates in State correctional facilities who report sexual abuse; criminalizes retaliation and failure to report abuse. | This bill prohibits retaliation against inmates in State correctional facilities who file a complaint of sexual assault or harassment, physical violence, or mental abuse against a corrections officer or other staff member of the facility. The bill specifically requires the Commissioner of Corrections to establish a secure, reliable, and confidential method for inmates incarcerated in State correctional facilities to report these complaints. A fee cannot be charged to file the complaint and the inmate is to have the option of remaining anonymous. Inmates are to be given the opportunity to file a complaint in their native language. Inmates are to be clearly informed on how to file a confidential complaint, including how to file a complaint with the facility's Special Investigations Division, and that the reporting of the complaint is strictly confidential. The bill requires the commissioner to prohibit any punitive measures from being taken against an inmate who files a complaint of sexual assault or harassment, physical violence, and mental abuse. This includes prohibiting the inmate's transfer to administrative segregation and temporary close custody. An inmate's job assignment also is not to be changed. Inmates are to be offered the services of a victim advocate not affiliated with the facility who has expertise in providing emotional support services. The bill requires the commissioner to institute policies and procedures to monitor retaliation by corrections officers and civilian staff members against an inmate who files a complaint. Finally, the bill establishes that it is a fourth degree crime for a corrections officer or civilian staff member to retaliate against an inmate who files a complaint. It is also a fourth degree crime for an officer or staff member to fail to report to the appropriate supervisor any known or suspected, or any evidence or information pertaining to, sexual assault or harassment, physical violence, or mental abuse of an inmate by another officer or staff member. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A1213 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $15 million to DMVA for New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for facilities expansion. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $15 million from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for the purpose of providing financial assistance to complete facilities expansion, consisting of an additional 11,850 square feet for the Vietnam Era Museum. The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation commemorates New Jersey service members who served in Vietnam and their families through storytelling that enhances public understanding of the Vietnam War Era. The Foundation serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually. The expansion would help the Foundation obtain critical accreditation and recognition from national bodies and public audiences, acquire State-of-the-art equipment to care for museum artifacts, and deliver a premier educational experience that would attract volunteers, tourists, and revenues to the museum and the State. | In Committee |
| A1689 | Authorizes issuance of electronic copies of vital records. | This bill authorizes the issuance of certified copies of vital records electronically by the State registrar or local registrar. Upon the request of an individual authorized to receive a certified copy of a vital record, including records of a birth, death, fetal death, certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, domestic partnership, civil union or marriage, the State registrar or local registrar will make the certified copy available to the requester in both a paper form and electronically. This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish standards for the furnishing of certified copies of vital records electronically including, but not limited to, protocols for data sharing, authenticating the identity of a requester, establishing a method of data encryption for accessing and transmitting electronic certified copies, and ensuring data privacy and security. | In Committee |
| A3148 | Adds Sons of The American Legion to list of organizations whose representatives receive paid leaves of absence to attend State and national conventions. | This bill adds the Sons of The American Legion to the list of organizations whose duly authorized representatives are entitled to receive a leave of absence with pay to attend State and national conventions under R.S.38:23-2, which applies to persons in the service of the State, a county, or a municipality. This bill also removes two defunct organizations from the list. | In Committee |
| A899 | Establishes three-year sickle cell disease pilot program; appropriates $10,200,000. | This bill establishes a three-year sickle cell disease pilot program and appropriates $10,200,000. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department), in consultation with the Department of Human Services, is to establish a three-year sickle cell disease pilot program, under which federally qualified health centers are to be selected by the department to develop and implement comprehensive sickle cell disease treatment programs and services. The department is to select federally qualified health centers for participation in the pilot program on a competitive basis based on criteria to be established by the Commissioner of Health (commissioner). First priority is to be given to federally qualified health centers located in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Trenton, Camden, and, subject to the availability of funds, to federally qualified health centers in other municipalities which demonstrate a patient population in that geographic area that is in need of sickle cell disease care. The federally qualified health centers selected for participation in the pilot program are to be eligible for financial support from funds appropriated to the department. The purpose of the pilot program is to: (1) link outpatient sickle cell disease care to sickle cell disease care in inpatient health care settings and other health care settings, which may include, if permitted by law, telehealth services; (2) provide coordinated, comprehensive, team-based medical, behavioral health, mental health, social support, and other services under the supervision of health care professionals who have expertise in treating individuals with sickle cell disease; (3) foster outreach to individuals and families with sickle cell disease and providers of medical, nursing, and social services who serve and treat persons with sickle cell disease; (4) promote sickle cell disease education and awareness; (5) develop initiatives to build a State medical workforce of clinicians who are knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell disease; and (6) establish practices for the collection of in-State data on sickle cell disease to monitor incidence, prevalence, demographics, morbidity, health care utilization, and costs. Federally qualified health centers seeking to participate in the pilot program are to develop comprehensive sickle cell disease treatment programs and services that provide coordinated, comprehensive, team-based medical, behavioral health, mental health, social support, and monitoring services under the supervision of health care professionals who have expertise in treating individuals with sickle cell disease. The department is to coordinate with federally qualified health centers participating in the pilot program and other health care facilities and health care professionals to establish centers of excellence for sickle cell disease research and innovation, as determined by the commissioner. | Dead |
| A2991 | 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 |
| A834 | Eliminates conviction of indictable offense as automatic disqualifier for jury service under certain circumstances. | This bill would permit persons with past convictions of indictable offenses to serve on juries under certain circumstances. Under current law, these convictions, whether based on violations of New Jersey law, another state's law, or federal law, are automatic disqualifiers for jury service. Under the bill, a person would still be automatically disqualified for jury service if: (1) the person was ever convicted of murder or aggravated sexual assault; or (2) the person is serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States. | In Committee |
| A3152 | Requires training for constables. | This bill requires constables to complete, within six months of appointment, a training course conducted by a police training school approved by the Police Training Commission which has elected to provide training to constables. The training is to include an overview of Title 39 motor vehicle offenses; traffic detail, spectator control, and similar duties; and other appropriate professional development. The bill further provides that a constable who was appointed prior to the bill's effective date is required to complete the required training within one year of the bill's effective date. The bill also authorizes the Police Training Commission to prescribe standards for the approval of schools that train constables and a curriculum, to certify constables who have satisfactorily completed training programs, and to issue appropriate certificates to them. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Suspend Rule 22:5b | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | District 28 | House | Democrat | In Office | 01/08/2008 |