Legislator
Legislator > Nancy Muñoz
State Assemblymember
Nancy Muñoz
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 21
In Office - Started: 05/21/2009
contact info
Summit Office
57 Union Place
Suite 310
Summit, NJ 07901
Suite 310
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-918-0414
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4380 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | In Committee |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Passed |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism". The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. Nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. This bill also appropriates $100,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for the creation of a public awareness campaign to promote bias crime reporting. Through extensive community outreach, the citizens of New Jersey will be empowered to identify and report bias crimes using the existing bias crime reporting hotline within the New Jersey Bias Crimes Reporting Unit. This appropriation represents an investment in safety and collective action against bias crimes, including acts considered anti-Semitic. | In Committee |
| A5837 | Eliminates presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with repeat home invasion offenses. | This bill eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for certain defendants who are charged with the crime of home invasion or burglary. Specifically, the presumption of pretrial release would not apply to a defendant who was previously convicted, on one or more prior and separate occasions, of home invasion or burglary of a residence. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the Criminal Justice Reform Law, criminal courts are authorized to order: the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings; or the order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Currently, the Criminal Justice Reform Law establishes a presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with: murder; a crime for which the eligible defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment; the theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle; receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle; or a crime under any statute of the United States, this State, or any other state that is substantially equivalent. Under the bill, the presumption of pretrial release also would not apply to an eligible defendant charged with home invasion or burglary of a residence if the defendant was previously convicted of these crimes on one or more prior and separate occasions. | In Committee |
| A5839 | Dedicates certain energy sales and use tax receipts to support utility assistance programs. | This bill dedicates a portion of the revenues generated from the taxation of energy or utility service under the sales and use tax to the "Universal Service Fund" to support utility assistance programs. Under this bill, if the total revenues collected in any State fiscal year from the taxation of energy or utility services under the sales and use tax exceed those amounts collected in State Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, then the State would be required to appropriate an amount equivalent to the excess revenues collected during that fiscal year to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for deposit into the "Universal Service Fund" to support utility assistance programs, including but not limited to the Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric Program. The "Universal Service Fund" is a nonlapsing fund administered by the BPU through which various energy and utility assistance programs are funded, such as the Lifeline Credit Program and the federal "Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program." Under current law, the revenues collected from the taxation of energy or utility services under the sales and use tax are required to be deposited into two funds: (1) a special dedicated fund for municipal State aid, known as the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund;" and (2) the General Fund. The portion of these revenues deposited into the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund" is statutorily determined, and the amounts collected in excess of this dedication are deposited into the General Fund. According to the FY 2026 Governor's Budget, the Governor anticipates that the taxation of energy and utility services under the Sales and Use Tax will generate roughly $980 million in total State revenue in FY 2025. The BPU has also announced increases in the electricity rates for residential ratepayers ranging from 17.2 to 20.2 percent, depending on the supplier, to begin this year. In light of these rate increases, sales and use tax collections from energy and utility sales may exceed FY 2025 levels by as much as $85.2 million in FY 2026. Under the bill, these excess collections would be dedicated to the Universal Service Fund. | In Committee |
| A5836 | Requires county prosecutors to publish annual report related to plea agreements and controlled dangerous substances. | This bill requires county prosecutors to annually provide the Attorney General with detailed information related to plea offers and agreements in controlled dangerous substance-related cases. Under current law, county prosecutors are required to submit to the Attorney General a report for the last preceding calendar year covering dispositions of complaints, investigations, criminal actions, and proceedings. Moreover, the Attorney General is required to collect and record data regarding certain defendants in the State who commit indictable offenses, and include information on plea agreement negotiations. The Attorney General is required to annually prepare and transmit the report to the Governor and Legislature. However, current law does not specifically require reporting of data concerning controlled dangerous substance-related plea agreements. Under the bill, a county prosecutor would report data for the last preceding calendar year concerning plea offers in instances of offenses related to controlled dangerous substances, including plea offers extended and rejected by the defendant, plea agreements entered or rejected by the court, and the type and quantity of the controlled dangerous substance involved in the alleged indictable offense. The Attorney General is required to compile and annually report the data and information under the bill to the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A5737 | Allows aggregation of value of stolen property across multiple criminal episodes or transactions within a two-year period. | This bill amends the provisions found in several of the theft statutes concerning the aggregation of the value of stolen property. Current law allows the value of stolen property to be aggregated so that a higher degree of crime can be charged if the property being aggregated was stolen pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct. The bill clarifies that "one scheme or course of conduct" can be carried out across multiple criminal episodes or transactions, against the same or several victims, or across a single county or multiple counties. Under the bill, evidence that multiple episodes or transactions constitute one scheme or course of conduct may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the acts involve the same defendant or defendants, are substantially similar in nature, and occur within a two-year period. Under the consolidated theft statute, N.J.S.A.2C:20-2, theft is a crime of the second degree if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. Theft is a crime of the third degree if the amount is more than $500 but less than $75,000. Theft is a crime of the fourth degree if the amount is between $200 and $500. Theft is a disorderly persons offense if the amount is less than $200. These same monetary amounts also apply when grading the level of offense for receiving stolen property, fencing stolen property, and shoplifting. Concerning motor vehicle theft and receiving stolen motor vehicles, these are crimes of the second degree if the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more; otherwise they are crimes of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. 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. 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. | In Committee |
| A1996 | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5571 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures or prescription drugs covered under a health benefits or prescription drug benefits plan. This bill will ensure that patients who are ill are not burdened with technical requirements by health benefits providers which employ utilization management review systems that slow down medical care. The sponsor is concerned that complaints from people who need medical treatment are on the rise, and feels that it is time to end the nightmare of the insurance company bureaucracy that is frustrating patients who need care and medicine. The so-called "pre-approval" process, now required by insurance companies, is a nightmare for patients across New Jersey. Historically, doctors would order a test or medicine and patients received it. Now, a myriad of bureaucratic obstacles makes patients and doctors pawns in a sad game of insurance-company chess. There are examples of cancer patients waiting for long periods of time to receive medicine because of a cumbersome and slow approval policy. The sponsor is convinced that it is time for the doctors to make decisions, not insurance companies; it is time for patients who are ill to not be burdened with technical requirements by insurance companies that employ systems that slow down medical care and are incredibly frustrating. It is the sponsor's goal that insurance companies pay for what the doctor orders. | In Committee |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1548 | Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions. | An Act concerning school district policies on student sun protection and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1028 | Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions. | Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions. | In Committee |
| A4051 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | In Committee |
| A4755 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | In Committee |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A5299 | Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers. | This bill prohibits any electric public utility from increasing the rate charged to ratepayers after the bill's enactment for the purpose of recovering the cost of installing smart meters. Beginning on the date 30 days prior to, and until 30 days after, the effective date of any electric public utility rate increase, the bill requires an electric public utility to publish the following information on its Internet website and in any customer communication, including, but not limited to, a paper or electronic bill: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) information on how ratepayers can provide feedback on the impact of or file a complaint concerning the rate increase. The Board of Public Utilities (board) is authorized to impose a fine of up to $10,000 if the board finds that an electric public utility violated this requirement. An electric public utility is required to report to the federal Department of Energy any rate increase expected to result in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills, no less than 60 days prior to the effective date of the rate increase. Within its report to the Department of Energy, an electric public utility is required to include the following information: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) any measures the electric public utility may take to mitigate the rate increase's impact on ratepayer bills. An electric public utility is also required to provide to the federal Department of Energy an annual report on: (1) any trends in the duration, location, and cause of an electric public utility's electric service interruptions, including, but not limited to, a summary of electric service interruptions during the preceding calendar year; and (2) any trends in overdue bills from an electric public utility's ratepayers during the preceding calendar year. The bill prohibits an electric public utility from disconnecting electric service to or assessing a late fee for bill nonpayment to any ratepayer affected by a rate increase resulting in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills within six months following that rate increase. | In Committee |
| A2801 | Renames, extends eligibility, and makes various other changes to Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program. | Renames, extends eligibility, and makes various other changes to Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program. | Crossed Over |
| A5208 | "Comprehensive Reimbursement and Duration of Leave Expansion Act"; increases family leave insurance benefits and duration of leave for child bonding. | This bill increases the basic family leave insurance (FLI) weekly benefit payments to 100 percent of a worker's average weekly wage up to 100 percent of the Statewide average weekly wage. The bill increases, from 12 to 24 consecutive weeks, the maximum duration of family leave time that can be claimed for bonding with newborn or newly adopted children. The bill provides that in a case of an eligible individual electing to take more than the current maximum of 12 weeks of benefits, the department will determine a reduced weekly benefit rate for the weeks after the first 12 weeks by multiplying by 12 the individual's basic weekly benefit and dividing the resulting total amount by the total number of weeks of benefits that the individual elects to take (including the first 12 weeks of benefits), thus preventing any increase in the total amount of benefits paid. The bill provides that the rights provided by the Family Leave Act for leave takers to be reinstated after taking family leave would be extended beyond the usual maximum of 12 weeks in the case of an individual who elects, pursuant to the bill, to take additional leave for child bonding. The bill offsets the cost of increasing FLI basic benefit rates and permits a reduction of the FLI and temporary disability insurance (TDI) tax rates by making sufficient adjustments to the portion of total wages which are subject to workers' contributions to the State TDI fund and the FLI account of that fund. The bill provides that worker tax rates for TDI and FLI be determined on the basis of estimates of anticipated costs of benefits and administration without reference to amounts paid in previous years. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) is required, before finalizing the tax rates, to report its proposed tax rates to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC), which is required to review the proposed rates for compliance with the law and approve or disapprove them within 20 business days, and, if disapproved, provide alternative rates. The DOLWD is required to finalize rates upon approval by the JBOC, finalize alternative rates provided by the JBOC, or finalize the proposed rates at the end of the 20-day period if the JBOC takes no action. The bill designates the law's claims processing standards to be "requirements," not "goals," and requires that the report submitted to the JBOC on proposed tax rates include a plan to correct failures to meet the standards and that the proposed tax rates are sufficient to implement the plan. The DOLWD is directed to develop a survey in collaboration with the Department of Health to collect information on those taking continuous child bonding leave to gather data on various metrics including physical and emotional well-being and breastfeeding duration. The bill requires that anonymized survey data be made public by the Department of Health. Comprehensive paid parental leave is crucial for the well-being of children and families. There is much evidence that increasing to 24 weeks the maximum duration of leave for bonding with newborn or newly-adopted children will assist in improving breastfeeding rates, maternal and infant health metrics including postpartum depression symptoms, and long-term participation of women in the workforce. Raising the reimbursement rate for family leave underscores the social value of caregiving and may help address socio-economic gender disparities. | In Committee |
| A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| A3853 | Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2026. | An Act regarding telemedicine and telehealth and amending P.L.2021, c.310. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1878 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DOH for Huntington's Disease Grant Program. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to Division of Community Health in the Department of Health (DOH) for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The amount appropriated under the bill, in addition to any other State or federal funds allocated for the same purposes, is to be allocated to support grants to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or New Jersey based and operated research organizations for the provision of pre-symptomatic testing, neurology and psychiatry services, neurophysiological evaluations, treatment, disease management, and counseling for people living with or at risk for Huntington's disease. According to the department's Notice of Fund Availability, the Huntington's Disease Grant Program is currently estimated to distribute $200,437 in FY 2023. This supplemental appropriation would increase that amount to $700,437. Huntington's disease is a fatal rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders. Many describe the symptoms as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease simultaneously. According to the DOH, there are approximately 900 to 1,200 New Jersey residents who are living with Huntington's disease. The incidence of the disease is estimated between 1 in 8,000 and 1 in 10,000 State residents. There are also about 7,000 at-risk individuals in New Jersey. But since this is a fatal disease, this number may be low since the majority of people who go through genetic counseling decide to not get tested. | In Committee |
| A5105 | Requires instruction on bleeding control for high school students. | This bill requires the board of education of each school district, beginning with the first full school year following enactment, to incorporate instruction on bleeding control for students in grades nine through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill permits a board of education to utilize an instructional or training program established by the American College of Surgeons to meet the requirements of the bill. The "Stop the Bleed" program established by the American College of Surgeons is a national campaign that trains people on how to stop or slow bleeding in emergencies through public empowerment, increased access to bleeding control kits, and knowledge of basic trauma care. Unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes and unintentional falls, are the leading cause of death for children and adults under the age of 45, ending more lives prematurely than cancer and heart disease. Medical researchers have found that as many as one in three lives could be saved with faster access to treatment, with some estimates finding that as many as 31,000 patients across the country die each year of potentially preventable bleeding after an injury. Bleeding control courses such as "Stop the Bleed" teach quick techniques to stop blood loss that empower individuals to assist in an emergency, including how to use your hands to apply pressure to a wound, how to pack a wound to control bleeding, and how to apply a tourniquet. By learning how to control bleeding, students can gain the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly and effectively to control bleeding and save someone's life. | In Committee |
| A4921 | Expands training for law enforcement officers to include identification of machine gun conversion devices. | This bill expands the training that law enforcement officers are required to receive to include identification of machine gun conversion devices. Under current law, the Police Training Commission is to require all law enforcement officers as a condition of continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer to receive periodic commission-approved continuing officer education training. The training is to be mandated or prescribed by the commission. Under this bill, the training required under current law is to include training regarding the identification of machine gun conversion devices and any other associated components. This bill implements recommendation # 6 made in the report "Illegal Firearms Use and Trends in New Jersey," issued in September 2024 by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI). | In Committee |
| A4890 | Prohibits possession and sale of machine gun conversion device and establishes criminal penalties. | This bill establishes the crime of possessing or selling a machine gun conversion device, which the bill defines as any device, whether made of plastic, metal, or a combination of parts, that is designed or intended to modify a semiautomatic firearm to enable it to fire multiple shots with a single trigger pull. The bill also clarifies that a firearm affixed with a machine gun conversion device constitutes a machine gun. Under current law, it is a second-degree crime to possess a machine gun. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. The bill establishes a third-degree crime for possession of a machine gun conversion device, regardless of whether the person is in possession of a firearm, and provides that the penalty for possessing a machine gun conversion device is to run consecutively with the penalty for possessing an assault firearm or machine gun. In addition, the bill also establishes a third-degree crime of manufacturing, transporting, shipping, selling, or disposing of a machine gun conversion device. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. This bill implements recommendation # 1 made in the report "Illegal Firearms Use and Trends in New Jersey," issued in September 2024 by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI). | In Committee |
| A4922 | Requires data on shootings not resulting in bodily injury to be reported by AG. | This bill requires each county prosecutor to provide to the Attorney General data regarding criminal complaints concerning crimes involving the use of a firearm that did not result in bodily injury. In addition, the bill requires each county prosecutor to report this data to the Attorney General on a quarterly basis for a period of five years, in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General. At the end of the five year period, the Attorney General is to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature and publish the report on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. This bill implements recommendation # 7 made in the report "Illegal Firearms Use and Trends in New Jersey," issued in September 2024 by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI). | In Committee |
| A4917 | Prohibits possession of digital instructions to illegally manufacture firearms and firearm components. | This bill establishes a third degree crime of possessing digital instructions that may be used to program a three-dimensional printer to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver, magazine, or firearm component. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under current law, it is a crime to utilize digital instructions to illegally manufacture a firearm using a three-dimensional printer. This bill establishes a third degree crime for possessing those instructions. The bill defines digital instructions as a form of computer-aided design files or other code or instructions stored and displayed in electronic format as a digital model that may be used to program a three-dimensional printer to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver, magazine, or firearm component. This bill implements recommendation #2 made in the report "Illegal Firearms Use and Trends in New Jersey," issued in September 2024 by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation. | In Committee |
| A4920 | Requires public safety assessment to consider certain offenses involving firearms as violent offenses when assessing risk factors. | This bill requires the public safety assessment (PSA) risk factors to consider certain firearms offenses as violent offenses. Under current law, as part of the Criminal Justice Reform Law, P.L.2014, c.31, a person arrested for a crime must undergo a PSA conducted by the Judiciary's Pretrial Services Program to determine whether the person is eligible for pretrial release. The current PSA instrument was developed by the non-profit Laura and John Arnold Foundation, in cooperation with and approved by the Judiciary. The PSA is based in part on an analysis of the person's criminal history and court appearance history. In keeping with the goals of criminal justice reform and the elimination of cash bail, the PSA is designed to assess the risk of failure to appear in court when required, and the danger to the community while on pretrial release. Greater weight in deciding against pretrial release is assigned to prior convictions for violent crimes. However, according to a September 2024 report by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), entitled "Illegal Firearms: Use and Trends in New Jersey," the current PSA instrument is deficient in accurately reflecting the dangerousness of firearms. Notably, the PSA's list of crimes deemed to be violent offenses does not include a number of firearms-related crimes. Under the PSA, an offense is not categorized as violent when the crime involves recklessness or negligence, even when it involves a firearm, unless it is charged at the level of manslaughter or homicide. In addition, under the PSA, an offense involving threats, intimidation, harassment, and similar behavior is not categorized as violent, with the exception of stalking, even when those offenses involve a firearm. Finally, the PSA categorically excludes all municipal ordinance violations from its criminal history calculation, even though dozens of municipalities prohibit the public discharging of a firearm. Under the bill, the PSA would be required to deem the following as a violent offense: any crime, disorderly persons offense, petty disorderly persons offense, or municipal ordinance violation committed or attempted while in possession of an unlawful firearm or unlawfully in possession of a firearm; or committed or attempted through the threatened use of a firearm whether or not in possession of an actual firearm; or committed or attempted where a firearm was discharged; or committed or attempted involving the unlawful manufacture, sale, transfer, transport, possession, or use of a firearm or firearm parts. This bill implements Recommendation 5 from the SBI's September 2024 report. | In Committee |
| A4918 | Establishes crime for certain discharges of firearms. | This bill establishes the crime of reckless discharge of a firearm. Under the bill, a person who recklessly discharges a firearm unlawfully or without a lawful purpose within 100 yards of an occupied structure or a school, college, university or other educational institution, school bus, or child care facility, whether or not occupied, commits a crime of the third degree. Any other reckless discharge of a firearm is a crime of the fourth degree pursuant to the provisions of the bill. Third degree crimes are punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill provides that a conviction for recklessly discharging a firearm does not preclude an indictment and conviction for an offense under a different provision of law and a subsequent conviction is not to merge with the original conviction. The bill also provides that in instances in which the court imposes multiple sentences of imprisonment for more than one offense, those sentences are to run consecutively. This bill implements recommendation # 3 made in the report "Illegal Firearms Use and Trends in New Jersey," issued in September 2024 by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI). | In Committee |
| A4919 | Authorizes court to extend period for determining pretrial release or detention in cases involving firearms. | This bill allows a court to take additional time when making a pretrial detention determination in cases where the charged crime or offense involved a firearm. Under current law, a court is required to make a pretrial release determination for an eligible defendant without unnecessary delay, but no later than 48 hours after the defendant's commitment to jail. Under the bill, cases involving crimes or offenses related to the use or possession of a firearm are exempted from the 48 hour requirement. The additional time is limited to such period as is reasonably practicable to complete a firearms analysis and present such findings to the court. This bill implements recommendation #4 from the "Illegal Firearms Use and Trends in New Jersey" report issued in September 2024 by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigations (SCI). | In Committee |
| A4874 | Requires DOH to establish guidelines for placement of bleeding control kits in State buildings; requires schools to acquire bleeding control kits. | This bill requires the Department of Health to establish guidelines for the placement of bleeding control kits in State buildings, and requires schools to acquire bleeding control kits. Under the bill, "bleeding control kit" means a first aid response kit that contains the necessary items to control severe bleeding and prevent further blood loss for an individual suffering a traumatic injury. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Health to establish and issue guidelines no later than the 180th day after the effective date of the bill, which the commissioner is to recommend for adoption by all State agencies, with respect to the placement of bleeding control kits in State buildings. The bill also requires the board of education of a public school district and the governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school that includes any of the grades kindergarten through 12 - no later than the following school year or 180 days after the effective date of this section, whichever is later - to ensure that each public or nonpublic school has a bleeding control kit. The bleeding control kits, whether in a State building or school, are to contain the following items in such quantities as determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Health: a tourniquet approved by the Department of Health; a chest seal; compression bandages; bleeding control bandages; a space emergency blanket; latex-free gloves; markers; scissors; an instructional document approved by the Department of Health detailing methods to prevent blood loss following a traumatic event; and other items deemed necessary by the commissioner. Moreover, the kits are to be replaced after each use and placed in reasonable proximity, as determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Health, from any automated external defibrillator located in the facility. | In Committee |
| A2717 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for costs of exemption. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| A4788 | Exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts from the State sales and use tax the retail sales of natural gas and electrical services for residential customers. Public utilities that provide natural gas and electric services would be required, at the conclusion of each monthly billing cycle, to deduct from each customer's bill the amount that represents the sales and use tax. By exempting the purchase of natural gas and electrical services from the sales and use tax, residents will be able to find some measure of relief in the face of rising costs. | In Committee |
| A3772 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | An Act revising the process for a property tax lien holder to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4012 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, approximately $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.38 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4202 | Prohibits use of "Nurse" title by unlicensed person. | This bill includes the title "Nurse" among the titles, designations, or abbreviations that a person is prohibited by law to use unless the person is licensed as a professional nurse, practical nurse, or advanced practice nurse under P.L.1947, c.262 (C.45:11-23 et seq.) or P.L.1991, c.377 (C.45:11-45 et al.). | In Committee |
| A4099 | Provides for Medicaid coverage of certain home blood pressure monitors and cuffs for pregnant persons at risk for preeclampsia. | This bill requires the State Medicaid program to cover a validated home blood pressure monitor and arm cuff, and reimburse for a medical provider's time to educate and train a patient on the proper use of the monitor and cuff, for pregnant enrollees whose physician or certified nurse midwife determines to be at risk for preeclampsia. It is the sponsor's belief that providing Medicaid enrollees with access to a home-based blood pressure monitor and cuff, along with training on the proper utilization of the device, will help improve maternal health outcomes in the State. Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy and, less commonly, during the first six weeks postpartum. Currently, preeclampsia affects five to eight percent of pregnant persons, or approximately 5,000 to 8,000 individuals in New Jersey annually. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black and African American pregnant persons are disproportionately affected by this potentially serious medical condition. Undiagnosed or mismanaged preeclampsia can negatively affect a pregnant person's liver, kidney, and brain function. Preeclampsia is also a leading cause of preterm birth and low infant birth weight. As such, regular monitoring of a pregnant person's blood pressure, both during office visits and at home, are essential for the early identification and treatment of preeclampsia. | In Committee |
| A4070 | Requires school districts to implement policy mandating all students and school employees have identification cards. | This bill requires each school district to develop and implement a policy requiring all students, teachers, school administrators, and other school employees to have a school identification (ID) card. The ID card must be clearly visible at all times while the student or employee is in a school building when school is in session. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education will develop guidelines concerning the information to be included on the employee ID card. At a minimum, the information will include the name of the student or employee, an up-to-date photograph, the current school year, and in the case of an employee, the employee's position or affiliation with the school or school district. The bill also requires the commissioner to examine whether the student identification cards should be used for school purposes in addition to identification, such as purchasing meals, access to library materials, and admittance to school-sponsored activities. The bill also requires each school district to develop and implement a policy requiring any visitor to the school to have a visitor pass, and that screening procedures are utilized to monitor visitor entry and access to school facilities. | In Committee |
| A4071 | Requires school district to submit emergency communication policies and protocols to Department of Education for review. | This bill requires each school district to submit its current emergency communication policies and protocols to the Department of Education. The bill defines "emergency communication policies and protocols" as the procedures established to enable school administrators and security personnel to communicate with emergency responders, school staff, students, parents and guardians, and other school or school district stakeholders in the event of a school emergency. The bill further directs the department, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the State Office of Emergency Management, and local law enforcement authorities, to review the emergency communication policies and protocols submitted by a school district to ensure compliance with all relevant State laws and regulations and, when necessary, make recommendations to the school district for improving the policies and protocols. Under the bill, the school district is required to review, update, and resubmit its emergency communication policies and protocols to the department every five years. If an emergency incident occurs at a school district during the five-year period, the policies and protocols will be reviewed immediately. The bill provides the department the authority to request any additional information about a school district's emergency communication policies, protocols, equipment, or technology that it deems necessary. | In Committee |
| A4075 | Permits school districts to employ safe schools resource officers or Class Three special law enforcement officers for security purposes, and requires school districts to have agreement with local law enforcement governing placement of school security personnel. | This bill permits public schools to have a safe schools resource officer or a Class Three special law enforcement officer present at the school building to provide security services during the hours that school is in session. Under the bill, the State is to fund the costs for a school district that elects to employ safe schools resource officers or Class Three special law enforcement officers who are hired after the bill's effective date. In addition, the bill provides that a school district that employs school security personnel is required to enter into a written agreement with the local law enforcement agency or an entity designated by the Superintendent of the State Police, as appropriate, to stipulate the terms and conditions governing the placement of the security personnel in school buildings. The agreement is to include: the chain of command; roles and responsibilities of school security personnel while on school property; work hours and conditions; required qualifications and experience; channels of communication; required training and continuing professional development; and authority to carry firearms. | In Committee |
| A4068 | Requires school districts to institute policies to improve emergency communications to increase school security. | The bill requires each school district to:--provide all persons employed or assigned to school security positions with a two-way radio for communicating directly with emergency responders; --develop procedures to notify parents and other appropriate persons of school emergency situations through multiple communication platforms, such as telephone calls, text messages, and mass email; and --test the functionality of all of its emergency communication systems on at least a monthly basis. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to develop strategies to encourage:--school districts to review and update their existing school safety and security plans to ensure that they clearly identify who is responsible for contacting the primary emergency response agency in the event of any emergency and that they employ plain language to notify the school population that an emergency condition exists;--school districts to implement measures to ensure that all teachers and other school employees have the ability to communicate with the school administration while school is in session. The means of communication may be in the form of classroom telephones, portable radios, intercom systems, cell phones, or other such means as determined by the school district; and --the use of new technologies to allow communication among all essential personnel during school emergencies. | In Committee |
| A4069 | Requires State Police to maintain 24-hour hotline for receiving anonymous tips regarding potential threats to school safety and security. | This bill requires the Division of State Police to maintain a 24-hour toll-free hotline for receiving anonymous tips, via telephone or text message, regarding potential threats to school safety and security. The purpose of the hotline is to allow students, parents, school staff members, and the public to anonymously report information about unsafe, suspicious, potentially harmful, dangerous, or criminal activities in schools, or the threat of those activities, including, but not limited to, incidents of violence, assaults, suicide threats, and bullying. Under the bill, the identity of the person who reports information to the hotline is to remain unknown, except when the reporting individual voluntarily discloses the individual's identity and verifies that the individual's identity can be shared with law enforcement officers and school officials. The bill requires the State Police to share information received through the hotline with the applicable local law enforcement agencies and the superintendent of schools or the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school in order to facilitate prompt investigation and intervention. Under the bill, information about the hotline is to be distributed to all public and nonpublic schools in the State for dissemination to students and their families. | In Committee |
| A4074 | Requires Commissioner of Education to review school safety and security plans. | Pursuant to State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:16-5.1, each school district must develop and annually update a districtwide school safety and security plan. Currently, a school district may submit its plan to the Department of Education's Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning for review. Under this bill, all school districts would be required to, no later than six months following the effective date, submit the plan to the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner will review districts' plans and submit a written report to each district that details any weaknesses that have been identified and recommend solutions. No later than three years following the bill's effective date, the commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature summarizing the results of the reviews. | In Committee |
| AR123 | Urges Attorney General and Department of Education to regularly update "Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1" and "School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices Guidelines." | This resolution urges the Department of Education to regularly review and revise the "School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices Guidelines" in order to ensure that school personnel are equipped with the most current information on best practices for school safety and security. In addition, the resolution urges the New Jersey Attorney General to regularly review and revise "Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1" and the model policies that were distributed to law enforcement agencies to assist them in implementing the directive. These documents have not been subject to significant review or revision since 2007. Given the vital importance of school safety and security in today's age, the documents should reflect the most current information on best practices in school safety and security for both school personnel and law enforcement. | In Committee |
| A4073 | Requires Police Training Commission to adopt training course on school emergency response. | This bill requires the Police Training Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety to adopt a training course regarding school emergency response, including response to an active shooter threat. The training course is required to include lockdown drill observations. Under the bill, the training will be administered by the employing agency as part of the in-service training provided to each local police officer in each law enforcement unit operating in this State. The bill further provides that prior to being appointed to permanent status as a local police officer in a law enforcement unit, an individual is required to complete the training course. Every local police officer appointed prior to the effective date of this bill is required to, within 36 months of the effective date, satisfactorily complete a training course in school emergency response. | In Committee |
| A4072 | Requires DOE to establish online school security resource clearinghouse. | This bill requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, to develop an online clearinghouse for school districts to exchange information regarding resources that they are able to make available to other school districts in the event of an emergency. The clearinghouse is to only be accessible to authorized school district employees, and allow a user to readily identify resources available in districts that are in close proximity. The clearinghouse would be operational no later than one year following the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| A4067 | Directs Attorney General to provide annual training to public and nonpublic school students and staff on roles and responsibilities before, during, and after school emergencies. | This bill directs the Office of the Attorney General, in conjunction with the Department of Education, to provide annual training, including current best practices, to all full-time employees and students of school districts, receiving schools, and nonpublic schools on the roles and responsibilities of students and staff before, during, and after a school emergency. A school emergency will include lockdowns, bomb threat evacuations, active shooter incidents, and other identifiable threats. The training must be provided in a face-to-face format on a regional basis and must also be made available online. The bill directs the Department of Education to annually disseminate to school districts, receiving schools, and nonpublic schools a calendar that details the dates, times, and regional locations where the training will be provided, and information on the training that may be accessed online. | In Committee |
| A4055 | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | This bill establishes "The Voter Convenience Act," to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. Under current law, a polling place is used by the voters of several election districts. When voters walk into their assigned polling place, they must then go to the table for their assigned election district, and vote on that district's voting machine. Under this bill, the Secretary of State in conjunction with all county clerks and county boards of elections, are directed to develop uniform guidelines to enable a county board of elections, at the discretion of the county board, to implement a process by which the voters of each municipality in that county may be permitted to cast their vote at any polling place in their municipality on the day of any election. Under the bill, the district boards of elections at each polling place in a municipality would be organized at the polling place in a manner that permits any member of a district board to check-in any voter walking into the polling place within their municipality, using electronic poll books. Under this process, the voter would be able to vote at any voting machine at the polling place, using the correct ballot for that voter, which would identify the voter's election district. To the extent made possible by available technology, the requirement to issue a voting authority to each voter would be replaced by a suitable procedure. The bill would allow this process to also be used to establish countywide polling places, whereby a voter who is a resident of that county would be able to cast their vote. This bill also amends current law to allow the county boards of elections to determine the number of district board members needed at each polling place where the bill's provisions are implemented. The bill also amends current law to include the location of the polling places under the bill on the primary election and general election sample ballots. | In Committee |
| A4031 | Revises law concerning substance use disorder treatment facility patient referrals. | This bill would revise the current law that criminalizes certain payments for the referral of patients to substance use disorder treatment facilities. The bill makes it a crime of the third degree for a person to make or receive a payment or otherwise furnish or receive any fee, commission, or rebate to any person in connection with the referral of patients to a facility licensed in accordance with section 8 of P.L.1975, c.305 (C.26:2B-14) for substance use disorder treatment or services or to a substance use disorder treatment facility issued a certificate of approval pursuant to P.L.1970, c.334 (C.26:2G-21 et seq.). The bill makes it a crime of the third degree for a person to knowingly assist, conspire with, or urge any person to make, furnish, or receive a payment, fee, commission, or rebate in violation of P.L.2021, c.31 (C.2C:40A-6). Under current law, these offenses are crimes of the fourth degree. The bill would also establish a fine of $50,000 that would automatically be applied to any person who violates these patient referral laws. The bill expressly includes health care providers, health care facilities, non-profit organizations, and recovery residences under the scope of these patient referral laws. | In Committee |
| A4033 | Revises licensure and regulatory requirements for residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs. | This bill revises licensure and regulatory requirements for residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department) is to require an applicant for licensure to operate as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program to submit to the department a financial audit of business and personal finances that is conducted by an independent, certified public accountant, who is chosen by the department. The applicant is to bear the cost of the audit. The department is to deny an application for licensure if the financial audit reveals business practices or financial activities that are deemed improper or questionable by the department. The bill provides that the department is to require an applicant for licensure to operate as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program to complete a criminal history record background check and submit to being fingerprinted. The department is to deny an application for licensure if the results of the criminal background check reveal a conviction involving dishonesty or fraud. The bill requires the department to periodically conduct unannounced inspections of residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs, with each facility or program receiving at least one unannounced inspection annually. Under the bill, the operator of a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program is to file an annual report with the department detailing all events that jeopardized the health, safety, or welfare of residents or staff. The department is to require a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program to disclose certain financial and administrative information to an entity that is reviewing the facility's or program's application for State or local funding, as provided in the bill. Finally, the department is to establish guidelines and standards to ensure best practices for peer recovery counselors who operate within a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program. | In Committee |
| A4032 | Prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices. | This bill prohibits the use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. The bill defines a "treatment provider" as a facility licensed in accordance with section 8 of P.L.1975, c.305 (C.26:2B-14) for substance use disorder treatment or services, a substance use disorder treatment facility issued a certificate of approval pursuant to P.L.1970, c.334 (C.26:2G-21 et seq.), or a recovery residence located within the State. The bill requires each treatment provider in the State to provide accurate and complete information, in plain language, on the types and methods of services provided, the location in which services are provided, and the treatment provider's name and brand name when publishing or disseminating any marketing or advertising materials. Under the bill, it will be an unlawful practice for a treatment provider to: (1) make a false or misleading statement about the treatment provider's status as an in-network or out-of-network provider; (2) provide, or direct any other person or entity to provide, false or misleading information about the identity of, or contact information for, any treatment provider; (3) include false or misleading information about the Internet address of any treatment provider's website, or to surreptitiously direct or redirect a person to another website; (4) suggest or imply that a relationship with another treatment provider exists, unless the other treatment provider has provided express, written consent to indicate that relationship; (5) make a false or misleading statement about the substance use disorder treatment services the treatment provider provides; or (6) make a false or misleading statement about the geographic location of the treatment provider or the geographic location in which the treatment provider provides substance use disorder treatment services. Any treatment provider who violates the provisions of the bill will be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Any person who suffers any injury or damages as a result of the use or employment by a treatment provider of any method, act, or practice declared unlawful under the bill may bring an action or assert a counterclaim therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction. The court will, in addition to any appropriate legal or equitable relief, award threefold the damages sustained by any person in interest and award reasonable attorney's fees, filing fees, and reasonable costs of suit. The Office of Licensing in the Department of Health may investigate alleged violations of this bill. Upon finding a violation, the division may suspend or revoke the treatment provider's license or certification, if applicable, or may impose a civil penalty against the treatment provider. If the department imposes a civil penalty, the civil penalty will be not more than $1,000 for each violation. | In Committee |
| A1892 | Prohibits deepfake pornography and imposes criminal and civil penalties for non-consensual disclosure. | This bill prohibits the emerging technological phenomenon of sexually "deceptive audio or visual media," commonly known as "deepfakes." Unlike older forms of audio or visual manipulation, the creator of a deepfake uses newer technology such as artificial intelligence with the intent of making it appear, as realistically as possible, that the person being depicted has engaged in activity that did not actually occur. Deepfakes have been intentionally used to embarrass or harass a person, or to cast that person in a false light. When the person being depicted is a child, deepfake technology has the potential to create realistic pornography involving the child. The penalty for non-consensual disclosure of deceptive audio or visual media is the same as for non-consensual disclosure of so-called "revenge porn" under the invasion of privacy statute, which under current law is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The penalty for deceptive audio or visual media depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child is the same as for distributing, possessing, or storing child pornography, which under current law is a crime of the second degree for less than 1,000 items and a crime of the first degree for 1,000 or more items. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. The person depicted in the non-consensual disclosure may also bring a civil action in the Superior Court for invasion of privacy. | In Committee |
| A3806 | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention and increases penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses; authorizes home detention for minors adjudicated delinquent for motor vehicle theft offenses; establishes Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $7 million. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention and increases penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses; authorizes the issuance of an order of home detention for minors adjudicated delinquent for motor vehicle theft offenses; and makes any crime of theft of a motor vehicle or receiving a stolen motor vehicle a crime of the second degree. In addition, the bill establishes in the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) a two-year pilot program titled the "Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program," (GUARD) and appropriates $7 million to fund the pilot program. Changes to the Criminal Justice Reform Law Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the "Criminal Justice Reform Law," (CJR) courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order the pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. For certain crimes, the CJR establishes a rebuttable presumption that a defendant is to be detained pending trial because no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or combination thereof would reasonably assure the safety of any other person or the community. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence. This rebuttable presumption applies under current law when a prosecutor files a motion for the pretrial detention of a defendant charged with murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. Under the bill, the rebuttable presumption also would apply when a prosecutor files a motion for pretrial detention of a defendant charged with theft of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Under current law theft of a motor vehicle is a crime of the third degree unless the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more, or the theft involved more than one motor vehicle, in which case it is a crime of the second degree. The act of receiving a stolen motor vehicle under current law also is a crime of the third degree, unless the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more. The bill makes any crime of theft of a motor vehicle or receiving a stolen motor vehicle a crime of the second degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Additional Penalties for Motor Vehicle Theft Offenses The provisions of the bill also provide that, in addition to any other disposition authorized by law, a person convicted of theft of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle is to be subject to a penalty and may be ordered to a period of license suspension or revocation. For the first offense, the person is subject to a penalty of $500, and the court may suspend, revoke, or postpone the person's driving privileges for a up to one year; for a second offense, the defendant is subject to a penalty of $750, and the court may suspend, revoke, or postpone the person's driving privileges for up to exceed two years; and for a third or subsequent offense, the defendant is subject to a penalty of $1,000, and the court may suspend, revoke, or postpone the person's driving privileges for up to 10 years. The provisions of the bill authorize a court to order the home detention of a minor who is convicted of theft of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. A minor sentenced to home detention under the bill may leave the residence to: attend in-person court appearances; attend in-person probation appointments; attend in-person attorney appointments after providing proper notice; or for any other reason authorized pursuant to a court order. The bill requires courts to hear the case of a minor within 48 hours of an arrest for theft of a motor vehicle theft, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program (GUARD) This bill establishes in the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) a two-year pilot program titled the "Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program," (GUARD) and appropriates $7 million to fund the pilot program. The purpose of the pilot program is to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle thefts in this State by providing services to juveniles intended to prevent them from engaging or re-engaging with the criminal justice system. Services are to be provided by pilot program service providers awarded grant monies pursuant to the pilot program. The services to be provided by a pilot program service provider under the bill are to include, but not be limited to:· Mental health services; · Substance use disorder treatment and recovery; · Education support; · Employment services; · Housing support; · Financial literacy and debt support services; · Life skills support services; · Social support services; and· Preventative mentoring services. Under the bill, the JJC is responsible for administering the pilot program, and is required to· Set standards and determine eligibility for pilot program grant funding;· Establish criteria and procedures for grant applications and disbursement;· Determine how best to allocate pilot program grant funds;· Set standards and procedures for grant award eligibility, and program operation, supervision, and evaluation;· Award grants;· Collect and provide information about community-based services to be implemented by pilot program service providers; · Establish suggested training standards for pilot program service providers in accordance with the provisions of this section; and· Monitor and evaluate implementation and effectiveness of the provision of services pursuant to the pilot program, particularly with regard to the impact of the program on the reduction of motor vehicle thefts in the State. The provisions of the bill also establish a non-exhaustive list of services that pilot program service providers may provide. The bill establishes within the General Fund a separate, temporary dedicated fund to be known as the "Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program Fund" to be administered and the monies in the fund distributed by the JJC. From the monies appropriated under the category of juvenile grants-in-aid for the Department of Law and Public Safety in State fiscal year 2024 and State fiscal year 2025, $3,500,000 in each fiscal year is to be credited to the fund for a total of $7,000,000. These monies, and any interest or other income earned are only to be used for purposes associated with the pilot program. The fund is to be used to provide grants to pilot program service providers selected by the JJC through a competitive process established by the commission. Grant monies may only be awarded to a service provider located in a county having a population of not less than 300,000. No more than eight percent of the monies in the fund are to be used by either the JJC pilot program service providers for administrative purposes. The pilot program established under the bill will operate for a period of two years, exclusive of the time required to implement the grant application and award process, and to initiate the pilot program. The JJC is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature at the conclusion of the two-year pilot program. The report is required to contain information on the development and implementation of the pilot program, the effectiveness of the program in reducing the incidence of motor vehicle thefts in the State and preventing juveniles from engaging or re-engaging with the criminal justice system, and the feasibility of expanding the program to other counties in the State. The report is also required to connect juveniles participating in the pilot program to licensed outpatient mental health care facilities and professionals, and services to address physical health, mental health and substance use disorders. | In Committee |
| A3588 | Provides for certain pediatric NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries to maintain private duty nursing hours when transitioning to Managed Long Term Services and Supports; codifies and expands appeals provisions for private duty nursing services. | This bill provides that a NJ FamilyCare beneficiary transitioning from the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program for children under age 21 to the Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program for people of all ages with long-term care needs will automatically receive coverage under the MLTSS program for no less than the number of weekly private duty nursing service hours that the beneficiary was eligible to receive pursuant to the most recent nursing assessment completed under the EPSDT program. Moreover, the bill requires that such beneficiaries will be allowed to carry forward unused private duty nursing service hours from week to week. A managed care organization may decrease the number of covered private duty nursing service hours for such a beneficiary only based on a change in medical necessity, as determined by an authorized provider. The MLTSS program currently limits the number of weekly private duty nursing hours to 16. By contrast, there is no cap on such services under the EPSDT program. Furthermore, the bill directs the Department of Human Services to review the records of all beneficiaries who have transitioned from the EPSDT program to the MLTSS program in the five years preceding the bill's enactment to determine if any beneficiaries may be eligible for coverage of an increased number of private duty nursing services hours pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The bill also codifies and expands certain provisions in the contract between the Medicaid managed care organizations and the State for all private duty nursing services appeals. Under the bill, a managed care organization is required to automatically continue a beneficiary's provider-authorized private duty nursing services benefits during an appeal of a change of previously authorized private duty nursing services, provided that the appeal request is made by an eligible entity within 30 calendar days of the date of notification of the adverse benefit determination. These provisions reflect existing contract elements, except that currently an appeal request must be made within 10 calendar days, rather than 30. The bill also requires managed care organizations to continue the beneficiary's private duty nursing services benefits while an appeal is pending until 30 days after either the beneficiary withdraws the appeal or the appeal results in a decision adverse to the beneficiary. Currently, the managed care organizations can discontinue benefits upon the date of either of these two events. | In Committee |
| A3403 | Provides that biennial renewal of license or certificate issued by New Jersey Board of Nursing is due on professional's birthday. | This bill provides that licenses and certificates issued by the New Jersey Board of Nursing are to expire on the professional's birthday, rather than on one of two fixed dates, as is the practice under current law. If the person's birthday does not correspond with a calendar day in the renewal year, the license or certificate will expire on the last day of the person's birth month in the renewal year. Licenses and certificates issued by the New Jersey Board of Nursing will continue to be valid for two years. The list of professionals licensed or certified through the New Jersey Board of Nursing includes registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, homemaker-home health aides, advanced practice nurses, and forensic nurses-certified sexual assault. The bill will take effect 30 days after the date of enactment and will apply to any license or certificate issued by the Board of Nursing on or after that effective date. | In Committee |
| A3402 | Establishes third degree crime of gang assault. | This bill establishes the crime of gang assault. A person commits gang assault, a crime of the third degree, when with intent to cause bodily injury to another person and when aided by two or more other persons actually present, he causes bodily injury to such person or to a third person. Under the bill, "bodily injury" means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. This bill is modeled after New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 120.06. | In Committee |
| AJR95 | Establishes "New Jersey Transit Alternative Revenue Task Force." | This joint resolution establishes a five member "New Jersey Transit Alternative Revenue Task Force" (task force) to study and make findings and recommendations concerning all potential opportunities for the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to generate new revenue without increasing fares, including, but not limited to, through: real estate holdings; advertising on the corporation's motorbuses, rail cars, and light rail vehicles and at and around the corporation's bus, rail, and light rail stations and terminals; development opportunities at and around the corporation's bus, rail, and light rail stations and terminals; and other revenue generating services that may be provided on the corporation's motorbuses, rail cars, and light rail vehicles and at the corporation's bus, rail, and light rail stations and terminals. The task force is to consist of: a person with expertise and experience in real estate development, who is to be appointed by the Governor; a person with expertise and experience in advertising, who is to be appointed by the Senate President; a person with expertise and experience in franchise or small business development, who is to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and two people with expertise and experience in public rail passenger transportation, one who is to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate and one who is to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The task force is to prepare and submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature and is to expire upon submission of the report. | In Committee |
| A3391 | Requires law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, and State Parole Board to adopt maternity policies. | This bill requires State, county, county park, and municipal police departments or law enforcement agencies, the New Jersey Transit police department, educational institutions that appoint police officers, county sheriff's offices, investigators, State and county correctional facilities, and the State Parole Board to adopt maternity policies applicable to uniformed members of the department, force or agency who present proof of pregnancy. A maternity policy adopted pursuant to the bill's provisions is required to comply with applicable State and federal statutes, rules, and regulations. Additionally, the bill requires any maternity policy adopted pursuant to its provisions to include the following:· protection from discrimination due to pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions;· procedures to ensure pregnant law enforcement officers, parole officers, and corrections officers receive treatment equal to other temporarily disabled law enforcement officers and corrections officers;· procedures to modify full-duty assignments and to provide temporary, light-duty assignments, if and when medically indicated, consistent with the operational requirements of the employer, and that take into consideration any specific restrictions identified by a pregnant law enforcement or corrections officer's physician; · exemption from mandatory firearms qualification requirements during the pregnancy and until the law enforcement officer is certified for full-duty status; and· procedures to provide for any uniform and equipment modifications, as necessary and feasible. | In Committee |
| A3354 | Converts senior freeze reimbursement into credit applied directly to property tax bills. | This bill would transform the homestead property tax reimbursement program, commonly known as the senior freeze program, from a reimbursement program into a credit program for most eligible homeowners. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons may apply for a senior freeze benefit that reimburses them for any property tax increases paid in the prior tax year over and above the amount of property taxes paid in the applicable base year. This bill would allow most of these eligible homeowners to realize these savings in the form of a credit directly applied to reduce the payable amount for their third and fourth quarter property tax bills for the current tax year. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons are provided their senior freeze benefits as a reimbursement in the following tax year. Eligible homeowners who reside in a unit in a cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community, and who do not pay property taxes directly to the municipality, would receive a rebate payment instead of a credit directly applied to the applicable property tax bill. These rebates would be paid during the current tax year for which the senior freeze benefit is sought so that these homeowners also do not have to wait until the next year to receive their senior freeze benefit. It is the intention of the sponsor that this bill would be administered in the same manner as the homestead property tax credit benefit, resulting in administrative savings to the State, as well as provide current tax year savings to eligible senior and disabled residents. | In Committee |
| A3353 | Establishes process for county colleges to offer baccalaureate degree nursing programs. | This bill establishes a process under which a county college may receive approval to offer a baccalaureate degree nursing program. Under the bill's provisions, the board of trustees of a county college may submit a proposal to the New Jersey Presidents' Council to offer such a four-year degree program. The proposal must include: 1) a description of the program, the unmet need for graduates of the program in the geographic region to be served by the program, and the timeframe for implementation of the program; 2) identification of the facilities, equipment, and library and academic resources that will be used to deliver the program; 3) a cost analysis of establishing the program; 4) the program's admission requirements, academic content, curriculum, faculty credentials, and accreditation plan; and 5) the program's enrollment projections and funding requirements. The New Jersey Presidents' Council is to review the proposal, notify the board of trustees of any deficiencies in writing within 30 days following receipt of the proposal, and provide the board with an opportunity to correct the deficiencies. Within 45 days of receipt of a completed proposal, the council will forward the proposal, with its recommendation for approval or disapproval, to the Secretary of Higher Education. The secretary will provide the county college with a written determination on the approval or disapproval of the proposal within 60 days of its receipt from the council. The establishment of a baccalaureate degree nursing program by a county college is dependent upon the county college receiving accreditation for the program by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. | In Committee |
| A3352 | Establishes tuition reimbursement program for certain advanced practice nurses who provide mental health care services in underserved areas in New Jersey. | This bill establishes a tuition reimbursement program for advanced practice nurses who provide mental health care services in order to address a shortage of mental health care access in certain areas of the State. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health will designate, on the basis of health status and economic indicators, geographic areas of the State which have a shortage of medical professionals who provide mental health care services. The program will provide reimbursement of a portion of tuition expenses in attending an accredited advanced practice nurse program to advanced practice nurses who agree to provide mental health care services in one of these State underserved areas for a period of one to four years. A program participant must: (1) be a State resident; (2) be certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing as an advanced practice nurse; (3) have specialized education or training in mental health care; and (4) apply for the program within one year of obtaining certification as an advanced practice nurse. Program participants will enter into a contract with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) for a specified number of one-year periods of service, up to four years, in which the participant agrees to engage in the full-time practice of mental health care in a State underserved area. In return for this commitment, a portion of the participant's tuition expenses in attending an accredited advanced practice nurse program will be reimbursed. Tuition reimbursement will equal 25 percent of the participant's eligible tuition expenses for the one academic year of an advanced practice nurse program in which tuition was the lowest, in return for each full year of service under the program. The maximum total tuition reimbursement for a participant for four years of service will be 100 percent of the participant's eligible tuition expenses for the one academic year of an advanced practice nurse program in which tuition was the lowest. Under the bill, participants in the program will be required to adhere to certain terms and standards, including charging for professional services at the usual and customary rates, allowing patients who are unable to pay that charge to pay a reduced rate or receive care at no charge, and not discriminating against any patient on the basis of ability to pay. Participants will also be required to maintain their State residency and certification to practice as an advanced practice nurse, remain current with payments on any student loans, maintain satisfactory performance of services, and report to HESAA on the performance of services rendered prior to receiving tuition reimbursement. | In Committee |
| AJR93 | Designates May 6 of each year as "Visiting Nurse Association Day." | This joint resolution recognizes the caregiving services of New Jersey's Visiting Nurse Associations (VNA) and designates May 6 of each year as "Visiting Nurse Association Day." New Jersey is home to multiple VNAs, including several that have been active for more than a hundred years. New Jersey's VNAs provide compassionate health, hospice, and related care to individuals and families, both in home and at medical facilities. Thousands of VNA caregivers serve New Jerseyans by providing and coordinating economical and free patient care, and promoting individual and community health. National Nurses Week is celebrated each year from May 6th to May 12th. In recognition of the services New Jersey's VNAs provide, it is appropriate to designate May 6 of each year as "Visiting Nurse Association Day." | In Committee |
| ACR106 | Proposes constitutional amendment eliminating cap on certain benefits to qualify for senior and disabled citizens' $250 property tax deduction. | This constitutional amendment would eliminate the cap on certain benefits for purposes of qualifying for the senior and disabled citizens' $250 property tax deduction. Currently, an eligible senior or disabled person qualifies for this deduction if they have an income of $10,000 or less. Certain government pension, disability, and retirement benefits provided in lieu of social security do not count as income for the purposes of this $10,000 limit. These benefits are only excluded from income up to the maximum social security benefit amount. Therefore, if these benefits exceed the maximum social security benefit amount, then the excess amount counts toward the $10,000 limit. This amendment would lift that cap and allow any amount of these benefits to be excluded from the $10,000 limit. Accordingly, senior or disabled persons may receive benefits greater than the maximum social security benefit amount and still be eligible for the $250 property tax deduction, provided that they do not have other income exceeding $10,000. | In Committee |
| AJR33 | Designates June of each year as "Cancer Survivor Month." | This joint resolution designates June of each year as "Cancer Survivor Month" in New Jersey to increase cancer survivor awareness. The joint resolution asks the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing June as "Cancer Survivor Month" in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A1030 | Establishes entrepreneur-in-residence pilot program. | This bill establishes an entrepreneur-in-residence program in the Department of State with the purpose of providing better outreach by the State to the private sector, strengthening coordination and interaction between the State and the private sector on issues relevant to entrepreneurs and small business concerns, and making State government programs simpler, easier to access, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of small business concerns and entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur-in-residence program places experienced and successful entrepreneurs from various fields in departments and agencies of the State related to those areas of entrepreneurship. The Secretary of State (secretary), or the secretary's designee, is responsible for selecting the entrepreneurs and selecting the departments where entrepreneurs will be placed for assignments of up to two years. Once placed at a department, the entrepreneur-in-residence is to assist the secretary and departments in improving outreach to small business concerns and entrepreneurs, provide recommendations to the secretary and the head of the department on inefficient or duplicative programs, provide recommendations to the secretary and the head of the department on methods to improve program efficiency at the department, facilitate meetings and forums to educate small business concerns and entrepreneurs on programs or initiatives of the secretary and the department, facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the Department of State and the assigned departments on issues of concern to entrepreneurs and small business concerns, and provide technical assistance or mentorship to small business concerns and entrepreneurs in accessing programs at the Department of State and the assigned departments employing the entrepreneur-in-residence. The entrepreneur-in-residence is to be an employee of the assigned department with a salary determined by the head of the department with the approval of the secretary, which is comparable to the rate offered to department employees with similar levels of educational attainment, years of experience, and professional responsibilities within the department. The secretary may place up to 10 entrepreneurs per year at departments across the State, with up to two entrepreneurs per department. The secretary may also establish informal working group of entrepreneurs-in-residence to discuss best practices, experiences, obstacles, opportunities, and recommendations. The deadline for appointing an entrepreneurs-in-residence is one year following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1115 | Excludes under gross income tax certain contributions to qualified pension plans, deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings. | This bill excludes from gross income taxation the employee and employer contributions that public and private sector employees make to federally qualified tax exempt pension plans under section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill also excludes from gross income taxation elective contributions that employees of the public and non-profit sectors may make toward their retirement savings, and allows a deduction for federally qualifying IRA contributions. The New Jersey gross income tax currently allows the employees of private, for profit, businesses to make tax-deferred contributions to the retirement savings plans authorized under section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Contributions mandated under most qualified retirement plans are not accorded tax deferral under the New Jersey gross income tax. Also employees of public and nonprofit sectors are not afforded the same access to 401(k) plans as private sector employees that includes the gross income tax contributions tax deferral. This bill incorporates New Jersey gross income tax deferrals for private and public sector employee contributions and for contribution designated as "employer contributions" for federal income tax purposes under qualified retirement plans established under section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. This bill also incorporates tax deferrals for the elective deferred compensation systems allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits. Charitable, educational and religious organization employees and public school employees are authorized by federal law to contribute toward their retirement savings under plans established under subsection (b) of section 403 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. State and local government and authority employers are authorized by federal law to make contributions under plans established under section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, and federal employees are authorized by the federal Internal Revenue Code to make contributions to the federal Thrift Savings Plan. This bill gives the employees of federally tax-exempt charitable, educational or religious organizations; the employees of public school systems; the employees of state and local government and federal employees similar tax incentives for retirement savings that are provided under the New Jersey gross income tax to private sector employees. This bill also allows a gross income tax deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. IRA's are a significant retirement savings vehicle for employees whose employers do not offer a pension plan. | In Committee |
| A2620 | "The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances. | This bill allows health insurers licensed in other states to provide individual health benefits plans and small employer health benefits plans to New Jersey residents and to employers in New Jersey under certain conditions and under the oversight of the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. In order to offer plans in the State, the foreign health insurer would have to offer these plans in its domiciliary state and otherwise be in compliance with all applicable laws in that state. In addition, the foreign health insurer must apply for and obtain a certificate of authority to do business as a foreign health insurer from the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. The commissioner shall issue the certificate if the commissioner determines that the foreign health insurer meets certain conditions as specified in the bill. Foreign health insurers who provide individual health benefits plans or small employer health benefits plans in the State must make certain disclosures to individual residents or employers, related to the differences between these plans and plans currently permitted to be offered in the State. The bill provides that the commissioner may deny, revoke or suspend a certificate of authority to do business as a foreign health insurer, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, and the commissioner must establish review procedures to handle claims by health care providers and covered persons against foreign health insurers. The bill requires the commissioner to establish grievance and independent claims review procedures with respect to claims by a health care provider or a covered person, with which a foreign health insurer shall comply as a condition of issuing policies in this State. The bill also requires the commissioner to establish fair marketing standards for marketing materials used by foreign health insurers to market individual health benefits plans and small employer health benefits plans in the State. The bill requires foreign health insurers to comply with all applicable requirements of P.L.1947, c.379 (C.17:29B-1 et seq.) (relating to trade practices); P.L.1991, c.208 (C:17B:32A-1 et seq.) (relating to the New Jersey Life and Health Guaranty Association); and the capital and surplus requirements set forth in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.235, as determined to be applicable to foreign health insurers by the commissioner. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Banking and Insurance to adopt regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. However, the department's regulations shall not: (1) require a foreign health insurer to modify coverage or benefit requirements, or restrict underwriting requirements or premium ratings, in any way that conflicts with the insurer's domiciliary state's laws or regulations; (2) provide for an expansion of the commissioner's authority over foreign health insurers in a way that conflicts with the provisions of this bill; or (3) require any individual health benefits plan or small employer health benefits plan issued by the foreign health insurer to be countersigned by an insurance agent or broker residing in this State. Health insurance regulations vary from state to state and, as a result, the cost for individual health coverage and small employer health coverage also varies widely. By allowing insurers licensed in other states to offer coverage to individuals and employers in this State, the intent of the bill is to provide New Jersey residents with access to a wider range of affordable health benefits plans. | In Committee |
| AJR65 | Designates annual Lunar New Year in NJ. | This joint resolution recognizes the date corresponding with a certain new moon following each year's winter solstice as Lunar New Year in New Jersey. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new calendar year as measured by the cycles of the moon. Lunar New Year varies from year to year as the date corresponding with the second new moon following each year's winter solstice, or the third new moon following winter solstice if an intercalary month intervenes. Lunar New Year has been celebrated for thousands of years in many countries. The holiday remains a culturally and historically significant celebration for many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Lunar New Year is traditionally an important time to visit family, enjoy food together, and welcome good fortune in the new year. New Jersey schools currently have the option of recognizing Lunar New Year as a Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist holiday. Commemorating Lunar New Year recognizes the importance of this day for many New Jersey residents and the value of those who celebrate the occasion to this State. | Dead |
| A991 | "Highway Accident Property Tax Relief Act"; requires State to reimburse municipalities for costs of providing certain emergency services. | This bill permits municipalities to recoup the costs of providing emergency services, including use of emergency firefighting, first aid and rescue organizations operating within the municipality, on State and federal highways. The bill establishes the Highway Accident Property Tax Relief Fund as a fund in the Department of Community Affairs. A municipality will send a bill to the fund for the actual costs of providing the emergency services, up to $1,500 per incident and up to $20,000 annually. The fund will be supported through an annual appropriation and through the subrogation of a municipality's right to reimbursement, from the parties or their insurance carriers, to the fund. Payments from the fund will be made in the State fiscal year following the fiscal year in which a claim is made so that the commissioner can accurately determine and recommend to the Legislature the amount of money that should be appropriated to the fund to satisfy the claims for that fiscal year. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to promulgate rules and regulations governing the calculation of a municipality's actual cost of providing emergency services and to report to the Legislature the number of claims made each fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A127 | Requires State employer to ascertain child abuse or sexual misconduct in employment applications for certain positions involving children; requires background checks for current and prospective employees. | This bill requires State employers, or service providers holding a contract with a State employer to provide services involving children, to ascertain allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct prior to awarding employment in certain positions that involve regular contact with children. The bill also requires a criminal history record background check and a child abuse record background check for each current or prospective employee of a State employer or service provider who is or would be employed in a position having regular contact with children. Under the bill, a State employer means any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of this State, and any board, bureau, office, division, authority, or other instrumentality thereof. Application Information - Prospective Employees The bill requires each State employer or service provider to request from each applicant for employment in a position having regular contact with children detailed information concerning that person's employment history. Each such applicant would be required to provide (1) a list of the applicant's current employer, all former employers within the last 20 years, and an indication of which of those employment positions involved direct contact with children; (2) a written authorization that consents to and authorizes disclosure of the information requested and the release of related records by the applicant's employers, and that releases those employers from liability that may arise from the disclosure or release of records; and (3) a written statement as to whether the applicant has been the subject of any child abuse or sexual misconduct investigation by any employer, State licensing agency, law enforcement agency, or the Department of Children and Families, and whether the investigation resulted in a finding that the allegations were false or the alleged incident of child abuse or sexual misconduct was not substantiated; has ever been disciplined, discharged, non-renewed, asked to resign from employment, resigned from or otherwise separated from any employment while allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct; or has ever had a license, professional license, or certificate suspended, surrendered, or revoked while allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct. The bill establishes penalties for the provision of false information by an applicant for employment; requires that current and former employers of an applicant respond to a State employer's or service provider's request for information within 20 days of that request; and allows the State employer or service provider to disqualify an applicant if the information on that person's application cannot be verified due to a non-response from a current or prior employer. The bill allows such disqualification or termination upon an affirmative response or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct in an applicant's application or employment history. Under special or emergent circumstances, the bill allows a State employer or service provider to employ or contract with an applicant on a provisional basis for a period not to exceed 90 days pending review of an applicant's information, provided the applicant submitted the information requested and the State employer or service provider has no adverse knowledge or information pertaining to the applicant. The bill provides that the application records would not be subject to public disclosure under the "open public records act," and prohibits the State employer or service provider from entering into any contracts or agreements that would expunge application records or make it difficult to report findings of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Criminal History Record Background Check - Current and Prospective Employees The bill requires an applicant for employment and each current employee of a State employer or service provider who is or will be employed in a position which involves regular contact with children, to undergo a criminal history record background check as a condition of prospective or continuing employment. The prospective or current employee would be permanently disqualified from employment in that position if the criminal history record background check of that employee or applicant reveals a record of conviction for any of the following crimes and offenses: (1) a crime against a child, including endangering the welfare of a child and child pornography; child molestation; (2) abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child; (3) endangering the welfare of a person with a developmental disability; (4) sexual assault, criminal sexual contact or lewdness; (5) murder or manslaughter; (6) stalking; (7) kidnaping and related offenses including criminal restraint, false imprisonment, interference with custody, criminal coercion, or enticing a child into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area; (8) arson, or causing or risking widespread injury or damage, which would constitute a crime of the second degree; (9) aggravated assault, which would constitute a crime of the second or third degree; (10) robbery, which would constitute a crime of the first degree; (11) burglary, which would constitute a crime of the second degree; (12) domestic violence; (13) terroristic threats; and (14) an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these crimes or offenses. Under the bill, for crimes and offenses other than those listed, an employee or applicant may be eligible for employment if the individual has affirmatively demonstrated clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation. Child Abuse Record Information Check - Current and Prospective Employees The bill further requires each applicant for employment and each current employee of a State employer or service provider who will be or is employed in a position which involves regular contact with children to undergo a child abuse record information check. The State employer or service provider would be required to conduct that check to determine if an incident of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against the prospective or current employee. Under the bill, if a current or prospective employee refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the conduct of a child abuse record information check, the person would be ineligible for or immediately terminated from employment. The bill provides that a current employee of a State employer or service provider, or an applicant for employment, who is or will be employed in a position which involves regular contact with children, would be permanently disqualified from employment in that position if the child abuse record information check of that employee or applicant reveals a record of conviction for child abuse. | In Committee |
| A970 | Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations. | This bill would establish additional specific factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment for a municipality's fair share affordable housing obligation. The bill also caps the number of units a municipality may have allocated as its affordable housing obligation with regard to the size of the municipal population. The additional factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment are as follows: (a) population of the municipality; (b) water supply and sewerage capacity in the municipality; (c) school class sizes and school services in the municipality; (d) public safety services in the municipality; and (e) public transportation and traffic in the municipality. The bill requires a municipal adjustment if maintaining approximately the same school class sizes would be a significant cost or if adequate school, public safety, and public transportation resources are not available or would be a significant cost to provide. A municipal adjustment would also have to be made if present traffic conditions would be substantially disrupted. The additional municipal adjustment factors required by the bill would require a more holistic examination of the actual state of affairs in a municipality, as well as of the potential impacts of additional development, in calculating its fair share affordable housing obligation. This will help ensure that reasonable numbers are arrived at that will not be disruptive to the quality of life and provision of local government services in a municipality. The bill's population cap would protect those municipalities that may face dramatic municipal population increases if mandated to add a large amount of additional affordable housing. Current law provides that no municipality shall be required to address a fair share of affordable housing units beyond 1,000 low and moderate income units within 10 years from the grant of substantive certification; except that a municipality may be allocated more than 1,000 units, if based upon an evidentiary hearing, it is found likely that the municipality through its zoning powers could create a realistic opportunity for more than 1,000 low and moderate income units within that 10-year period. In order to prevent the disparate impact such a potentially large affordable housing mandate can create for municipalities with small populations, this bill provides that an allocation of units to a municipality as its fair share shall not exceed an amount that would result in an increase of the municipal population by more than five percent. | In Committee |
| A2526 | Requires school district to allow graduating student to wear military sash while participating in high school graduation ceremony. | Under current law, school districts are required to allow a student to wear a military dress uniform issued by a branch of the United States Armed Forces while participating in the student's high school graduation ceremony if the student has:1. fulfilled all of the State and local requirements for receiving a high school diploma, and is otherwise eligible to participate in the high school graduation ceremony; and2. completed basic training for, and is an active member of, a branch of the United States Armed Forces. This bill amends the law to also require school districts to allow graduating students to wear a military sash or stole issued to the student by a branch of the United States Armed Forces while participating in their high school graduation ceremony if they have fulfilled all of the State and local requirements for receiving a high school diploma, and are otherwise eligible to participate in the high school graduation ceremony. A military sash or stole is worn atop a graduation robe and is issued by a recruiter of the graduate's service branch upon enlistment. | In Committee |
| A2645 | Dedicates State reserve of certain federal funds to in-person and hybrid school districts. | This bill intends to reward and compensate those school districts that offered substantial in-person instruction in the 2020-2021 school year for their extraordinary efforts and the costs incurred in meeting the challenges of educating children during a global pandemic. The bill requires that the total amount of the State reserve of moneys received by New Jersey under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II (ESSER II) Fund be distributed to "in-person school districts" and "hybrid school districts." The distribution would be made on an equal per pupil basis, except that in-person school districts would receive a per pupil amount that is 1.5 times greater than the per pupil amount received by hybrid school districts. Under the bill, a hybrid school district is defined as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on more than 25 percent but less than 75 percent of school days during the 2020-2021 school year. An in-person school district is defined as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on 75 percent or more of school days during the 2020-2021 school year. The ESSER II Fund was authorized pursuant to the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. Of the total $1.23 billion that New Jersey received from the ESSER II Fund, a minimum of 90 percent is required to be awarded to local education agencies (LEAs) in proportion to the amount of funds the LEAs received under part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. No more than 10 percent of the funds received by New Jersey under the ESSER II Fund may be reserved by the State Department of Education for certain emergency needs to address issues responding to COVID-19. | In Committee |
| A955 | Requires NJT to publish certain safety violations and establish mechanism to report unsafe conduct. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (New Jersey Transit) to publish quarterly each year on its website information detailing any safety violations issued in the previous quarter to New Jersey Transit by any federal agency and the amount of the fine paid by New Jersey Transit as a result of the violation. The bill requires New Jersey Transit to publish on its website information detailing any safety violation issued to New Jersey Transit during the five years prior to the effective date of the bill by any federal agency and the amount of the fine paid by New Jersey Transit as a result of the violation. Under the bill, information detailing safety violations issued by any federal agency published on New Jersey Transit's website is to remain on New Jersey Transit's website for five years from the date of issuance. Information detailing safety violations issued in the five years prior to the bills effective date is to remain on New Jersey Transit's website for five years from the date the violation is published on New Jersey Transit's website. The bill also requires New Jersey Transit to establish a mechanism, by means of a toll-free telephone hotline and electronic mail address, through which a person may confidentially report incidents of suspected safety violations or any other conduct that is reasonably expected to jeopardize the health or safety of the general public. | In Committee |
| A3193 | Requires Adjutant General of DMVA create program for veterans to receive evaluation and treatment for PTSD and total brain injury. | This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop, in coordination with appropriate departments and agencies, a program to assist veterans in accessing evaluation and treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder or total brain injury diagnosis related to military service. The program may include offering support and guidance, transportation, assistance filing disability compensation claims, assistance updating discharge status, health care and other services or programs available at the local, State and federal level for obtaining and addressing a post-traumatic stress disorder or total brain injury diagnosis. Under the bill, "veteran" means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| A1311 | Extends certain federal income tax advantages of individual health savings accounts to individual taxpayers under the New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill allows gross income tax advantages in connection with Health Savings Accounts in conformity with the federal income tax advantages extended to these accounts under recent federal law. The bill provides a gross income tax deduction for deposits to, and an exemption for withdrawals from, health savings accounts. Individuals can use these accounts to cover out-of-pocket medical care costs under high-deductible medical care plans. The bill also excludes the earnings in an account from gross income taxation, as the account earnings are excluded from federal income taxation. The federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 permits eligible individuals to establish health savings accounts (HSAs) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004. Under the federal income tax, HSA contributions are deductible from adjusted gross income, contributions grow tax-free over the years, and amounts can be distributed tax-free to pay or reimburse qualified medical expenses. HSAs are similar to Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs) established as tax-advantaged accounts under the federal income tax and accorded similar tax-free treatment under the New Jersey gross income tax. However, HSAs are more flexible and available to many more individuals than MSAs. Taxpayers can be expected to embrace them enthusiastically because the federal tax benefits are generous; HSAs are akin to tax-favored accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s. Eligible individuals are individuals who are covered by a high-deductible health plan. A high-deductible health plan is a health plan that has a deductible that is at least $1,000 for self-only coverage or $2,000 for family coverage. The policy must also have an out-of-pocket maximum that can be no greater than $5,000 for self-only coverage and $10,000 for family coverage. Out-of-pocket expense includes deductibles, copayments, and other amounts (other than premiums) that the individual must pay for covered benefits under their medical care plan. This bill makes contributions made by or on behalf of an eligible individual that are deductible for federal income tax purposes deductible by the individual for gross income tax purposes. Also, the bill makes employer contributions to an HSA excludible from gross income to the extent the contribution would be deductible if made by the employee. The maximum aggregate annual contribution that can be made to an HSA, as set by federal law, is the lesser of 100 percent of the annual deductible under the high-deductible health plan, or the maximum deductible permitted under an MSA as adjusted for inflation. Contributions can be made to individual HSAs by individual and their employers. For 2018, the amount of the maximum high deductible is estimated to be $6,650 in the case of self-only coverage and $13,300 in the case of family coverage. Under the gross income tax as under the federal income tax, tax-free rollover contributions from Archer MSAs and other HSAs into an HSA will be permitted. Rollovers will not be subject to the annual contribution limits. Under the bill, distributions from an HSA for qualified medical expense (most medical expenses defined as deductible for federal income tax purposes) for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and dependents generally will be excludable from New Jersey gross income. Distributions from an HSA that are not for qualified medical expenses will be includable in New Jersey gross income. However, distributions that are not for qualified medical expenses will not be includable in gross income if they are made after death or disability, or after the individual attains the age of Medicare eligibility (age 65). HSAs give workers the opportunity to save tax-free for routine medical bills like doctor visits or medicines, the security of funds to cover the out-of-pocket expenses of a major illness, and the freedom of knowing that the account is worker-owned, not under the control of an insurance company, and is portable whenever a worker changes employers. During years when an individual's family health care spending is low, the money remaining in the HSA earns tax-free interest, dividends or gains and is available in the future when unexpected medical expenses arise. Health savings accounts are a new option which will give families access to affordable health care will reducing health insurance premiums. The tax advantages provided under federal law are not available under the current New Jersey gross income tax. This bill will extend that tax conformity. | In Committee |
| A1592 | Eliminates restriction on sale of beer by limited brewery licensee for on-premises consumption only when in connection with tour; requires licensee to provide tours during certain business hours. | Under current law, the holder of a limited brewery license is entitled to brew up to 300,000 barrels of 31 fluid gallons capacity per year of malt alcoholic beverages to sell and distribute to wholesalers and retailers. These licensees are authorized to sell their product at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the brewery. Under this bill, consumers would not be required to take a tour of the brewery to purchase beverages for on-site consumption. However, the bill requires the licensee to make tours of the brewery available to consumers during business hours when the brewery is open to the general public and brewing, packaging, or maintenance operations allow for the conducting of a tour. | In Committee |
| A946 | Provides that public employee pension benefits are calculated on base salary exclusive of various forms of extra compensation. | This bill provides that the compensation of a public employee subject to pension and group life insurance contributions and creditable for retirement and death benefits in a State-administered retirement system or fund will be limited to base salary and will not include extra compensation. The bill's definition of forms of extra compensation includes, but is not limited to, overtime pay; pay for extra work, duty or service beyond the normal workday or work year; bonuses; lump-sum payments for longevity, holiday pay, vacation, compensatory time or accumulated sick leave; or increments or adjustments in recognition of the member's forthcoming retirement. The bill further provides that the Division of Pensions and Benefits will investigate increases in compensation reported for credit which exceed the reasonably anticipated annual compensation increases for members of a retirement system. | In Committee |
| A975 | Permits eligible claimant who is proportionate owner paying entire property tax bill to collect entire homestead property tax reimbursement amount. | This bill would permit a person who is an eligible claimant for a homestead property tax reimbursement (that is, who owns and occupies a residential property) to receive the entire homestead property tax reimbursement amount when there are one or more non-occupying proportional owners (who are not "eligible claimants" for the reimbursement), provided that the eligible claimant has paid the entire amount of property taxes due and payable for the year, without contribution from the other proportional owners. This amendment to the law would permit a divorced person who is responsible for paying the entire tax bill to collect the entire homestead property tax reimbursement amount for a property, despite title being held with an ex-spouse who is not an eligible claimant due to non-residence at that address. | In Committee |
| A984 | Prohibits insurers from raising medical malpractice liability insurance premiums under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that an insurer shall not increase the premium of any medical malpractice liability insurance policy based on a claim of medical negligence or malpractice against an insured unless the claim, as defined in the bill, results in a medical malpractice claim settlement, judgment, or arbitration award against the insured. | 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 |
| A2802 | Requires State to take steps to create additional graduate medical education program slots focused on behavioral health care. | The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program for the purpose of establishing additional graduate medical education slots focused on behavioral health care. Contingent on the approval of such State plan amendments or waivers, the Commissioner of Human Services and the Secretary of Higher Education are to establish a process for new and existing graduate medical education programs to request and use Medicaid funds to establish additional graduate medical education program slots focused on behavioral health care. | In Committee |
| A1021 | Requires recalls on motor vehicles to be repaired prior to sale. | This bill would prohibit the sale of a motor vehicle with outstanding recalls. Under the bill, a person would not be able to sell a vehicle without first contacting, or accessing information provided by, the vehicle manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine if there are any recalls on the vehicle which have not been corrected or addressed. In the event that a recall is discovered, the recall would have to be appropriately corrected or addressed prior to the sale of the vehicle. | In Committee |
| A1935 | Permits licensed motor vehicle dealers to facilitate issuance of titles and registrations for used motor vehicles purchased by private sale. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to permit a licensed motor vehicle dealer to facilitate the issuance of a certificate of ownership and certificate of registration for a used motor vehicle that is purchased by private sale if the vehicle is to be registered in New Jersey and complies with all requirements for issuance of a certificate of ownership and certificate of registration. The bill authorizes a person who is 17 years of age or older and has purchased a used motor vehicle by private sale that is to be registered in New Jersey to apply to a licensed motor vehicle dealer within 10 working days after purchasing the motor vehicle for the issuance of a certificate of ownership and certificate of registration, instead of applying to the commission for those documents. A licensed motor vehicle dealer may charge a reasonable fee, as determined by the commission, for this service and may issue a temporary registration certificate for the used motor vehicle. A person is required to apply to the commission to renew the motor vehicle's certificate of registration. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the commission to adopt temporary rules and regulations within three months of the effective date of the bill. The temporary rules and regulations are to be effective for a period not to exceed one year from the date they are filed with the Office of Administrative Law. The bill provides that the rules and regulations are to be amended, adopted, or readopted in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act." | In Committee |
| A971 | Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities. | This bill would revise the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), to prohibit any categorical affordable housing obligation exemption for municipalities that are eligible for the Municipal (Urban) Aid Program. Prior rules of the Council on Affordable Housing excluded these municipalities from providing any contribution toward a region's affordable housing need. Those exemptions, however, can lead to undue development burdens on the other municipalities in the region. Additionally, directing more affordable housing development to urban municipalities would help minimize urban sprawl and would direct development to areas that already have extensive infrastructure in place, allowing for more cost-effective accommodation of new development. | In Committee |
| A1012 | Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints." | This bill restricts the use of physical and mechanical restraints on persons with developmental disabilities by providing that, except in limited circumstances, physical and mechanical restraints may be used in emergency situations only. Under current law, in addition to emergency use, such restraints may be used as planned interventions as part of approved behavior modification plans, and as a result of inclusion in these plans, the unusual incident reporting requirements of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services do not apply. The bill also excludes aversive techniques as planned interventions. Specifically, under the provisions of the bill, a person receiving services for persons with developmental disabilities at a public or private facility or from a public or private agency that provides services for persons with developmental disabilities, would not be subjected to physical restraint unless: 1) an emergency exists that necessitates the use of physical restraint; 2) the physical restraint is used only for the period that is necessary to contain the behavior of the person so that the person no longer poses an immediate threat of causing serious physical injury to himself or others, except that this period may not exceed one hour; 3) a medical order authorizing the use of physical restraint is obtained from the person's treating physician before the application of physical restraint or not later than 15 minutes after the application; 4) the physician who signed the order or the attending physician examines the person not later than one working day after the application of physical restraint; and 5) the use of force in the application of the physical restraint does not exceed the force that is reasonable and necessary under the circumstances precipitating the use of physical restraint. The limited circumstances under which the above provisions would not apply are when physical restraint is applied for the following reasons: to assist a person in completing a task if the person does not resist the application of physical restraint or if the restraint is minimal in intensity and duration; to escort or carry a person to safety if the person is in danger in his present location; or to enable a health care professional to treat the medical needs of the person. With regard to mechanical restraints, a person receiving services for persons with developmental disabilities at a facility or from a public or private agency would not be subjected to mechanical restraint unless: 1) an emergency exists that necessitates the use of mechanical restraint; 2) a medical order authorizing the use of mechanical restraint is obtained from the person's treating physician before the application of the mechanical restraint or not later than 15 minutes after the application of the mechanical restraint; 3) the physician who signed the order or the attending physician examines the person not later than one working day after the application of mechanical restraint; 4) the mechanical restraint is applied by staff trained in the use and application of the particular restraint; 5) the person is given the opportunity to move and exercise the parts of his body that are restrained at least 10 minutes for every 60 minutes of restraint; 6) a member of the staff lessens or discontinues the mechanical restraint every 15 minutes to determine whether the person will stop or control dangerous behavior without the use of the restraint; 7) the record of the person contains a notation that includes the time of day that the mechanical restraint was lessened or discontinued, the response of the person to the lessening or discontinuation of the restraint, and the action taken by the member of the staff to lessen or discontinue the mechanical restraint, as appropriate; 8) a member of the staff continuously monitors the person during the time that mechanical restraint is used on the person; and 9) the mechanical restraint is used only for the period that is necessary to contain the behavior of the person so that the person no longer poses an immediate threat of causing serious physical injury to himself or others. The limited circumstances under which the above provisions would not apply are when mechanical restraint is applied for the following reasons: to enable a health care professional to treat the medical needs of the person; to protect a person who is known to be at risk of injury to himself because he lacks coordination or suffers from frequent loss of consciousness; to provide proper body alignment of a person; or to position a person who has physical disabilities in a manner described in the person's individual habilitation plan. In these circumstances, however, a medical order authorizing the use of mechanical restraint for any of these purposes would first need to be obtained. For both physical and mechanical restraints, the bill provides that within one working day of the use of the restraint, the use is to be reported as an unusual incident, in accordance with the Division of Developmental Disabilities' policy for reporting unusual incidents, which would include reporting these incidents to the person's parent or legal guardian, to an unusual incident report coordinator in the division, and to the Office of Operations Support, or its successor, in the Department of Human Services. The bill also provides that, as a condition of licensure, a private facility or agency that provides services for persons with traumatic brain injury may not use aversive techniques on persons with traumatic brain injury, and may not use physical or mechanical restraints unless that use is in accordance with the procedures outlined in the bill. In addition, the bill includes a provision requiring staff training in positive approaches to behavior and completion of a course in understanding the legal and ethical responsibilities of staff. The bill also requires the department to develop and maintain a web site for statistical information about the number of unusual incidents occurring at public or private facilities or agencies, as well as any reports or findings from any State monitoring agencies. The bill defines "emergency" as a situation in which immediate intervention is necessary to protect the physical safety of a person receiving services at a facility or from a public or private agency, or to protect the safety of others from an immediate threat of serious physical injury. The bill amends N.J.S.A.30:6D-5 to exclude "substantial property damage" as a basis for using chemical restraint in emergency situations, and it amends N.J.S.A.30:6D-11 to provide that individual habilitation plans may not include aversive techniques or physical or mechanical restraint as planned interventions, but may provide for the use of physical or mechanical restraint in accordance with the limited circumstances described above. This bill is based on Nevada and Pennsylvania law and is intended to reduce the use of physical and mechanical restraints and eliminate the use of aversive techniques in the State in order to address the tragic situation that occurred at a State-licensed facility in Haddonfield, where a teenage boy with autism, named Matthew, was improperly restrained and left unattended. | In Committee |
| A1010 | Prohibits payment of more than one copayment, coinsurance or deductible for series of vaccinations used in preventive treatment of rabies under certain health benefits plans. | This bill prohibits payment of more than one copayment, coinsurance or deductible for the series of vaccinations used in preventive rabies treatment. The current standard protocol for this treatment dictates that the administration of this series of vaccinations shall only take place in an emergency room or similar hospital setting because the vaccine is only readily accessible in that setting. Thus, the typically higher emergency room or hospital copayment, coinsurance or deductible under any applicable health benefits plan may be charged each time the person suspected of contracting rabies returns to the hospital to receive another in the series of vaccinations. By permitting only one payment for this series of vaccinations in this way, the often prohibitive cost of an emergency room copayment, coinsurance or deductible is removed as an obstacle to receiving the treatment. The bill provides that the covered person receiving the treatment shall be responsible for the payment of only one copayment, coinsurance or deductible for that series of vaccinations during any period of 180 days following that payment, regardless of the number of follow-up care visits for that series of vaccinations during that period. Similarly, the health care provider shall not collect more than one copayment, coinsurance or deductible during any such period of 180 days and the health benefits plan shall not require payment of more than one copayment, coinsurance or deductible by the covered person during that period. The bill supplements the "Health Care Quality Act," P.L.1997, c.192 (C.26:2S-1 et seq.) and would apply to health benefits plans issued by health insurance carriers, as defined by that act, the State Employees Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. | In Committee |
| A986 | Provides exemption from 3-day cancellation provision of home improvement contract in case of bona fide emergency. | This bill provides an exemption from the three-day cancellation provision of a home improvement contract in the case of a bona fide emergency. Under current law, a consumer may cancel a home improvement contract for any reason at any time before midnight of the third business day after the consumer receives a copy of the contract. This bill authorizes a consumer to waive his right to cancel a home improvement contract with a contractor to address a bona fide emergency by executing an emergency authorization form. To exercise this option, the contractor must furnish the consumer with an emergency authorization form and written estimate of the total costs and fees for the work and service provided. In cases where the costs exceed the estimate, the bill requires the contractor to obtain further written authorization to perform any additional work. The bill also specifies that a contractor may take preliminary steps necessary to remedy a clear and immediate danger without obtaining the emergency authorization form, and defines what constitutes a "bona fide emergency." | In Committee |
| A964 | Increases and indexes maximum homestead property tax deduction under gross income tax. | This bill increases the maximum amount of the homestead property tax deduction allowable for gross income tax purposes. The current $15,000 limit of property taxes paid by homeowners or tenants on their principal residences is increased to $17,000 for tax year 2020. Thereafter, this amount will be indexed and recomputed annually to reflect a cost-of-living adjustment based on the consumer price index for urban consumers as prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor. With property taxes increasing dramatically over the past few years, the maximum deduction amount should be increased to further assist the property taxpayers of this State. | In Committee |
| A949 | Expands domestic violence protection for adoptive parents. | This bill amends the definition of "victim of domestic violence" in the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), to include as a victim any parent of an adopted child who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person whose parental rights towards the adopted child have been terminated. This change would provide an adoptive parent with the statutory protections afforded by the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," which can include, inter alia, the filing and receipt of temporary and final restraining orders against the perpetrator, forbidding the perpetrator from possessing any firearm or other weapon, and monetary compensation stemming from the perpetrator's act of domestic violence. As set forth in the current law (section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19)), domestic violence includes any of the following offenses:· Homicide N.J.S.2C:11-1 et seq.· Assault N.J.S.2C:12-1· Terroristic threats N.J.S.2C:12-3· Kidnapping N.J.S.2C:13-1· Criminal restraint N.J.S.2C:13-2· False imprisonment N.J.S.2C:13-3· Sexual assault N.J.S.2C:14-2· Criminal sexual contact N.J.S.2C:14-3· Lewdness N.J.S.2C:14-4· Criminal mischief N.J.S.2C:17-3· Burglary N.J.S.2C:18-2· Criminal trespass N.J.S.2C:18-3· Harassment N.J.S.2C:33-4· Stalking P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10) Thus, an adoptive parent who was subjected to one or more of these offenses by a person whose parental rights toward the adopted child were terminated could, as established by the bill, receive protections under the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991." | In Committee |
| A2051 | Requires disclosure by applicants for State employment of previous or ongoing criminal investigations. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to create a form pertaining to criminal investigations of applicants for State employment that will be issued to every applicant for public employment in the classified, unclassified, and senior executive service of State government who has received a first interview. The form must be included in the application process in a manner consistent with "The Opportunity to Compete Act," and will ask the following: whether the applicant is or has ever been the subject of a criminal investigation by any law enforcement agency in this State; whether the investigation concerns or concerned an accusation levied by another employee of the same State agency to which the applicant is applying; whether the applicant was arrested, charged, indicted, or convicted pursuant to that investigation; and the result of any subsequent appellate filings. The form must also inquire whether the applicant has ever been arrested, charged, indicted, or convicted under N.J.S.2C:14-2 (Sexual Assault or Aggravated Sexual Assault) and N.J.S.2C:14-3 (Criminal Sexual Contact or Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact). | In Committee |
| ACR46 | Proposes amendment to New Jersey Constitution to prohibit exclusionary zoning and clarify municipal obligations regarding affordable housing construction. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify municipal obligations regarding affordable housing. The amendment would place language in the State Constitution to specifically prohibit the practice of exclusionary zoning. Exclusionary zoning can prevent the development of low income housing units and has been declared illegal by federal and State courts. Pursuant to the amendment, towns would not have an obligation to actually construct, or cause to be constructed, affordable housing units. This would eliminate litigation that results in the forced construction of specific residential projects. It has been more than 40 years since the first court case was initiated in New Jersey concerning the opportunities for poor and minority families to obtain affordable housing. The opinion of the New Jersey Supreme Court in this case and subsequent decisions have become known as the Mount Laurel doctrine. Since that time, the demographics of the State have changed markedly, including increased population growth and density, wider disparity of income levels among residents, and perhaps most importantly, tremendous increases in the average cost of housing. The early judicial decisions concerning this issue identified certain local government zoning practices as a bar to increasing the opportunities for housing for low and moderate income households. A somewhat melded judicial and statutory scheme was created to impel municipalities to eliminate these practices voluntarily. Certain regulatory measures were implemented requiring municipal financial expenditures if certain zoning mechanisms were not embraced. Competing financial concerns for resources, such as new infrastructure and schools, have played a role in the complicated interpretation of the Mount Laurel mandate. This amendment is intended to overturn the Mount Laurel mandate regarding the actual construction of affordable housing units and eliminate the so-called "builder's remedy" lawsuit, while reaffirming the State's commitment to elimination discriminatory zoning practices. The courts could remedy constitutional violations of the prohibition on discriminatory zoning by striking down zoning ordinances, rather than forcing the specific construction of any particular project. | In Committee |
| A1024 | "One Strike, You're Ours;" adds use of Internet as aggravating factor in child sex crimes and requires lifetime electronic monitoring of offender. | This bill provides that persons who have been convicted of a sex offense under Megan's Law, where the victim of the offense was under 18 years of age and the person used the Internet in the commission of the sex offense, would be monitored for life under the "Sex Offender Monitoring Act." Under the act, sex offenders are subject to continuous 24-hour per day monitoring by global positioning system (GPS) devices. The bill also adds as an aggravating factor for the court to consider in determining a sentence, whether the defendant used the Internet in committing a sex offense against a person under the age of 18. This provision would be used to enhance penalties against child predators. Under this "One Strike, You're Ours" approach, predators who use the Internet in committing crimes against children would receive enhanced penalties and, once they leave prison, be monitored for life by GPS technology. | In Committee |
| A1006 | Requires certain common interest community associations to publish certain information; requires that homeowners' association contracts for management and maintenance include 24-hour emergency services. | This bill establishes additional requirements on homeowners' associations subject to "The Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act," N.J.S.A.45:22A-21 et seq., concerning management companies and public inspection of certain association documents. The bill also requires an association to provide certain annual accounting information to unit owners and modernizes the requirements to allow for the inspection of the association's records by unit owners. Specifically, the bill requires that an association provide, upon request by a unit owner, the following information: (i) roster of current board members; (ii) contact information for each current board member, consisting of a private electronic mail address by which a board member can be contacted directly by association members; (iii) board election dates and application forms for candidacy; (iv) the most recently adopted annual budget; (v) insurance information for any policy held by an association, including the name of insurance companies, the name of the broker or provider of the insurance policy, and any applicable policy numbers. Regarding contracts with management companies, the bill requires that any contract for maintenance, management, and operation services entered into by the association provide for 24-hour emergency maintenance or management services, as applicable, which must include a 24-hour emergency maintenance or management telephone hotline for use by association members. Finally, the bill establishes that, when inspection of an insurance policy is requested by an association member, an association shall provide the unit owner with an electronic copy of the insurance policy within 24 hours of the submission of the request. If the unit owner requests a paper copy, an association must provide the policy to the requester within two business days of the submission of the request. This bill is applicable to condominiums, cooperatives, and generic homeowners' associations while having no effect on residential home or apartment owners that do not belong to a common interest community. The bill is not retroactive, but thenew requirements outlined in the bill must be adopted by associations the next time any change is made to the existing bylaws, or when new bylaws are adopted. | In Committee |
| A961 | Provides a corporation business tax credit for investment in certain manufacturing equipment, facility renovation, modernization, and expansion. | This bill allows a corporation business tax credit for 20 percent of the costs of certain manufacturing equipment installed at a manufacturing facility in this State and 20 percent of the costs of improvements or additions that result in the renovation, modernization, or expansion of a manufacturing facility in this State. The bill provides that expenditures for certain manufacturing equipment, facility renovation, modernization, and expansion for which a credit is allowed under this bill are not to be considered expenditures for which a credit is allowed under the New Jobs Investment Tax Credit, the Manufacturing and Employment Investment Tax Credit, the Research and Development Credit, or the Effluent Treatment and Conveyance Equipment Credit. The bill defines "manufacturing equipment" as machinery, apparatus or equipment, including, but not limited to, any machinery, apparatus, or equipment employing an advanced technological process, used in the production of tangible personal property that is eligible for the sales tax exemption for manufacturing equipment. The bill defines a "manufacturing facility" as a business location, including, but not limited to, a factory, mill, or plant, at which more than 50 percent of the business personal property that is housed in the facility is manufacturing equipment. | In Committee |
| A1033 | Establishes program to foster improvements in customer service in State government agencies. | The residents of the State of New Jersey expect the best possible customer service from their State government. The Statewide customer service initiative established by this bill will ensure continued improvements across all State agencies by giving our State employees the leadership, guidance, training, and the tools they need to provide excellent customer service. This bill is based on a program established in the state of Maryland. This bill requires each State agency to develop a written customer service improvement plan as well as customer service standards. The plan is required to be developed by the first day of the sixth month following the effective date of this act. The plan is required to be reviewed annually, and modified if necessary. The bill requires that the initial plan, and any subsequently modified plans, be submitted to the Office of Innovation, the Governor, and the Legislature within 30 days of completion. Additionally, this bill requires each agency to create appropriate customer service training, review, and adjust when necessary, business hours, and include customer service goals when conducting employee performance evaluations. This bill also requires that each State agency plan be reviewed annually by a panel comprised of State government officials appointed by the Governor. The bill requires the panel to report to the Governor any recommendations and customer service improvement data. The metrics used to track improvement are required to be publicly available on the website of the Department of State. In addition, this bill requires each State agency to display the Customer Service Promise prominently in State agency offices and on agency websites. Following the Customer Service Promise, the bill requires the website of each agency to provide a comment section, a customer experience survey, and the annual reports on the customer service initiative. This bill also requires each State agency to implement appropriate employee recognition and award programs. The bill requires the Governor, or the Governor's designee, to meet with employees who are agency award recipients at the State House to offer congratulations and appreciation to the employees. Finally, this bill requires the Department of State to prepare an annual report on the Customer Service Initiative, which will include a summary of customer comments, customer survey responses, and measured improvements in service delivery. | In Committee |
| ACR47 | Proposes constitutional amendment to require Statewide calculation of affordable housing obligation. | This amendment to the State Constitution would require that the constitutional affordable housing obligation be calculated at the State level. Currently, municipal affordable housing obligations mandated by the State Constitution are calculated based upon regional housing needs. This amendment would eliminate that requirement. Accordingly, any affordable housing obligation placed on a municipality would no longer be based on regional housing needs. Instead, this amendment would require the Legislature to pass laws providing for the calculation of the affordable housing needs of the entire State. This single number calculation of affordable housing units needed Statewide would represent the exclusive affordable housing obligation required by the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A953 | Establishes standards for domestic violence counseling and creates "Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee." | This bill sets forth certain requirements governing court ordered domestic violence counseling and creates the "Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee" within the Department of Children and Families. Under current law, as part of a final restraining order issued by the court in a domestic violence matter, the court may order the defendant to receive professional domestic violence counseling from either a private source or a source appointed by the court and, in that event, require the defendant to provide the court with documentation of attendance. Under the bill, any domestic violence counseling program in which a defendant participates based on a court order issued in a domestic violence matter would include the following components: (1) risk assessments that identify dynamics of domestic violence and escalating risk factors, and include information provided by the courts; (2) working collaboratively with the courts to support offender accountability, requiring that offenders be held accountable for their behavior, and that offenders are provided with services geared towards behavioral change; (3) information and education concerning the tactics of power and control and the understanding of domestic violence as a domination and control issue; (4) a protocol to demonstrate the defendant's attendance in programming, and additional reporting as requested by the court to support a prompt and effective review by the court for noncompliance; and (5) regular reviews of the program and compliance by the New Jersey Advisory Council on Domestic Violence or the Department of Children and Families for Batterers' Intervention Programs funded by the Department of Children and Families. The bill creates within the Department of Children and Families, the "Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee." The advisory committee is to include representatives from the following: Administrative Office of the Courts, including representatives of the Municipal Court and the Family and Criminal Divisions of Superior Court; Department of Corrections; Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services; Department of Law and Public Safety; Department of Education; domestic violence advocates who represent underserved communities in rural and urban settings; practicing licensed mental health professional; community providers with experience providing treatment to domestic violence perpetrators; a person who has received abuse intervention services; community organizers providing restorative justice practices; and faith community leaders. In consultation with the committee, the Department of Children and Families would select an existing evidence-based, evidence-supported or promising Batterers' Intervention Program model. Based on strategic priorities and subject to the availability of funds, the Department of Children and Families is responsible for funding the selected abuse intervention programs. The Department of Children and Families is to access consultation and technical assistance from selected model developers or other field experts; support the development, refinement, and maintenance of the necessary implementation infrastructure including, but not limited to, model refinement, training, quality improvement, and evaluation; and provide periodic progress updates to the committee on the selected Batterers' Intervention Program model. The domestic violence counseling provisions of this bill embody recommendation 18 of the Report of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence issued June 2016. | In Committee |
| A1018 | Revises requirements for operation of mobile intensive care programs and paramedic licensure. | This bill revises the requirements for the licensure and operation of mobile intensive care units and personnel operating on those units. The bill identifies several new categories of licensure with regard to prehospital care: advanced paramedics; paramedic assistants; mobile intensive care nurses; specialty care transport nurses; paramedic support units; and mobile integrated care units. The bill additionally revises the requirements for paramedic licensure and for licensure of mobile intensive care units. Under the bill, mobile intensive care programs operated by a hospital may provide, in addition to advanced life support services through a mobile intensive care unit, mobile integrated health care and specialty care transport services. Mobile integrated health care is the provision of non-emergent health care services by an advanced paramedic or registered nurse using patient-centered, mobile resources, including alternative treatment modalities in response to non-emergent 9-1-1 calls; providing community paramedicine care, chronic disease management, preventative care, and post-discharge follow-up visits; and providing referrals and transportation assistance to patients who do not require hospital-based treatment. Specialty care transport is the inter-facility transportation of a patient in need of care that exceeds the scope of practice for a basic life support unit, which would ordinarily provide transportation services. The bill authorizes a mobile intensive care unit to be operated by a paramedic operating with another paramedic, a mobile intensive care nurse, or an advanced paramedic, or by an advanced paramedic and a paramedic assistant, which, under the bill, is a professional licensed to provide intermediate life support. Specialty care transport units would be staffed by a specialty care transport nurse and at least one other professional certified as an emergency medical technician (EMT). The bill additionally authorizes paramedic support units, which would be staffed by at least one advanced paramedic and used to provide both mobile integrated health care and support to mobile intensive care units responding to an emergency call. Units may hold multiple licenses at one time, provided that they meet the qualification requirements for each type of license held. The bill will not revise the current requirements for a hospital to be authorized to develop and provide a mobile intensive care program or the primary response areas in which hospitals are authorized to provide services. The bill establishes in, but not of, the Department of Health, the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Oversight Board. The ALS Oversight Board will be responsible for: (1) establishing and maintaining written standards for the licensure of paramedics, advanced paramedics, and paramedic assistants; (2) establishing education or equivalency standards for advanced paramedics and standards for the approval of advanced paramedic training programs; (3) establishing and maintaining written standards for the acknowledgement of mobile intensive care nurses and specialty care transport nurses; (4) establishing the scope of practice and medical protocols for paramedic assistants and paramedics; (5) approving medical protocols for advanced paramedics; (6) establishing equivalency standards for approval of out-of-State health care professionals, including paramedics, other emergency medical services personnel, members of the military, and federal law enforcement officers to train and practice in the State; (7) providing advice to the Commissioner of Health concerning the promulgation of regulations and on other aspects concerning advanced life support, mobile integrated health care, specialty care transport, and other aspects of prehospital care; and (8) such other duties as are expressly provided under the bill. The membership of the board will comprise the agency directors and agency medical directors of mobile intensive care programs authorized to operate in the State, as well as two paramedics, one mobile intensive care nurse, and one specialty care transport unit nurse. Agency medical directors are board-certified emergency physicians who provide medical oversight for a hospital mobile intensive care program, while agency operational directors are paramedics, or nurses holding a valid EMT certification, who are responsible for oversight and administration of the program's mobile intensive care units, mobile integrated care units, and specialty care transport units. Each mobile intensive care program is required to have both an agency director and an agency medical director. The chair of the board, who will be appointed by the Commissioner of Health and will serve at the commissioner's pleasure, is required to be a licensed physician who is board certified in emergency medicine or emergency medical services. In general, the scope of practice and protocols authorized for a given paramedic, advanced paramedic, paramedic assistant, mobile intensive care nurse, specialty care transport nurse, mobile intensive care unit, paramedic support unit, mobile integrated care unit, or specialty care transport unit will be authorized by that professional's or unit's agency medical director, consistent with standards established by the ALS Oversight Board and subject to board approval. However, the ALS Oversight Board will have exclusive authority to determine the scope of practice for advanced paramedics. Advanced paramedics will be required, at a minimum, to hold a bachelor's degree in paramedicine; however, until bachelor's degree programs in paramedicine become available in New Jersey, the ALS Oversight Board will have the authority to establish the minimum education, training, and experience requirements for licensure. The board will continue to have the authority to establish these requirements even after an accredited paramedicine degree program becomes available in the State and the degree becomes a minimum requirement for advanced paramedic licensure. The bill repeals sections 1 through 14 of P.L.1984, c.146 (C.26:2K-7 et seq.), which set forth the current licensing and operational requirements for mobile intensive care units, and P.L.1985, c.351 (C.26:2K-21 et seq.), which established the now obsolete EMT-intermediate pilot program. It is the sponsor's belief that this bill will foster an enhanced and more dynamic system of prehospital care in the State through the use of a diversified licensing structure, community-based mobile integrated health care designed to prevent unnecessary hospital utilization, and additional types of mobile care units, including mobile integrated care units and paramedic support units. It is the sponsor's hope that this new system of prehospital care will increase access to care by improving paramedic distribution and allowing faster response times, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the State emergency medical services system, and that this reformed system of prehospital care may lead to other innovative healthcare solutions that may become available and prudent as the healthcare care delivery system evolves. | In Committee |
| A1727 | Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service. | This bill would expand upon current law to provide that disabled veterans would be entitled to free admission to State parks and forests. In addition, this bill provides that persons with any of the following types of military service would also be entitled to free admission to State parks and forests and to free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, tags, and certificates: (1) a member of a unit of the organized reserve of the Armed Forces of the United States which is located in New Jersey; (2) an active duty member of any branch or department of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a resident of the State or who is based or stationed in the State regardless of residency; and (3) a retired member of the New Jersey National Guard. Finally, this bill provides that the benefits authorized in the bill and in current law would apply to both residents and nonresidents of the State who meet the established criteria for active or former military status. Current law provides that active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training may obtain free admission to State parks and forests as well as free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, tags, and certificates. Current law also provides that disabled veterans qualify for free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, tags, and certificates but not free admission to State parks and forests. | 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 |
| A434 | Establishes "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of Individuals." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of Individuals." The bill accords the citizens of the State of New Jersey with the following rights during a pandemic, a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease, or a declared public health emergency: (1) to have effective safeguards in place to protect a resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility or a person with a preexisting condition against an infectious disease that is the basis of the pandemic or declared public health emergency; (2) to be fully evaluated and treated in a health care facility, and not to be released from that facility without knowing whether one has tested positive for an infectious disease that is the basis of the pandemic or declared public health emergency, thereby depriving one of care and further spread of disease; (3) to receive adequate nourishment, medical care, and other necessities from a properly staffed health care facility, as a patient of that facility; (4) to be provided appropriate physical and occupational therapies and to be periodically moved to prevent debilitating wounds if a patient is confined to a bed; (5) to be permitted visitation as a patient or resident of a health care facility in accordance with the need for proper support by family or loved ones; (6) to have safeguards implemented by a health care facility to protect against the infectious disease that is the basis of the pandemic or declared public health emergency; (7) to have the needs and wishes stated in a legal or medical directive met without government interference or mandates that prohibit health care professionals from carrying out such directive, including, but not limited to, do not resuscitate orders; (8) to have attorneys designated as essential workers and to have attorney offices remain open during a pandemic, a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease, or a declared public health emergency; and (9) to have full access to legal services and have the ability to visit an attorney's office during a pandemic, a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease, or a declared public health emergency. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to publish a notice of the rights enumerated in the bill, and to make the notice available to the public on the Department of Health's Internet website. All health care facilities, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities, are to post a copy of the notice in a conspicuous location that is available to the public. | In Committee |
| A969 | Requires COAH to calculate affordable housing obligations on Statewide basis. | This bill would change the calculation of affordable housing obligations to a Statewide perspective rather than a local level. In addition, under the bill, the Council on Affordable Housing would submit a report every five years on housing affordability. The report would calculate the ratio of the median cost, including property taxes, mortgage rates and payments, insurance, cost of utilities, and other necessary factors in the discretion of the council, to maintain the home to the median income for the State. This report would be used to update the growth-share calculation each time the council issues a report. | In Committee |
| A999 | Criminalizes act of "stealthing"; removing or tampering with a condom during sexual activity without consent of one's sexual partner. | The bill would criminalize the act of "stealthing": deliberately removing or tampering with a condom, before or during an act of sexual penetration, without the consent of a sexual partner. Under the bill, it would be a crime of the third degree if, before or during an act of sexual penetration with another person, the actor knowingly and without the consent of the other person: Removes the condom; Tampers with or damages the condom; or Uses a condom that the actor knows has been tampered with or damaged. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both This bill is similar to California bill AB1033, which was introduced in that state in February 2017. | In Committee |
| A2050 | Applies law governing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action to gubernatorial transition staff members. | This bill applies the laws governing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action to gubernatorial transition staff. In 1969, New Jersey enacted "The Gubernatorial Transition Act" in order "to promote the orderly transfer of the executive power in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a Governor and the inauguration of a new Governor." Although staff members of the Governor-elect's transition office receive compensation through the Department of the Treasury, the act specifically states that members of the gubernatorial transition staff are not considered State employees, except with regard to the Public Employees' Retirement System and the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law. This bill would amend that law to also apply the laws governing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action to gubernatorial transition staff members. | In Committee |
| A948 | Bars certain employees of certain public agencies from participating in PERS; repeals law permitting PERS and TPAF members on leave who work for labor organization to purchase pension credit. | The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the eligibility for enrollment in any State-administered retirement system, such as the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), for newly hired officers and employees, and for the continued enrollment of those who have less than 10 years of service credit in the retirement system, of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (N.J.S.A.40:48-22), the New Jersey Association of Counties, the New Jersey School Boards Association (N.J.S.A.18A:6-48), any school board insurance group (N.J.S.A.18A:18B-3), any county college joint insurance group (N.J.S.A.18A:64A-25.35), any county or municipal joint insurance fund (N.J.S.A.40A:10-38), and any corporation designated to manage a special improvement district established by municipal ordinance (N.J.S.A.40:56-68). Officers or employees who are enrolled in a retirement system before the bill's effective date, have 10 or more years of service credit in the retirement system on that effective date, and who continue to serve that particular organization, association, group, fund or corporation without a break would not be affected by the bill. As a result of this bill, the entities noted above will not be considered public agencies with regard to their new officers and employees and current officers and employees with less than 10 years of pension service credit and, thus, these officers and employees will no longer be eligible for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program. In addition, the bill amends the PERS law (N.J.S.A.43:15A-7) to prohibit any officer or employee of a nonprofit organization that is an educational foundation, or substantially similar entity, created by or on behalf of an institution of higher education in this State for the purpose of receiving donations from becoming a member of the PERS on the basis of that employment. In addition, the bill repeals two sections of law that permit members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and the Public Employees' Retirement System to continue to make contributions for service credit while on an approved leave of absence as an officer or representative of a local, county, or State labor organization which represents, or is affiliated with an organization which represents, public employees. The contributions are based upon the compensation that would have been received by the member under the negotiated salary guide of the employer granting the leave had that member remained in service with that employer, including applicable normal increments and negotiated wage increases occurring during the period of the leave. The TPAF law was enacted in 1989; the PERS law was enacted in 2005. | In Committee |
| A996 | Requires county clerks to send confirmation notice to vote-by-mail applicant that requests mail-in ballot at separate mailing address than address at which applicant is registered to vote. | This bill requires county clerks to send a confirmation notice to vote-by-mail applicants that requests a mail-in ballot at a separate mailing address than the address at which the applicant is registered to vote. Under current law, an applicant to vote-by-mail can request that a mail-in ballot be sent to a separate mailing address than the address at which the applicant is registered to vote. However, a notice to the applicant at the registration address confirming the address where an applicant's mail-in ballot will be sent is not required. Under the bill, county clerks will be required to send a confirmation notice to inform vote-by-mail applicants that a mail-in ballot has been requested at a separate mailing address than the applicant's voting residence. The confirmation notice will be required to contain instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials to remedy a false request or correct any other inaccurate information contained in the confirmation notice. | In Committee |
| A983 | Prohibits service repair contractors from charging hourly rates for travel time. | This bill makes it an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for a person to charge a consumer an hourly fee for time spent traveling to or from the consumer's residence or other location pursuant to a service repair contract. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations 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 Committee |
| A288 | Establishes independent State Office of Consumer. | This bill establishes the independent State Office of the Consumer in the Legislative Branch of State Government. The head of the office will be a director who will serve a term of six years. The director will be appointed the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Senate Minority Leader and the Assembly Minority Leader by consensus and be a person qualified by education, training, and prior work experience to direct the work of the office and to perform the duties and functions and fulfill the responsibilities of the position. The Office of the Consumer will be responsible for conducting routine, periodic, and random phone call assessments of local government, school district, and State offices and the offices of regulated health insurance companies by calling those offices to determine the responsiveness and accessibility of the office. The office will also be responsible for periodic assessments of the websites of local government, school district, and State offices and the offices of regulated health insurance companies and by assessing the user-friendliness of the websites. The director will make monthly reports to the Legislature and the Governor that include the frequency and ease of reaching a live person to speak to when calling offices and the ease of finding information and user-friendliness of the websites visited during the reporting period. | In Committee |
| A957 | Requires NJT to adopt plan to evacuate passengers when rail passenger vehicle becomes immobilized in tunnel. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to adopt a contingency plan in the event that a rail passenger train or light rail vehicle owned or operated by NJ Transit becomes immobilized inside of a tunnel. The plan is to provide that NJ Transit exercise due diligence to safely relocate the train or vehicle to a location outside of the tunnel within one hour of the immobilization. If that is not possible, the plan is to require NJ Transit to exercise due diligence to safely evacuate the passengers from the train or vehicle and relocate them to a location outside of the tunnel within one hour of the immobilization. If NJ Transit fails to safely evacuate and relocate the passengers within one hour, NJ Transit is required to issue a report and to appear before any legislative committee, upon request by that committee, explaining why NJ Transit failed to meet the required timeframe. | In Committee |
| A997 | Creates Public Employee Pension and Health Care Benefits Reform Task Force. | This bill is one component of a three-part package that is essential to ensuring New Jersey's long-term fiscal viability. The package will responsibly require a return to full pension payments, cover a portion of the costs with health benefit reforms, and create a task force to oversee implementation and resolve issues of detail. The viability and affordability of New Jersey's public pension and health benefit systems are integral to the State's overall fiscal condition and thus bear strongly on other key areas of concern, from funding priorities, such as school aid, hospital aid and safety-net programs, to controlling and reducing property taxes. This bill creates a Public Employee Pension and Health Care Benefits Reform Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to make decisions on, and develop the terms, conditions, components, and transition periods for those decisions made, as the task force determines to be required to implement, the essential elements of the recommendations set forth by the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission in the reports issued on February 24, 2015 and on February 11, 2016, entitled, "A Roadmap to Resolution: Report of the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission" and "Supplemental Report on Health Benefits," respectively. The task force is to develop the details for the recommendations to such a comprehensive degree and level as to readily enable the drafting of appropriate and necessary legislation to implement the recommendations and the timely initiation of such executive and administrative actions under authority of current law as may be appropriate and necessary to implement the recommendations. Specifically, the task force is required to review, analyze, and make determinations on the issues that need to be resolved in order to decide the terms, conditions, components, and transition periods of the recommendations in the broad areas of pensions and health care benefits reform. The task force will also, after making its determinations on the essential elements of the recommendations, review, analyze, and make determinations on the issues the commission set forth as "additional thoughts." Particular attention is to be given to the components of health care benefits plans and programs set forth for consideration and how those components should be implemented by local government units and local boards of education for the health care benefits plans and programs they provide to their public employees and how the State can ensure that they are implemented to the extent feasible and practicable and that local government units and boards of education have the resources to achieve comprehensive consideration and implementation. If the task force determines that it is not feasible, practical, or cost-effective to implement a recommendation or that an issue cannot be resolved, the task force must set forth in detail, in its report, each such recommendation or issue, the analysis or calculations conducted, and its final determination on each such recommendation or issue. The task force must also include in its report the relevant factors considered during discussion, points of agreement and disagreement concerning the recommendation or issue discussed, and the reasons for any determination that an issue cannot be resolved. The task force will consist of seven members as follows: The State Treasurer who shall serve ex officio, or a designee; One member, to be appointed by the Governor, of the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission, or a designee; One member, to be appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the majority representative for collective negotiations purposes representing the greatest number of State employees in this State; One member, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, upon the recommendation of the majority representative for collective negotiations purposes representing the greatest number of local employees in this State who are not local uniformed public safety employees; One member, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of a majority representative for collective negotiations purposes representing local uniformed public safety employees in this State; One member, to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, upon the recommendation of an organization of local governments; and One member, to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of an organization of local governments. All appointments must be made not later than the 30th day after the bill's operative date, and the task force is to hold its first meeting within 15 days after the appointment of a majority of its members. The State Treasurer will serve as chairperson of the task force. The task force will be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The task force is to issue an interim report to the Governor and the Legislature within three months following its first meeting, and issue its final report within seven months following its first meeting. The task force will remain active for one year following the submittal of its final report so that it may consider and respond to any written request submitted to it by a legislator or officer or employee of the Executive Branch of State government on any issue, item, or decision set forth in its report. This bill will take effect immediately but shall remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 69 of 2020 or a substantially similar amendment to the New Jersey Constitution. New Jersey's State-administered retirement systems are collectively in a dire state of underfunding. There is no serious disagreement among policymakers that regular State payments must be made in amounts as close as possible to the actuarially required contribution until full payments can be made on a sustained basis. The only significant disagreement is on which course of action to take in funding those contributions: to do the responsible work of identifying how to pay for them, or to simply create a constitutional mandate to make the contributions without a credible plan to cover the cost. Yet history has shown that when State officials fail to plan for the costs they incur, the taxpayers suffer the consequences. This bill is part of a comprehensive plan to take the responsible approach. This plan is to move health benefits for public employees closer to those that most workers for large companies receive, and mandate that the resulting savings go toward paying down New Jersey's pension debt. Retirement system changes will also ensure that pension system costs will not again balloon unaffordably. Without such changes to public employee benefits, it will be mathematically impossible to make full pension payments in the short term except with extreme cuts in State services or in priorities such as education aid, or raising taxes to a level that would pummel the State's taxpayers and stunt its economy. The Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission estimated that the amount of money needed would equal raising the sales tax to 10 percent or increasing income taxes by 29 percent. Anything close to those levels of taxation would be clearly disastrous, wiping out jobs and pushing even more families out of the State. Those who claim that full pension payments can be made without reforming benefits owe it to the tax-paying public to be honest with them about how they, the taxpayers, will pay the cost. Responsible policymakers will show taxpayers their plan in advance, rather than take the tragically common route of cementing a huge fiscal obligation first, and only later sending them the bill. Common sense and mathematics make clear the need for benefit reform, but confirmation also comes from the nonpolitical agencies that assess New Jersey's finances. Moody's Investors Service wrote in April 2015: "Without meaningful structural changes to the state's budget, such as pension reform that dramatically improves pension affordability, the state's structural imbalance will continue to grow, and the state's [credit] rating will continue to fall." S&P Global wrote in August 2015: "A positive rating action or outlook revision would require the implementation of credible pension reform." The package of which this measure is a part is designed to ensure the continuation of retirement and health benefits for public employees in a fiscally responsible manner that will protect all New Jersey residents from the calamitous results of failure to properly address the State's most serious and pressing budgetary issues. | In Committee |
| A977 | Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill indexes for inflation the taxable income brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. This adds to the State personal income tax a common-sense taxpayer protection called inflation indexing that has been provided under the federal income tax since the 1980s. Inflation indexing means that tax brackets are revised annually to reflect nominal price and wage increases that result from inflation. When tax brackets are not indexed for inflation it results in what is called "bracket creep," which is an increase in effective tax rates caused by inflation. Higher income can bump a taxpayer into the next tax bracket, even if that higher income is merely keeping pace with inflation. A lack of inflation adjustment can also push more of a taxpayer's income into the highest bracket for which they qualify. The final result is a tax increase that occurs without any legislation being passed. Indexing addresses this by altering each bracket level each year by the level of annual inflation. Under this bill the inflation adjustment for taxable income brackets is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This is the same measure of inflation that is used for indexing the taxable income brackets under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill compares an annual inflation measure from the year prior to the one for which taxes will be imposed to a base year measure from the year prior to the one in which the bill is enacted. This delay allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the adjusted amounts when the tax year begins. | In Committee |
| A1443 | Establishes procedures for disqualification from public office or employment upon conviction of certain crimes; creates registry. | This bill would amend N.J.S.2C:51-2 concerning forfeiture of public office, position or employment upon conviction of certain criminal offenses. Currently under subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:51-2 a court shall enter an order of forfeiture when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty in State court, or upon application of a county prosecutor or Attorney General when the criminal offense is based on another state's law or federal law. Currently under subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:51-2 any person convicted of an offense "involving or touching" his public office, position, or employment is forever disqualified from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit in the State or any of its administrative or political subdivision. This bill would establish a procedure for disqualification in subsection d. similar to the procedure set out in N.J.S.2C:51-2 under subsection b. concerning forfeiture. The bill would require that the court order concerning the disqualification of employment set forth in subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:51-2 be entered at the same time the court enters the order of forfeiture set forth in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:51-2. However, if the conviction is for an offense under the laws of another state or of the United States, the county prosecutor or the Attorney General would be required to make an application to a Superior Court judge designated by the Chief Justice for a disqualification order. This disqualification order would be deemed to have taken effect on the date the person was found guilty by the trier of fact or pled guilty to the offense. The Administrative Office of the Courts would be required to establish and maintain a central registry of all persons who have had disqualification orders entered pursuant to subsection d of the statute. | In Committee |
| A1326 | Requires health insurance coverage for annual mental health screening. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and the State Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for an annual mental health screening. The provisions of the bill will take effect 90 days after the date of enactment and will apply to all health benefits plans issued or renewed on or after that date. | In Committee |
| A2515 | Upgrades domestic violence-related assault under certain circumstances. | This bill provides for a enhanced gradation scheme fir certain assaults against a person, in the course of committing an act of domestic violence, or in the course of committing contempt of a domestic violence restraining order. This gradation scheme will take into account the infliction of serious bodily injury or bodily injury in the course of violating a domestic violence restraining order. The penalties range from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the first degree, depending on the circumstances: · It would be a crime of the first degree if a person commits an aggravated assault by attempting to cause serious bodily injury to another or causing such injury purposely or knowingly or under extreme indifference to the value of human life recklessly causing such injury. (Subparagraph (a) of paragraph (13) of subsection b.)· It would be a crime of the second degree if a person commits an aggravated assault by attempting to cause or purposely or knowingly causing bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon. (Subparagraph (b) of paragraph (13) of subsection b.)· It would be a crime of the third degree (but the presumption of non-imprisonment would not apply) if a person recklessly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon or if the person knowingly, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, points a firearm at or in the direction of another, whether or not the actor believes it to be loaded. (Subparagraph (c) of paragraph (13) of subsection b.)· It would be a crime of the fourth degree (but the presumption of non-imprisonment would not apply) if the person commits a simple assault. A person is guilty of simple assault if he attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another, or negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, or attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. (Subparagraph (d) of paragraph (13) of subsection b.) A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10-20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. 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 |
| A2512 | Clarifies that first aid, ambulance or rescue squads, as entities, have immunity from civil damages in certain circumstances. | This bill provides immunity from civil liability to all first aid, rescue, and emergency squads, as entities, in certain circumstances. Current law provides civil immunity to: (1) individual members of first aid, rescue, or emergency squads, regardless of whether they receive reimbursement; (2) volunteer first aid, rescue, and emergency squads, as entities; and (3) first aid, rescue, or emergency squads, as entities, regardless of whether they receive reimbursement, for acts or omissions committed while in training for or in the rendering of advanced life support services. The immunity conferred by current law does not extend to nonvolunteer squads, as entities, for acts or omissions committed while in training for or providing services other than advanced life support services. | In Committee |
| A3197 | Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from $1 million to $4 million; establishes dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund. | This bill increases the amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) from $1 million to $4 million. The bill also establishes a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the Department of the Treasury. In doing so, the bill prioritizes funding for cancer research in an equivalent manner as State funding for spinal cord and brain injury research. Dedicated State funding for these two causes generally ranges from approximately $4 million to $6 million annually. The NJCCR promotes significant and original research in New Jersey into the causes, prevention, treatment and palliation of cancer and serves as a resource to providers and consumers of cancer care and treatment services. Currently, under statute, the NJCCR annually receives $1.0 million of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues. This money is deposited into an existing lapsing Cancer Research Fund and then appropriated to the commission. In recent years, pursuant to the annual appropriations act, this money has been transferred from the Cancer Research Fund to the General Fund. The appropriations act then provides the NJCCR funding via a budget line. Despite the statutory requirement, in FY 2020 and FY 2021, the NJCCR was appropriated $2.0 million in funding. Under the bill, the existing Cancer Research Fund is replaced by a non-lapsing, revolving fund. This fund is to be the repository of the $4.0 million of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues deposited into the account under the bill and any other funds approved by the Department of Health or the commission. Moneys deposited in the fund, and any interest earned thereon, are to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing grants for cancer research projects authorized and approved by the commission, as well as any other commission responsibilities authorized under State law. The State Treasurer is the custodian of the fund and all disbursements from the fund are to be made by the State Treasurer upon vouchers signed by the chairperson of the commission or the chairperson's designee. The monies in the fund are to be invested and reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury in the same manner as other trust funds in the custody of the State Treasurer, in the manner provided by law. Interest received on the monies in the fund are to be credited to the fund. | In Committee |
| A1156 | Establishes Office of Child Advocate. | This bill establishes the Office of the Child Advocate in, but notof, the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS). The bill provides that the child advocate would seek to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, and that children under State supervision due to abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Child Advocate would be deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill allows the Child Advocate to: investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response on, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State; inspect and review the operations, policies, and procedures of juvenile detention centers, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for the care of abused or neglected children, shelters for the care of juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis cases, shelters for the care of homeless youth, or independent living arrangements; and any other public or private residential setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, or children who receive child protective or permanency services; review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children at risk of abuse or neglect by conducting research audits or other studies of case records, policies, procedures, and protocols, as deemed necessary by the child advocate to assess the performance of the entities; receive, investigate, and make referrals to other agencies or take other appropriate actions with respect to a complaint received by the office regarding the actions of a State, county or municipal agency, or a State-funded private entity providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect; hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the office, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the child advocate deems appropriate; establish and maintain a 24 hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the child advocate, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies and contract services, protect children; and intervene in or institute litigation, or intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children. The bill provides that the Child Advocate would seek to ensure the protection of children who are in an institution or resource family home by reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring the operation and activities of the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit in the Department of Children and Families. The bill also provides that the Child Advocate would report annually to the Governor, Attorney General, and Legislature on: the activities of the office; priorities for children's services that have been identified by the child advocate; and recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, and are in State or institutional custody, or receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities, and make the annual report available to the public and post the report on DLPS's website. | In Committee |
| A2490 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| A1003 | Requires assisted living residences and certain facilities under DCA, DCF, and DHS to be equipped with standby emergency power generators. | This bill requires the use of standby emergency power generators in assisted living residences and boarding homes, including residential health care facilities, which are licensed by the Departments of Health (DOH) and Community Affairs (DCA), respectively, and in other facilities that are sponsored by the Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Human Services (DHS). Specifically, the bill provides that assisted living residences and boarding homes, including residential health care facilities, licensed after the effective date of the bill are to be equipped with a standby emergency power generator in the event of a power outage. For existing assisted living residences and, boarding homes, including residential health care facilities, the bill requires that they be equipped with the generators within 90 days of the effective date. For facilities sponsored by DCF and DHS, the bill similarly requires that facilities sponsored on or after the effective date of the bill be equipped with emergency standby generators, and also provides a 90-day period for existing facilities to comply with the requirement. The bill lists the following facilities in DCF: a psychiatric community home for children; residential child care facility; and any other residential facility in the State sponsored by DCF to provide residential services to persons under 21 years of age with special needs (which is defined as a physical or mental disability or medical care need), and also lists the following facilities in DHS: community residences for the developmentally disabled, mentally ill, and persons with head injuries; State psychiatric facilities; facilities (which are defined in current law as facilities operated by any public or private agency, organization or institution for the provision of services for persons with developmental disabilities); and any other residential facility in the State providing diagnosis, care, or treatment of persons with mental illness or developmental disabilities. In addition, the bill requires that the standby emergency power generators be checked, tested, and serviced in accordance with generally accepted engineering practices as prescribed by regulations of DOH, DCA, DCF, and DHS. Lastly, the bill has a delayed effective date of the first day of the fourth month following enactment, and provides for administrative action to be taken in advance of that date. | In Committee |
| A1011 | Requires emergency action plans for delivery of oxygen to patient residences during public health emergency. | This bill requires providers of residential use oxygen and oxygen delivery systems to prepare and adopt emergency action plans in the event of a public health emergency. The purpose of the emergency action plan is to set forth the procedures that will be followed by a pharmacy or any other provider in the event of a public health emergency in order to: (1) ensure the availability of oxygen to that patient, to the maximum extent practicable; and (2) be responsive to inquiries or requests made concerning the patient's need for, or receipt of, oxygen or an oxygen delivery system. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to notify both pharmacies and other licensed providers of oxygen or oxygen delivery systems in the State of the requirements of this bill. The director is also required to adopt regulations, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management, to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1118 | Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. | The bill revises the gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and is designated as the Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. As is common with progressive income tax structures, a marriage penalty occurs when married taxpayers, who would have otherwise faced a lower income tax liability by remaining single and filing individual tax returns, face a higher tax liability due to their marital status and filing their taxes jointly. For the sake of tax equity, the bill would amend the tax brackets for those filing jointly to align the tax brackets with those imposed on taxpayers filing individual tax returns. These changes would lower the gross income tax liability of most joint filers. The bill accomplishes eliminating the so-called marriage penalty by making the following changes to the tax brackets of joint filers:· Taxable income up to $40,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.40 percent. · Taxable income over $40,000 but not over $70,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.75 percent. The bill would take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. | In Committee |
| A1106 | Allows gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and home repairs made to taxpayer's primary residence. | This bill provides State taxpayers with a gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and repair and maintenance performed on a taxpayer's primary residence. Specifically, a taxpayer may claim a deduction for all: "functional improvement expenses" paid by the taxpayer for expenses incurred for the purpose of considerably prolonging the useful life of the taxpayer's primary residence and materially improving the operating condition of the taxpayer's primary residence; and for all "repair and maintenance expenses" paid by the taxpayer for work performed on that taxpayer's primary residence in order to maintain the property in an ordinarily efficient operating condition. The term "primary residence" means a residence located in this State that is actually and continually occupied as a taxpayer's permanent residence, including mobile homes and co-op units. Improvements that adapt all or part of a residence for new uses (e.g., renovating a basement), remodel an aspect of a residence for aesthetic purposes, or that do not concern an essential aspect of the habitability of the residence do not qualify for this deduction. The gross income tax deduction made available by this bill covers expenses incurred by a property owner or a property renter. This bill does not impose a limit on the amount of expenses that may be claimed by a taxpayer for a taxable year. However, if a married couple files separate tax returns, they each may claim half of the same functional improvement or repair and maintenance expense. This mechanism allows both spouses to benefit from the deduction made available by this bill while avoiding potential "double-dipping." This bill eases the burdens placed on New Jersey taxpayers associated with maintaining a home. By offering this gross income tax deduction, this bill encourages investing in our homes, promotes the safety and welfare of our communities, and encourages more individuals to reside in this State. | In Committee |
| A951 | Requires uniform response procedures for all domestic crisis teams established or participated in by law enforcement agencies, and strengthens Statewide supervision over teams. | This bill concerns the training and oversight of domestic crisis teams established or participated in by law enforcement agencies. Domestic crisis teams may include social workers, clergy, or other persons trained in counseling, crisis intervention, or treating domestic violence victims, or elderly or disabled victims of neglect or abuse. The bill would require that procedures for activating domestic violence crisis teams would be included in the training course and curriculum on handling, investigating, and responding to reports of domestic violence and abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled, that was previously prepared, and is revised from time to time as needed, by the State's Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety. With respect to the new response procedures to be developed, the bill as amended would establish greater uniformity for future domestic crisis team responses. Currently, there are inconsistencies in how and when the services of domestic crisis teams are made available to victims. The bill provides that the training course and curriculum would include procedures to be followed in activating the services of domestic violence crisis teams. Under the bill, the domestic violence crisis team would be activated in response to any incident related to domestic violence unless any of the following circumstances apply, in which case activation of the domestic violence crisis team would be in the discretion of the law enforcement agency: (a) any dispute concerning child custody or parenting time that does not result in an act of domestic violence; (b) if the victim is intoxicated, under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, or otherwise incoherent; (c) if both parties are arrested for an offense related to domestic violence; (d) if the victim exhibits behavior that is violent, combative, or abusive and may put the responder at risk; (e) if a party is a victim of sexual assault that requires the activation of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE) or Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) at an approved SANE or SART location; or (f) if the victim will not be returning to law enforcement headquarters or another designated area. The bill would also strengthen oversight over domestic violence crisis teams by providing that law enforcement agency actions to (1) establish or participate in a domestic violence crisis team, and (2) train all individual officers participating in a team, would be done under the supervision of the State's Division of Criminal Justice. The bill provides that, in the discretion of the law enforcement agency, domestic violence crisis teams may be made available to victims whenever law enforcement responds to reports of domestic violence and to reports of abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled related to domestic violence. The bill also correct several technical references to the teams, changing the term "domestic crisis team" to the more precise "domestic violence crisis team." This bill embodies recommendation 9 of the Report of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence issued June 2016. | In Committee |
| A3182 | Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research Charitable Contribution Check-Off Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support cancer research projects that are approved by the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research. All taxpayer contributions will be provided to the commission. The bill does not permit any amount to be retained by the State from contribution amounts to cover administrative costs of the tax return check-off. The commission currently receives funding from more narrow and specific funding sources including: State appropriations from taxpayer donations from three more specific charitable check-offs on the State gross income tax return (Breast Cancer Research Fund, N.J.S.A.54A:9-25.8, Prostate Cancer Research Fund, N.J.S.A.54A:9-25.22, and Lung Cancer Research Fund, N.J.S.A.54A:9-25.27); proceeds from Conquer Cancer license plate sales, N.J.S.A.39:3-27.90, and private donations. The voluntary contributions under this bill will allow for more general taxpayer support for approved scientific research projects which focus on the genetic, biochemical, viral, microbiological, and environmental causes of cancer, and may include, but are not limited to, behavioral, socio-economic, demographic, and psychosocial research or research into methods of clinical treatment; or which focuses on pain management and palliative care for persons diagnosed with cancer. The New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research promotes significant and original research in New Jersey into the causes, prevention, treatment, and palliation of cancer and serves as a resource to providers and consumers of cancer services. Donations made through the commission fund groundbreaking cancer research that focuses on prevention and lifesaving treatments. | In Committee |
| A1718 | Requires prosecutor to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration. | This bill amends Megan's Law to require that the county prosecutors determine a sex offender's risk of re-offense, or tier, prior to the offender's release from incarceration. Currently, many sex offenders are not tiered until they have been released into the community because the offender's residence is a factor that may be considered in determining risk of re-offense. Under current law, the factors relevant to the risk of re-offense, which the prosecutor is required to consider in determining the tier designation, include conditions of release that minimize risk of re-offense such as, whether the offender is residing in a home situation that provides guidance and supervision. In order to enable prosecutors to tier offenders prior to their release from incarceration, the bill removes this factor. | In Committee |
| A979 | Establishes technology transfer assistance program in EDA. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) to establish a technology transfer assistance program to facilitate the dissemination of technology developed through State-funded academic programs and State-subsidized technology businesses, and provide assistance to private technology businesses in transferring technology to commercial applications. The bill allows the authority to elect to contract with a New Jersey institution of higher education or with another qualified entity having an existing technology transfer program to perform a portion or all of the duties in administering the program. The authority may designate the institution of higher education to act on behalf of the authority, and that designation shall be made on the basis of competitive proposals and shall be based on the institution of higher education's comparative experience, effectiveness, and efficiency with respect to its existing technology transfer operations. The bill requires the authority or the institution of higher education, as part of the technology transfer assistance program, to conduct a patentability assessment and evaluation of existing products to determine the marketability of the technology or intellectual property. If the authority or institution of higher education determines that the technology can be protected by patent, the authority is to conduct, or contract with another entity to conduct, a market assessment, including an estimate of market size and an assessment of potential licensees, as well as collecting other pertinent market and industry data. The authority is to gather detailed information on potential licensees and an assessment of the potential licensees' product lines, production, marketing capabilities, if applicable, and financial status. Upon the completion of the assessment, a patent strategy is to be developed, which may include designating technology businesses or other entities in which the authority is to assist in seeking patent protection. | In Committee |
| A2706 | Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations. | This bill provides that any order, rule, or regulation issued by the Governor pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act" will terminate on the 15th day after issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of concurrent resolution. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to the bill for the same emergency. The bill does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act"; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act." | In Committee |
| ACR48 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence of surviving spouse of law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would provide a property tax exemption for the primary residence of a surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer who is killed in the line of duty. The primary residence would be exempt from property taxation as long as the surviving spouse owns and occupies the residence as his or her primary residence, and does not remarry. | In Committee |
| A1032 | Permits school boards to employ advanced practice nurse as medical inspector. | This bill permits a local board of education to employ an advanced practice nurse in order to comply with requirements under current law to appoint a medical inspector for the school district. Under current law, every board of education is required to employ at least one physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery within the State as its medical inspector. This bill amends current law to provide that a board of education will employ a licensed physician or an advanced practice nurse as its medical inspector. | In Committee |
| A954 | Requires settlement agreements concerning equal employment opportunity to be approved by NJT board of directors. | This bill prohibits the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) from entering into any settlement agreement concerning equal employment opportunity or unlawful discrimination unless the settlement agreement is approved by the NJ Transit board of directors. NJ Transit's bylaws only require approval from the board of directors if a settlement agreement involves an amount of money in excess of $500,000. The bill also requires NJ Transit to prepare an annual report that contains the discrimination-related settlement agreements approved in the immediately preceding year, a comparison of discrimination-related settlement agreements approved in the immediately preceding year with the discrimination-related settlement agreements approved in the preceding five years, and an indication of the department or unit subject to the complaint or allegations underlying the discrimination-related settlement agreement. The report is required to be published on NJ Transit's website and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. | 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 |
| A534 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| A995 | Requires person eligible for health care benefits from more than one public entity to choose coverage from only one. | This bill requires that any person holding an appointment, elective office, or employment with the State or any other public employer who is eligible for health care benefits from more than one public entity, because of another public appointment, office, or employment, choose to receive health care benefits from one public entity only. In addition, the person may not accept any amount of money in consideration for filing a waiver of health care benefits. | In Committee |
| A956 | Requires NJT to post certain employment and contract information on its website. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to make publicly available on its website the resume of each employee who is not subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement and whose annual salary is greater than $25,000 and to list the resumes by job title. NJ Transit is required to redact the telephone number, address, electronic mail address, and any other personal contact information of the employee prior to making the employee's resume publicly available on its website. NJ Transit is required to make the resume of an employee employed by NJ Transit on the effective date of the bill and subject to the provisions of the bill publicly available on its website within 30 days of the bill's effective date. NJ Transit is required to make the resume of an employee who commences employment with NJ Transit after the effective date of the bill and subject to the provisions of the bill publicly available on its website within 30 days of the employee commencing employment. NJ Transit is to notify an employee subject to the provisions of the bill and employed by NJ Transit on the effective date of the bill that the employee's resume will be made publicly available on NJ Transit's website. NJ Transit is also required to notify an applicant that, if the applicant is selected and accepts the position and is subject to the provisions of the bill, NJ Transit will make the applicant's resume publicly available on its website. This bill also requires NJ Transit to make certain information publicly available on its website for each contract entered into by NJ Transit after the bill's effective date. NJ Transit is to make the information publicly available on its website within 30 days from when NJ Transit entered into the contract. | In Committee |
| A1093 | Requires third-party disbursement service organization that contracts with local government unit or board of education to post bond against failure to meet obligations. | This bill would require all third-party disbursement service organizations that contract with local government units and boards of education to make payments and execute financial transactions for those purposes to post a bond, in an amount and with sureties approved by the Local Finance Board, with the local government unit or board of education. The bond would be forfeited in the event that the third-party disbursement service organization fails to make payments or execute financial transactions, including federal or State tax deposits, on behalf of the local government unit or board of education. This bill responds to concerns raised in the case of Ameripay, a third-party disbursement service organization used by municipalities as well as other public entities in New Jersey. Ameripay is currently under investigation for fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is alleged that the principals of Ameripay failed to meet payroll obligations of Ameripay clients and also failed to make in excess of $8 million in federal and State tax deposits on behalf of clients. | In Committee |
| A1045 | Requires water purveyors to notify municipalities they service regarding water supply and water quality issues. | This bill requires every water purveyor to file quarterly and annual reports with the municipalities they service regarding the adequacy and water quality of the water furnished to its users. Specifically, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would require every water purveyor that owns or operates a public community water system to submit quarterly and annual reports to the governing body of each municipality within its service area to ensure that these governing bodies are provided with adequate and accurate reports regarding the developed water supply available for local water users. These quarterly reports are to include the following information: (1) the term of the allocation permit; (2) the maximum allowable diversion, expressed in terms of a daily, monthly or annual diversion; (3) the permitted allocation and the specific water sources utilized therefor; (4) whether the water purveyor has exceeded the permitted allocation during any particular time period; and (5) whether the water purveyor is seeking an increase in the water allocation due to planned development projects, and updates of the status of any such projects or applications before the DEP. The reports would also include an annual assessment by the water purveyor, based on service area planning, regarding the timeframe for the anticipated utilization of the entire water allotment in the allocation permit and the need for acquiring an additional water allotment by contract or application to the DEP therefor. Whenever a water purveyor exceeds its permitted allocation, the bill requires the water purveyor to publish a notice of this water usage in at least one newspaper circulating within the affected service area, including an explanation of conservation methods necessary to ensure the continued viability of the public water system and anticipated alternatives for the water purveyor to acquire an additional water allotment by contract or application to the department therefor. The bill also requires every water purveyor to file quarterly sampling reports with the municipalities they service regarding the water quality of the developed water supply available for its users. The compliance sampling reports are required to contain the sampling results for inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, and radionuclides, and be prepared in a format prescribed by and on forms available from the DEP. The bill directs the DEP to adopt rules and regulations to implement the requirements imposed by the bill. These rules and regulations are to specify the responsibilities of water purveyors, whether public or private, with respect to the reporting and notification requirements of the bill. In addition, the bill imposes penalties on water purveyors for violations of the provisions of the bill. A water purveyor who knowingly (1) makes any false or misleading statement on any report or notice required to be submitted under the bill, or (2) fails to submit any report or publish a notice required under the bill, would, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and would be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 for the first offense and not more than $100,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. Lastly, the bill updates the definition section of the law and makes other technical amendments to the "Water Supply Management Act." | 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 |
| A626 | Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain seasonal workers. | This bill alters benefit eligibility conditions for unemployment insurance (UI) for certain seasonal workers. The bill provides that UI benefits payable to a worker in a seasonal industry or occupation will not be paid for any week which commences during a period between two successive seasons of that industry or occupation if the worker performs services in the first of such seasons and there is a reasonable assurance that the worker will perform those services in the second of such seasons. The bill also provides that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development has the authority to designate an industry or occupation as seasonal and determine the length of the regularly recurring period of work during which the seasonal industry or occupation operates. The bill defines "seasonal industry or occupation" as an industry or occupation which customarily operates only during a regularly recurring period of less than 36 weeks of work in a calendar year. However, the bill provides that construction is not included in the definition of "seasonal industry or occupation." | In Committee |
| A973 | Permits veterans, for civil service purposes, to be defined as a veteran or disabled veteran under federal or State definition of veteran. | Under current law, a veteran is eligible for a civil service hiring preference, if the person served during specified dates or in specified locations, and in some instances, for a specific length of time. This bill permits persons who served in the active military of the Armed Forces of the United States and apply for civil service preference on or after the date of enactment of the bill to be defined as a "veteran" or "disabled veteran" for civil service preference, under the federal or the State definitions of "veteran" or "disabled veteran." This bill will not impact the eligibility status of any veteran currently eligible for a civil service preference. The bill will expand the number of veterans eligible for a civil service preference. | In Committee |
| A1016 | Revises emergency care services referral standards for providers of telemedicine and telehealth. | This bill expands the requirements of current law pertaining to emergency care referrals made during a telemedicine or telehealth encounter. This bill provides that if a health care provider observes a patient experiencing a health care emergency while the patient is engaged in a telemedicine or telehealth encounter, the health care provider is to make a good faith effort to: facilitate contact and coordination with local emergency services; and remain on a synchronous connection with the patient, if the emergency arises during a synchronous connection, until emergency services have reached the patient's location or, in the health care provider's clinical judgment, the situation is resolved. The bill requires health care providers to have a written emergency protocol that is appropriate pursuant to the standard of care. The written emergency protocol is to include good faith methods of enabling the health care provider to facilitate the following, if reasonably feasible: furnishing relevant information known by the provider regarding the patient to emergency services to assist in the deployment of emergency services, including the patient's name and location; attempting to learn the patient's approximate location at the time of the observed emergency, if the patient is not within the patient's primary residence and is unaware of his or her current location; and furnishing the patient's contact information to emergency services if the patient's contact information is known and accessible to the healthcare provider. The bill requires a health care provider to report suicide attempts in accordance with applicable State mandatory reporting laws. The health care provider is to, if appropriate, provide a patient with contact information for the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline. | In Committee |
| A989 | Authorizes creation of childhood cancer awareness license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special childhood cancer awareness license plates. The bill provides that the design of the childhood cancer awareness license plate is to display words and images signifying support for childhood cancer awareness. The chief administrator, in consultation with the WITH Grace Initiative, is to select the design and color scheme of the childhood cancer awareness license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the childhood cancer awareness license plates. After deducting the costs of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates, along with any costs incurred because of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Childhood Cancer Awareness License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research for the purpose of supporting childhood cancer research. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the WITH Grace Initiative appoint a liaison to represent the WITH Grace Initiative in all communications with the commission regarding the childhood cancer awareness license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the childhood cancer awareness license plate program. The bill requires the WITH Grace Initiative or an individual or entity designated by the WITH Grace Initiative to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes WITH Grace Initiative 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 license plates, until: (1) the WITH Grace Initiative or the individual or entity designated by the WITH Grace Initiative has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the WITH Grace Initiative liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month following the date on which the conditions established in the bill are met. The bill expires on the last day of the 15th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. The WITH Grace Initiative, founded by pediatric cancer survivor Grace Eline and her parents, was created to make an impact by supporting pediatric cancer research initiatives and families when they need it most. The WITH Grace Initiative collects supplies and gifts to give to less fortunate cancer families so they can focus on the cancer fight, gathers funds to support pediatric cancer research initiatives and cancer family support organizations, and actively participates in advocacy for pediatric cancer funding so no one else has to feel the pain of pediatric cancers. | In Committee |
| A976 | Prohibits certain medical examinations on female patients without informed consent. | This bill prohibits certain medical examinations on female patients without informed consent. Under the bill, a medical student enrolled in a clinical clerkship, post-graduate resident in medical training, or any student is not to perform an examination on an anesthetized or unconscious female patient unless a supervising health care practitioner first obtains the patient's informed consent to the examination, or the performance of the examination is medically necessary. The female patient is to be permitted to choose to undergo an examination prior to or after the administration of anesthesia if the examination is within the scope of the procedure to be performed on the female patient, or if it is determined prior to the procedure that the examination is medically necessary. | In Committee |
| A987 | Establishes compensation limits for licensed public adjusters during certain emergencies. | This bill provides that no individual, firm, association or corporation licensed under the "Public Adjusters' Licensing Act" is to charge, agree to, or accept any compensation in excess of 10 percent of the amount of insurance claim payments made by the insurer for claims based on events that are the result of a catastrophic loss occurrence. This compensation level is to apply to such claims made for a period of one year from the occasion of the designation of the catastrophic loss occurrence. As defined in this bill, "catastrophic loss occurrence" means an occurrence designated by the President of the United States or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or the Governor of New Jersey or the State Office of Emergency Management in the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or any other authorized federal, State or local agency, as an emergency or a disaster and includes, but is not limited to, a flood, hurricane, storm or earthquake. | 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 |
| A1039 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of texting while driving as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of cell phone usage and text messaging while driving aspart of the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction will provide students in grades 9 through 12 with: information concerning the correlation between distracted driving and erratic driving behavior, such as lane-weaving and sudden speed changes, and driving accidents; and statistics concerning the number of driving accidents, injuries and fatalities resulting from cell phone usage and text messaging while driving. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education will provide school districts with sample learning activities and resources designed to promote awareness of the dangers associated with cell phone usage and text messaging while driving. | In Committee |
| A992 | Expands duties of State Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator; establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public members, to help conduct performance audits. | This bill would require the Office of the State Auditor, at the request of a member of the Legislature, to conduct an unannounced performance audit of any program of a State or State-supported agency. Currently, the Office of the State Auditor conducts financial audits of State or State-supported agencies. In contrast, a performance audit examines the economy, efficiency or effectiveness of a specific program of a State or State-supported agency. A single performance audit may examine some or all of these three components of a program. The bill provides that if the State Auditor determines that a request for a performance audit is beyond the capacity of the office of the State Auditor or otherwise unfeasible, the State Auditor has 30 days to provide a written explanation to the member who initiated the request. If the State Auditor and the member cannot agree on modifications to the proposed audit to make it feasible, the request will be forwarded to the Legislative Services Commission for review. The commission will determine whether the audit will be conducted as requested, as modified by the commission, or not at all. The bill also permits the State Auditor to initiate a performance audit, at his or her own discretion, with the approval of the commission. Finally, the bill provides that when conducting performance audits, the State Auditor will, in addition to using the services of the State Auditor's staff, utilize the services of members of the "Performance Audit Committee," established under the bill. The committee will consist of eight members of the public selected by legislative leadership based upon education and experience in the fields of accounting, business administration, or economics. To require the State Auditor to conduct performance audits would not only make the auditing practices of this State consistent with those in other states but also strengthen the system of checks and balances between the Executive and Legislative Branches of State government by enabling the Legislature to monitor the effectiveness of individual State programs. | In Committee |
| A2509 | Revises child pornography law. | This bill revises the State's laws governing child pornography. The bill modifies subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4, concerning "real" child pornography to include: (1) upgrading to a first degree crime for all persons, not just parents and guardians, causing or permitting a child to engage in or simulation of a prohibited sexual act knowing that the act would be photographed or reproduced; (2) explicitly stating that an intent to distribute, advertise, offer or agree to offer is not an element of creating or reproducing child pornography and clarifying that the elements of this offense include producing, creating, copying or duplicating images of child pornography, or posting those images on the Internet; (3) clarifying that possessing child pornography for the purpose of distributing it is a second degree crime and streamlining the definition of "distribute"; (4) upgrading possession of child pornography to a crime of the third degree; and (5) establishing a rebuttable presumption that a person appearing to be a child in a photo, video, or computer file, is in fact an actual child; (6) requiring defendants who intend to defend a charge of child pornography by claiming that it was created without using an actual child, or the face or any of the intimate parts of an actual child, or depicts the image of a person who is not a child, to notify the prosecutor of that claim in accordance with the Rules of Court; and (7) allowing the admissibility of hearsay evidence to be used to establish the existence, identity and age of an actual child depicted in child pornography. The bill also adds a new subsection c. to N.J.S.2C:24-4 to establish the crime of "virtual" child pornography, the provisions of which parallel the provisions of subsection b. concerning "real" child pornography. This new subsection: (1) makes it a crime of the second degree to use any device, including a computer, to produce, create, or reproduce an image which appears to depict a child in a obscene prohibited sexual act or in a simulation of such an act; (2) makes it a crime of the second degree to knowingly distribute obscene virtual child pornography; (3) makes it a crime of the third degree to knowingly possess obscene virtual child pornography; (4) defines an "obscene" depiction to be one in which: a sexual act is patently offensive; lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value when taken as a whole; and is part of a work which, taken as a whole in light of contemporary community standards, appeals to the prurient interest; and (5) specifies that when virtual child pornography is obscene, the defendant is strictly liable; Other provisions of the bill: require defendants to be reviewed for referral to the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center if convicted of certain real and virtual child pornography crimes; prohibit expungement of criminal records; provide for notification to the prosecuting agency and victim when a defendant is placed in a community release program or released from incarceration; and require certain repeat offender's presentence and parole eligibility report to include a complete psychological evaluation for repeat offenders. The bill also eliminates the presumption of nonincarceration, normally applicable to third degree crimes, for the crime of possessing real or virtual child pornography. The bill includes a fixed mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain recidivists who violate N.J.S.2C:24-4. Defendants convicted of engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of a child in violation of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 or of child pornography crimes under subsection b. or c. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 must be sentenced to prison and serve one-third to one-half of their sentences before being eligible for parole if they have previously been convicted of other sex crimes including luring or enticing a child, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, or child endangerment. The bill also makes a prior conviction under N.J.S.2C:24-4 the basis for a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S.2C:14-6, and provides that the minimum term must be imposed regardless of whether the defendant is sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment. Finally, the bill amends various other statutes to ensure that virtual child pornographers are subject to the same penalties as real child pornographers. Thus, wherever a statute specifically refers to a provision of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4, this bill adds subsection c. to the statute. | In Committee |
| A1027 | Revises requirements and process for temporary courtesy licenses and certificates issued by State Board of Examiners, NJ Board of Nursing, and other professional and occupational licensing boards to nonresident military spouses. | This bill revises the requirements and process for the issuance of temporary courtesy licenses and certificates to nonresident military spouses. Current law, P.L.2013, c.68 (C.18A:26-2.14), provides a process for an individual who is licensed to teach in another state and is married to an active duty member of the military, who has been transferred to New Jersey, to obtain a temporary instructional certificate to be employed as a teacher in New Jersey on a temporary basis while completing any additional requirements for a New Jersey instructional certificate. The temporary instructional certificate is valid for 180 days and may be extended by the State Board of Examiners for another 180 days. This bill amends current law to provide that the temporary instructional certificate will be valid for 365 days and will be extended by the State board for another four years if the holder demonstrates progress towards obtaining a standard instructional certificate in a time and manner as determined by the board. The bill also provides that the applicant need only pay a criminal history record check fee. The bill supplements existing law to require the Department of Education to establish procedures to expedite the processing of an application submitted by a nonresident military spouse for a New Jersey instructional certificate. Also under current law, the New Jersey Board of Nursing may grant a temporary courtesy license to a nonresident military spouse only if the applicant holds a current license to practice nursing in another jurisdiction which the board determines has licensure requirements to practice nursing that are equivalent to those adopted by the board. This bill removes the provision that the board is required to determine whether the out-of-State license held by the applicant has requirements equivalent to those adopted by the board. The bill also clarifies that the board may only charge fees related to conducting a criminal history record check. Additionally, the bill requires the board to establish an expedited licensing process for the issuance of temporary courtesy licenses to nonresident military spouses. This bill clarifies that a professional or occupational board may only charge fees related to conducting a criminal history record check to nonresident military spouses. The bill would also require each board to extend indefinitely temporary courtesy licenses to nonresident military spouses so long as the applicant's spouse is stationed in New Jersey. Additionally, the bill requires each board to establish an expedited licensing process for the issuance of temporary courtesy licenses to nonresident military spouses. | In Committee |
| A1462 | Directs BPU to establish program concerning renewable natural gas; provides gas public utilities with customer rate recovery mechanism for costs associated with program. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a renewable natural gas program to encourage gas public utilities (utilities) to procure renewable natural gas and invest in renewable natural gas infrastructure. As part of this program, the bill also requires the BPU to adopt a ratemaking mechanism to allow for the recovery of all costs prudently incurred by a utility under the program. Specifically, the ratemaking mechanism would allow utilities to periodically recover the following costs from ratepayers, subject to approval by the BPU: (1) any capital investments in renewable natural gas infrastructure incurred by the utility for the purpose of providing renewable natural gas service under the program, including the cost of capital, as determined in the utility's most recent rate case, and any other incremental costs associated with these investments; (2) any operating costs incurred by the utility associated with the program; and (3) any costs of procuring renewable natural gas from a third party, including affiliates of the utility. When a utility procures renewable natural gas from a third party, the bill requires the utility to purchase the renewable natural gas supply at prices and on terms consistent with market conditions. The bill also requires the BPU to regulate the charges assessed to customers of the utility for the supply of renewable natural gas, which charges would be based on the utility's cost of providing such supply, including renewable natural gas commodity and capacity costs, as well as any related ancillary and administrative costs. | In Committee |
| AR35 | Urges Congress to examine operations of Amtrak at New York Pennsylvania Station. | This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to examine the operations of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, commonly known as Amtrak, at New York Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station), including determining the advisability of requiring that the commuter rail systems that use Penn Station be involved in the decision-making processes concerning the station. | In Committee |
| A3105 | Allows consumption of food on limited brewery premises. | This bill specifies that the holder of a limited brewery license may allow the consumption of food by consumers on the licensed premises of the brewery. However, the licensee may not bring on the licensed premises, for consumption by consumers, food sold or prepared by a restaurant in which that licensee has a direct ownership interest. "Direct ownership interest" means the ownership or control of more than 5% of the profits, assets, or stock of a business. Under current law, the holder of a limited brewery license is entitled to brew up to 300,000 barrels of 31 fluid gallons capacity per year of malt alcoholic beverages to sell and distribute to wholesalers and retailers. These licensees are authorized to sell their product at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the brewery. The licensee is prohibited under current law from selling food and operating a restaurant on the licensed premises. Under this bill, consumers would be allowed to consume food on the licensed premises of a limited brewery. The bill would allow patrons of limited breweries to purchase food from a vendor not owned by the licensee, or from a restaurant or other type of food vendor off the licensed premises, to be consumed on the licensed premises of the brewery. | In Committee |
| AR34 | Urges NJT to provide locations for telecommuting during repairs to New York Pennsylvania Station and construction of new trans-Hudson rail tunnel. | This resolution urges the New Jersey Transit Corporation (New Jersey Transit) to provide locations for telecommuting during the repairs to New York Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station) and the construction of the new trans-Hudson rail tunnel. The Hudson River rail tunnel and Penn Station have become critical in the connection of New Jersey Transit to the central business districts that impact the nation's economy. Therefore, it is critical during this period of repair and reconstruction to some of the region's most important pieces of rail infrastructure that New Jersey Transit provide an alternative, which should consist of a telecommuting location or locations that are equipped with internet access to be used as work space, for New Jersey Transit rail passengers who may be unable to reach their places of work due to the severe delays in rail service caused by the repairs and reconstruction. | In Committee |
| A974 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures. | This bill provides businesses with credits against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax for certain employer-provided child care expenditures. The bill permits businesses subject to the corporation business tax or the gross income tax to apply a credit against the tax liability otherwise due for a percentage of eligible expenditures made to acquire, construct, reconstruct, renovate, or otherwise improve real property to be used as a qualified child care center. The bill also permits businesses to apply a separate, additional credit for a percentage of eligible expenditures made in connection with the provision of certain child care services. The bill provides that the amount of the credit allowed for the construction of a child care center is equal to 50 percent of the cost paid or incurred by a business to acquire, construct, reconstruct, renovate, or otherwise improve real property in this State that is to be used by the business, or another person under contract or agreement with the business, to conduct, maintain, and operate a qualified child care center primarily for the children of individuals employed by the business. The bill provides that the amount of the credit allowed for the provision of child care services is equal to: -- 50 percent of the cost paid or incurred by a business to conduct, maintain, and operate a qualified child care center of the business that is used primarily by the children of individuals employed by the business; -- 50 percent of the amount paid by a business to another person to conduct, maintain, and operate, under contract or agreement with the business, a qualified child care center of the business that is used primarily by the children of individuals employed by the business; -- 50 percent of the amount paid by a business to another person, under contract or agreement with the business, for the provision of child care to children of individuals employed by the business at a qualified child care center; or -- 10 percent of the cost paid or incurred by a business for the provision, by the business or by another person under contract or agreement with the business, of qualified child care information and referral services to individuals employed by the business. The bill provides that to be eligible to apply the credit for the construction of a child care center a business must make and enter into an agreement with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The bill specifies that the agreement must require the business to demonstrate the intended use and status of the real property acquired, constructed, reconstructed, renovated, or otherwise improved in this State, and require the business to use that property to conduct, maintain, and operate a qualified child care center primarily for the children of individuals employed by the business for a 60-month period. The bill provides that, under the credit for the construction of a child care center, a business may make and file an application with the Director of the Division of Taxation for a tax credit transfer certificate in lieu of being allowed any amount of the credit against the tax liability of the business. The bill specifies that, if issued, the certificate may be sold to a another person that may have a tax liability under certain other State taxes in exchange for private financial consideration, but stipulates that the sale cannot be made for consideration of less than 75 percent of the transferred credit amount. The bill defines a "qualified child care center" as a facility that is licensed as a child care center by the Department of Children and Families, but specifically excludes from that definition facilities licensed by the department if: the principal use of the facility is for some purpose other than the care, development, and supervision of children; the facility is not used on a regular basis to provide for the care, development, and supervision of children; enrollment in the facility is not open to children of individuals employed by the business claiming the credit; or use of the facility is limited or restricted under procedures, criteria, or other systems of selection that unfairly discriminate. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to privilege periods and taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the date of enactment. The purpose of this bill is to encourage New Jersey businesses to take a more active role in the provision of child care to employees and their children. Businesses that are active in providing child care typically have a more engaged and productive workforce and play an integral part in reducing the overall demand for quality, affordable child care in this State. | In Committee |
| A1053 | Reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three years. | The bill reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three taxable years. The purpose of this bill is to lower the gross income tax liabilities of all New Jersey gross income taxpayers while tempering the steep progressivity of the gross income tax liability structure. The bill schedules the gross income tax rate reductions to occur at three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2013, an additional three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2014, and an additional three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2015. After 2015, the bill maintains the total ten percent gross income tax rate reduction for future taxable years. | In Committee |
| A2416 | Concerns credit card interchange fees and consumer protection. | This bill regulates credit card interchange fees. An interchange fee, commonly referred to as a "swipe fee," is a fee paid by a merchant's acquiring bank to a customer-cardholder's issuing bank as part of an electronic payment card transaction. The merchant's bank then passes this fee onto the merchant. There is little competition regarding credit card interchange fee pricing as Visa and MasterCard, the two largest companies in the industry, set the pricing with their member banks and smaller merchants have no negotiating power to change pricing. As consumers increasingly use debit and credit cards to purchase goods and services, merchants must agree to accept these cards as a form of payment in order to stay in business, but often pass along the costs of the interchange fees onto consumers which inflates the prices of goods and services. Current federal law regulates debit card interchange fees but does not address the fees associated with credit card transactions. This bill regulates credit card interchange fees by prohibiting an electronic payment system from:· imposing any requirement, condition, penalty, or fine in a contract with a merchant relating to the display of pricing for goods or services for sale by the merchant;· inhibiting the ability of any merchant to offer its customers discounts or in-kind incentives for using cash or a debit card or credit card of another electronic payment system;· inhibiting the ability of any merchant to decide not to accept the products of an electronic payment system at one of its locations while still accepting the products of that electronic payment system at other locations;· preventing any merchant from setting a minimum dollar value, provided the minimum is not set below $10, or a maximum dollar value for its acceptance of a credit card;· limiting the number of electronic payment systems through which a credit card transaction may be processed to only one or only affiliated electronic payment systems; or· inhibiting any merchant from choosing the electronic payment system through which a credit card transaction is processed. Under the bill, an electronic payment system is defined as, "an entity which is not a national bank that directly, or through licensed members, processors or agents, provides the proprietary services, infrastructure, and software that route information and data to facilitate transaction authorization, clearance, and settlement, and that merchants access in order to accept a brand of general-purpose credit cards, charge cards, debit cards or stored-value cards as payments for goods or services." A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. The bill further specifies that an electronic payment system found to be in violation must reimburse all affected merchants for all chargebacks, fees, and fines collected from the affected merchants during the period of time in which the electronic payment system was in violation. | In Committee |
| A968 | Authorizes municipal challenge to non-redevelopment housing projects ordered by COAH unless order is based on exclusionary zoning; excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis; provides housing obligation cap. | This bill allows a municipality to challenge an order by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to construct, or allow to be constructed, a non-redevelopment housing project on undeveloped land. The municipal challenge would be successful, unless the order by COAH is based on exclusionary zoning practices occurring in the municipality at the time the order is made. Additionally, this bill caps the number of units a municipality may have allocated as its fair share affordable housing obligation with regard to the size of the municipal population. Current law provides that no municipality shall be required to address a fair share of affordable housing units beyond 1,000 low and moderate income units within 10 years from the grant of substantive certification; except that a municipality may be allocated more than 1,000 units if, based upon an evidentiary hearing, it is found likely that the municipality, through its zoning powers, could create a realistic opportunity for more than 1,000 low and moderate income units within that 10-year period. For some municipalities in the State, this many additional units may increase the overall municipal population dramatically. In order to prevent the disparate impact this can create for municipalities with small populations, this bill provides that an allocation of units to a municipality as its fair share shall not exceed an amount that would result in an increase of the municipal population by more than five percent. Finally, this bill requires the exclusion of flood-prone land when computing a municipal adjustment of available land resources as part of the determination of a municipality's fair share affordable housing obligation. Currently, land may not be considered in determining a municipality's available land resources for affordable housing purposes if it contains any one of various special features, consisting of: (a) land owned by a government entity, and intended for a public purpose, (b) certain park land, open space and other land dedicated for conservation, (c) certain very small land parcels held in private ownership, (d) historic and architecturally important sites, (e) agricultural land with restricted development rights, (f) sites designated for active recreation, and (g) environmentally sensitive land where development is prohibited by law. This bill would also exclude from determinations of available land resources for affordable housing purposes any land that is (1) lower than the most recent "flood elevation determination," measured under federal standards, (2) lower than the applicable flood elevation standard required under regulations adopted pursuant to the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act," P.L.1962, c.19 (C.58:16A-50 et seq.), or (3) within 100 feet of category one waters, as designated by the Department of Environmental Protection. As defined under 44 C.F.R.59.1, a "flood elevation determination" refers to a determination by the Federal Insurance Administrator of the water surface elevations of a "base flood," also understood as a flood level that has a one percent or greater chance of occurrence in any given year. This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules and regulations to guide determinations of flood-prone lands by the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. This bill remains inoperative until the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| A993 | Concerns payment of leave time to employee in year of employee's retirement. | This bill limits the maximum amount of terminal leave that a local unit can pay, for accumulated and unused leave time, to an employee who is separating from service through retirement or otherwise. Under the bill, an employee could not be paid for the full amount of leave time credited at the beginning of the employee's final year of employment if the employee does not work the whole year. As used in the bill, "leave time" means vacation time, holiday time, sick leave time, or personal time credited by a local unit of government to the employees of the local unit at the beginning of a calendar year. The bill is intended to address a recent circumstance where a provision of a collective negotiations agreement between a municipality and its police union effectively allowed a retiring police officer to work one month into a calendar year, retire on February 1st, and collect a lump sum of over $34,000 representing payment for the entire year's worth of vacation, sick, personal time, holiday time, and other leave time to which the officer would have been entitled had he not retired. This contract provision, while likely entered into by the local unit and the union in good faith, required a large payment of property tax dollars to a retired police officer who worked only one month out of the 12 in the calendar year. These types of payments should not be allowed to continue, and any local unit employee who retires should receive a payment for unused leave time prorated by the number of days that the employee is actually employed by and reports to work in the local unit. | In Committee |
| A3111 | Requires use of design-bid-build or design-build delivery system for certain local government construction projects. | This bill would require the use of either a design-bid-build or design-build delivery system for construction projects undertaken by a county improvement authority pursuant to the "county improvement authorities law," P.L.1960, c.183 (C.40:37A-44 et seq.) and for public redevelopment projects undertaken by a municipality or redevelopment entity pursuant to the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.). If a design-bid-build delivery system is selected, then the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), would apply. If a design-build delivery system is selected, then the provisions of the "Design Build Construction Services Procurement Act," P.L.2021, c.71 (C.52:35B-1 et seq.) would apply. | In Committee |
| A988 | Includes payday lending as a violation of the consumer fraud act. | This bill provides that, in addition to any other remedies and penalties provided by law, it is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for any person to engage in the business of making deferred deposit or "payday" loans to consumers in this State. In a payday loan, the lender typically cashes a consumer's personal check and agrees to defer presentment or deposit of the check until the consumer's next payday, usually 10 to 30 days later. The amount of the consumer's check includes both the finance charge paid to the lender and the cash proceeds to the customer. Although the annual percentage rates associated with payday loans may violate existing usury statutes and other laws, this bill expressly prohibits payday loans by making this practice a violation of the consumer fraud act. The bill's provisions apply to payday loans made by lenders, wherever located, and made by any means, including, but not limited to: in-person contact, Internet, mail, telephone, print, radio, or television. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. | In Committee |
| A1007 | Regulates the authority of the court to make provision for the educational expenses of an unemancipated child in certain instances involving child support. | This bill enumerates specific factors for the court to consider in evaluating whether to issue an order for a parent to pay educational expenses of an unemancipated child, whether of minor or majority age. The authority granted under the bill extends to undergraduate college education or professional or other training after graduation from high school. The types of educational expenses for which a court may make provision include tuition, room, board, dues, transportation to and from school during scheduled school recesses, books, supplies, nondiscretionary fees, registration and application costs, lab costs, computer costs, medical expenses including medical insurance and living expenses during the school year, which sums may be ordered payable to the child, to either parent, or to the educational institution directly or through a special account or trust created for such purpose, at the discretion of the court. Nothing shall preclude the court from requiring the child to contribute to his or her educational expenses in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study programs, use of assets held in the child's name, student loans or financial aid. The court shall have the authority to allocate the child's contribution between the parents and child, if warranted by the enumerated factors. The factors, many of which are currently used in decisional law, include: (1) Whether the parents, if still living with the child, would have contributed toward the child's educational expenses; (2) The effect of the background, values, and goals of the parents on the reasonableness of the expectation of the child for contribution to his or her educational expenses; (3) Any socioeconomic benefits that the child may gain from obtaining a post-high school education, including, but not limited to any benefits the child may obtain from being the first child in his or her family to obtain a post-high school education; (4) The amount of the contribution sought for the child's educational expenses; (5) The ability of the parents to pay the child's educational expenses, with the court having the discretion to impute an income to a parent who is underemployed without just cause for purposes of determining that parent's ability to pay; (6) The relationship of the requested contribution to the kind of educational institution into which the child seeks entry or course of study sought by the child; (7) The type of institution into which the child seeks to advance his or her education and the institution's graduation rate, employment placement rate, student debt rate, as well as all other relevant information regarding the institution; (8) The availability of the course of study sought by the child at a New Jersey public institution; (9) The financial resources of both parents; (10) The commitment to and aptitude of the child for the requested education; (11) The length of the course of study necessary to obtain the degree or certification sought by the child and the anticipated ability of the child to complete the course of study within that time period, with the court having the authority to limit the parent's contribution toward a child's undergraduate college expenses to four tuition years; (12) The financial resources of the child as compared with the financial resources of both parents; (13) The existence of custodial or trust funds for the benefit of the child, subject to the terms of the custodial account or trust, with the court having the authority to allocate the custodial or trust funds established by the parents during the marriage, or, in circumstances where the parties were unmarried, established during periods of cohabitation equally between the parents or otherwise, if warranted; (14) The ability of the child to earn income during the school year or during school recesses; (15) The availability of scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and or student loans, financial aid to the child, as well as the terms of repayment of any loans; (16) The child's relationship to each parent, at the time the contribution is sought, as well as in the years preceding the time the contribution is sought, including mutual affection and shared goals, responsiveness to parental advice and guidance; (17) The date on which the contribution was first requested and the date on which the parent was notified that contribution would be sought; (18) Whether the parents have children that have obtained post-high school education and the amount the parents contributed toward those post-high school education costs; (19) Whether the parent from whom contribution is sought has other children, their ages relative to the age of the child for whom contribution is sought. and, if known, the likelihood that the child or children will seek to obtain a post-high school education; (20) Whether the parent is obligated by court order or agreement to contribute to the support and maintenance of a children other than the child for whom contribution is sought; (21) The relationship of the education requested to any prior training and to the overall long-range goals of the child; and (22) Any other factors which the court may deem relevant. The bill provides that all the factors are relevant and no factor should be elevated in importance over any other factor unless the court finds otherwise. In that case the court is required to make specific written findings of fact and conclusions of law in that regard. Under the bill, when parents are in agreement on the issue of their responsibility, if any, regarding the payment of post-high school education expenses and child support on behalf of a child over the age of 18, the court shall not intervene on these issues unless the court determines that the parties' agreement would result in harm to the child. The bill provides that upon an application by either parent, the court may modify a prior order directing that a parent contribute to the educational expenses of the child. The following reasons may serve as a basis for the modification or of a parent's obligation to contribute to an unemancipated child's educational expenses: (1) The child's failure to enroll in a post-high school educational program within 120 days after the child has graduated from high school or completed a graduation equivalence degree program, barring illness or disability; (2) The child's failure to maintain full-time status as determined by the institution at the post-high school education program, barring illness or disability; (3) The child's failure to maintain grades sufficient to reenroll at such institution, barring illness or disability; (4) The child's failure to provide the contributing parent with a transcript or similar official document provided by the post-high school institution that includes: (a) the courses in which the child is enrolled, (b) the courses that the child completed for each term, (c) the grades and credits received for each such course, and (d) an official document from the institution listing the courses in which the child is enrolled for the upcoming term and the number of credits for each such course, unless the court finds that providing this information would cause harm to the child; (5) The child's estrangement from a contributing parent, not due to documented abuse; or (6) Any other reason that makes the modification of the prior order fit, reasonable, and just, given the parties' and child's circumstances. Under the bill, if the court terminates the parent's obligation to contribute to the child's educational expenses, the termination shall be final with the parent's obligation not eligible for reinstatement. A parent's obligation to pay child support and contribute to the educational expenses of a child who has been diagnosed with a developmental disability, or whose physical disability or diagnosed health problem limits the child's ability to maintain full-time enrollment in a post-high school institution shall remain open to review so long as such child is enrolled in and attending an institution for post-high school education and the child continues to meet the other requirements of the bill. As used in the bill, "post-high school education" means any postsecondary training or schooling for which the student is assessed a fee and attends classes regularly including but not limited to a community college, vocational school, technical school, undergraduate college, or undergraduate university. | In Committee |
| A1122 | Modifies certain tax brackets under gross income tax. | This bill modifies certain tax brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. Specifically, the bill modifies the income thresholds of the four lowest tax brackets so that many low-income and middle-income taxpayers would be eligible for a lower marginal tax rate. In recent months, record-high inflation has made it more difficult for Americans to afford food, gas, and other critical goods and services. This bill would help New Jerseyans weather this surge in prices by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money. | In Committee |
| A648 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on water safety as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on water safety into the health education curriculum for students in grades K through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The instruction must provide information on: the proper use of flotation devices; how to become aware of water conditions; the danger of rip currents and how to respond if caught in one; and the importance of swimming in areas monitored by a lifeguard. Drownings are the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control. While New Jersey students participate in drills for fire and active shooter crises, they do not receive instruction on what to do if you are drowning or see someone drowning. | In Committee |
| A982 | "Innovate New Jersey Act"; establishes tax-free business incubators at institutions of higher education. | This bill, entitled the "Innovate New Jersey Act," creates the Innovate New Jersey Program (program) to allow public and private colleges, universities, and community colleges in New Jersey to be able to apply to have vacant space or land on their campuses designated as tax-free areas for the purpose of creating incubators for certain new and expanding businesses. The area designated for a business incubator may be no more than 150,000 square feet at any one college or university and no more than 1.5 million square feet of business incubator space authorized for the State. Participating colleges or universities may not utilize space that is currently being used for academic purposes to open a business incubator. Business incubator programs which currently exist and meet the program's qualifications criteria may apply for approval under the program. The program transforms vacant land and building space on the campuses of institutions of higher education into a "tax-free New Jersey area" (tax-free area) for qualifying businesses. This creates the opportunity for businesses to engage in commerce in a zero tax environment and allows businesses to leverage the assets of the college or university. Under the bill, these businesses will not be subject to State corporate or income tax or franchise fees or any local property taxes for five years, and will not have any sales tax liability for 10 years. Applications for acceptance into the program are to be decided by an Innovate New Jersey Board (board) to be established within the Economic Development Authority (EDA). The board consists of five members, one member each designated by the Governor, the Senate President, the Assembly Speaker, the Senate Minority Leader, and the Assembly Minority Leader. The board is to decide which colleges or universities may allocate tax-free space for a business incubator and which businesses are eligible to locate there. A new business accepted into the program is exempt for five years, or for the duration of the time that the new business is participating in the program, whichever is shorter, from: 1) the corporation business tax; 2) the gross income tax; 3) premiums taxes on domestic and foreign insurers; and 4) local property taxes. Further, the new business is exempt for 10 years, or for the duration of the time that the new business is participating in the program, whichever is shorter, from the sales and use tax. In order to locate in a tax-free area: 1) A new business is to be in the formative stage of development or engaged in the design, development, and introduction of new biotechnology, information technology, remanufacturing, advanced materials, processing, engineering, or electronic technology products, or innovative manufacturing processes, and meet any other requirements for a high technology business as the authority shall develop; 2) the missions and activities of the business are to align with, or further the academic mission of the university or college in the area in which the business seeks to locate; 3) a business will be required to be a new business in the State or an expanding business that creates net new jobs pursuant to a net-benefits test requiring that the business continue to maintain net new jobs and employment numbers of the business and its related companies throughout the State while in the program; and 4) the business's participation in the program is to have positive community and economic effects. The bill establishes an "Innovate New Jersey Grant Fund" (fund) to provide grants to assist selected colleges or universities with start-up costs related to necessary capital improvements to college or university facilities, and service improvement including consulting and technical assistance in order to open and operate an incubator. Grants are to be up to $125,000 a year for the first three years following board approval for inclusion in the program. A business that does not meet its net new job creation performance standards is subject to a proportionate reduction of benefits, suspension, termination, or any of the above. In the case of a business that acted fraudulently, the business would be immediately terminated from the program, be subject to applicable criminal penalties including the crime of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, and be required to pay back all tax benefits that the company and its employees have received. In administering the program, the EDA is to create a website for the program to include, but not be limited to: 1) a list of the resources available to potential new businesses; 2) a complete listing of business incubator facilities located in the State; 3) a description of the economic incentives for New Jersey-based businesses with the criteria for each program; and 4) the contact information for the authority and the Business Action Center. | In Committee |
| A944 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| A978 | Authorizes EDA to provide financial assistance to certain business incubator facilities. | This bill creates the "Business Incubator Assistance Program" (program) within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority). The purpose of the program is to provide assistance to a privately-supported business incubator facility in the form of loans used to assist incubator businesses in operation at a facility. Loans provided under the program are to be made pursuant to a loan agreement, be of an amount not to exceed $600,000, be repaid over a period not to exceed two years, bear interest at the prime rate or a lower rate, and contain other terms and conditions considered appropriate by the authority that are consistent with the purposes of the bill. The bill defines business incubator facility as a privately-supported, low-cost, short-term occupancy, rental space wherein assistance is granted by an established business to a incubator businesses located at the facility employing selected technologies. An incubator business is defined in the bill as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship supported by private sources of capital, including, but limited to, private equity, "angel" investment, or venture capital that: 1) is in the formative stage of development; or 2) is engaged in the design, development, and introduction of new biotechnology, information technology, re-manufacturing, advanced materials, processing, engineering or electronic technology products, or innovative manufacturing processes; and 3) meets any other requirements for an incubator business as the authority may develop. A business incubator facility accepted into the program: 1) is required to be in compliance with all State and federal worker protection and environmental laws and regulations; 2) may not owe past due State or federal taxes or local property taxes; 3) is required to provide the necessary information to the authority in order for the authority to prepare an annual report on the program; 4) is to agree to allow the authority to access any and all books and records of the business incubator facility and incubator business the authority may require to monitor compliance; 5) to certify to the authority that at least 15 percent of the business incubator facility's operations are funded by an established business; and 6) to agree to allow the authority to be paid three to five percent of business incubator facility revenues received from royalty payments from any intangible property awarded to any incubator business at the business incubator facility. Royalty payments are to be used to pay off any loan principal or interest due to the authority. The authority is to prepare an annual report on the program, provide it to the Governor and Legislature, and make it available on the authority's website. The report is to include the number of business incubator facility applicants, the number of business incubator facilities approved for the program, the names and types of incubator businesses located within business incubator facilities in the program, the total amount of loans distributed, the loan amounts received per business incubator facility, the number of jobs created overall and per business incubator facility, the amount of capital investment made per business incubator facility, and any other information as the authority determines is necessary to evaluate the progress of the program. A business incubator facility may be subject one or more of the following consequences for failure to meet the provisions of the bill after receiving a loan: 1) the suspension of the business incubator facility's participation in the program for one or more years as specified in the application; 2) the termination of the business incubator facility's participation in the program; or 3) the proportional recovery of any loan given to a business incubator facility under the program. Certain types of businesses are prohibited from operating at a business incubator facility that participates in the program. In the case of a business incubator facility or incubator business that acted fraudulently, the facility or business, as appropriate, would be immediately terminated from the program, be subject to applicable criminal penalties including the crime of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, and be required to pay back the loan the facility received. | In Committee |
| A1029 | Requires anti-bullying policy of public schools to include provision requiring principal to make preliminary determination and meet with parents of students involved in alleged bullying incident for that determination; extends time for investigating incident. | Current law requires each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying. Under these policies, after an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying has been reported to the principal, he must inform the parents and guardians of all students involved in the alleged incident. This bill specifies that the policy must also include a provision that requires the principal to make a preliminary determination as to whether a reported incident or complaint is a report of an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying as those terms are defined by law, prior to initiating an investigation. The policy must also provide that the principal hold a separate meeting with the parents or guardians of each student involved in the alleged incident within seven days of informing them of the alleged incident, in order to assist the principal in making the preliminary determination. The bill also provides that the investigation of the alleged incident must be completed no later than 30 days from the date the written report of the incident is provided to the principal. Current law requires the investigation to be completed no later than 10 days from the date the written report is provided. This bill extends the time frame to allow a sufficient time period for the principal to hold the meetings with the parents or guardians and make a preliminary determination regarding the alleged incident. | In Committee |
| A2646 | Redistributes fiscal year 2023 transportation and security aid from remote school districts to in-person school districts. | This bill requires that 50 percent of the amount of transportation aid and security aid allocated to "remote school districts" in the 2022-2023 school year will be redistributed to "in-person school districts" on an equal per pupil basis. The bill defines an in-person school district as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on 75 percent or more of school days during the 2021-2022 school year. A remote school district is defined as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on 50 percent or less of school days during the 2021-2022 school year. | In Committee |
| A985 | Exempts homestead from attachment in medical malpractice judgment. | This bill allows a health care provider to hold a homestead, as defined in the bill, exempt from attachment, execution, and forced sale in any judgment resulting from a medical malpractice action brought by a claimant for medical malpractice. | In Committee |
| A1026 | Provides free tuition at public institutions of higher education for surviving spouses and dependent children of military personnel killed in performance of duties. | This bill provides that any resident of New Jersey who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces who is killed in the performances of his duties, upon being accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study in a State college or university created pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers, The State University, Rowan University, or a county college will, while enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at the institution, have his tuition paid by the State. The amount of the scholarship may not exceed an amount equal to the portion of tuition costs at the institution that is not otherwise covered by any other State scholarship, tuition aid grant, benefit or other assistance awarded to the recipient. The bill also provides that, in the case of a dependent child, eligibility for the scholarship will be limited to eight years following graduation from high school. A surviving spouse will be eligible for initial receipt of the scholarship for a period of eight years from the date of death of the person. | In Committee |
| A1114 | Increases gross income tax deduction for contributions to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program. | This bill increases the gross income tax deduction, initially up to $15,000 per taxable year, for contributions made by the taxpayer to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program, (N.J.S.18A:71B-35 et seq.). Under current law, a taxpayer with gross income of less than $200,000 can deduct up to $10,000 for contributions to the NJBEST program. The bill increases the deduction amount to up to $15,000 for the first taxable year following enactment. The bill also provides for annual cost-of-living adjustments to the maximum deduction and to the income limits ("COLA adjustment") for future taxable years; the COLA adjustment amount is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This bill affords New Jersey taxpayers with tax relief while promoting personal investment in, and broader access to, higher education. | In Committee |
| A1036 | Prohibits downcoding in health insurance claims. | This bill prohibits a health insurance claims payer from using downcoding in a manner that prevents a health care provider from submitting a health benefits claim for the actual service performed and collecting reimbursement from the payer for that service. The bill applies to health insurance carriers, organized delivery systems, or any agents of a health insurance carrier or organized delivery system doing business in New Jersey. Downcoding refers to the practice of adjusting health benefits claims submitted to a payer to a less complex or lower cost service than the service actually performed so the payer can reimburse a lower amount to the health care provider that submitted the claim. Downcoding may occur where a payer disputes a specific service or contends that the diagnosis did not require the specific service code submitted by the health care provider. Excessive or routine downcoding can significantly reduce revenue for health care providers. Health care providers are already subject to robust State laws concerning fraud relating to health benefits claims. These laws, including the "New Jersey False Claims Act," the "New Jersey Health Care Claims Fraud Act," and the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," penalize health care providers that submit fraudulent claims to a payer. | In Committee |
| A966 | Requires hospitals to establish nurse staffing committees. | This bill requires hospitals to establish nurse staffing committees. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Health to require a hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), as a condition of licensure, to establish a nurse staffing committee, either by creating a new committee or assigning the functions of a nurse staffing committee to an existing committee. At least 55 percent of the members of the nurse staffing committee are to be registered nurses currently providing direct patient care at the hospital, and no more than 45 percent of the members of the committee are to be hospital administrative staff. The selection of the registered nurses are to be according to the collective bargaining agreement, if there is one in effect at the hospital. If there is no applicable collective bargaining agreement, the members of the nurse staffing committee who are registered nurses are to be selected by their peers. The members of the nurse staffing committee who are hospital administrative staff are to be appointed by the hospital's chief executive officer. Participation in the nurse staffing committee by a hospital employee is to be on scheduled work time and compensated at the appropriate rate of pay. Nurse staffing committee members are to be relieved of all other work duties during meetings of the committee. Under the bill, the primary responsibilities of the nurse staffing committee include: (1) The development and oversight of an annual patient care unit and shift-based nurse staffing plan, which is to be based on the needs of patients, and which is to be used as the primary component of the staffing budget. The nurse staffing plan is to establish upwardly adjustable minimum ratios of direct care registered nurses to patients for each unit and for each shift of the hospital. Factors to be considered in the development of the nurse staffing plan include, but need not be limited to: hospital census data; hospital admission, discharge, and transfer data; the level of intensity and the nature of the care to be delivered to patients on each shift; skill mix, defined as the number and relative percentages of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and unlicensed assistive personnel among the total number of nursing personnel; the level of experience and specialty certification or training of nursing personnel providing care; the need for specialized or intensive equipment; the architecture and geography of the patient care unit; staffing guidelines adopted or published by health professional organizations; the availability of other personnel supporting nursing services on the unit; unit and facility level staffing, quality and patient outcomes data, and national comparisons, as available; hospital finances and resources; and strategies to enable registered nurses to take meal and rest breaks as required by law or the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any, between the hospital and a representative of the nursing staff; (2) A semiannual review of the staffing plan against patient need and known evidence-based staffing information; and (3) The review, assessment, and response to staffing variations or concerns presented to the committee. Furthermore, the staffing plan is required to: (1) not diminish other standards contained in State or federal law and rules, or the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any, between the hospital and a representative of the nursing staff; (2) ensure that a registered nurse is not assigned to work in a particular unit of the hospital without first having established the ability to provide professional care in such unit; and (3) provide for exemptions for some or all requirements of the nurse staffing plan during a state of emergency, as defined in section 23 of P.L.2011, c.19 (C.5:12-45.3), if the hospital is requested or expected to provide an exceptional level of emergency or other medical services. The nurse staffing committee is required provide the annual nurse staffing plan to the hospital's chief executive officer for review. If this nurse staffing plan is not adopted by the hospital, the chief executive officer of the hospital is to provide a written explanation to the committee of the reasons why the plan was not adopted. The chief executive officer must then either: identify those elements of the proposed plan being changed prior to adoption of the plan by the hospital; or prepare an alternate annual staffing plan that must be adopted by the hospital. One year after the of enactment of the bill, each hospital is to: 1) submit its adopted nurse staffing plan to the Department of Health and, thereafter, on an annual basis, and at any time that the plan is updated; 2) implement the adopted nurse staffing plan and assign nursing personnel to each patient care unit in accordance with the plan. Each nurse staffing committee is to develop a process to: examine and respond to a complaint regarding the hospital's implementation of the adopted nurse staffing plan; determine if a specific complaint is resolved; and dismiss a complaint based on unsubstantiated data. A registered nurse, a member of the nurse staffing committee, a hospital staff member, a hospital patient, or any other person may submit to the Department of Health any complaint that remains unresolved upon examination by the nurse staffing committee for further investigation. Each hospital is required to post, in a public area on each patient care unit, the nurse staffing plan and the nurse staffing schedule for that shift on the unit, as well as the relevant clinical staffing levels for that shift. The nurse staffing plan and current staffing levels are also to be made available to patients and visitors upon request. Finally, a hospital is prohibited from retaliating against or engaging in any form of intimidation of: (1) an employee for performing any duties or responsibilities in connection with the nurse staffing committee; or (2) an employee, patient, or other individual who notifies the nurse staffing committee, the hospital administration, or the Department of Health of concerns regarding nurse staffing. The Commissioner of Health is directed to establish procedures that enable persons to file complaints regarding the hospital's implementation of the adopted nurse staffing plan; and that provide for the investigation of such complaints. The department is only to investigate a complaint that was previously submitted to the nursing staff committee, and that provides evidence indicating a continuing pattern of unresolved violations for a minimum of a 60-day continuous period leading up to receipt of the complaint by the department. The department is not to investigate a complaint: that is determined by the nurse staffing committee to be resolved or dismissed; in the event of unforeseeable emergency circumstances; or if a hospital, after consultation with a nurse staffing committee, documents it has made reasonable efforts to obtain staffing to meet required assignments, but has been unable to do so. Under the bill, "unforeseeable emergency circumstance" means any unforeseen national, State, or municipal emergency; when a hospital disaster plan is activated; any unforeseen disaster or other catastrophic event that substantially affects or increases the need for health care services; or when a hospital is diverting patients to another hospital or hospitals for treatment or the hospital is receiving patients who are from another hospital or hospitals. After an investigation, if the department determines that there has been a violation, the department is to require the hospital to submit a corrective plan of action within 45 days of the presentation of findings from the department to the hospital. In the event that a hospital fails to submit, or submits but fails to follow, such a corrective plan of action in response to a violation or violations found by the department, the department may impose, for all violations asserted against a hospital at any time, in addition to any other penalties prescribed under State law, a civil penalty of $1,000 per day until the hospital submits or begins to follow the corrective plan of action or takes other action agreed to by the department. The department is required to maintain, for public inspection records, of any civil penalties, administrative actions, or license suspensions or revocations imposed on hospitals under this section. Finally, the bill directs the department to submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report regarding the department's investigation of such complaints within 18 months of the enactment of the bill. This report is to include the number of complaints submitted to the department, the disposition of these complaints, the number of investigations conducted, the associated costs for complaint investigations, and recommendations for any needed statutory changes. It is the sponsor's belief that the creation of nurse staffing committees will empower direct care nurses to determine the unique and variable needs of their patients to ensure quality care. Evidenced-based studies have shown that adequate nurse staffing based on research findings and the intensity of patient care is directly related to positive patient outcomes and assists in reducing errors and complications. Furthermore, appropriate staffing of hospital personnel improve staff safety and satisfaction, and reduce incidences of workplace injuries. | In Committee |
| A1744 | Provides certain veteran benefits to veterans of the global war on terror conflicts and those of certain military engagements served during certain periods. | This bill provides veterans status to a veteran of any operation, mission or conflict during the global war on terror, including those who served in Operation Noble Eagle, in the United States or abroad. Under current law, only members of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom are veterans of the global war on terror. Under current law, members of Noble Eagle or any other concurrent or subsequent operation, mission or conflict related to the global war on terror do not qualify. This bill will include those persons. This bill amends several statutes that define "veteran" for the purposes of civil service hiring preferences, the purchase of service credit and the calculation of retirant benefits in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), for the purchase of service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and for the receipt of a property tax deduction or exemption. Also, under this bill, the "in country" 14-day active service requirement that limits the definition of veteran for some military engagements is supplemented with a minimum 90-day active military service requirement regardless of location, exclusive of any period (1) of assignment for a course of education or training which course was a continuation of a civilian course and was pursued to completion, or (2) as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (3) of service performed pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or Air National Guard or in the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve, unless mobilized for active duty at the call of the President of the United States, provided, that any person receiving an actual, service-incurred injury or disability will be classed as a veteran, whether or not he has completed the 90 days' service as herein provided. Consequently, active military service for at least 90 days performed anywhere, in whole or in part, during the dates for the specific engagements named will qualify a person as a "veteran" for the purposes of the statutes amended. Thus, the bill will permit a greater number of individuals to receive the benefits specified. | In Committee |
| ACR31 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Assembly concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| A967 | Requires COAH to administer affordable housing obligations of municipalities based on statewide obligation. | This bill would require that affordable housing obligations be calculated and administered at the State level. Affordable housing is an issue of Statewide concern and importance. It is also a highly complex issue that requires technical expertise, often ends up in litigation, and is expensive to administer. This bill would eliminate the current municipality-to-municipality patchwork approach to affordable housing. The bill would centralize administration of this issue in the State agency with the necessary Statewide policy perspective and technical expertise, and which can serve as a cost-effective, fair forum to address this issue - the Council on Affordable Housing (the "council"). Currently, affordable housing need is calculated at the regional level and fair share plans are created by municipalities. Under the bill, the council would calculate the affordable housing need of the entire State. The council would then select which municipalities will have a role to play in fulfilling this Statewide need and will assign them a fair share of this obligation. Such municipality would then submit a housing element that provides basic information on the current housing stock and properties suited for affordable housing development that could satisfy the municipal fair share. After receipt of the housing element, the bill requires the council to grant the municipality a substantive certification that shields it from exclusionary zoning suits. The council would next draft a fair share plan for the municipality that directs the municipality on how to satisfy its fair share obligation. The municipality would be required to adopt a fair share ordinance effectuating that fair share plan. The council would be required to engage in a mediation process if an objection is made to its fair share plan for a municipality. Any exclusionary zoning suit to a fair share plan for a municipality would have to be brought against the council, with the municipality having the option to be a party in the litigation. | In Committee |
| A962 | Reduces number of manufacturing jobs required to qualify for NJEDA financing and incentive programs. | This bill reduces by 50 percent, the number of manufacturing jobs required to be eligible for New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) financing and incentive programs. The sales and use tax exemption program permits certain companies to obtain a sales tax exemption certificate for the purchase of items to construct or rehabilitate a new business location. Under the bill, a life science or manufacturing company relocating 125 full-time manufacturing jobs or 250 full-time non-manufacturing jobs may be eligible for the exemption. The program currently requires the relocation of 250 full-time employees regardless of whether the job is a manufacturing job or not. The GROW NJ program provides tax credits to eligible businesses based upon defined job creation and capital investment criteria. Under the bill, the number of full-time jobs that must be created or retained to qualify for the GROW program is reduced by 50 percent for manufacturing jobs, but remains the same for non-manufacturing jobs. The definition of a mega project is altered so that the number of jobs that must be created to qualify as a mega project is reduced by 50 percent for manufacturing jobs, but remains the same for non-manufacturing jobs. The alternate benefit calculation for a GROW project in a Garden State Growth Zone which qualifies for the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," divides the total capital investment by the number of jobs to be created, with the number of full-time manufacturing jobs used in this calculation being reduced by 50 percent for each investment and job creation category used to make the calculation. The Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZ) manufacturers energy sales tax exemption allows UEZ certified manufacturers an exemption from the sales and use tax on electricity and natural gas and its transmission consumed at the UEZ certified location. Under the bill, the employment requirement for a business is reduced from 250 full-time employees, with at least 50 percent being involved in the manufacturing process to 188 full-time employees with at least 33 percent being involved in the manufacturing process. | In Committee |
| A2298 | Limits "tobacco and vapor products tax" on cigars to up to $0.50 per cigar. | This bill limits the taxation of cigars under the Tobacco and Vapor Products Tax Act to a maximum of 50 cents per cigar. Currently, the tax on cigars is 30 percent of the wholesale price. Under this bill, the tax will still be 30 percent of the wholesale price, but the tax will be capped at 50 cents per cigar. The bill also amends current law to clarify tax payment responsibilities of tobacco product wholesalers and distributors. Every state imposes some tax on non-cigarette tobacco products. Ten states have adopted a tax cap per cigar. Cigar retailers with establishments in those states have claimed that prior to the establishment of the cap their retail sales prices suffered a serious competitive disadvantage with out-of-state, Internet, and catalog businesses that did not collect state tobacco products tax. Setting a maximum tax per cigar is proposed to encourage New Jersey consumers to make more of their cigar purchases from New Jersey "brick and mortar" retailers who are often small locally-owned businesses. A 50 cent per cigar tax cap will level the playing field for New Jersey retailers and potentially increase State revenues collected under the tax. | In Committee |
| A3074 | Criminalizes participation in criminal street gang. | This bill would make it a crime of the fourth degree to knowingly and actively participate in a criminal street gang and to purposely promote, further or assist others participating in the criminal street gang in the commission of certain offenses. Those offenses are: robbery; carjacking; aggravated assault; assault; aggravated sexual assault; sexual assault; arson; burglary; kidnapping; extortion; tampering with witnesses and informants; or a violation of chapter 11 (homicide), sections 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 of chapter 35 (controlled dangerous substances), or chapter 39 (firearms and weapons) of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. As used in the bill, "criminal street gang" has the same definition as provided in section 1 of P.L.2007, c.341 (C.2C:33-29). Under that definition, criminal street gang means three or more persons associated in fact. Individuals are associated in fact if: (1) two of the following seven criteria that indicate criminal street gang membership apply: (a) self-proclamation; (b) witness testimony or official statement; (c) written or electronic correspondence; (d) paraphernalia or photographs; (e) tattoos; (f) clothing or colors; (g) any other indicia of street gang activity; and (2) individually or in combination with other members of a criminal street gang, while engaging in gang related activity, have committed or conspired or attempted to commit, within the preceding five years from the date of the present offense, excluding any period of imprisonment, one or more offenses on separate occasions of robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault, assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, extortion, tampering with witnesses and informants or a violation of chapter 11, section 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 of chapter 35 or chapter 39 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | In Committee |
| A960 | Expands eligibility for property tax reimbursement program. | This bill expands eligibility for the property tax reimbursement program to include individuals who do not work and are retired on a disability retirement under the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRS). Under current law, disabled persons receiving Social Security Disability benefits are eligible for the property tax reimbursement program, but not those disabled individuals who have retired under the PFRS. | In Committee |
| A294 | Establishes "Commission on People with Disabilities." | This bill establishes the "Commission on People with Disabilities" (commission). Under the bill, the commission is to consist of 25 members. The purpose of the commission is to: (1) suggest policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation that help people with disabilities in New Jersey; (2) serve as the point-of-contact between the Governor, the Legislature, people with disabilities, and those providers who serve people with disabilities in order to ensure that the State government is responsive to the needs of people with disabilities; (3) work with State departments, commissions, offices, agencies, and providers to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are met regarding services and programs that are available to those individuals; and (4) work with State departments, commissions, offices, and agencies which oversee the hiring and employment of people with disabilities in the State to ensure that no discrimination takes place. | In Committee |
| A1119 | Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation. | This bill permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes, due and paid in a calendar year on the taxpayer's principal residence, from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. Under current law, a taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of property taxes due and paid in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. If the taxpayer is a renter, the taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of the amount of "rent constituting property tax," which is defined in P.L.1996, c.60, s.2 (C.54A:3A-16) to mean 18 percent of rent, due and paid in the calendar year from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. This bill eliminates these $15,000 maximum allowable deductions, thereby permitting a taxpayer to deduct the full amount of property taxes, or rent constituting property taxes, due and paid by the taxpayer in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence. | In Committee |
| A2052 | Grants authority for human resource management of employees of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority to Civil Service Commission. | This bill grants authority for human resource management of employees of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority to Civil Service Commission. The bill grants to the Civil Service Commission authority over the process for hiring the employees and for terminating their employment, and orienting, training, counseling, and appraising the employees. | In Committee |
| A2516 | Provides mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain crimes of domestic violence. | This bill strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence by providing mandatory minimum terms of incarceration, with set periods of parole ineligibility, for offenders who commit physically violent acts. Under the provisions of the bill, a person convicted of any of the following crimes of domestic violence would be subject to the enhanced penalties provided in the bill: (1) Homicide, pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-1 et seq.; (2) Aggravated assault and assault by auto or vessel pursuant to subsection b. and c. of N.J.S.2C:12-1; (3) Kidnapping, pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-1; (4) Criminal restraint, pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-2; (5) Sexual assault, pursuant to N.J.S.2C:14-2; and (6) Criminal sexual contact, pursuant to N.J.S.2C:14-3. The bill provides that a person will be sentenced as follows: 18 months for a crime of the fourth degree, five years for a crime of the third degree, 10 years for a crime of the second degree, and 20 years for a crime of the first degree, unless the provisions of any other law provide for a higher mandatory minimum term. The court additionally will impose a period of parole ineligibility as follows: 18 months for a crime of the fourth degree, 42 months for a crime of the third degree, five years for a crime of the second degree, and 10 years for a crime of the first degree. | In Committee |
| A1020 | Increases penalty for harboring or concealing certain sex offenders. | This bill increases the penalties for harboring or concealing a sex offender. Under the provisions of the bill, a person who harbors or conceals a sex offender who has not complied with the registration requirements in Megan's Law and who the person knows has not complied with those requirements would be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment without eligibility for parole. If the offense is a crime of the third degree, the period of parole ineligibility would be three years; if the offense is a crime of the fourth degree, the period of parole ineligibility would be one year. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A1293 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| A643 | "Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children. | This bill directs the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a five-year pilot program to provide tax credits to taxpayers that make contributions to a selected scholarship organization that provides scholarships to certain low-income children to attend a nonpublic school or an out-of-district public school. The program would allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit against the corporate business tax or gross income tax equal to 100% of any contribution made to the scholarship organization; in the case of the gross income tax credit, a taxpayer must contribute a minimum of $100 to the scholarship organization in order to be eligible to receive the tax credit. The maximum amount of tax credits allowable in each State fiscal year would equal 120% of the total value of scholarships awarded and administrative fees collected from school districts. Tax credits would be allowed in the order in which the contributions are received. The bill creates the Opportunity Scholarship Board and directs it to select one scholarship organization to administer the program. The scholarship organization would receive contributions made to the program and award scholarships to the parents or guardians of eligible students. The maximum number of scholarships that may be awarded each year is: 2,500 in the first year, 5,000 in the second year, 7,500 in the third year, and 10,000 in the fourth and fifth years. The number of available scholarships would be allocated to each targeted district based on the number of students enrolled in the district's chronically failing school relative to the enrollment in chronically failing schools located in targeted districts. If the number of eligible students applying for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships in a targeted district, then the scholarship organization would be responsible for conducting a lottery to determine scholarship awards in that district. To be eligible to receive a scholarship, a low-income child must either: 1) attend a chronically failing school, 2) received a scholarship in the previous school year and continue to reside in the targeted district, 3) reside in a targeted district and attend one of the district's public schools that is not a chronically failing school, or 4) in the subsequent school year, would be eligible to enroll in a chronically failing school in the lowest grade, other than preschool, operated by the school. The last category of students would include those currently enrolled in a nonpublic school. The bill defines a chronically failing school as one in which, for the past two school years: at least 40% of the school's students did not pass both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments, or at least 60% of the students did not pass either the language arts or mathematics subject areas. Additionally, the school must be located in one of eight targeted districts: Asbury Park, Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Passaic, or Perth Amboy. A child is considered low-income if the child lives in a household in which the income does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty threshold. Scholarships would be awarded to eligible students in the following order or priority: 1) low-children either attending a chronically failing school or eligible to enroll in a chronically failing school in the next school year, and 2) children who attend a public school, other than a chronically failing school, in a targeted district. The scholarship organization selected under the bill must require that an eligible school which admits a child receiving a scholarship under the pilot program: (1) does not require a parent or guardian to make a payment in addition to the scholarship for a child's attendance at the school; (2) ensures that a child enrolled in an eligible school who received a scholarship under the program in the prior school year receives a scholarship in each school year of enrollment under the program provided that the child continues to reside in the targeted district; (3) in the event that more children apply for admission to that school under the pilot program than there are openings, selects scholarship students through a lottery; and (4) within the first 30 days of a scholarship's student's enrollment in the school, and once each year thereafter, administer a grade-level appropriate assessment to all scholarship students. Further, if the eligible school is a nonpublic school, the scholarship organization must also require that the school: (1) administer the appropriate grade level State assessment to scholarship students, and make the results publicly available; (2) agree to continue enrolling a scholarship student for two school years, unless the student commits an act that threatens the health or safety of other students, faculty, or staff; and (3) obtains written acknowledgment from the parent or guardian that notification has been received that a nonpublic school may not provide the same level of special education instructional programs and support services that may be available in a public school.Additionally, if the nonpublic school is a sectarian school, it must provide a scholarship student the opportunity to opt out of any religious instruction or activity. In the case of public schools, eligible schools will be those schools designated by the board of education to accept students who participate in the program. In the case of nonpublic schools, eligible schools will include those approved by the Commissioner of Education to accept students who participate in the program. The commissioner will develop a process for providing such approval. The commissioner is required to grant approval to a nonpublic school if it: 1) has been in operation for at least five years and has an end of year financial statement for each of the previous five years; 2) was founded within the prior 12 months by an operator of an existing school that meets the first criteria; or 3) is a current member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. The commissioner may approve a school that does not meet the previous requirements if the school submits an application that includes information regarding: 1) the school's objectives and strategy for meeting those objectives, 2) a demonstration of the school's financial viability, 3) a list of faculty, including the individual's educational attainment and relevant work experience, 4) a statement regarding the adequacy of the school's facilities and equipment, 5) documentation that the school is a qualified nonprofit entity; and 6) a list of board members. The scholarship organization would have a number of program responsibilities, including: managing the application process in each district, verifying applicants' eligibility to receive a scholarship, maintaining an inventory of vacancies in eligible schools, conducting any necessary lotteries to determine scholarship awards, monitoring the enrollment of scholarship students, and managing the acceptance of contributions made to the program. Additionally, the scholarship organization must prepare an annual report, to be submitted to the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Education, and the scholarship board, enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an annual audit, and commission an independent study of the pilot program. The scholarship organization may apply to the Opportunity Scholarship Board to amend programmatic procedures as necessary to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the programs. Amendments that may be considered may include, but need not be limited to, the administration of the tax credits, the need to conduct lotteries, and reporting requirements related to the independent evaluation of the pilot program. The board shall not approve any amendments that would materially alter the goals and objectives of the pilot program. For each resident student who receives a scholarship, a targeted district's State aid will be reduced by an amount equal to the scholarship awarded to the student plus the scholarship organization's administrative fee. The administrative fee will equal $750 per scholarship in the first year, $400 per scholarship in the second year, $250 per scholarship in the third year, $200 per scholarship in the fourth year, and $210 per scholarship in the final year. The targeted district would also be responsible for providing transportation services to a scholarship student who attends a school outside of the district on the same basis that the district provides transportation services to nonpublic school students pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1. | In Committee |
| A1004 | Upgrades assault against servicemember to aggravated assault; expands crime of bias intimidation to encompass crimes and offenses committed against servicemembers. | This bill would upgrade the offense of simple assault to aggravated assault if committed against a servicemember, and would expand the crime of bias intimidation to encompass crimes and offenses committed against servicemembers. Definition The bill defines "servicemember" as any veteran or enlisted person or officer of the United States Armed Forces, or a reserve component thereof, or the organized militia of the State of New Jersey pursuant to N.J.S.38A:1-3.Assault Currently, N.J.S.2C:12-1 provides that a person is guilty of assault if he: (1) Attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; or (2) Negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon; or (3) Attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Simple assault is a disorderly persons offense unless committed in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, in which case it is a petty disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to $1,000 or both; a petty disorderly persons offense, by a term of up to 30 days or a fine of up to $500 or both. However, under paragraph (5) of subsection b. of the statute, simple assault is upgraded to the crime of aggravated assault if committed against certain individuals. These individuals include law enforcement officers, corrections officers, judges, utility company employees, health care workers, and others. Aggravated assault against such individuals is a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury; otherwise it is a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the third degree is generally 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, by a term of up to 18 months; a fine of up to $10,000; or both. This bill provides that a simple assault committed against a servicemember while in uniform or because of his status as a servicemember would also constitute aggravated assault under paragraph (5) of subsection b. of the statute.Bias Crimes Under N.J.S.2C:16-1, a person is guilty of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit, or threatens the immediate commission of an enumerated offense: (1) with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity; or (2) knowing that the conduct would cause intimidation because of those grounds; or (3) under circumstances that caused a victim to be intimidated and the victim reasonably believed either that: (a) the offense was committed with a purpose to intimidate on those grounds, or (b) the victim or the victim's property was selected to be the target of the offense on those grounds. Under the statute, the crime of bias intimidation is generally graded one level higher than the underlying offense. A conviction for bias intimidation does not merge with a conviction for an underlying offense. This bill would amend the bias crimes statute to include an individual or group of individuals who were targeted because of their status as servicemembers.Additional Amendment to Bias Crimes Statute In addition, the bill amends the bias intimidation statute to delete paragraph (3) of subsection a., in accordance with a 2015 New Jersey Supreme Court decision that held the provision unconstitutional. In State v. Pomianek, 221 N.J. 66 (2015), the court ruled that paragraph (3) violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because, in focusing on the victim's perception and not on the defendant's intent, paragraph (3) "does not give a defendant sufficient guidance or notice on how to conform to the law." The court found that paragraph (3) unconstitutionally allows a defendant to be convicted of a bias crime "even though a jury may conclude that the defendant had no intent to commit such a crime." | In Committee |
| A2521 | Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters. | This bill provides for a presumption of joint legal and equal or approximately equal physical custody in a child custody determination. The current law provides that the court will order any custody arrangement which has been agreed to by both parents unless it is contrary to the best interests of the child. Courts may award joint custody, which is comprised of legal custody or physical custody with the child residing either solely with one parent or alternatively with each parent according to the needs of the parents and the child, and the parents sharing in the decision-making regarding their children's health, education and general welfare; sole custody to one parent with appropriate parenting time for the noncustodial parent; or any other custody arrangement as determined to be in the child's best interest. The bill makes it a presumption that the court will award parents joint legal and equal or approximately equal physical custody of their children. Under the bill, a child will reside for an equal or approximately equal amount of time with each parent in accordance with the needs of the child, and the parents will share decision-making authority and responsibility as to the important decisions affecting the child's welfare. This presumption may be rebutted if the parent can show by clear and convincing evidence that an order of joint legal and physical custody is harmful to the child. If the presumption is successfully rebutted, then custody will be awarded according to the child's best interests. | In Committee |
| AJR55 | Designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. Service dogs play an important role in assisting veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder. It is estimated that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience PTSD, and 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience TBI. New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000. However, despite federal law to expand the availability of service dogs to veterans, the training and placement of service dogs falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro. The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is not covered by insurance or other veterans' benefits. Designating "Paws Healing Heroes Day" will promote greater awareness of the unique role of service dogs in assisting veterans. | In Committee |
| A2635 | Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service. | This bill prohibits a telemarketer, when making or causing to be made any telemarketing sales call, from failing to transmit or cause to be transmitted the telephone number, and, when made available by the telemarketer's telephone company, the name of the telemarketer, to any caller identification service in use by a recipient of a telemarketing sales call. The bill permits the telemarketer to substitute, for the name and telephone number used in or billed for making the call, the name of the seller on behalf of which the call is placed and the seller's customer service telephone number that is answered during regular business hours. | In Committee |
| A1749 | Increases penalties for identity theft when victim is a senior citizen or veteran. | This bill would increase the penalties for identity theft in cases when the victim is a senior citizen or veteran. Under the bill, the penalties would be increased as follows:· If the offense only involves one victim, and a senior citizen or a veteran is deprived of an amount less than $500, a first offense would constitute a crime of the third degree, rather than fourth degree, and a second or subsequent offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than third degree;· If there are two to five victims or the actor obtains a benefit of $500 to $75,000, and any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than the third degree; and· If there are more than five victims or the actor obtains a benefit of $75,000 or more, any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense would constitute a crime of the first degree, rather than the second degree. Similarly, for crimes of trafficking in personal identifying information pertaining to another person, this bill would increase penalties as follows:· If the offense only involves one piece of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the third degree, rather than the fourth degree;· If the offense involves 20 or more pieces of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than third degree;· If the offense only involves 50 or more pieces of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the first degree, rather than second degree. A crime in the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of $10,000, or both. A crime in the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both, and a crime in the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime in the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A1035 | Protects equity accrued by property owner in tax sale foreclosure. | This bill would revise the process governing an action filed in Superior Court by the holder of a tax lien on certain parcels of real property when that person institutes an action to foreclose the right of redemption of the tax lien. The right of redemption of a tax lien is the right of the owner of the property on which the tax lien exists to pay the holder of the tax lien and remove the lien from the property. Currently, under R.S.54:5-86, for persons who do not acquire a tax sale certificate from a municipality, an action to foreclose the right of redemption may be instituted at any time after the expiration of the term of two years from the date of sale of the tax sale certificate. Once an action to foreclose the right to redeem has been filed by a tax lien holder, the right to redeem continues to exist until barred by the judgment of the Superior Court. However, upon the action by the judge to bar the right of redemption and foreclose all liens other than municipal liens, the judge grants the holder of the tax sale certificate the title to the property, and that person becomes the owner of the property. At this point, the previous owner's rights to the property are permanently extinguished and the previous owner also loses any value, commonly referred to as equity, built up in the property through appreciation, or the payoff of a mortgage. For a property taxpayer who has paid down a mortgage, who has equity in a property, or whose property has considerably appreciated over time, the loss of the property in a tax lien foreclosure, and all of the equity in the property as well, could lead to homelessness or other hardship, as there are no funds with which to rent, or to purchase, another property. The provisions of this bill are intended to address the unfairness of the loss of that equity to property owners who lose property in a tax lien foreclosure. Under the bill, in the case of a parcel of real property that is the subject of a tax lien foreclosure action filed in Superior Court, upon the approval of the action to foreclose the right of redemption by the Court, the Court would not grant the plaintiff (the tax lien holder) ownership of the property. Instead, the Court would order that all of the property taxes paid by the plaintiff, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption that were paid by the plaintiff, would be the first priority lien on the property, paramount to any other lien, including any outstanding municipal lien, and would order the sheriff of the county in which the parcel of real property is located to hold an Internet auction of the property. Once the Internet auction is over and the property has been sold, not later than 14 days following receipt by the sheriff of the moneys paid by the winning bidder at the auction, the sheriff must forward to the tax lien holder plaintiff the sum of all property taxes paid by the plaintiff, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption. The sheriff must also pay to the municipality the amount of any other municipal liens on the property plus any interest due and owing thereon, and retain for the sheriff's office sufficient funds to cover the costs of the auction. Once those payments are made, the sheriff would then forward any remaining moneys collected from the winning bidder of the auction to the defendant. This allows the defendant to retain funds to either purchase, or rent, another property. Property equity is a valuable asset to property owners that should be retained by the property owners. It provides a property owner with opportunities to turn the equity to cash to purchase or rent another property, or to pay for items like living expenses in retirement, a child's college savings, or the health care of a loved one. Equity theft happens when government uses the property to settle an unpaid tax debt and allow someone other than the property owner collect the excess revenue. Like other assets, home equity should be protected from unjust government seizure. The State is part of a small number of states that do not provide property owners the remaining equity following a tax sale foreclosure. | In Committee |
| A1017 | Requires newly licensed registered professional nurse to attain baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure as condition of renewal of license. | This bill requires registered professional nurses (RNs) who are initially licensed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, on or after the effective date of the bill, to attain a baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of their initial licensure. The bill authorizes a licensee who is not able to attain the degree within a 10-year period to request a one-time (up to two-year) extension of the requirement in order to complete the degree. The purpose of this bill is to encourage newly-licensed RNs to advance their education in order to deliver the best quality of care to patients in an increasingly complex health care environment. Studies comparing patient outcomes with the educational background of nurses demonstrate that in hospitals with higher proportions of nurses educated at the baccalaureate level or higher, surgical patients experienced lower mortality and failure-to-rescue rates. Under the provisions of this bill, RNs will continue to be able to enter the nursing profession through associate degree and diploma nursing programs. These new nurses will then have 10 years to advance their professional education and complete a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The requirements of the bill will not affect nurses who received their nursing license prior to the effective date of the bill, although it is the sponsor's intent that currently licensed nurses also seek to advance their education and training. The bill also deletes obsolete language concerning licensure fees and duration of licenses, which is now provided for in chapter 1 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. | In Committee |
| A958 | Changes reporting date and certain data requirements for NJT annual report; establishes penalty for failure to issue report in timely manner; and establishes quarterly reporting requirements. | This bill changes the reporting date for the New Jersey Transit Corporation's (NJ Transit) annual report and financial statements to the 90th day following adoption of the NJ Transit budget. The bill also requires the annual report to include on-time performance data of rail passenger service for both peak and non-peak hours. The bill provides that if NJ Transit does not comply with the deadline for the annual report, the NJ Transit board of directors is prohibited from voting or acting on any agenda item until the report is submitted. If NJ Transit is more than 90 days late in submitting the report, the bill requires the executive director of NJ Transit to convene public hearings throughout the State. The bill requires that one public hearing be held in each county for a minimum requirement of 21 public hearings. The executive director is required to physically attend each public hearing. If the executive director fails to comply with the public hearing requirements by the 150th day following the adoption of the NJ Transit budget, the bill provides that the executive director thereby forfeits the office of executive director. The bill also requires NJ Transit to submit quarterly reports to the Governor and the Legislature that provide the same data and information that is required to be included in the annual report. | In Committee |
| A1572 | Lowers age at which certain insurers are required to provide coverage for mammograms. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for mammograms for women 35 years of age or older. Existing law requires insurers to provide the coverage for women 40 years of age or older. Under the bill, insurers are required to provide coverage for one baseline mammogram examination for women who are 35 years of age; a mammogram examination every year for women age 35 and over; and, in the case of a woman who is under 35 years of age and has a family history of breast cancer or other breast cancer risk factors, a mammogram examination at such age and intervals as deemed medically necessary by the woman's health care provider. Lowers age at which certain insurers are required to provide coverage for mammograms. | In Committee |
| A1023 | Requires breath or blood test in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians. | This bill requires a police officer at the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian to obtain a breath or blood sample from the operator of that motor vehicle. The bill establishes that motor vehicle operators have given their implied consent to the taking of blood samples. The implied consent law currently applies only to the taking of breath samples. The bill also provides that the same penalties be imposed on a person who refuses to submit to a breath or blood test in the case of an accident involving a pedestrian as are imposed on those who refuse after being arrested for drunk driving. | In Committee |
| A932 | Excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings under the gross income tax. | This bill provides taxpayers a gross income tax exclusion in the amount of contributions made to certain retirement plans, and allows a deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. The affected types of plans are: (1) a plan established under section 401(a) or section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (2) amounts paid for annuity contracts under section 403(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits; (3) a deferred compensation plan of a state or local government that meets the requirements of section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (4) a federal Thrift Savings Plan; or (5) a standard Individual Retirement Account pursuant to section 408 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The contributions to these plans are taxed upon distribution from the account. The bill applies to contributions made or premiums paid in taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following enactment of the bill. | In Committee |
| A963 | Sets level for healthcare benefits; requires employee contributions; prohibits reimbursement of Medicare Part B; adds member to SHBP/SEHBP plan design committees; requires retirees to purchase health benefits through exchanges; provides subsidies for out-of-pocket costs. | This bill is one component of a three-part package that is essential to ensuring New Jersey's long-term fiscal viability. The package will responsibly require a return to full pension payments, cover a portion of the costs with health benefit reforms, and create a task force to oversee implementation and resolve issues of detail. The viability and affordability of New Jersey's public pension and health benefit systems are integral to the State's overall fiscal condition and thus bear strongly on other key areas of concern, from funding priorities such as school aid, hospital aid and safety-net programs to controlling and reducing property taxes. The provisions of this bill reflect some of the recommendations of the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission set forth in its February 24, 2015 and February 11, 2016 reports. This bill is part of an overall effort to reform and continue high-level health care benefits for public employees and retirees and the savings realized from these reforms would make it possible to preserve retirement benefits and support the unfunded accrued liability of the current retirement systems. Specifically, the commission states that the reforms "would reduce the State's health benefits spending to a sustainable level and permit the resulting savings to be used to bolster pension funding." This bill is intended to be considered in conjunction with Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 190 of 2016 which proposes to amend the New Jersey Constitution to authorize the Legislature to change pensions and health care benefits for public employees and retirees in this State and to require the State to make its annual contributions to those pension systems. Therefore, this bill will take effect four months after the approval by the voters of the constitutional amendment. The bill is also intended to be considered in conjunction with a bill to establish a task force that will develop the details needed to implement the commission's recommendations. The commission made comprehensive proposals in its reports for modifications to both the pension and health care benefits for public employees and retirees. The commission stated that its "proposed approach is simple: reset the retirement and health benefits that public-sector employees will receive in the future to private-sector levels and use the resulting savings going forward to pay off the existing pension deficit." The commission stated that "the resulting mixture of benefit adjustments, additional funding and structural changes offers the State its best chance to avoid the painful collapse of its public employee benefits system." Such is the gravity of the crisis that the status quo is not acceptable. The commission also found that "significant reduction of health benefits costs at the State and local levels is an essential element of any effort to provide public-sector employees with adequate, sustainable and certain retirement benefits funding." The commission concluded that there are "no plausible solutions to closing the pension funding gap without comprehensive benefits reform. Without reforming health benefits and using the savings to help pension funding, it is simply impossible to provide adequate, sustainable and certain employee benefits funding at a cost that the State's citizens can bear." The commission found that a constitutional amendment as described above would make the State's power to alter benefits clear and would provide the flexibility necessary to craft a workable, long-term solution to the current crisis. The commission stated that, with a constitutional amendment, "the longstanding gap between [pension] funding required and funding provided will finally be closed by reducing funding requirements to a set schedule of payments at a sustainable level." The commission concluded that if "benefit obligations, particularly health benefits costs, can be reduced to a sustainable level," a constitutional amendment should provide a mechanism to guarantee the pension funding obligations defined in the commission's reports. This bill provides that no health care benefits plan for public employees and retirees can exceed the gold level as set forth in the federal "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (42 U.S.C. s.18022). This limit will apply to the contracts providing such plans entered into after the bill's effective date. According to the commission, the gold level standard serves as a benchmark for high quality plans in the private sector. Under the bill, all government entities in the State will be required to consider and include, to the extent appropriate, feasible, and cost effective, as part of each plan: wellness programs; patient-centered medical homes; reference-based pricing; on-site medical clinics; comprehensive urgent care centers; greater use of generic drugs and prescriptions by mail; network improvements to enhance in-network utilization and reduce out-of-network utilization; and adjustments to in-network deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket expense limits, and other components, to enhance in-network utilization and reduce out-of-network utilization. The government entity must consider for each plan the inclusion of research-proven best practices in the delivery of health care and the optimization of a network of high-value providers. The commission states that "in general the State should follow the best practices which have evolved elsewhere to minimize costs while providing quality health benefits." The bill prohibits the payment of any reimbursement by a government entity for the premium for the Federal Medicare Program to active public employees and certain future public retirees, and their spouses. The commission states that significant savings could be realized "system-wide by eliminating Medicare Part B reimbursement, an anachronism dating from an era when incentives were deemed necessary to encourage what is now near-universal enrollment in Medicare. Not surprisingly, private employers are increasingly declining to offer this benefit to new retirees and are capping it or eliminating it for existing retirees." Under the bill, all public employees would be required to pay a portion of the cost of the health care benefits coverage they receive. The default payment would a percentage of salary identical to those percentages required by P.L.2011, c.78. However, like that law, the bill allows boards of education and local units to negotiate with employee representatives to achieve the same or greater savings to taxpayers through an alternative to those percentages, through plan design changes, or both. P.L.2011, c.78 required all public employees to contribute toward the cost of health care benefits coverage, with the same provisions concerning negotiated alternatives, but expired after four years. The commission states that preserving the P.L.2011, c.78 "below-average employee contribution grid ensures public employees will continue to enjoy better than private sector health benefits, since they will continue to make below average premium contributions while receiving high private sector gold level health benefits." The bill adds one additional member to the State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee and the School Employees' Health Benefits Plan Design Committee. The new member would be a member of the public appointed by the Governor. This new member will be a non-voting member except in the event there is a tie vote, in which case the member will be permitted to vote. Currently, the two committees each have an even number of members. The commission states that the committees "which by statute must have equal labor/management membership, were created as a forum for employer-employee collaboration. In practice, this built-in mutual veto has blocked reform efforts proposed by either side and has had the effect of locking in above-Platinum-level health benefits for public employees. Both labor and management have expressed acute frustration with the workings" of the committees. As a result of the implementation of this bill, local boards of education will realize savings in their cost for providing health care benefits to their employees. This bill requires that those savings be applied as payments toward the cost of health care benefits provided to the board's retired employees. Currently, the total cost for SEHBP health care benefits for retirees is borne by the State. The commission's report recommends this shift in cost and recommends that it be limited to the extent savings are realized from the reforms in this bill. The bill requires public employees for whom health care benefits coverage in retirement is to be paid for, in whole or in part, by the employer or a public entity other than the employer pursuant to law or collective negotiations agreement to purchase health care benefits coverage through a health care insurance marketplace or exchange with the cost of the coverage to be reimbursed by the employer or entity with such funds as may be necessary to purchase the level and extent of health care benefits coverage the employer is committed to provide for the retiree and the retiree's dependents. However, the coverage cannot exceed that of a "gold level" plan and, for Medicare-eligible retirees, the employer or entity will provide funds sufficient to cover the cost of a Medicare advantage prescription drug plan and the average cost of out-of-pocket expenses and prescription drug costs of such a plan. This provision will apply to all current and future retirees. The funds for the cost of coverage will be provided through such appropriate retiree reimbursement accounts that are most beneficial to the retiree as may be permitted by federal or State law. The public employer must develop and initiate a plan for implementation of this requirement in compliance with applicable federal and State law. The plan must include a schedule for transition of all current retirees, which may be completed in stages as may be necessary to ensure an orderly process, but is to be completed within three years after the bill's operative date. Finally, the bill requires that the State Treasurer establish a program to provide subsidies for out-of-pocket health care costs to active and retired public employees. The savings realized through the implementation of this bill will fund the subsidies. New Jersey's State-administered retirement systems are collectively in a dire state of underfunding. There is no serious disagreement among policymakers that regular State payments must be made in amounts as close as possible to the actuarially required contribution until full payments can be made on a sustained basis. The only significant disagreement is on which course of action to take in funding those contributions: to do the responsible work of identifying how to pay for them, or to simply create a constitutional mandate to make the contributions without a credible plan to cover the cost. Yet history has shown that when State officials fail to plan for the costs they incur, the taxpayers suffer the consequences. This bill is part of a comprehensive plan to take the responsible approach. This plan is to move health benefits for public employees closer to those that most workers for large companies receive, and mandate that the resulting savings go towards paying down New Jersey's pension debt. Retirement system changes will also ensure that pension system costs will not again balloon beyond affordability. Without such changes to public employee benefits, it will be mathematically impossible to make full pension payments in the short term except with extreme cuts in State services or in priorities such as education aid, or raising taxes to a level that would pummel the State's taxpayers and stunt its economy. The Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission estimated that the amount of money needed would equal raising the sales tax to 10 percent or increasing income taxes by 29 percent. Anything close to those levels of taxation would be clearly disastrous, wiping out jobs and pushing even more families out of the State. Those who claim that full pension payments can be made without reforming benefits owe it to the taxpaying public to be honest with them about how they, the taxpayers, will pay the cost. Responsible policymakers will show taxpayers their plan in advance, rather than take the tragically common route of cementing a huge fiscal obligation first, and only later sending them the bill. Common sense and mathematics make clear the need for benefit reform, but confirmation also comes from the nonpolitical agencies that assess New Jersey's finances. Moody's Investors Service wrote in April 2015: "Without meaningful structural changes to the state's budget, such as pension reform that dramatically improves pension affordability, the state's structural imbalance will continue to grow, and the state's [credit] rating will continue to fall." S&P Global wrote in August 2015: "A positive rating action or outlook revision would require the implementation of credible pension reform." The package of which this measure is a part is designed to ensure the continuation of retirement and health benefits for public employees in a fiscally responsible manner that will protect all New Jersey residents from the calamitous results of failure to properly address the State's most serious and pressing budgetary issues. | 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 |
| A1025 | Requires criminal background check for name change; prohibits persons convicted of violent crime or domestic violence offense from changing name. | This bill requires persons who request a name change to undergo a criminal background check. The bill also prohibits applicants who have been convicted of violent crimes or domestic violence crimes from changing their names. Under the bill, when a person applies to the Superior Court for the authority to assume another name, the court is to request the State Police to conduct a criminal history record background check of the applicant. The State Police is to conduct the background check by cross-referencing the applicant's name and fingerprints with those on file with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division and the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police. The bill prohibits a background check from being performed without the applicant's consent. Applicants would be required to assume the cost of the check. The bill also prohibits the court from authorizing an applicant who has been convicted of a violent crime or a domestic violence offense to assume another name, unless the applicant establishes that the request is for religious reasons. Violent crimes under the bill include but not limited to: murder; manslaughter; vehicular homicide; aggravated assault; disarming a law enforcement officer; kidnapping; sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated arson; burglary; extortion; terrorism; first degree racketeering; and firearms trafficking. Domestic violence offenses include homicide; assault; terroristic threats; kidnapping; criminal restraint; false imprisonment; sexual assault; criminal sexual contact; lewdness; criminal mischief; burglary; criminal trespass; harassment; stalking; criminal coercion; robbery; contempt of a domestic violence order that constitutes a crime or disorderly persons offense; any other crime involving risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person protected under the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991"; and cyber-harassment. The bill also requires the court to notify the victim, or a member of the victim's immediate family, when an applicant who has been convicted of a violent crime or domestic violence offense requests a name change. | In Committee |
| A972 | Prohibits imposition of builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation. | This bill prohibits the imposition of a builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation. The builder's remedy, as a method of achieving fair share housing, has been contrary to the public interest and public policy goals in that it resulted in the development of extraordinary amounts of market rate housing in densely populated regions while producing comparatively little affordable housing, to the overall detriment of specific communities and the State as a whole. Municipalities have attempted to navigate the rulings of the court for nearly four decades, but have been unable to adequately address the affordable housing needs of the State despite the threat of builder's remedy lawsuits. Under the bill, if a court determines that a municipality has failed to meet its obligation to provide a reasonable opportunity for the development of affordable housing, a court may impose a remedy other than a builder's remedy. For the purposes of the bill, "builder's remedy" means a court imposed remedy for a litigant who is an individual or a profit-making entity in which the court requires a municipality to utilize zoning techniques such as mandatory set-asides or density bonuses which provide for the economic viability of a residential development by including housing which is not for low and moderate income households. | In Committee |
| A1037 | Clarifies "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." | This bill would amend provisions of the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq., hereinafter, the LRHL) to clarify the statutory criteria for determining when an area is in need of redevelopment. To that end, the bill would add a definition for the term "detrimental to the safety, health, or welfare of the community" to mean "objective evidence of detriment, including, but not limited to, substantial building or health code violations, excessive police activity, a lack of structural integrity, or a continuing exterior appearance that detracts from the community or surrounding properties, in each case, which is proven to be more costly to restore than to replace. The bill specifies that, with regard to commercial property, "objective evidence of detriment" may also include "a lack of proper utilization of the land or structures that leads to substantial economic stagnation or unproductive condition of the land." Additionally, the bill would delete from the definition of the term "redevelopment area" in the LRHL, language that currently allows a redevelopment area to contain "lands, buildings, or improvements which of themselves are not detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare" if their inclusion is found to be necessary for the effective redevelopment of the area. The bill would also require a municipal governing body to determine that an area is in need of redevelopment by adoption of an ordinance rather than a resolution. The bill proposes various changes to section 5 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-5) to clarify the statute's criteria for determining when an area is in need of redevelopment. In this regard, the bill proposes deleting: certain criteria from the statute allowing designation on a finding (concerning the generality of buildings being substandard, unsafe, unsanitary, dilapidated, or obsolescent, or possess any of such characteristics, or are so lacking in light, air, or space, as to be conducive to unwholesome living or working conditions); and certain criteria from the statute which authorizes the designation of a redevelopment area if doing so is consistent with smart growth planning principles. Finally, the bill would amend the LRHL to authorize a municipal governing body to submit a nonbinding referendum to ascertain the sentiment of the voters on a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance. | In Committee |
| A1116 | Authorizes State Auditor to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives. | This bill authorizes the State Auditor to conduct cost benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives as a means to provide State policymakers with data and information to make better informed policy and budget decisions. Under the bill, the State Auditor is authorized to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of any existing or proposed program or initiative of an accounting agency or an independent authority that is funded or is to be funded by State appropriation or that is established or is to be established for the purpose of awarding tax credits to businesses to stimulate economic development in New Jersey. The bill provides for the State Auditor to conduct a cost-benefit analysis at the direction of the Legislative Services Commission or the presiding officer of either House of the Legislature or at the State Auditor's own initiative, but specifies that for each five-year period following enactment of the bill the State Auditor is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of at least one existing or proposed program or initiative of each accounting agency and each independent authority that is funded or is to be funded by State appropriation of $1,000,000 or more on an average annual basis or that is established or is to be established for the purpose of awarding tax credits in the aggregate principal sum of $1,000,000 or more on an average annual basis. The bill gives the State Auditor the discretion to determine the scope, define the objectives, and develop the methodology employed in conducting cost-benefit analyses authorized by the bill, but requires each cost benefit analysis to include: -- an analysis of the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the existing or proposed program or initiative; -- information identifying any other programs or initiatives that are feasible of accomplishing the goals and objectives of the existing or proposed program or initiative or are capable of being used to create a baseline measurement against which the existing or proposed program or initiative can be compared; -- an analysis of the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the other programs or initiatives that are identified as feasible alternatives or capable of being used for baseline measurements; -- a description of the key assumptions used to determine the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the existing or proposed program or initiative and the other programs or initiatives that are identified as feasible alternatives or capable of being used for baseline measurements; -- a sensitivity analysis to test how the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the existing or proposed program or initiative would differ if the key assumptions were modified; and -- any other information the State Auditor determines to be necessary and appropriate. The bill requires the State Auditor to submit a written report regarding each cost-benefit analysis conducted pursuant to the bill to the Governor and to the Legislature, and to make an electronic copy of the report available to the public through a link prominently displayed on the State Auditor's Internet website. The bill is scheduled to take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1034 | Revises definition of child abuse or neglect to include additional perpetrators; establishes requirements concerning provision of services to children who engage in problematic sexual behaviors. | This bill expands the definition of child abuse or neglect. Specifically, the bill amends section 2 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.9) and section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9-8.21) to stipulate that a child is considered abused or neglected if certain acts of abuse or neglect are committed or allowed to be committed by a person who is not the child's parent or legal guardian, including the infliction of serious or potentially serious physical injury, acts of sexual abuse, and the use of physical restraint. Current law considers a child to be abused or neglected if the abuse or neglect is committed or allowed to be committed by a parent or legal guardian or other person having control or custody of the child, but does not consider such acts to be abuse or neglect if they are committed by other persons. The bill also stipulates that upon receipt of a child abuse report involving a child who engages in problematic sexual behaviors, and referral of the report to a county prosecutor, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families is to refer the child and the child's parent or legal guardian, as appropriate, to a regional diagnostic and treatment center, child advocacy center, or other behavioral health care provider for services, supports, and other assistance to reduce the risk of the child continuing to engage in problematic sexual behaviors. Acceptance of the services by the child or the child's parent or guardian is voluntary. However, if the DCPP determines that there will be a high risk of the child continuing to engage in problematic sexual behaviors and the child or the child's parent or guardian refuses to accept services, the services will be mandatory. As defined in the bill, "child who engages in problematic sexual behaviors" means a child under the age of 18 years who commits or facilitates the commission of an act of sexual abuse against another person. The bill's provisions require the DCPP to document the following information in the case plan of a child referred for services, supports, and other assistance: (1) the types of services, supports, or assistance offered to the child or the child's parent or guardian and the reasons why the services, supports, or assistance are necessary to reduce the risk of the child continuing to engage in problematic sexual behavior; (2) whether the services, supports, or assistance were accepted voluntarily or were mandated by the DCPP, when the services, supports, or assistance were provided, and if the services, supports, or assistance were provided to the child, the child's parent or guardian, or both the child and the child's parent or guardian; and (3) the outcomes of the services, supports, or assistance provided to the child or the child's parent or guardian in reducing the risk of the child continuing to engage in problematic sexual behavior. | In Committee |
| AJR24 | Establishes unified smart card fare collection study commission. | This joint resolution establishes a five member study commission to study and make findings and recommendations concerning all potential opportunities for transit agencies that serve New Jersey residents to implement a unified smart card fare collection system. The study commission is to consist of: a person with expertise and experience in transit smart card technology who is to be appointed by the Governor; a person with expertise and experience in transit fare collection policy who is to be appointed by the Senate President; a person with expertise and experience in New Jersey transit system infrastructure and regional transit cooperation who is to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and two people with expertise and experience in public rail passenger transportation, one who is to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate and one who is to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The study commission is to prepare and submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature and is to expire upon submission of the report. | In Committee |
| A1038 | Imposes credit rating requirement upon ability for municipality to exercise powers under "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." | This bill would limit the ability to exercise the redevelopment and rehabilitation functions authorized pursuant to section 4 of the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-4), P.L.1992, c.79, to municipalities that have attained, during the prior three-year period, a credit rating of: A- or lower by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Fitch Ratings, A3 or lower by Moody's Investor Services Inc., or the equivalent thereof from a "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as provided in the bill. In so doing, this bill would limit the use of those redevelopment and rehabilitation functions to municipalities with lower credit ratings. | In Committee |
| A2633 | Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations. | This bill allows a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions that are made to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations to encourage philanthropic giving to Garden State charities. Under the bill, New Jersey gross income taxpayers are allowed to deduct from gross income charitable contributions that are made during the taxable year to a qualified New Jersey-based charitable organization. The bill provides that the amount of the deduction is limited to the amount of charitable contributions that is allowable as a deduction from federal adjusted gross income to the taxpayer for the federal taxable year pursuant to section 170 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.170). The deduction allowed by the bill mirrors the federal income tax deduction for charitable contributions and is allowed regardless of whether the federal itemized deduction is taken by the taxpayer. Thus, the deduction is equal to the amount "allowable" by Internal Revenue Code section 170, not just the deduction allowed and taken. The bill defines "qualified New Jersey-based charitable organization" as a charitable organization that is registered pursuant to the "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act," or an organization that is exempt from the registration requirements of that act, and that maintains an office, employs persons, and provides services in this State. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to charitable contributions that are made in taxable years beginning on or after the January 1 next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1002 | Requires Attorney General to establish educational and public information program concerning State and federal crimes of human trafficking; appropriates $75,000. | This bill requires the Attorney General to establish an educational and public information program concerning human trafficking offenses under State and federal statutes. The bill appropriates $75,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for these purposes. | In Committee |
| A1107 | Requires municipalities to share certain payments in lieu of property taxes with school districts; informs counties, school districts, and DCA of certain information related to property tax exemptions and abatements. | This bill revises various aspects of the laws governing property tax exemptions. Specifically, the bill requires municipalities to share certain payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOTs) with school districts. The bill also requires notice to be provided to the county, school districts, and Department of Community Affairs (DCA) when a municipality considers and approves a property tax exemption. Under current law, any urban renewal entity that benefits from a long-term property tax exemption is required to make annual PILOTs to the municipality in which it is located. Currently, the municipality is required to remit five percent of the PILOT to the host county, thereby retaining 95 percent of the payment. Under the bill, municipalities would also be required to remit certain portions of these PILOTs to the school districts that serve the municipality, including regional school districts. For a residential property, the municipality would be required to provide those school districts with an amount equal to the product of: (1) the number of school-age children who attend a public school or regional school district that serves the municipality, and who reside in the project; and (2) the base per pupil amount determined by the Commissioner of Education for the previous school year pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-49). Alternatively, this amount would equal five percent of the PILOT, or an in-kind contribution equal in value to that amount, if the long-term tax exemption concerns nonresidential or mixed-use property. When an amount is remitted to more than one school district, the amount would be divided amongst those districts in proportion to each district's share of the total school tax levy in the municipality. The bill also provides that when an urban renewal entity applies for a long-term property tax exemption, the entity would be required to provide copies of the application to the county, school districts, and the Director of the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) in the DCA. The DLGS would be required to post this application on the Internet website of the DCA. Under current law, the mayor of a municipality is required to submit recommendations to the municipal governing body within 60 days of receiving an application from an urban renewal entity for a long-term tax exemption. The bill would require these recommendations to be simultaneously submitted to the county and the local school districts that serve the municipality. Thereafter, representatives of the county and school districts may submit recommendations to the governing body within 10 days of receiving the mayor's recommendations. The bill would also require a municipality to provide the DLGS and the school districts with a copy of an ordinance and financial agreement approving a long-term tax exemption. Currently, a municipality is required to only provide the county these documents. The bill also requires the DCA to post the ordinance and financial agreement on the DCA's website. After an application for a long-term property tax exemption is approved, current law requires the urban renewal entity to submit an annual audit to the municipality. Under the bill, this annual audit would be required to certify the number of school-age children attending public school who are residing in the approved project. The bill would also require an urban renewal entity to provide copies of the audit to the Director of the DLGS for publication on the DCA's website. The bill also requires a municipality to provide the DLGS with a copy of an ordinance that effectuates a five-year property tax abatement, and requires the DLGS to post this ordinance on the website of the DCA. | In Committee |
| A1015 | Requires annual assessment paid by mutual holding company to solely fund health care initiatives; establishes Healthcare Rate Stabilization and Improvements Organization. | This bill requires the annual assessment paid by a reorganized mutual holding company and certain affiliates be used to fund health care initiatives. Current law permits a health care service corporation to reorganize as a mutual holding company. Pursuant to current law, the mutual holding company or any affiliate benefiting from the establishment of a mutual holding company is to pay 17 annual assessments. Through this legislation, it is the sponsor's intent that the funds generated by the assessment, having originally been collected from policyholders, be used to benefit those policyholders rather than to meet the needs of government. This bill requires that the funds collected pursuant to the annual assessments required of a mutual holding company are only to be used to fund health care initiatives to benefit policyholders. The bill also requires the Commissioner to establish a nonprofit, healthcare improvement corporation to be known as the "Healthcare Rate Stabilization and Improvements Organization." The bill provides that the initial assessment paid pursuant to current law is to be paid to the organization, and not to the State of New Jersey. The board of the organization is to establish a plan for use of the funds for rate stabilization or other purposes that would improve the quality or efficiency of healthcare in the State of New Jersey, including, but not limited to, improving outcomes in infant mortality, maternal mortality, diabetes, heart disease and veteran's health. The board is to establish subaccounts within the account established pursuant to the bill. Each subaccount is to be allocated to the portion of the initial allocation that approximates the share of total covered lives within the various segments of the health service corporation's covered lives prior to reorganization. The subaccounts are to include, but not be limited to, subaccounts on behalf of: small group employers and covered lives; local government employers and covered lives; individual policies; large group employers and covered lives; Medicaid and Medicare payers and covered lives; and school employers and covered lives. | In Committee |
| A950 | Establishes "Monica's Law" requiring evidence-based risk assessments in certain domestic violence cases. | This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in consultation with the Supreme Court Statewide Domestic Violence Working Group, to develop a parenting time questionnaire and an evidence-based guide of risk considerations for the court in determining custody and parenting time alternatives in certain domestic violence cases. In addition, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Supreme Court Statewide Domestic Violence Working Group, is directed to develop an evidence-based risk assessment instrument for law enforcement. AOC: PARENTING TIME QUESTIONNAIRE AND EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDE OF RISK CONSIDERATIONS Under the bill, the parenting time questionnaire and the evidence-based guide of risk considerations developed by the AOC will be used by the court in making a parenting time determination if there is a potential risk to the safety or well-being of a child. The parenting time questionnaire will be completed by a parent asserting a concern for the safety or well-being of a child. The questionnaire will collect information for use with the evidence-based guide developed by the AOC if there is a potential risk to the safety or well-being of a child from a parent who is entitled to parenting time. The questionnaire will include, but not be limited to, information regarding: the parents and children; the parent's recommendations for parenting time alternatives; the availability of transportation; the history of domestic violence, child abuse, or other violent or threatening behavior of a parent; the exposure of children to domestic violence or other violent or threatening behavior of a parent; the other parent's history of substance abuse; the other parent's criminal history; the other parent's history of mental illness; the results of prior parenting time efforts; the other parent's capacity to care for the child; and any other information deemed relevant by the court. The Administrative Office of the Courts will also develop an evidence-based guide of risk considerations to assist the court in determining custody and parenting time alternatives if there are allegations of violent or threatening behavior by a parent that could place the safety and well-being of the child at risk. The guide will provide judges with an evidence-based analytical matrix of risk indicators taking into account various custody and parenting time alternatives, risk considerations, current or past violent and threatening behaviors, and family circumstances. The court would consult the guide in conjunction with information provided in the parenting time questionnaire and other relevant information provided by the parents when determining custody and allocating parenting time to facilitate access of parents to their children and to assure the best interests and safety of children. The bill provides that in any court proceeding to establish custody or parenting time of a child, if a parent asserts a concern for the safety of a child of the relationship due to past violent or threatening behavior of the other parent, the court will temporarily suspend or restrict parenting time with the child and order the parent asserting safety concerns to complete a parenting time questionnaire, unless the parent who may be subject to the restrictions shows, and the court finds, by a preponderance of evidence, that the statements made by the parent seeking parenting time restrictions are arbitrary and capricious. Upon request, court professional staff will assist the parent in completing the questionnaire, or a parent may seek the assistance of an attorney, a domestic violence advocate, or a licensed social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist. However, a parent will not be required to complete the parenting time questionnaire if the parent believes that it would create any possibility of further risk of harm from the other parent. If the court denies a parent's request for temporary suspension or restriction of parenting time or further evaluation of safety concerns related to the child, the court is required to state the reasons for the denial on the record. When the court enters an order temporarily suspending or restricting parenting time to allow time for further evaluation of safety concerns, the court would be required to set the date for a subsequent hearing. The hearing shall occur in an expeditious manner while allowing time for the collection of relevant information and professional evaluations. A copy of the completed parenting time questionnaire will be provided to the parent who may be subject to the parenting time restriction prior to the hearing. The court would consider the following information when establishing an appropriate parenting time arrangement: ? information provided in the parenting time questionnaire; ? information available in court records; and ? any evidence provided or testimony made by the parents or other witnesses at the hearing. After reviewing information provided at the hearing, if the court finds that there exists any possible risk to the safety or well-being of the child from a parent who is entitled to parenting time, the court may order: ? court-sponsored or court-approved parenting time; ? parenting time in the presence of a third party; ? parenting time at a place and time that avoids contact with the other parent; or ? any other restrictions or conditions on parenting time that the court deems necessary to protect the safety and well-being of the child. The court may also order batters intervention counseling for the parent subject to the restrictions as a condition to the parenting time restrictions. The court may order continued suspension of parenting time only if a parent is provided with procedural due process and the court finds on the record that no other alternative will protect the safety and well-being of the child. If the court orders a complete and indefinite suspension of parenting time, the court would refer the matter to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families for investigation. If there is any allegation during the court proceedings that a parent has physically or emotionally abused a child, the court will refer the matter to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families for investigation. ATTORNEY GENERAL: EVIDENCE-BASED RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT The bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Supreme Court Statewide Domestic Violence Working Group, to develop an evidence-based risk assessment instrument to be used by law enforcement throughout the State to aid in the evaluation of the likelihood of whether a person charged with any crime, or any offense involving domestic violence as defined in subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19) will commit a future act of violence against a victim of domestic violence. The risk assessment instrument would be validated by an independent source to assure that its results provide valid predictors of future acts of violence. To the extent feasible, the risk assessment instrument will maximize use of information from existing criminal justice information systems to limit exposure of the victim to future violence from the person alleged to have committed domestic violence. If the risk assessment instrument includes information obtained from a victim, the law enforcement officer, prior to applying the risk assessment instrument, will inform the victim about the use of the results, the persons who or agencies that will have access to results, and permit the victim to decline participation if the victim believes that it may compromise the victim's safety. The results of the risk assessment will be used in conjunction with other information that may be provided by the victim or obtained from criminal justice information systems, to: ? assist law enforcement officers who respond to the scene of domestic violence in deciding whether to charge a defendant who is alleged to have committed an act of domestic violence on a complaint-warrant or complaint-summons; ? assist prosecutors and the court in determining if an order for pretrial detention pursuant to sections 4 and 5 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-18 and C.2A:162-19) is appropriate; ? protect the victim during and after any criminal proceedings; ? promote appropriate sentencing and probation supervision or corrections strategies; and ? aid Batterer's Intervention Programs in designing individualized remedial programs for persons who have committed an act of domestic violence. Under the bill, the results of a person's risk assessment would be deemed confidential and would be released only to: ? a public agency authorized to investigate a report of domestic violence; ? the police or other law enforcement agency investigating a report of domestic violence; ? a court, upon its finding that access to such records may be necessary for determination of an issue before the court; ? the Department of Corrections and State Parole Board; and ? the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families; ? a Batterer's Intervention Program established under the Department of Children and Families; and? any other agency deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. AMENDATORY SECTION The bill amends section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) concerning domestic violence hearing procedures to cross reference the evidence-based risk assessment and parenting questionnaire established under the bill. This bill embodies recommendations 6 and 20 of the Report of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence issued June 2016. This bill is named "Monica's Law" after 31-year-old Monica Paul. In June 2008, Ms. Paul was shot to death in the presence of her two young children in the YMCA Family Center in Montclair. Kenneth Duckett, the father of the children, was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. | In Committee |
| A965 | Requires State entities and agencies to provide child care services for full-time employees. | This bill requires a State entity or agency to provide child care services for full-time employee in any department, office, section, or other organizational component of the entity or agency who are in need of child care services. Under the provisions of the bill, the child care services could be provided: in a building, structure, or any room owned by the State or under the custody of the State Joint Capitol Joint Management Commission, which would be licensed as a child care center in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.); or at a child care center licensed pursuant to P.L. 1983, c. 492 (C. 30:5B-1 et seq.) or a school age child care program, or at a family day care home approved by the Department of Children and Families pursuant to P.L. 1987, c. 27 (C. 30:5B-16 et seq.), or through alternative arrangements which are developed by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families. As used in the bill, "employee" means any employee in the Executive Branch or the Judicial Branch of the State government of New Jersey or any staff, assistant, and employee of the Legislature. or any of its members in the member's official capacity, whether or not they receive compensation from the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A1125 | "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act"; repeals certain sections of law; requires additional aid to lower property taxes commensurate with residents' ability to support schools; appropriates $2.9 billion. | The bill is to be known as the "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act." The bill requires that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, State school aid will be provided to school districts at levels consistent with the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) up to their adequacy budget, and prevents future cuts to State aid. It also requires a school district to reduce its tax levy in an amount equal to any increase in State school aid above the prior budget year under certain circumstances, allowing the district to subsequently increase its levy from a lower level than the prior budget year. It is the sponsors' intent to bring equity to New Jersey's school system by increasing State aid contributions to SFRA adequacy budget levels in a manner consistent with the "thorough and efficient" education clause in the State Constitution (N.J. Const. art. VIII, sec. 4, par.1). Providing school aid in this manner will reduce property taxes based on the ability of each school district's residents to support schools. The bill repeals certain sections of law enacted as part of P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to "S2") that resulted in loss of aid and higher property taxes in certain school districts. The bill requires the State to provide aid to school districts equal to the greatest amount of:· aid according to the SFRA; · aid according to the SFRA and, if applicable, additional aid to provided to school districts that lost funding as a result of the implementation of S2; or· State school aid received in any of the school years between and including the 2017-2018 school year and the 2022-2023 school year. Under the bill, a district may petition the Commissioner of Education and State Treasurer for additional aid if it demonstrates a willingness to reduce its adjusted tax levy by an amount equal to any additional aid received. The bill requires a school district to reduce its school tax levy by the same amount of their State school aid increase above the prior year if the total tax levy of the municipality or municipalities comprising the district is more than five percent of school district income. After lowering its levy commensurate with a State aid increase, a school district may increase its levy by an amount necessary to cover an increase in per pupil administrative costs and deferred revenue. The bill requires a district to submit a proposal to voters of the district if it wishes to exceed this limitation. If the voters do not approve the proposal, a school district may add to its adjusted tax levy the difference between the maximum amount to be raised by taxation for the current budget year and the actual amount to be raised by taxation for the current school year if the amount of State school aid and the adjusted tax levy is below the adequacy budget in the next three succeeding budget years. Lastly, the bill appropriates $2,946,618,000 for the purposes of providing additional aid under the bill. The bill stipulates that any unexpended balances are appropriated to the Schools Development Authority for the purposes of supporting school facilities projects and supporting emergent needs and capital maintenance in school districts. | In Committee |
| A1019 | Permits children age three through five to receive early intervention services under certain circumstances. | This bill permits children age three through five to receive early intervention services under certain circumstances. Currently, the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS), under the Department of Health, implements New Jersey's statewide system of services for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The NJEIS is mandated by federal law under Part C of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)." At age three, supports and services change as eligible children move from Part C to Part B of IDEA, and transition from early intervention services to preschool special education services. Under this bill, the department is required to allow eligible toddlers who are receiving early intervention services upon the child's third birthday to continue receiving services until the child is six years of age, or is eligible under State law to enter kindergarten, whichever event occurs first. In doing so, this bill will minimize the disruption in the delivery of services provided to children by utilizing a federal option available to the State to serve existing beneficiaries of early intervention services through age five, until educational services are required to be provided via the child's local school district The bill requires that these services be provided in compliance with federal law which, for example, requires states to obtain informed consent from the parent of a child for the continuation of early intervention services for that child and to allow parents to opt out of services at any point to, instead, pursue supports for their child via preschool special education services. This bill also makes a technical correction to the existing statutory reference to the federal legislation authorizing the NJEIS. As first authorized in 1986, the early intervention program was known as Part H of IDEA. It became Part C with the reauthorization of IDEA in 1997 and continues as Part C to the present day. | In Committee |
| A1001 | "Judy and Nikki's Law"; provides for life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of murder of a child 16 years of age or younger. | This bill, designated as "Judy and Nikki's law," would require that a person convicted of murder of a child 16 years of age or less must be sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole. This bill's title is in honor of Judy Cajuste and Nicole Giovanni, two teenage murder victims. Judy Cajuste was a bright, energetic 14-year-old high school freshman sprinter on the track team at Abraham Clark High School in Roselle. She disappeared on January 11, 2006 shortly after track practice and her body was later found in Weequahic Park in Newark. Nicole Giovanni of Roselle Park was a 14-year-old freshman and accomplished indoor track runner at Roselle Catholic High School. In February 2005 her mother bludgeoned her to death as she slept. The mother was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 30 years. N.J.S.A.2C:11-3 provides that a person convicted of murder must be sentenced either to a term of 30 years' imprisonment without eligibility for parole or to a specific term of years between 30 years and life imprisonment of which the person must serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. In addition, N.J.S.A.2C:11-3 provides for a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the murder of a law enforcement officer, or for the murder of a child under the age of 14 during the commission of a sexual assault. This bill changes the second circumstance under which life imprisonment without parole must be imposed. The bill decreases the age of the child from 18 to 16 and removes the factor that the murder was committed during the commission of a sexual assault. Thus, under the provisions of the bill a person convicted of the murder of a child 16 years of age or less would be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. | In Committee |
| A1005 | Creates home purchase grant program in HMFA for certain veterans who served in federal active duty; appropriates $2,000,000. | This bill establishes a grant program to assist certain veterans, who served in active federal duty, in the purchase of a home. This grant program would be established by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in coordination with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The grant program may be interfaced with any program administered by the agency for first-time homebuyers, except that a recipient need not meet the eligibility criteria of any other homebuyer program in order to participate in the matching grant program established pursuant to the bill. Under the bill, the grant program would provide matching grants to eligible veterans on a dollar-for-dollar matching fund basis, up to a maximum of $10,000. These funds may be applied to closing costs, equity payments, or for any other purpose which assists the recipient in purchasing a home. The bill prohibits any person from receiving more than one matching grant under the program To qualify for the grant program, a veteran would be required to provide, at the time of application, proof of: (1) at least 90 days of service on federal active duty; (2) legal residency in the State of New Jersey; and (3) the intent to purchase a principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Under the bill, the agency may not establish income eligibility requirements for the grant program. However, the agency may give priority to those applicants who also qualify for assistance under other programs administered by the agency, such as the first time home-buyer program. The bill defines "veteran" to include any active member of any branch of the United State Armed Forces, any member of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, and any member of the New Jersey National Guard. The bill also appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to fund the grant program. | In Committee |
| ACR27 | Provides for special session of Legislature to consider property tax relief and reform. | This concurrent resolution provides for the convening of a special session of the Legislature for the purpose of considering property tax relief and reform. | In Committee |
| A952 | Establishes Statewide program to provide treatment services for children exposed to domestic violence. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families ("DCF") to establish and maintain a Statewide therapeutic treatment program for the children and families of domestic violence victims. The bill requires that the department establish and maintain a Statewide evidence-based program to provide treatment services for children and their family members exposed to domestic violence. The bill provides that DCF shall provide grants to providers for developing and implementing therapeutic treatment, counseling, and supportive services to those children and their family members who have been exposed to domestic violence. The bill further provides that DCF will collect and maintain data on the program established by this bill and provide a report to the Governor and Legislature which would include (1) information on the number of counties or municipalities that have implemented the program; (2) the number of participants in the program; and (3) information on the effectiveness of the program. The bill requires DCF to assign staff to develop strategies for assisting the providers in implementing the program throughout the State. DCF would also monitor the implementation of the program by requiring the participating organizations to maintain accurate records concerning the levels of service, referral activity, and overall program management. The bill provides that there would be appropriated from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to implement the provisions and to effectuate the purposes of the bill as shall be included in any general or supplemental appropriation act. The bill embodies, in part, recommendation 8 of the Report of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence issued June 2016. | In Committee |
| A1009 | Expands continuing education requirements for nurses. | This bill expands continuing education requirements for nurses. Under the bill, the New Jersey Board of Nursing (board) is to require that the number of credits of continuing education required of each person licensed as a professional nurse or a practical nurse, as a condition of biennial license renewal, include one credit of educational programs or topics concerning domestic violence. The board may, in its discretion, waive the continuing education requirement on an individual basis for reasons of hardship, such as illness or disability, retirement of the license, or other good cause. A waiver is to apply only to the current biennial renewal period at the time of board issuance. | 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 |
| A1022 | Clarifies that permitting sexual abusers to reside with a child constitutes endangering welfare of a child. | This bill amends N.J.S.2C:24-4 to clarify that knowingly allowing a person who has committed a sex offense against a child to reside in a house or dwelling with a child is endangerment to the welfare of a child. Endangering the welfare of a child is a crime of the second degree if committed by any person having legal duty for the care of the child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of the child. For all other persons, endangering the welfare of a child is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a fine of up to $150,000, five to 10 years imprisonment, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, three to five years imprisonment, or both. | In Committee |
| A1008 | Authorizes visiting advanced practice nurses who are not certified by endorsement in New Jersey to engage in the limited practice of prescribing medications and devices, if they have appropriate educational qualifications. | This bill would authorize certain visiting advanced practice nurses to engage in the limited practice of prescribing medications and devices to patients in this State, so long as the visiting nurses are deemed to be appropriately qualified to engage in prescribing activities. Under the bill's provisions, a "visiting advanced practice nurse" is defined to mean a person who is not a resident of New Jersey, but who is temporarily present in the State; who is licensed or certified as an advanced practice nurse, or the substantial equivalent, by another state or jurisdiction other than New Jersey; and who is not seeking full certification by endorsement, pursuant to N.J.A.C.13:37-7.6, but who wishes to engage only in the limited practice of prescribing medications and devices in this State. "Visiting advanced practice nurse" would not include a non-resident who has already been certified as an advanced practice nurse in this State through the certification by endorsement process specified in N.J.A.C.13:37-7.6. In order to ensure that a visiting advanced practice nurse has the appropriate qualifications to engage in the limited practice of prescribing drugs and devices, the bill would require each visiting advanced practice nurse to provide written notice to the Board of Nursing at least 10 days before engaging in the prescription of drugs or devices in this State. Such written notice would need to indicate the educational qualifications of the visiting advanced practice nurse, the licenses or certifications that are held by the visiting advanced practice nurse, the states or other jurisdictions in which those licenses or certifications were issued, the training requirements that were satisfied for the purposes of obtaining those licenses or certifications, the proposed timeframe during which the visiting advanced practice nurse will be prescribing medications and devices in this State, and any other information that may be required by board regulation. Within seven days after receipt of written notice from a visiting advanced practice nurse, the board would be required to evaluate the nurse's credentials, as specified in the notice, and determine whether the nurse is appropriately qualified to engage in the prescription of medications and devices. If the board determines that the visiting advanced practice nurse is so qualified, the board would be required to notify the nurse, in writing, of that determination and issue a visiting nurse identification number, which is to be printed on all of the prescriptions that are issued by the nurse in the State. If the board has reason to believe that the visiting advanced practice nurse is not properly authorized by the out-of-State license or certification to engage in the prescription of drugs or devices, or that the training required for the nurse's out-of-State license or certification was not substantially equivalent to the training that is required for the certification of advanced practice nurses in this State, the board would be required to issue an order restricting the prescribing practices of the visiting advanced practice nurse. As deemed by the board to be appropriate, an order issued pursuant to the bill's provisions may: 1) fully prohibit the visiting advanced practice nurse from prescribing medications or devices in this State, despite the provisions of the bill to the contrary; 2) require the visiting advanced practice nurse, before engaging in the prescription of medications or devices in this State, to submit to a skills assessment and, if necessary, to successfully complete educational training; or 3) provide for the conditional supervision, monitoring, or other limitation of the visiting advanced practice nurse's prescribing practices in this State. A visiting advanced practice nurse who is subject to an order of the board may submit to the board, within 20 days after receipt of the order, a written request for a hearing on the matter, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). A visiting advanced practice nurse who prescribes medications or devices in this State without first providing notice to the board, as required by the bill, or who prescribes medications or devices in violation of the provisions of an order issued by the board, would be deemed to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of nursing in this State, and would be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for the first violation, and not more than $20,000 for the second or subsequent violation, as provided by existing law. | In Committee |
| A1581 | Provides gross income tax credit for certain expenses paid or incurred for care and support of qualifying senior family member; designated as Caregiver's Assistance Act. | This bill, designated as the Caregiver's Assistance Act, provides a gross income tax credit to qualified caregivers, including resident taxpayers and resident individuals, who pay or incur qualified care expenses for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member. The bill provides that to be allowed a credit qualified caregivers who pay or incur qualified care expenses must have gross income that does not exceed an annual income limitation. The bill specifies that qualified caregivers must have gross income that does not exceed $100,000, or does not exceed $50,000 if married or a civil union partner filing separately or if unmarried, not a partner in a civil union, and not filing or eligible to file as head of household or as a surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes, to be allowed the credit. The bill provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 22.5 percent of the qualified care expenses paid or incurred by the qualified caregiver during the taxable year for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member that are not in excess of $3,000. The bill provides that if multiple qualified caregivers are allowed a credit for qualified care expenses of the same qualifying senior family member, the credit allowed will be allocated in equal amounts unless a different allocation is established by agreement. The bill provides that the credit is in addition to the benefit of the dependent deduction that may be received by the qualified caregiver for claiming the qualifying senior family member as a dependent on the caregiver's gross income tax return. The bill provides that the credit is refundable: the amount of any credit that reduces the qualified caregiver's tax liability to an amount less than zero is required to be refunded to the caregiver as an overpayment of tax. The bill provides that a qualified caregiver is eligible to receive the benefits of the credit, even if the caregiver has gross income below the statutory minimum subject to tax. The bill defines a qualifying senior family member as an individual who: (1) is 60 years of age or older and a relative of the qualified caregiver, or is 50 years of age or older, is a relative of the qualified caregiver, and qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, and (2) has gross income for the taxable year not in excess of the New Jersey Elder Index, as reported by the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.2015, c.53 (C.44:15-1 et seq.) for the most recent calendar year. The bill generally defines qualified care expenses as the expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year for the purchase, lease, or rental of tangible personal property and services that are necessary to allow the qualifying senior family member to be maintained within or at the qualified caregiver's or the qualifying senior family member's permanent place of abode in this State. | In Committee |
| A980 | Expands eligibility under the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act by broadening certain municipal qualifier provisions. | This bill expands eligibility under the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act (UTHTCA) by broadening certain municipal qualifier provisions. During the 2006-2007 Session the Legislature passed UTHTCA as a mechanism to catalyze economic development. As originally enacted, UTHTCA provided tax credits for qualified business facilities within urban transit hubs located in municipalities meeting certain criteria. This bill amends the municipal qualifier provisions so that any municipality with a commuter rail station satisfies the requirements to be considered an "eligible municipality." The intent behind broadening the definition of "eligible municipality" is to expand the scope wherein the tax credit can induce economic development. Under UTHTCA, a business that makes $50,000,000 of capital investment in a qualified business facility within an urban transit hub and that employs at least 250 people at the facility may qualify for a tax credit equal to the qualified capital investment. The credit may be applied against corporation business tax, insurance premiums tax or gross income tax liability. UTHTCA also enables a tenant located in a qualified business facility to take advantage of a similar credit, under certain circumstances and limitations. For a business facility to qualify under UTHTCA, it must be located in a urban rail transit hub that is within a municipality that is eligible for urban aid and has at least 30 percent of its real property value exempt from property taxes. According to the New Jersey Office of Economic Growth, as UTHTCA was originally enacted nine municipalities would meet that criteria. By broadening the municipal qualifier provisions to include any municipality with a commuter rail station, this bill is designed to widen the scope of tax credit eligibility to encourage economic development in and beyond nine municipalities. Accordingly, this bill also removes the word "urban" from the title of the UTHTCA so that it is read as the Transit Hub Tax Credit Act. | In Committee |
| A959 | Allocates nondedicated portion of State realty transfer fee collections to municipal property tax relief. | This bill provides municipal property tax relief by requiring the State to allocate to municipalities that share of the State portion of realty transfer fee proceeds that is derived from the fee's "general purpose fee", its fee on buyers of residential and commercial property sold at a price of $1,000,000 or above, and the State share of the "basic fee" that is not statutorily earmarked to other purposes. The fee's county share and its dedications to the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Extraordinary Aid Account, the Shore Protection Fund, and the Highlands Protection Fund thus remain intact. If, in any fiscal year, the State's annual appropriation act fails to appropriate to municipalities the entire balance of the State portion of nondedicated realty transfer fee proceeds, the county recording officers will only collect the county portion of the fee, a provision intended to prohibit the State from appropriating the revenue for other purposes. Municipalities must use the realty transfer fee revenue they receive from the State exclusively to reduce their property tax levies, with the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs being required to mandate budget changes to municipal governing bodies that are noncompliant with that condition. Each municipality receives a payment that corresponds to the amount of the State portion of realty transfer fee payments on real estate transactions that have occurred in that municipality less the share that those transactions contribute to the aforementioned dedications. The bill provides for a five-year phase-in period over which the State keeps a progressively decreasing share of the nondedicated State portion of fee proceeds: 80 percent in the first year following the bill's enactment, 60 percent in the second year, 40 percent in the third year, 20 percent in the fourth year, and zero percent in the fifth year. This transitional period smooths out the legislation's impact on the State General Fund, which would have lost almost $190 million in fiscal year 2012, if the bill's provisions had been in effect absent the phase-in period. To compensate counties for the cost associated with the additional workload this bill may cause, it enables them to levy a $0.50 surcharge on the recording of each deed. | In Committee |
| A2617 | "Transparency in Government Act"; provides for establishment of State public finance website. | This bill, the "Transparency in Government Act," establishes a State public finance website to provide State residents with a convenient, user-friendly source of information to track State revenues and expenditures and to gauge the State's overall level of bonded indebtedness. Under the bill, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, is required to design, develop, and maintain a single, searchable website that is accessible to the general public without charge, and that includes information on: -- annual State expenditures; -- annual State revenues; -- annual State bonded indebtedness, and -- any other data and information specified by the State Treasurer after consulting with and seeking the advice of the Chief Technology Officer and the Public Finance Transparency Committee established by the bill. The bill provides that the website must include data and information concerning State expenditures, revenues, and bonded indebtedness for fiscal year 2000 and each year thereafter. The bill permits data and information posted on the website to be periodically updated, but prohibits the removal of data and information posted to the site. The bill requires data and information available in the central accounting and State payroll systems to be made available on the website as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the last day of the preceding fiscal year. The bill stipulates that it does not require the disclosure of information deemed, private, personal, or confidential by State or federal law. The bill establishes the Public Finance Transparency Committee within the Department of the Treasury. The bill provides for the committee to be comprised of 13 members, including: (1) the State Treasurer, (1) the Chief Technology Officer, (1) the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, (2) two members who are commissioners, directors, or officers of a State agency, (4) four members of the general public, and (4) four members of the Legislature. The bill directs the committee to: -- serve in an advisory capacity to the State Treasurer on matters related to the development and expansion of the website and opportunities to make the website more accessible to the public; -- advise the State Treasurer and Chief Technology Officer on the incorporation of additional data and information into the website, after the site is implemented; -- seek the advice and receive feedback from the public, professional associations, State agencies, academic groups and institutions, and other individuals with knowledge of and interest in areas of public information access, gateways services, add-on services, and electronic information for the general improvement of the website; and -- issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the website. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, but provides for section 3 of the bill (concerning the design and development of the website) to not apply until the first business day of the seventh month beginning after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1117 | Revises test for employment or independent contractor status under certain State labor laws. | This bill revises the test used to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor under certain State labor laws. The "ABC" test is widely used under current State labor law for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. It is used to determine employee and employer obligations and entitlements under the following laws: the "unemployment compensation law," the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," the New Jersey wage payment law, and the "New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law." It is also used under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," for purposes of determining whether an employer is required to deduct and withhold State income taxes. The "ABC" test provides that an individual who performs services for remuneration is presumed to be an employee unless the employer can show to the satisfaction of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development that: (A) Such individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of such service, both under his contract of service and in fact; and (B) Such service is either outside the usual course of the business for which such service is performed, or that such service is performed outside of all the places of business of the enterprise for which such service is performed; and (C) Such individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business. If an employer fails to prove any one of the three criteria for showing a worker is an independent contractor, the worker will be classified as an employee, and will be eligible for benefits pursuant to the labor laws listed above. Additionally, the employer and employee will be required to comply with the contribution and participation obligations of the respective labor laws. This bill eliminates the B and C factors of the employment status test, thereby limiting the test to factor A, whether the individual has been and will continue to be free from control of the employer. By limiting the factors used in the employment status test to the control test, it will be easier for employers to comply with regulations and categorize workers for purposes of State labor laws. | In Committee |
| AR79 | Recognizes October 13, 2020 as "Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution designates October 13, 2020 as "Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day" in New Jersey in order to raise public awareness of metastatic breast cancer, and to salute the numerous health and wellness organizations that advocate for critical research of, provide advanced treatment for, and make significant contributions in the fight against, metastatic breast cancer. | In Committee |
| A981 | Providing gross income tax exclusion for awards for unlawful gender-based compensation discrimination. | This bill provides the victim of gender-based wage discrimination a gross income tax exclusion for any awards or settlements that the victim may receive, to prevent a second mistreatment by the tax system. A "successful" victim of unlawful gender discrimination in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment who has brought a claim to trial or settlement agreement may receive an award or settlement to compensate for a period of under-compensation, only to discover that the lump sum payment has pushed the victim into a higher tax bracket and an increased tax bill. This bill provides a gross income tax exclusion for awards and settlements for gender-based discrimination in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. | In Committee |
| A1031 | Limits time continuing care retirement communities may retain refundable entrance fee. | This bill would limit the time that a continuing care retirement community may retain a refundable entrance fee after a resident vacates the facility to no more than one year later. Under current law, in the case of a continuing care facility agreement that provides for a refundable entrance fee, the facility is required to assign the vacated unit a sequential number among all the available units with refundable entrance fees once the unit is restored to original condition. A refundable fee owned to a resident or resident's estate for a unit that has been so numbered is currently payable based upon the order of the sequential number assigned to the unit section and the availability of funds from the proceeds of the resale of all vacated units with refundable entrance fees. This bill would require the refundable fee be paid in either the above manner or one year from the date the residence was permanently vacated, whichever is sooner. | In Committee |
| A990 | Restricts access to motor vehicle accident reports under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes parameters for the distribution of certain accident report information. Under current law, N.J.S.A.17:33A-29, certain information from accident reports is made available by State and local law enforcement to investigators employed by insurers no later than 24 hours following the time of occurrence. This bill would provide that this information would not be available to the general public until after 90 days have elapsed from the date of the accident, with certain exceptions. This bill also amends R.S.39:4-131 with regard to the form for an accident report which is prepared by the Motor Vehicle Commission and supplied to police departments. Under current law these accident reports are not considered privileged or confidential and every citizen has a right to inspect and copy these reports. The bill would delay the availability of such information to the general public until after 90 days have elapsed from the date of the accident, with certain exceptions. The persons exempt from the 90-day delay period are: (1) investigators and claim representatives employed by insurers; (2) vehicle owners, operators, or passengers listed in the accident report or an authorized representative of such identified person; (3) employees of a law enforcement agency or other governmental employees authorized to investigate or prosecute insurance fraud; (4) any person who claims to have suffered personal injury or property damage as a result of the motor vehicle accident, including pedestrians, or an authorized representative of such person, provided such person or authorized representative identifies with sufficient specificity the time and location of the accident described in the report, upon presentation of appropriate identification and any other information required by the law. In addition, the bill defines "authorized representative" to include: (1) a licensed attorney retained by and acting under the express authorization of a person listed in the accident report or the express authorization of a person who claims to have suffered personal injury or property damage as a result of the motor vehicle accident, or an employee of such attorney, who provides written documentation demonstrating that the attorney has been retained to represent such person; or (2) the next of kin of any person whose death or incapacitation results from the motor vehicle accident. | In Committee |
| AR41 | Urges American Academy of Pediatrics and New Jersey Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics to issue guidance for pediatricians and family doctors on discussing personal space and privacy with children. | This resolution urges the American Academy of Pediatrics and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue guidance for pediatricians and family doctors on discussing personal space and privacy with children. Child sexual abuse is a common adverse childhood experience affecting one in four girls and one in eight boys. Children who experience sexual abuse may develop serious lifelong physical and mental health consequences. Pediatricians can provide anticipatory guidance to children regarding personal space and privacy over the course of a child's life, in developmentally appropriate ways, to increase a child's knowledge of appropriate and inappropriate touching, and to teach a child how to respond to inappropriate touching. Currently, there are insufficient resources for pediatricians and family doctors to utilize in providing children and parents anticipatory guidance on personal space and privacy for children, which reduces the potential for this dialogue to occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is urged to develop materials and issue guidance to assist pediatricians and family doctors in providing children and parents anticipatory guidance on personal space and privacy for children, in order to potentially either reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse or prevent the increase of such abuse. | In Committee |
| A2702 | Prohibits dual elective office holding and holding of elective office and public office or position. | Under current law, a person elected to public office in this State is prohibited from holding simultaneously any other elective public office. Persons who simultaneously held more than one elective public office on February 1, 2008 were permitted to continue to hold the elective public offices simultaneously if service in those elective public offices was continuous following that effective date. This bill removes that exception. Persons who were allowed to hold multiple elective public offices will be permitted to hold those offices only until the expiration date of the term of office that occurs next following the bills' effective date. From then on, the person may hold only one elective public office. This bill also expands this prohibition against dual office holding by also prohibiting a person elected to any public office in this State from simultaneously holding a salaried appointive public office or position in State, county, or municipal government, or on any authority thereof. The bill is prospective in its application, so that a person who holds simultaneously an elective public office and a salaried appointive public office on the effective date of the bill may continue to hold the elective and appointive public offices simultaneously until the expiration date of the term of the elective office that occurs next following the bill's effective date. From then on, the person may hold only one office. | In Committee |
| A998 | Adds illicit fentanyls to Schedule I in the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act." | This bill would add "illicit fentanyls" to Schedule I in the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act." Schedule I substances have high potential for abuse, and either have no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or lack accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision. Illicit fentanyls are derivatives of the regulated prescription drug fentanyl. In September 2016, the Office of the Attorney General issued an emergency order that temporarily added seven illicit fentanyls to Schedule I. On March 21, 2017 this designation was made permanent, when these substances were added to Schedule I in the Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 13:45H-10.1.) This bill would codify the Schedule I placement of illicit fentanyls in the statutes. This bill would not change the designation of prescription fentanyl, which is a Schedule II substance. A substance is placed in Schedule II if it: (1) has high potential for abuse; (2) has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; and (3) abuse may lead to severe psychic or physical dependence. Under subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:35-5, unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing any Schedule I or II substance in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree (punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both). Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree (generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both, but in this case also punishable by an increased fine of up to $75,000). Specifically, the bill adds the following substances to Schedule I: Illicit fentanyls. Illicit fentanyls include any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that is not listed as a controlled substance in Schedules I through V, is not a Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug, and contains any quantity of the following substances, their salts, isomers (whether optical, positional, or geometric), homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers, and homologues (analogs) unless specifically excepted whenever the existence of these salts, isomers, homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers and homologues (analogs) is possible within the specific chemical designations:i. Furanyl Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2-furancarboxamide, monohydrochloride or N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-phenylfuran-2-carboxamide; ii. 3-Methylfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 3-methyl-N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenethyl-4-piperidyl)-propanamide); iii. 3-Methyl Butyrylfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 3-Methyl, N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-butanamide, monohydrochloride; iv. Valeryl Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-pentanamide, monohydrochloride; v. Norfentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-4-piperidinyl-propanamide; vi. Para-Fluorobutyryl-Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl) -4-piperidinyl]-butanamide, monohydrochloride; and vii. Carfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylic acid; methyl 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-(N-propanoylanilino) piperidine-4-carboxylateor. | In Committee |
| A1013 | Establishes "Count the Kicks" public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a "Count the Kicks" public awareness campaign to educate pregnant women on how to track the movements of their unborn children in the last trimester of pregnancy. The campaign would, at a minimum, provide information on: the importance of fetal movement as an indicator of fetal health; how to monitor and record fetal kick counts in accordance with recommendations by The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and the correlation between systematically tracking fetal movement and a decrease in stillbirth. The Commissioner is required to: make, at a minimum: information provided by the "Count the Kicks public awareness available electronically on the Department of Health's website; disseminate the information provided by the public awareness campaign through a variety of entities, including, but not limited to, local health agencies and clinics, physicians and advanced practice nurses, health care facilities, birthing facilities, licensed child care centers, pharmacies, libraries, local agencies and offices distributing food pursuant to the federal WIC program, and other community-based outreach programs and organizations; and report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign within two years of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A994 | Creates the "Local Unit Audit Teams" program in Department of the Treasury. | This bill creates the "Local Unit Audit Teams" program in the Department of the Treasury, to be established by the State Treasurer in consultation with the Commissioners of Education and Community Affairs. The program shall provide local units with a comprehensive management review and consulting service administered by the State, at no cost to the local units. The program will consist of a series of audit teams, each of which shall include, at a minimum, an experienced municipal or school management professional and staff from the Departments of the Treasury, Education, and Community Affairs. All team members shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Local units may request an audit from one of the audit teams by passing a resolution that states that the local unit agrees to make all personnel and records available to the audit team, and agree to a public meeting in which the audit team's findings and recommendations are discussed. An audit team will then interview all elected officials of the local unit and other parties that it deems appropriate, review the local unit's records, and visit and observe the work procedures and operations throughout the governmental entity to observe employees in the performance of their duties. After the completion of the audit, the audit team shall prepare a report that shall include: identification of best practices; recommendations that will lead to decreased reliance on property taxes; specific insight and guidance to the individual entity to ease the implementation of the recommendations presented; and suggestions for review of specific state laws or regulations. This report shall be presented to the elected officials of the local unit in a public meeting. The "Local Unit Audit Teams" program shall file annually with the Governor and the Legislature each of its audit teams' reports, accompanied with any proposed legislation which it may desire to recommend for enactment. This bill is part of a series of initiatives designed to address the issue of high property taxes in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A945 | Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave. | This bill prohibits the payment by the State, local governments, and boards of education of supplemental compensation to any current or future public officer or employee for accumulated unused sick leave earned after the bill's effective date. Supplemental compensation for any time earned prior to that date will be payable as under current law. In addition, the bill provides that the payment of supplemental compensation for unused sick leave will be suspended if an officer or employee is indicted for any of the crimes which under current law are grounds for pension forfeiture and that supplemental compensation will be forfeited upon conviction. The bill also requires all public officers and employees to provide medical documentation for absences of six or more consecutive days and imposes penalties for the failure to do so. The bill requires the Attorney General to develop guidelines or establish procedures to ensure that public employers are notified when a public officer or employee is indicted for, or convicted of, any crime or offense that triggers the suspension or forfeiture of payment for supplemental compensation. It also provides that the suspension or forfeiture of payment for supplemental compensation will apply only in the case of crimes or offenses committed after the bill's effective date. The bill will take effect on the first day of the second month following enactment. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1014 | Establishes public awareness campaign concerning Period of PURPLE Crying program and shaken baby syndrome. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to parents and caregivers about the Period of PURPLE Crying program, increased and unsoothable infant crying, shaken baby syndrome, and abusive head trauma, and preventive measures that may be taken by parents and caregivers to promote child safety and protect against injuries or death caused by shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. The Commissioner is required to: make, at a minimum, information about the Period of PURPLE Crying program, increased and unsoothable infant crying, shaken baby syndrome, and abusive head trauma available electronically on the Departments of Health and Children and Families websites; disseminate information to parents and caregivers through a variety of entities, including, but not limited to, local health agencies and clinics, physicians and advanced practice nurses, health care facilities, birthing facilities, licensed child care centers, pharmacies, libraries, Division of Child Protection and Permanency local offices, and other community-based outreach programs and organizations; and report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign within two years of the effective date of the bill. The Period of PURPLE Crying describes a period of increased and unsoothable crying in infants that begins at about two weeks of age, peaks in the second month of life, and continues until about three to four months of age. There are other common characteristics of this period which are better described by the acronym PURPLE: Peak of crying; Unexpected and unexplained crying; Resists soothing; Pain-like face; Long-lasting crying; and Evening or late afternoon crying. While the Period of PURPLE Crying is a normal developmental phase for infants, increased and unsoothable crying often leads to shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma when a parent or caregiver shakes an infant out of frustration or anger. The Period of PURPLE Crying program is an educational, evidence-based shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma prevention program offered in hospitals and other community based organizations to support parents and caregivers in their understanding of increased and unsoothable infant crying and help reduce the incidence of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. A public awareness campaign to provide information to parents and caregivers about the Period of PURPLE Crying program, increased and unsoothable infant crying, shaken baby syndrome, and abusive head trauma is in the public interest and will serve the interests of public safety in this State. | In Committee |
| A1000 | Provides that unlawful use, manufacture, or distribution of controlled dangerous substance by parent or caregiver in presence of child constitutes crime of endangering welfare of that child. | This bill provides that a parent or caregiver who unlawfully uses, manufactures, or distributes a controlled dangerous substance while in the presence of a child is guilty of the crime of endangering the welfare of that child. The bill provides that any person with a legal duty for the care of a child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a child who violates the provisions of N.J.S.2C:35-5 while in the presence of such child would be guilty of a crime of the third degree pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-4, endangering the welfare of a child. The underlying statute, N.J.S.2C:35-5, concerns unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled dangerous substance. Penalties for violations of N.J.S.2C:35-5 range from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the first degree, depending on the particular substance involved and its quantity. Under the bill, a violation of the provisions of N.J.S.2C:35-10 while in the presence of a child by a person with a legal duty for the care of the child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of the child would constitute a crime of the fourth degree pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-4, endangering the welfare of a child. The underlying statute, N.J.S.2C:35-10, concerns obtaining, possessing, or using a controlled dangerous substance. Penalties for violations of N.J.S.2C:35-10 range from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree, depending on the particular substance involved and its quantity. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of ten to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both; a crime of the second degree, by a term of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both; a crime of the third degree, by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both, and a crime of the fourth degree, by a term up to 18 months or a fine up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to $1,000 or both. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 30 days or a fine of up to $500 or both. The bill specifies that it does not preclude a prosecution for any other offense set forth in chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes or any other offense defined by the laws of this State. The intent of this provision is to clarify that a prosecution for endangering the welfare of a child under the bill is separate and distinct from any prosecution for the underlying drug offense or any other criminal prosecution. | In Committee |
| A1113 | Establishes Red Tape Review Commission. | This bill creates the Red Tape Review Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. Under the bill, the commission would be comprised of eight members, consisting of representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of State government, who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The bill requires each department, office, division, or agency of the State to cooperate with the commission and furnish it with any information, personnel, and assistance it needs to accomplish its duties. The commission's finding would be advisory and cannot be used as a basis for any legal challenges based upon the action or inaction of any department, office, division, or agency of the State. The bill requires the commission to: (1) Review all proposed and adopted rules and regulations and operative Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments; (2) Call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply the commission with data and other information, personnel, or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties; (3) Solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, and environmental organizations, businesses, workers, and other affected persons or entities as the commission deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) Provide annually a written report to the Governor and the Legislature in which the commission must provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. | 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | New Jersey General Assembly Budget Committee | 5 | |
| Detail | New Jersey General Assembly Health Committee | 7 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Joint Budget Oversight Committee | 1 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Legislature Legislative Services Commission | 6 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Legislature State House Commission | Alternate | 4 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | District 21 | House | Republican | In Office | 05/21/2009 |