The original item was published from July 1, 2022 12:34 PM to July 1, 2022 12:37 PM
As the legislature heads into summer break, there are 76 bills on Governor Murphy’s desk for his consideration. The Governor has 45 days or until the next quorum day of the house of origin to act, whichever is later. Following is a summary of bills of municipal interest.
S-757/A-2772 authorizes special occasion events at certain commercial farms on preserved farmlands. As originally introduced, the League supported S-757 as it would adopt many of the sensible recommendations made in the 2020 report from the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC). The League's position changed, however, when amendments were made in the Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee that would undermine the intent of the State’s successful Farmland Preservation Program and preempt municipal authority over land use.
Additional amendments to the bill were made on the floor during the Senate voting session on June 29. These amendments were not made publicly available until after the Senate and Assembly unanimously voted to approve the measure. The League has not yet taken a position on the bill as approved by both houses but may do so once we have had the opportunity to review the new bill language. (FM)
A-2676/S-1212 seeks to revise permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring a permit under the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The League opposes this measure. The expansion of individual permit requirements under CAFRA would preclude additional areas within communities from necessary development that would help boost local economies and quality of life. The Senate and the Assembly voted unanimously to approve this bill. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (FM)
S-2742/A-4194 mandates that any person who wishes to be employed or is currently employed as a New Jersey law enforcement officer is to hold a valid active law enforcement license. The Police Training Commission (PTC) is required to establish the processes to acquire a law enforcement license including the minimum criteria for the initial license. It will also hold the power to suspend, revoke, or deny the issuance of a law enforcement license. The law enforcement license will require renewal every three years. A law enforcement official wishing to renew their license must apply through their employing law enforcement agency. The League supports this legislation. While not perfect, it is the first step in preventing unqualified individuals from serving as police officers. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 24-15 and the Assembly by a vote of 46-31. The bill would take effect on the first day of the 18th month if signed into law. (AL/PAP)
A-4127/S-2743 mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for firefighters who are not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). Both chambers reported this measure unanimously. This provides for the approximately 2,000 firefighters who were excluded from a law signed in January (P.L. 2021, c. 478) that covers the vast majority of firefighters. Under current law, a firefighter enrolled in SHBP is entitled to a cancer screening examination every three years. This bill expands the access to the same examinations for firefighters who have a different health care plan through their employers or receive health insurance coverage in any other manner. The League supports this measure because it provides parity for all firefighters while providing funding and it creates a risk management benchmark. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (PAP)
S-1027/A-2208 adds duct cleaning to the definition of “public work” under the Prevailing Wage Act. The League opposes this unnecessary expansion of the Prevailing Wage Act. The Senate approved the measure by a 33-7 vote and the Assembly by a vote of 67-10-1. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (LB)
S-2364/A-3708 expands the period that allows restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries to utilize outdoor seating on their property in response to the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation expands the deadline from November 2022 to November 2024. The League supports this legislation because it allows for operational flexibility for businesses. The bill unanimously passed the Senate and Assembly. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (AL)
S-2677/A-4068 amends requirements for certain mixed-use parking projects undertaken by municipal redevelopers under the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant programs and increases the total available amount of tax credits by $25 million. The League supports this measure as it assists municipalities constructing parking decks that had to delay construction due to COVID-19. The Senate approved the bill by a 24-15 vote and the Assembly by a 46-31 vote. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (FM)
A-1969/S-138 amends P.L.1940, c.153 to permit minors between the ages of 16 and 18 to be employed as election workers, between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on an Election Day. The Senate voted unanimously for this bill, and it passed the Assembly by a vote of 73-3-1. The League supports this measure because it provides a new source of Election Day workers, which is always in short supply. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (PAP)
A-3329/S-994 requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), to conduct a study and provide a written report to the governor and legislature on the effects of the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic on local and public utility services. All data collected from the study is to be posted on BPU’s website and updated monthly for 180 days after the termination of the state of emergency declared on March 9, 2020. The League initially opposed the legislation as it created a municipal burden, however, the committee amendments addressed the League’s concerns. The bill passed the Senate 28-12 and the Assembly 50-28. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (AL)
A-3817/S-2863 requires ballot privacy sleeves for voters at polling places. The legislation also makes changes to reporting of early and mail-in votes; the mail-in ballot cure deadline; postmarked mail-in ballot acceptance deadline; mail-in ballot processing; online application for mail-in ballots; and online political party affiliation. The Senate approved by the bill by a vote of 22-17 and the Assembly by a vote of 58-19. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2023, except sections 12 and 13 which take effect on January 1, 2024, or on the first day of the 12th month next following the date of enactment, whichever is later, upon signing. (PAP)
A-3819/ S-2868 specifies that a voter will be removed from a permanent vote by mail status after opting in and not voting in four consecutive general elections. If a voter chooses to have a mail-in ballot sent to a secondary address and they fail to vote in two consecutive general elections, future ballots will be sent to the primary address where the voter is registered. It also requires the State’s Division of Elections to create an educational campaign and appropriates $5 million for that purpose. The bill unanimously passed both the Senate and Assembly. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (PAP)
A-3820/S-2869 prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving a primary election mail-in ballot and requires election officials to provide notice to unaffiliated voters that they will not receive a mail-in primary ballot. The legislation also prohibits mail-in ballot envelopes from containing visible political affiliation information. The bill unanimously passed the Senate and by a 75-2 vote in the Assembly. Sections 1 and 2 of the bill would take effect immediately upon signing and sections 3 through 6 would take effect on January 1, 2023. (PAP)
A-3822/S-2865 changes mail-in ballot deadlines; permits opening and canvassing of mail-in ballots prior to Election Day; permits the creation of a pickup schedule for certain mail-in ballots; and requires a confirmation notice when voter changes party affiliation at Motor Vehicle Commission. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 23-15 and the Assembly unanimously approved the measure. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing, except for section 6 which takes effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment. (PAP)
A-3823/S-2867 requires an enhanced review of death records two months prior to an election. It also permits remote training for election workers and exempts election worker compensation from state taxes. The bill unanimously passed both the Senate and Assembly. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (PAP)
A-3929/S-2899 allows certain voters residing overseas to vote in state elections in this State depending on; overseas residency, intent to return, and having previously lived in New Jersey. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 24-15 and the Assembly by a vote of 47-30-1. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing but only applies to elections occurring on and after November 8, 2022. (PAP)
A-4373/S-2900 permits municipal Emergency Management Coordinators to reside in reasonable proximity to the municipality in which they are employed. Under current law, municipal emergency management coordinators are required to reside in the municipality in which they are employed. The bill unanimously passed the Senate and Assembly. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (AL)
A-4193/S-2759 adjusts municipal ballot questions for allowing games of amusement within a municipality to match the current title of the law as amended in P.L.1981, c.291. The bill only applies to future ballot questions and does not change the law of any municipality that had already adopted the “Amusement Games Licensing Law.” The bill unanimously passed the Senate and Assembly. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (PAP)
A-4091/S-2729 makes the County Option Hospital Fee Pilot Program permanent and expands the definition of “participating county” under the program. The County Option Hospital Fee Program was established in November 2018 to support local hospitals in designated high-need areas to ensure continued access to critical healthcare services for vulnerable populations. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38-1 and the Assembly by a vote of 63-14. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (FM)
A-4107/S-2768 makes various changes to the regulation of emergency medical services (EMS), establishes the position of State Emergency Medical Services Medical Director in the Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services Office, and requires the Department of Health to establish a mobile integrated health program. Among the changes, the bill would require a mobile intensive care paramedic to obtain a license instead of a certification; provides that mobile intensive care paramedic may deliver advanced life support services; and requires a mobile intensive care unit, when in service, to be staffed by two registered professional nurses trained in advance life-supporting nursing. The Senate unanimously voted to approve the bill while the Assembly voted 76-2. The bill would take effect immediately upon signing. (LB)
Contacts: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112
Frank Marshall, Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137
Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110
Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116