September 21, 2010 - Tracking Legislation and Other Items Important to the NJ Business Community

Manufacturing Incentives – A-2474

Assembly Commerce and Economic Development
Energy Savings for Manufacturers – A-2977 (Coutinho/D-29; Quijano/D-20): Committee passed. This bill exempts sales of energy and utility service to manufacturing facilities from the sales and use tax and the transitional energy facility assessment (TEFA) surcharge. These exemptions are projected to save manufacturing facilities approximately 10 percent in energy use taxes, and are designed to encourage manufacturers to remain in New Jersey and expand their operations in this state. Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Assembly Commerce and Economic Development A-2977 Vote: Coutinho, Albert (Chair) – Yes; Lampitt, Pamela – Yes; Bucco, Anthony – Yes; DiCicco, Domenick, Jr. – Yes; Fuentes, Angel – Yes; Quigley, Joan – Yes; Watson Coleman, Bonnie – Yes

EDUCATION

Interdistrict Public School Choice Program – A-355 (Jasey/D-27; Voss/D-38; Moriarty/D-4): Governor signed into law on September 9. Creates a permanent interdistrict public school choice program. A five-year pilot program was established in 2000 and expired in 2005. Like the pilot, the permanent program would allow students to enroll across district lines in designated schools. The permanent program doesn’t limit the number of districts that can participate in the choice program. Contact: Michael Egenton

Assembly Education Committee
Education Cost Savings – A-1637 (Wagner/D-38; Rudder/R-8; Voss/D-38; Addiego/R-8): Committee passed. 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. This bill requires that half the revenues generated by the sale must be used to offset the fuel costs of providing transportation services to students, and the remaining half is to be used to support educational programs and services. Advertisements for tobacco, alcohol or political advocacy will be prohibited, in addition to any other advertisements that the Commissioner of Education considers inappropriate. Contact: Michael Egenton

Assembly Education Committee A-1637 Vote: Diegnan, Patrick (Chair) – Yes; Voss, Joan (Vice Chair) – Yes; Caputo, Ralph – Yes; Evans, Elease – Yes; Jasey, Mila – Yes; Quijano, Annette – Yes; Ramos, Ruben - Yes; Rumana, Scott - Yes; Rumpf, Brian – Yes; Watson Coleman, Bonnie – Yes; Wolfe, David - Yes

ENERGY

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
Societal Benefits Charge – A-2528 (Chivukula/D-17; Quijano/D-20): Committee passed. This bill establishes specific areas to spend  the state revenue resulting from the Societal Benefits Charge. It would require that residential customers, small commercial customers, and large commercial and industrial customers benefit in the the same proportion as they pay.  Contact: Michael Egenton

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee A-2528 Vote: Chivukula, Upendra (Chair) – Yes; DeAngelo, Wayne (Vice Chair) – Yes; Bucco, Anthony – Yes; Egan, Joseph – Yes; Mainor, Charles – Yes; Quijano, Annette – Yes; Rible, David - Yes

GOVERNMENT REFORM

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Public Employee Reforms – S-2220 (Sarlo/D-36): Committee passed. This bill limits the payment of compensation at retirement for 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

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee S-2220 Vote: Sarlo, Paul (Chair) – Yes; Bateman, Christopher – Yes; Beach, James – Yes; Cunninghman, Sandra – Yes; Doherty, Michael – Yes; Oroho, Steven – Yes; Pennacchio, Joseph – Yes; Ruiz, Theresa – Yes; Smith, Bob – Yes; Van Drew, Jeff – Yes

REGULATION

Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee
Regulatory Relief for Small Business – A-2129 (Chivukula/D-17; McHose/R-24; Burzichelli/D-3): Committee passed. 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 a 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

Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee A-2129 Vote: Burzichelli, John (Chair) – Yes; Quijano, Annette (Vice Chair) – Yes; Casagrande, Caroline – Yes; Polistina, Vincent - Yes; Riley, Celeste - Yes

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.