New Jersey Update
Friday, January 7th
This afternoon, New Jersey reported an additional 33,459 confirmed positive tests, with 63 confirmed deaths reported. Hospitalizations continue to rise as New Jersey enters its 10th day with at least 20,000 cases. Governor Murphy has stated that it's highly unlikely that his Administration will implement new restrictions to battle the surge.

Monday is the last day of the legislative session, meaning that any legislation that hasn't made it to the Governor's desk by the end of the day will have to restart the legislative process in the new session. Late yesterday, the Senate and Assembly both approved resolutions that were added to committee agendas in a last minute compromise for a 45-day temporary extension to some of the Governor's administrative orders, directives, and waivers in response to the increase in positive cases and hospitalizations. Under the initial agreement, the Governor's emergency powers would expire on January 11th, but he has asked the Legislature for an extension that led to the 45-day compromise with only certain emergency powers being renewed. Senate President Sweeney has stated that he wouldn't agree to renew all of the emergency powers that had been requested and would focus on some of the requested issues for hospitals to be able to function during emergencies. The resolution doesn't include extending orders related to vaccinations, testing, oversight of hospitals, data sharing, and coordination of local health departments. Additionally, it doesn't currently include universal masking requirements in settings like schools and daycares. If the Legislature doesn't approve of the extension, most of the orders will expire on Tuesday, January 11th.
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NJ Legislative Update

Assembly Education Committee, 9:30a, remotely.

            A3012  Requires public schools, and nonpublic schools which receive federal funding, to provide students with information on rights afforded under Title IX, and provide contact information for Title IX coordinator. Passed

            A4987  Creates NJ Legislative Youth Council. Passed with committee amendments 

            A5576  Permits teacher and professional staff member who provides special services retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF if employment commences during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. Passed

            A6226  Extends period of time for filing special education due process petitions related to COVID-19 school closures and periods of virtual, remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction. Passed with committee amendments 

            S2162  Requires public schools, and nonpublic schools which receive federal funding, to provide students with information on rights afforded under Title IX, and provide contact information for Title IX coordinator. Passed 

            S3164  Creates NJ Legislative Youth Council. Passed 

            S3685  Permits teacher and professional staff member who provides special services retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF if employment commences during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. Passed with committee amendments 
 

Assembly Health Committee, 10:00a, remotely. (Revised 12/30/2021)
 
            A1489  Expressly prohibits invasive examination of unconscious patient by health care practitioner without patient's prior informed written consent. Passed with committee amendments 

            A4698  Expands requirements for health insurers and Medicaid program to cover prescriptions for contraceptives to 12 months. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6132  Permits volunteer paramedics to operate within mobile intensive care units. Passed 

            A6154  Reduces from 18 to 12 number of specific credit hours required for Animal Health Technician job title in civil service; allows substitution of five years of experience for education requirement. Passed 

            A6155  Extends temporary emergency licensure of certain health care professionals. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6229  Limits fees charged to patients and authorized third parties for copies of medical and billing records. Passed 

            A6245  Revises out-of-network arbitration process. Passed with committee amendments 

            S413    Expands requirement of health insurers and Medicaid program to cover prescriptions for contraceptives for up to 12 months. Passed with committee amendments 

            S3458  Revises out-of-network arbitration process. Passed
 
Assembly Higher Education Committee, 11:30a, remotely. (Revised 12/30/2021)
 
            A6005  Raises statutory threshold for certain public bidding, permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience, adds exemptions to public bidding requirement under "State College Contracts Law," and establishes process for cooperative pricing sys Passed 

            A6228  [bill added] Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities; makes annual appropriation of $4.5 million. Passed with committee amendments

            A6230  [bill added] Establishes Direct Support Professional Career Development Center; makes appropriation of $450,000. Passed with committee amendments

            ACR54 Urges Secretary of Higher Education and Educational Opportunity Fund Board to study and modernize program regulations, particularly regulations related to student funding priority levels. Passed 

            S4043  Raises statutory threshold for certain public bidding, permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience, adds exemptions to public bidding requirement under "State College Contracts Law," and establishes process for cooperative pricing sys Passed with committee amendments 

            S4102  [bill added] Establishes Direct Support Professional Career Development Center; makes appropriation of $450,000. Passed

            S4211  [bill added] Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities; makes annual appropriation of $4.5 million. Passed 

            SCR44  Urges Secretary of Higher Education and Educational Opportunity Fund Board to study and modernize program regulations, particularly regulations related to student funding priority levels. Passed 
 
Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee, 12:00p, remotely. (Revised 12/30/2021)
 
            A1943  Establishes license to allow wineries that produce more than 250,000 gallons per year to directly ship wine to consumers. Passed

            A2316  [bill added] Permits physical therapists to perform dry needling under certain circumstances. Passed with committee amendments 

            A5074  Permits members of SPRS to purchase service credit for prior public employment with federal government or another state. Passed

            A6112  Permits PERS retiree to return to elective public office after retirement under certain circurmstances. Passed with committee amendments 

            S867    [bill added] Permits physical therapists to perform dry needling under certain circumstances. Passsed 

            S3265  Permit members of SPRS to purchase service credit for prior public employment with federal government or another state. Passed

Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, 1:00p, remotely. (Revised 12/30/2021)

            A5382  Requires request for proposal to establish demonstration program to develop distributed energy resource microgrids for electric fleet and heavy-duty vehicle use. Passed with committee amendments 

            A5463  Directs NJT to erect statue in honor of A. Philip Randolph, appropriates $90,000. Passed

            A5603  Requires owner or operator of certain trains to have discharge response, cleanup, and contingency plans to transport certain hazardous materials by rail; requires DEP to request bridge inspection reports from US DOT. Passed with committee amendments 

            S991    Requires owner or operator of certain trains to have discharge response, cleanup, and contingency plans to transport certain hazardous materials by rail; requires DEP to request bridge inspection reports from US DOT. Passed with committee amendments 

            S3342  Directs NJT to erect statue in honor of A. Philip Randolph, appropriates $90,000. Passed
 
 
Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee, 2:30p, remotely. (Revised 12/30/2021)
            
            A5837  Permits use of automated dispensing devices in long-term care facilities and hospice care programs. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6150  Revises penalties for transfer of certain professional and occupational licenses. Passed

            A6204  Concerns standards for distribution of certain HMFA loans for housing projects during state of emergency. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6246  Concerns changes in control of hotels and disruptions of hotel services. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6248  Requires State agencies and political subdivisions to make good faith effort to purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency. Passed 

            A6251  Establishes "New Jersey Foreclosure Counseling Fund." Passed 

            S994    [bill added] Requires State agencies and political subdivisions to make good faith effort to purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency. Passed 
 
Senate Education Committee, 10:00a, remotely.
 
The committee will meet to receive testimony from invited guests on the status and results of the Statewide Graduation Assessments, including Start Strong, the current status of school district operations throughout the State, and the status of federal funding received by the State and local districts to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools.

Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, remotely. (Revised 01/05/2022)
 
            A1772  Establishes standards for domestic violence counseling and creates "Abuse Intervention Program Advisoy Committee." Passed 

            A2271  [bill added] Requires certain additional school district personnel to complete training program on suicide prevention. Passed

            A2316  Permits physical therapists to perform dry needling under certain circumstances. Passed 

            A2396  Expands Office of Public Defender representation of juveniles; repeals section 4 of P.L. 1968, c.371. Passed 
            
            A4336  [bill added] Directs Department of Agriculture to pay annual premiums to enrolled dairy farmers for certain coverage under the federal Dairy Margin Coverage Program; appropriates $125, 000. Passed 

            A4651  Requires MVC to issue special identification documents to persons diagnosed with autism upon request. Passed with committee amendments 

            A4676  Establishes postconsumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, and plastic trash bags; prohibits sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging. Passed with committee amendments 

            A4698  Expands requirements for health insurers and Medicaid program to cover prescriptions for contraceptives to 12 months. Passed

            A4847  Authorizes expanded provision of harm reduction services to distribute sterile syringes and provide certain support services to persons who use drugs intravenously; appropriates $15 million. Passed with committee amendments 

            A5074  Permits members of SPRS to purchase service credit for prior public employment with federal government or another state. Passed 

            A5223  Establishes State purchasing preference for low embodied carbon concrete, provides CBT tax credit for costs of conducting environmental product declaration analysis. Passed with committee amendments 

            A5292  Requires compilation of data and issuance of annual reports on New Jersey teacher workforce. Passed 

            A5382  Requires request for proposal to establish demonstration program to develop distributed energy resource microgrids for electric fleet and heavy-duty vehicle use. Held 

            A5442  Clarifies that member of SPRS may receive accidental disability benefit under certain circumstances. Passed 

            A5576  Permits teacher and professional staff member who provides special services retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF if employment commences during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. Passed 

            A5603  [bill added] Requires owner or operator of certain trains to have discharge response, cleanup, and contingency plans to transport certain hazardous materials by rail; requires DEP to request bridge inspection reports from US DOT. Passed 

            A5862  [bill added] "Responsible Collective Negotiations Act." Passed with committee substitute 

            A5930  Increases purchasing threshold permitting Director of Division of Purchase and Property to delegate authority to agencies; increases bid advertising threshold on certain contracts by same scale. Passed 

            A6005  [bill added] Raises statutory threshold for certain public bidding, permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience, adds exemptions to public bidding requirement under "State College Contracts Law," and establishes process for cooperative pricing sys Passed 

            A6009  Permits exemption from civil service examination requirement for entry-level law enforcement officers, sheriff's officers, and county correctional police officers; permits hiring of such officers under certain conditions. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6015  Requires contracts for sale of certain health care entities to preserve employee wages and benefits and to honor collective bargaining agreements. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6062  Requires EDA to establish loan program to assist certain businesses with funding to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Passed 

            A6093  Mandates access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plan or program provided by the public employer. Passed with committee amendments

            A6112  Permits PERS retiree to return to elective public office after retirement under certain circurmstances. Passed 

            A6113  [bill added] Removes requirement for promulgation by Governor of national census. Passed

            A6119  Concerns apprenticeship programs of public works contractors. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6146  Establishes process for formation of professional limited liability companies. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6220  Removes New Jersey Maritime Pilot and Docking Pilot Commission from appropriations act provision that limits compensation and health benefits; clarifies PERS and SHBP eligibility for members of commission. Passed 

            A6228  [bill added] Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities; makes annual appropriation of $4.5 million. Passed 

            A6229  Limits fees charged to patients and authorized third parties for copies of medical and billing records. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6230  [bill added] Establishes Direct Support Professional Career Development Center; makes appropriation of $450,000. Passed with committee amendments

            A6233  Revises certain functions of New Jersey Firemen's Home and composition of board of managers. Held  

            A6246  [bill added] Concerns changes in control of hotels and disruptions of hotel services. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6256  [bill added] Appropriates $2 million to NAACP New Jersey State Conference. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6257  [bill added] Imposes temporary surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain cities to fund public safety services. Passed with committee amendments 

            A6258  [bill added] Awards school security project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for certain school districts; appropriates $5,150,531. Passed 

            A6259  [bill added] Provides exception for Legal Services of New Jersey and other public interest organizations from confidentiality of certain eviction actions. Passed with committee amendments 

            S383    Establishes standards for domestic violence counseling and creates "Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee." Passed 

            S413    Expands requirement of health insurers and Medicaid program to cover prescriptions for contraceptives for up to 12 months. Passed 

            S867    Permits physical therapists to perform dry needling under certain circumstances. Passed 

            S896    Expands Office of Public Defender representation of juveniles; repeals section 4 of P.L. 1968, c.371. Passed 

            S991    [bill added] Requires owner or operator of certain trains to have discharge response, cleanup, and contingency plans to transport certain hazardous materials by rail; requires DEP to request bridge inspection reports from US DOT. Passed 

            S2515  Establishes postconsumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, and plastic trash bags; prohibits sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging. Passed with committee amendments 

            S2835  Requires compilation of data and issuance of annual reports on New Jersey teacher workforce. Passed 

            S3265  Permit members of SPRS to purchase service credit for prior public employment with federal government or another state. Passed 

            S3465  [bill added] Directs Department of Agriculture to pay annual premiums to enrolled dairy farmers for certain coverage under the federal Dairy Margin Coverage Program; appropriates $125,000. Passed 

            S3529  Clarifies that member of SPRS may receive accidental disability benefit under certain circumstances. Passed 

            S3672  Permits exemption from civil service examination requirement for entry-level law enforcement officers, sheriff's officers, and county correctional police officers; permits hiring of such officers under certain conditions. Passed with committee amendments 

            S3685  Permits teacher and professional staff member who provides special services retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF if employment commences during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. Passed

            S3732  Provides CBT tax credit for certain deliveries of low carbon concrete and for costs of conducting environmental product declaration analyses of low carbon concrete. Passed 

            S4043  [bill added] Raises statutory threshold for certain public bidding, permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience, adds exemptions to public bidding requirement under "State College Contracts Law," and establishes process for cooperative pricing sys Passed

            S4063  Removes New Jersey Maritime Pilot and Docking Pilot Commission from appropriations act provision that limits compensation and health benefits; clarifies PERS and SHBP eligibility for members of commission. Passed 

            S4102  [bill added] Establishes Direct Support Professional Career Development Center; makes appropriation of $450,000. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4157  [bill added] Imposes temporary surcharge on casino hotel occupancies to fund public safety services. Held 

            S4210  Requires EDA to establish loan program to assist certain businesses with funding to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Passed 

            S4211  [bill added] Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities; makes annual appropriation of $4.5 million. Passed 

            S4218  [bill added] Appropriates $2 million to CRDA to support costs associated with hosting NAACP National Convention in Atlantic City. Passed 
 
 
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, 12:00p, 1st Floor, Committee Room 6, Annex. (Revised 01/06/2022)
 
            A6159  [bill added] Revises and renames Office of Food Insecurity Advocate. Passed 

            S49      [bill added] Codifies constitutional right to freedom of reproductive choice. Passed

            S4048  Requires contracts for sale of certain health care entities to preserve employee wages and benefits and to honor collective bargaining agreements. Passed with committee amendments

            S4235  Permits volunteer paramedics to operate within mobile intensive care units. Passed

            S4236  Revises and renames Office of Food Insecurity Advocate. Passed 

            S4286  Reduces from 18 to 12 number of specific credit hours required for Animal Health Technician job title in civil service; allows substitution of five years of experience for education requirement. Passed 

            SCR165            [bill added] Expresses approval of Legislature for a 90-day extension of certain administrative orders, directives, and waivers issued in response to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.  Passed with committee amendments 
 
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, 1:00p, 1st Floor, Committee Room 4, Annex. (Revised 01/06/2022)
 
            A1073  [bill added] Establishes requirements to screen certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. Passed with committee amendments 

            A1121  Upgrades certain crimes of misrepresenting oneself as member or veteran of US Armed Forces or organized militia. Passed

            A1269  Eliminates one percent tax on purchasers of Class 4A commercial property transferred for consideration in excess of $1 million. Passed 

            A2186  [bill added] Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless. Passed

            A2877  [bill added] Requires registration of certain vacant and abandoned properties with municipalities and provides enforcement tools related to maintenance of these properties. Passed with committee amendments 

            A3007  Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services. Passed 

            A3450  [bill added] Creates certain requirements for certain earned income access services and related provider contracts. Passed with committee amendments 

            A3686  [bill added] Requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain firearm purchaser identification card and register firearms acquired out-of-State. Held 

            A3870  "Defense Against Porch Pirates Act"; amends theft statute. Passed 

            A4958  [bill added] Provides temporary exemption under sales and use tax for winterizing certain small business operations. Passed 

            A5484  Requires New Jersey Racing Commission to adopt procedures to enforce internal controls; requires annual audit. Passed

            A6060  Makes supplemental appropriation of $8 million to DHS to increase reimbursement for funeral, burial, and crematory services provided to certain beneficiaries of Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Security Income programs. Passed 

            ACR217           Approves NJ Building Authority project described in project report entitled "New Jersey State Capitol Complex Security Screening Building and Secure Courtyard Project." Passed 

            S372    [bill added] Requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain firearm purchaser identification card and register handguns acquired out-of-State. Held 

            S695    [bill added] Requires DEP, DOH, DCA, owners or operators of public water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires' disease. Passed with committee amendments 

            S741    [bill added] Permits person diagnosed with autism or communication disability to voluntarily make notation on driver's license, identification card, and in MVC registry; establishes program to train law enforcement officers in interactions with persons with autism or Combined with S849 and passed with committee substitute 

            S849    [bill added] Requires MVC to issue blue envelopes that hold documents required to operate motor vehicle to persons diagnosed with autism. Passed with committee substitute 

            S1149  [bill added] Requires registration of certain vacant and abandoned properties with municipalities and provides enforcement tools related to maintenance of these properties. Passed with committee amendments 

            S1599  [bill added] Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless. Passed 

            S1871  Upgrades certain crimes of misrepresenting oneself as member or veteran of US Armed Forces or organized militia. Passed with committee amendments 

            S2544  Expands financing opportunities for low and moderate income housing. Passed 

            S2807  "Defense Against Porch Pirates Act"; amends theft statute. Passed 

            S3009  [bill added] Authorizes expanded provision of harm reduction service to distribute sterile syringes and provide certain support services to persons who use drugs intravenously; appropriates $15 million. Passed with committee amendments 

            S3127  Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services. Passed 

            S3432  [bill added] Establishes requirements to screen certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. Passed with committee amendments 

            S3490  Eliminates one percent tax on purchasers of Class 4A commercial property transferred for consideration in excess of $1 million. Passed 

            S3611  [bill added] Creates certain requirements for certain earned income access services and related provider contracts. Passed with committee amendments 

            S3707  [bill added] Reduces offense of deliberately transmitting a sexually-transmitted infection to a disorderly persons offense and revises elements of the offense. Passed with committee amendments

            S3740  [bill added] Provides temporary exemption under sales and use tax for winterizing certain small business operations. Passed 

            S3809  Allows credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax liability for employing persons with a developmental disability. Passed 

            S3810  [bill added] "Responsible Collective Negotiations Act." Passed with committee amendments 

            S3817  Requires New Jersey Racing Commission to adopt procedures to enforce internal controls; requires annual audit. Passed 

            S3847  Establishes program for certain individuals to become certified nursing assistants and provide private duty nursing services to certain Medicaid enrollees under increased reimbursement rates. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4062  Exempts honorably discharged veterans from payment of passenger motor vehicle registration fee; requires notification of eligible motorists. Passed 

            S4068  [bill added] Revises calculation of elective pass-through business alternative income tax. Passed with committee amendments

            S4096  Revises permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.  Passed 

            S4201  [bill added] Mandates access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plan or program provided by the public employer. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4231  Creates program in Department of Agriculture for deer fencing on certain farmland. Passed

            S4244  Concerns appointment of certain superintendents of weights and measures. Passed 

            S4245  Extends period of time for filing special education due process petitions related to COVID-19 school closures and periods of virtual, remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction. Passed 

            S4250  [bill added] Changes PERS membership eligibility for certain elected public officials and provides for PERS reenrollment. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4257  [bill added] Allows county boards of elections to begin canvassing early votes and mail-in ballots before election day under certain conditions. Passed 

            S4263  Concerns standards for distribution of certain HMFA loans for housing projects during state of emergency. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4272  Makes supplemental appropriation of $8 million to DHS to increase reimbursement for funeral, burial, and crematory services provided to certain beneficiaries of Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Security Income programs. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4277  Establishes "New Jersey Foreclosure Counseling Fund." Passed 

            S4295  [bill added] Concerns changes in control of hotels and disruptions of hotel services. Passed with committee amendments 

            S4301  Includes duct cleaning as maintenance work subject to the prevailing wage law. Passed 
            
            S4308  Establishes Helmets to Hardhats program in the DMVA; appropriates $400,000. Passed 

            S4309  Awards school security project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for certain school districts; appropriates $5,150,531. Passed 

            SCR164            Approves NJ Building Authority project described in project report entitled "New Jersey State Capitol Complex Security Screening Building and Secure Courtyard Project." Passed
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