TRENTON – After the landmark passage of the Marriage Equality law today, the Assembly still had quite a few other bills to address.
Here is how they broke down.
A246: Passed 51-18-3. The bill, sponsored by Gary Schaer, (D-36), Passaic permanently expands the range of investment options for the state pension and other funds.
The state can invest in obligations guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. Additionally, the bill authorizes the director to give preference to those investments issued by financial institutions that through participation in programs administered by the Economic Development Authority provide access to capital to businesses in New Jersey.
A595: Moved back for second reading for amendments, which were approved. This bill, sponsored by Grace Spencer, (D-29), Newark, and Peter Barnes III, (D-18), Edison, prohibits an independent sales organization – an entity other than a bank or savings and loan – from operating an automated teller machine unless it provides consumers with an option to withdraw as much as $200 per transaction.
A733: Moved back for second reading for amendments, which were approved. This bill, sponsored by Tim Eustace, (D-38), Paramus, and Holly Schepisi, (R-39), Westwood, would prohibit a health care institution from discharging unused medication into a public wastewater collection or a septic system.
A755: Passed 73-0-2. This bill, whose sponsors include Peter Barnes III, (D-18), Edison, and Celeste Riley, (D-3), Salem, requires cable television companies to notify customers and municipalities as soon as possible in writing of any change in channel positions of programming.
A832/S852: Passed 75-0. This bill, whose sponsors include Joseph Cryan, (D-20), Union, and Jason O’Donnell, (D-31), Bayonne, provides immunity from civil liability for users of automated external defibrillators, and it eliminates language that prohibited a person from using an AED unless they had certification in cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Some of the rationale comes from technological advances in which AEDS actually prompt users through the process.
A1230: Passed 56-17-1. This bill, whose sponsors include Paul Moriarty, (D-4), Turnersville, Patrick Diegnan, (D-18), South Plainfield, and Gary Chiusano, (R-24), Sparta, makes it illegal to sell a printer without information indicating the average cost per 1,000 printed pages for black text and, if applicable, color printing. It is also unlawful to sell an ink cartridge without information indicating the ink cartridge’s yield. This information would have to be included on the printer or ink cartridge’s packaging, or on a conspicuously attached label or tag.
A1516: The bill passed 42-31. Its sponsors include John Burzichelli, (D-3), West Deptford, and Wayne DeAngelo, (D-14), Hamilton Township (Mercer County), and makes it illegal for retailers to mail manufacturer’s rebate refunds or payments to consumers unless they are enclosed in a sealed envelope and clearly identifiable as such.
A1546: Passed 74-0. This bill, whose sponsors include John Burzichelli, (D-3), West Deptford, and Scott Rumana, (R-40), Wayne amends the raffle licensing law to permit an organization to conduct, without a license, a raffle for a door prize with a total retail value of $200. This is an increase from the current limit of $50.
The legislation authorizes the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to set the total retail value at higher than $200 for door prizes.
A1558: Passed 75-0. This bill, sponsored by John Wisniewski, (D-19), Sayreville, provides that insurers shall not be liable for damages resulting from conducting insurance inspections, or failing to conduct them, as part of the issuance or renewal of a boiler and machinery insurance policy, except in situations in which the insurer’s gross negligence caused the damages.
A1666: Passed 71-2-1. This bill, whose sponsors include Gordon Johnson, (D-37), Teaneck, and Valerie Vainieri Huttle, (D-37), Englewood, allows a taxpayer or taxing district to appeal a property assessment by the 90th day after a revaluation takes effect. Current law gives property taxpayers or taxing districts only until May 1 to file an appeal.
A1838: Moved back for second reading for purpose of amendments, which were passed. This bill, sponsored by Herb Conaway, (D-7), Delran, and Nancy Munoz, (R-21), Summit, requires that a medically fragile student requiring clinical nursing services will have that care rendered by a professional who meets the standards established by the Department of Human Services for providers certified to participate in the state Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs.
Currently, such students have that care rendered by an appropriate provider appointed by the Board of Education.
A2167: Passed 46-25-3. This bill, whose sponsors include Valerie Vainieri Huttle, (D-37), Englewood, and Patrick Diegnan, (D-18), South Plainfield, establishes the New Jersey Task Force on Coordination Among Nonprofit Social Service Organizations. The purpose is to develop recommendations to coordinate and streamline those services.
A2271/S1027: Passed 74-0. This bill, whose sponsors include Pamela Lampitt, (D-6), Voorhees, extends the application deadline for 18 months, from Feb. 1, 2012 to Aug. 1, 2013, for the submission of certain project applications to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the authority’s review and approval.
S1328/A2310: Passed 73-2. This bill, sponsored by Mila Jasey, (D-27), Maplewood, and John McKeon, (D-27), South Orange, would permit the School District of South Orange and Maplewood, the only Type II school district with a board of school estimate, to choose to move the date of its annual school election to November.
The procedures would be identical to those set forth in the law that allowed districts without a board of school estimate to move elections to November.
AJR17: Passed 75-0. This joint resolution, whose sponsors include Tim Eustace, (D-38), Paramus, designates March as “Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month.”
AJR35: Passed 75-0. This joint resolution, whose sponsors include Linda Stender, (D-22), Scotch Plains, honors the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts and proclaims March 12, 2012 as “Girl Scouts Day” in New Jersey.
AJR50: Passed 67-3-4. This resolution, whose sponsors include Pamela Lampitt, (D-6), Voorhees, urges Congress to pass the “Paycheck Fairness Act” to combat the income gap of gender discrimination.
A1511: After drawing a 37-35 vote against, the sponsors withdrew the bill. The bill, whose sponsors include John Burzichelli, (D-3), West Deptford, and Paul Moriarty, (D-4), Turnersville, regulates rebate notices. It would bar retailers from advertising a rebate by displaying an item’s net price unless either the amount of the rebate is provided to the buyer at the time of purchase, or the selling price of the merchandise is disclosed in the same font and size as the net price and clear and conspicuous notice is provided in the advertisement that a mail-in rebate is required to achieve the lower net price.
