ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Senior Vice President Michael Egenton testified before the Assembly
Special Committee on Economic Development regarding job creation and
issues critical to the business community. He suggested steps that
could be taken by the State Legislature and Administration to
stimulate the economy and improve the state’s business climate.
Egenton recommended that the panel continue work on regulatory
reform, pension and benefits reform and the municipal “tool kit” to
lower property taxes. He emphasized the importance of the state’s
business incentive programs to the employer community and the
importance of reforming both the unemployment insurance fund and the
Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) with regard to the 2.5%
development fee.
EDUCATION
 Education
Cost Savings
–
A-1637
(Wagner/D-38; Rudder/R-8; Voss/D-38; Addiego/R-8):
Assembly passed 75-0. This bill permits the board of education of
any school district to enter into a contract for the sale of
advertising space on the outside of school buses owned or leased by
the school district. The bill requires that 50 percent of revenues
generated by the sale must be used to offset the fuel costs of
providing transportation services to students, and the remaining 50
percent is to be used to support educational programs and services.
Advertisements for tobacco, alcohol or political advocacy would be
prohibited, in addition to any other advertisements that the
Commissioner of Education considers inappropriate. Contact:
Michael Egenton
ENERGY
Renewable
Energy Incentives
–
S-793 (Madden/D-4):
Passed in Senate 34-0. This bill would require that any government
contract or contract using government funds for the purchase of
solar panels, wind turbines or other solar or wind energy devices be
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder whose principal place of
business is in New Jersey, or who uses a majority of parts
manufactured or produced in the state for the assembly of a final
product. This bill is designed to support green businesses and jobs
in the state. Contact:
Michael Egenton
GOVERNMENT REFORM
Unfunded
Mandates
–
S-2208 (Sarlo/D-36;
Allen/R-7; Scalera/D-36; Burzichelli/D-3; McKeon; D/27; Rumana/R-40;
Webber/R-26):
Passed in Assembly 75-0. This bill would allow the New Jersey
Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities,
the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Association
of Counties, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the Garden
State Coalition of Schools, or the New Jersey Association of Fire
Districts to file a complaint with the Council on Local Mandates
concerning a potential unfunded mandate. The bill also would allow
local fire districts to file complaints. This bill is part of
Governor Christie’s "tool kit" to assist local governments in
holding down costs, which will ultimately result in lower property
taxes.
Contact: Michael Egenton
Taxpayer Savings
S-1998/S-2067 (Ruiz/D-29; Kean T./R-21): Passed in Senate
35-0. This bill authorizes two or more state colleges or
universities to form a state college risk management group and to
participate in joint liability funds, risk management programs, and
related services provided by the group.
Contact:
Michael Egenton
S-2100 (Sweeney/D-3; Ruiz/D-29): Passed in Senate 37-0. This
bill would prohibit new employees of the New Jersey State League of
Municipalities, the New Jersey Association of Counties, the New
Jersey School Boards Association, school board insurance groups,
county college joint insurance groups and county or municipal joint
insurance funds from enrolling in the state-administered retirement
system or state health care benefits plan. Contact:
Michael Egenton
S-2209 (Sweeney/D-3): Passed in Senate 22-15. This bill
eliminates the down payment requirement for counties and
municipalities to issue bonds. Under current law, most bond
ordinances require an appropriation of at least 5% of the amount of
the authorized obligation for final adoption of the bond ordinance.
While this appropriation is excluded from the property tax cap, this
bill is intended to allow scarce funds to be used for other purposes
of the county or municipality. Contact:
Michael Egenton
S-2220 (Sarlo/D-36): Passed in Senate 34-0. This bill limits
compensation for retiured employees of boards of education and local
governments for accumulated unused sick leave to $15,000, and limits
the carry-forward of vacation leave to one year. These changes,
coupled with other public employee benefit reforms, will save
significant taxpayer dollars. Contact:
Michael Egenton
REGULATION
Regulatory
Relief for Small Business –
A-2129 (Chivukula/D-17; McHose/R-24; Burzichelli/D-3):
Passed in Assembly 75-0. This bill updates the New Jersey Regulatory
Flexibility Act by requiring an agency to conduct a review of rules
that are up for re-adoption, ensuring that they have minimal impact
on small businesses. The bill also revises the definition of a small
business from a business that employs fewer than 100 full-time
employees to one which, along with its affiliates, employs fewer
than 100 full-time employees or has gross annual sales of less than
$6 million. Contact:
Michael Egenton
TAXATION
Streamlining
Tax Collection -
S-2289 (Oroho/R-24; O’Toole/R-40; DeCroce/R-26):
Passed in Senate 37-0, passed in Assembly 75-0, signed by the
Governor on October 1. This bill makes technical corrections to the
Motor Fuel Tax Act, which changes the point of collection of New
Jersey’s motor fuel taxes, and defers implementation of the new
taxation system for three months to allow time for necessary
re-licensing and other administrative issues. Contact:
Mary Ellen Peppard
Trenton Watch is a publication of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Thumbs up and down indicates the chamber’s support or opposition to issues. Questions? Call the State Chamber Government Relations Department at (609) 989-7888. Comments are always welcome.
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