TRENTON WATCH

March 24, 2008 - Tracking Legislation Important to the New Jersey Business Community

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Municipal Real Estate Sales  – S-506 (Oroho/R-24): Senate passed 36-2.  Clarifies provisions of law concerning commissions and buyers premiums for the sale of local government real estate. While the State Chamber recognizes the position of Senator Oroho with regard to his legislation, we oppose this bill because it puts artificial caps on the commissions to be charged by auctioneers. These commissions (or buyers premiums) are paid by the purchaser (and not by the taxpayers of the municipality). We believe a cap could limit the number of vendors involved in the auction of municipal properties and lower the amount of money received for the sale. In addition, properties that are difficult to sell because they require significant time, effort, and marketing might have to be auctioned by municipalities because commercial auctioneers might find them to be less financially rewarding than other properties. Contact: Jim Leonard

EDUCATION

Senate Education Committee
Opening School Board Meetings to the Public  – A-690 (Spencer/D-29; Rodriguez/D-33): Senate passed 39-0, sent to Governor.  Amends the Open Public Meetings Act to require boards of education to set aside a portion of every board meeting for public comment. Boards of education maintain the discretion to set the length of time for the public comment portion of meetings. Public comment would be permitted on any school district issue of concern to the residents of the district. This bill mirrors the provision of P.L.2002, c.80 that required municipal governing bodies to provide for a period of public comment.  Contact: Jim Leonard

ENVIRONMENT

Senate Environment Committee
Creation of Stormwater Utility Systems – S-1166 (Smith/D-17): Committee passed, referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.  Permits municipalities and counties to finance the creation, operation and maintenance of stormwater utility systems through the imposition of tax on residential and commercial properties. The State Chamber believes that all available resources should be used for infrastructure improvements before a new tax on homeowners and businesses is considered.  Contact: Michael Egenton

GOVERNMENT REFORM

Assembly State Government Committee
Mandatory Ethics Training for State Legislators – A-2452 (Roberts/D-5; DeCroce/R- 26; Watson Coleman/D-15): Committee passed, Assembly passed 75-0, Senate passed 39-0, sent to Governor.  Changes the composition of the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to an all public-member group and requires each member of the State Legislature and staff to participate in an annual ethics training.  This training is in addition to the completion of an online ethics tutorial already required by law.  This is an important measure under the Platform For Progress Government Reform Initiative.  Contact: Jim Leonard

Assembly State Government Committee
Permanent Legislative Code of Ethics – ACR-159 (Roberts/D-5; Watson Coleman/D-15; Greenstein/D-14): Committee passed, Assembly passed 77-1, Senate passed 39-0, filed with the Secretary of State.  This concurrent resolution would adopt a Legislative Code of Ethics for the current Legislative session.  This is an important measure under the Platform For Progress Government Reform Initiative.  Contact: Jim Leonard

HEALTH

Assessing the cost of Mandated Health Benefits – A-2255 (Greenwald/D-6; Conaway/D-7): Assembly passed 78-0.  Requires the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study the financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits. The State Chamber opposes mandates that increase the cost of health insurance and limit the ability of employers to provide insurance and supports legislation like this that attempts to fully quantify the added costs and unintended consequences associated with mandates. Contact: Jim Leonard

LABOR

Assembly Appropriations Committee
Mandated Paid Leave – A-873 (Albano/D-1; Oliver/D-34; Greenstein/D-14; DeAngelo/D-14): Committee passed and Assembly passed 46-30.  Expands the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program to provide TDI benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn and newly adopted children. Mandating paid time off for businesses of all sizes will significantly impact productivity. A mandated one size fits all benefit package will eliminate the ability of an employer to craft a benefit package that works best for their employees. Please continue to send e-mails to key legislators voicing opposition to this mandate. You are also encouraged to call the Governor's Office at (609) 292-6000 to tell his staff that you are opposed to paid leave in New Jersey. Contact: Jim Leonard

Click here to tell your legislator you oppose paid leave.

REGULATION

Regulatory Relief for Small Business – A-832 (Chivukula/D-17; Schaer/D-36; Fisher/D-3; Love/D-4): Assembly passed 75-1.  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. In addition, the bill revises the definition of 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

Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee
Preventing Casino Shutdowns – S-1463 (Whelan/D-2; Girgenti/D-35): Committee passed, referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.  Provides that in the event of an emergency, including a shutdown of state government due to the failure of the Governor and the State Legislature to enact a general appropriation law by the deadline prescribed in the New Jersey Constitution, casino and simulcasting facilities will remain open and in full operation.  This legislation ensures that the state would not lose millions in casino tax revenues in the event of a government shutdown. Given the state's fiscal situation, it is imperative that revenue-generating activities be permitted to continue.  Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee
Revenue Generators Remaining Open  – ACR-155 (Burzichelli/D-3; Dancer/R-30; Moriarty/D-4; Milam/D-1): Committee passed.  Proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow state lotteries, Atlantic City casinos and horse racing to continue to operate in the event that a state budget is not enacted into law by the start of the July 1 state fiscal year.  This resolution ensures that the state would not lose millions in casino tax revenues in the event of a government shutdown. Given the state's fiscal situation, it is imperative that revenue-generating activities be permitted to continue.  Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Required Voter Approval for State Financial Borrowing – SCR-39 (Lance/R-23; Lesniak/D-20): Committee passed.  This resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to require voter approval of new laws that allow the state to borrow money by issuing certain state independent authority bonds backed by a pledge of state annual appropriations to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.  This is an important measure under both the Platform for Progress Economic Development and Transportation Initiatives.  Contact: Michael Egenton

Assembly State Government Committee
Adding Transparency To State Budget Changes – ACR-164 (Roberts/D-5; Quigley/D-32; Schaer/D-36; Watson Coleman/D-15; Greenwald/D-6; Greenstein/D-14): Committee passed, Assembly passed 73-2, Senate passed 39-0, filed with the Secretary of State.  This concurrent resolution proposes a joint legislative rule to require the filing and public availability of requests for changes to the Governor's state budget recommendations by members of the State Legislature and the State Treasurer before the Legislature's consideration of the annual appropriations bill.  This measure will provide more transparency by identifying the State Legislator and including their statement explaining the proposed changes.  Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

TRANSPORTATION

Expeditious Removal of Disabled Vehicles – A-1038 (Wisniewski/D-19; Ramos/D-33) and S-998 (Madden/D-4; Kyrillos/R-13): Assembly passed 77-0 and Senate passed 39-0.  This bill, based on a recommendation contained in the Congestion Buster’s Task Force Report, requires the operators of certain disabled vehicles to remove them from the roadway in a safe, but expeditious manner in order to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion and delay. The bill further clarifies that moving a vehicle under these circumstances does not constitute leaving the scene of an accident. Contact: Michael Egenton

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.