Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Thu Feb 26, 2009 at 12:24:49 AM EST

The Assembly education committee will have a round table discussion about shared services regarding the executive superintendents created last year. The Assembly Human Services committee will hear testimony from New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition to discuss combating hunger and programs available to help feed families during these difficult economic conditions. The Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee will hear an update on the status of the State's Reserve and National Guard units serving overseas.

The Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will meet jointly to hear testimony on the proposed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1897 and Assembly Bill No. 2962.  This bill creates "licensed site professionals" to help with the remediation of the over 18,000 contaminated sites around the state.  It seems that the DEP, the Governor and the chairs of both committees are in favor of the legislation, but many changes have been made to deal with objections from the environmental community.

The Senate State Government Committee will discuss modernizing State functions and making the information produced by the State more accessible to the public which sounds encouraging, if not long overdue. The Senate Law and Public Safety committee will hear testimony about the impact of the current recession on New Jersey workers and businesses and the effectiveness of State, Federal and Local programs to assist workers and their families (including unemployment insurance (UI), job training and job placement programs). Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs committee will hear updates on homeland security and the NJ Data exchange initiative.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee will consider 10 bills sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and 13 other Assembly Democratic lawmakers that they say would give law enforcement enhanced abilities to crackdown on child Internet crimes. The measures, among other things, would upgrade penalties and crimes for offenders who communicate in a harassing, sexually offensive or abusive manner with minors on Web sites and through electronic communication.  The Assembly State Government Committee will hear a bill that requires state departments to prepare a cost analysis when hiring private entities for work typically performed by state workers.  According to the sponsors, no contract or agreement that decreases the amount of work assigned to state employees could be entered into unless the analysis found the contract would bring substantial savings to the state.  The State Government committee will also hear legislation requiring the state to generate compensation guidelines for county and municipal government positions.  In addition, they'll consider a bill to make a new housing assistance and recovery program effective immediately.  The Assembly Education Committee will consider a bill that revises the criminal history record check process undergone by public and nonpublic school employees and bus drivers. In the Assembly Transportation Committee, we're talking license plates.  First they'll hear a bill to create a decal system to create specialized license plates, then they'll discuss the creation of 22 new special license plates.

The Senate Budget committee will consider a moratorium on the 2.5% developers fee for affordable housing. The state would have to refund all monies collected from the fee since July. The Senate State Government committee will take up the Transparency in Government  Act which provides for establishment of State public finance website.   Another bill     requires the State Treasurer to organize and publish certain contract and grant data and information on State expenditure Internet website.  

The full list of bills and committees is below the fold and as always, you can follow along live through the Legislature's website if you can't be in Trenton.

Senate Budget and Appropriations Meeting 10:00 AM

A267 [Vandervalk, Charlotte/Conners, Jack+4], Students w/diabetes-concerns care
A2589 [McKeon, John F./Chiappone, Anthony+3], Parking structures-concerns devel, finan
S615 [Vitale, Joseph F./Rice, Ronald L.], Sr. homeowners-exempt, mun. permit fees
S735 [Codey, Richard J./Cardinale, Gerald+5], Involuntary commitment-concerns
S1814 [Lesniak, Raymond J./Stack, Brian P.], Parking structures-concerns finan, devel
S2312 [Gordon, Robert M./Kean, Thomas H.], Ambulatory care fac.-concerns billing
S2426 [Turner, Shirley K./Kyrillos, Joseph M.+1], Students w/diabetes-concerns care
S2485 [Lesniak, Raymond J./Bateman, Christopher+4], Affordable housing-modifies laws
S2552 [Sweeney, Stephen M.], St. assets-permits cert. investments

Senate Commerce Meeting 10:00 AM

S117 [Scutari, Nicholas P.], Accident caused by drunk driver-concerns
S470 [Buono, Barbara/Lesniak, Raymond J.+1], Licensed Lenders Act-revises
S2553 [Cardinale, Gerald/Sarlo, Paul A.], Motor fuel franchisors-concerns

Senate Economic Growth Meeting 1:30 PM

A1479 [Burzichelli, John J./Greenwald, Louis D.+10], Pub. contracts-concerns
A1577 [Cohen, Neil M./Stender, Linda+5], Antifreeze and engine coolant-concerns
A3521 [Roberts, Joseph J./Greenwald, Louis D.], Camden City, econ. devel. sites;$3.043M
S979 [Van Drew, Jeff/Madden, Fred H.+4], Antifreeze and engine coolant-concerns
S2088 [Kyrillos, Joseph M./Sweeney, Stephen M.+1], Pub. contracts-concerns
S2321 [Singer, Robert W.], Pub. contracts-concerns
S2353 [Smith, Bob/Bateman, Christopher], Solar Roof Installation Warranty Prog.
S2512 [Redd, Dana L.], Camden City, econ. devel. sites;$3.043M
S2557 [Ruiz, M. Teresa/Oroho, Steven V.], On-site generation fac.-concerns
S2577 [Sarlo, Paul A.], Non-age-restricted housing-devel.

Senate Environment and Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Joint Meeting 2:00 PM

The Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will meet jointly to hear testimony on the proposed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1897 and Assembly Bill No. 2962.

S1897 [Smith, Bob+1], Site remediation-concerns

Senate State Government Meeting 1:00 PM

The Senate State Government Committee will hold a public hearing immediately following the Committee meeting.

A1784 [Milam, Matthew W./Wagner, Connie+6], American-made flags-concerns St. purch
A2564 [Quigley, Joan M./Prieto, Vincent+3], Absentee ballot replacement-concerns
A2650 [Schaer, Gary S./Scalera, Frederick], Pub contracts w/priv. entities-concerns
S804 [Sweeney, Stephen M.], Petitions of nomination-concerns
S930 [Weinberg, Loretta/Allen, Diane B.], Co. pol party committees-concerns
S997 [Madden, Fred H./Van Drew, Jeff], American-made flags-concerns St. purch
S1769 [Gordon, Robert M./Weinberg, Loretta], Pub contracts w/priv. entities-concerns
S2580 [Scutari, Nicholas P.], Absentee ballot replacement-concerns

Senate State Government Hearing (Immediately Following the Committee Meeting)

The Senate State Government Committee will discuss modernizing State functions and making the information produced by the State more accessible to the public.

A2492 [Chivukula, Upendra J./Fisher, Douglas H.+1], High-volume, basic computing sys.-study
S230 [Weinberg, Loretta/Van Drew, Jeff+1], St. reports & publications-concerns
S445 [Pennacchio, Joseph/Codey, Richard J.+4], Transparency in Govt. Act-estab.
S2288 [Kyrillos, Joseph M.], High-volume, basic computing sys.-study
S2465 [Buono, Barbara], St. expenditure Internet website-concern

Senate Transportation Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Senate Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

ASSEMBLY QUORUM 1:00 PM Assembly Chambers

Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Assembly Education Meeting 2:00 PM

The Committee will conduct a roundtable discussion with invited participants on the regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Education concerning the role of the executive county superintendent of schools in promoting and facilitating the sharing of special education services.

A2093 [Vainieri Huttle, Valerie/Lampitt, Pamela R.], Sch emp/bus driv-revise crim hist checks
A3222 [McKeon, John F./Jasey, Mila M.], Sch. fac.-concerns temperature control
A3568 [Cryan, Joseph], Bd. of ed. off., emp.-concerns
S110 [Weinberg, Loretta/Buono, Barbara+2], Sch emp/bus driv-revise crim hist checks
S1175 [Rice, Ronald L.], After sch. activities-concerns

Assembly Environment and Solid Waste and Senate Environment Joint Meeting 2:00 PM

The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee and the Senate Environment Committee will meet jointly to hear testimony on the proposed Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 2962 and Senate Bill No. 1897.

A2962 [McKeon, John F./Cryan, Joseph], Site remediation-concerns

Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Meeting 2:00 PM

A3578 [Scalera, Frederick], Fire chiefs, paid-mun. appoint

Assembly Human Services Meeting 1:00 PM

The Committee will hear testimony from New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition to discuss the coalition?s objectives to combat hunger in State communities and to detail programs available to New Jersey residents struggling to feed their familities during these difficult economic conditions.

A1618 [McKeon, John F./Fisher, Douglas H.+1], Involuntary commitment-concerns

Assembly Judiciary Meeting 10:00 AM

A3754 [Greenstein, Linda R./Milam, Matthew W.+4], Sex offense against minor-concerns
A3755 [Milam, Matthew W./Greenstein, Linda R.+4], Sexual commun. to minor-crime
A3756 [Greenstein, Linda R./Albano, Nelson T.+5], Sex crimes against minors-upgrades
A3757 [Albano, Nelson T./Vainieri Huttle, Valerie+8], Social networking websites-concerns
A3758 [Greenstein, Linda R./Diegnan, Patrick J.+6], Sex offender Internet identifier-concern
A3759 [Evans, Elease/Lampitt, Pamela R.+4], Harassment offense-upgrades
A3760 [Schaer, Gary S./Johnson, Gordon M.+3], Wiretap orders for cert. crimes-concerns
A3761 [Scalera, Frederick/Fisher, Douglas H.+2], Computer trespasser-auth. interception
A3762 [DeAngelo, Wayne P./Burzichelli, John J.+5], Child porno on computer-report to police
A3763 [Barnes, Peter J./Albano, Nelson T.+3], Computer Crime Prev. Fd.-creates

Assembly Labor Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Meeting 10:00 AM

The Committee has invited senior representatives of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to testify before the Committee on the status of the State's Reserve and National Guard units serving overseas.

ACR178 [O'Scanlon, Declan J.], Mil. Appreciation Mo.-desig. May 2008
AR148 [Cruz-Perez, Nilsa/Scalera,Frederick],Women vets-support fed. leg, health care
AR173 [Conners, Jack/Tucker, Cleopatra G.], Vet. Health Care Budget Reform Act-memor

Assembly State Government Meeting 2:00 PM

A415 [Handlin, Amy H.], St. contracts, cert.-concerns
A629 [Lampitt, Pamela R.], Dept of Personnel comp guidelines-concen
A1009 [Wisniewski, John S./Johnson, Gordon M.+5], St. constr. contracts-concerns
A3031 [Albano, Nelson T./Milam, Matthew W.+2], St. dept. contracts-req. cost analysis

Pending Referral:

A3711 [Watson Coleman, Bonnie/Wolfe, David W.], Housing Asst. & Recovery Prog.-concerns

Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Meeting 10:00 AM

A2484 [Casagrande, Caroline], Corporal Philip A Reynolds Memor. Bridge
A3713 [Wisniewski, John S.], Decal sys.-in place of special lic plate

For Discussion Only:
A101 [Vainieri Huttle, Valerie/Lampitt, Pamela R.], Become A Nurse-estab. lic. plates
A447 [Malone, Joseph R.], Disab Amer. Vet. memb.-special lic plate
A549 [Dancer, Ronald S.+1], Combat Action Ribbon-auth. lic. plate
A936 [Thompson, Samuel D.], Red heart symbol on lic plates-DMV offer
A1195 [Chiappone, Anthony/Evans, Elease], We Support the Arts lic. plate-auth.
A1197 [Chiappone, Anthony+1], Proud to Be an Amer.-auth. lic. plate
A1524 [Angelini, Mary Pat+1], P.O.W.-auth. lic. plates
A1526 [Angelini, Mary Pat], Distinguished Flying Cross-lic. plate
A1708 [Munoz, Eric+1], September 11th-estab. lic. plate
A1711 [Munoz, Eric/Cryan, Joseph+2], Diabetes research/ed.-estab. lic. plate
A2130 [Munoz, Eric], Bill of Rights-estab. lic. plate
A2188 [Van Pelt, Daniel M./Rumpf, Brian E.+1], Distinguished svc. medal-auth. lic plate
A2368 [Karrow, Marcia A.], Vet.-estab. special lic. plates
A2414 [Karrow, Marcia A.], Motorcycle lic. plate-estab. for vets
A2416 [Dancer, Ronald S.], Severly Disab. Vet. lic. plate-auth.
A2654 [Cruz-Perez, Nilsa/Vainieri Huttle, Valerie+8], Gold Star Family lic. plates-auth.
A2725 [Conners, Jack/Albano, Nelson T.+3], Gold Star Parent-auth. special lic plate
A3487 [Burzichelli, John J./Fisher, Douglas H.+1], Fire police off.-estab special lic plate
A3550 [Rudder, Scott/Addiego, Dawn Marie], Autism awareness-estab. lic. plate
A3576 [Rudder, Scott/Addiego, Dawn Marie], Invest in Children Lic. Plate-creates
A3614 [Watson Coleman, Bonnie/Evans, Elease], Alpha Kappa Alpha lic. plate-auth.
A3705 [Russo, David C.], Preserve Open Space lic. plate-prov.

SENATE QUORUM 12:00 PM Senate Chambers

Senate Community and Urban Affairs Meeting 10:00 AM

A1074 [Cryan, Joseph/Carroll, Michael Patrick], Vol. firefighters-physician's cert. req.
A2853 [Roberts, Joseph J./Scalera, Frederick+7], Local shared svcs.-St. incentives
A3541 [Doherty, Michael J./McKeon, John F.], Recycling coordinator, mun.-concerns
S379 [Gill, Nia H./Vitale, Joseph F.+1], Disab. vet.-concerns prop. tax exemp.
S2259 [Singer, Robert W./Bucco, Anthony R.+1], Local shared svcs.-St. incentives
S2339 [Connors, Christopher J.], Loc. Pub. Contracts Law-concerns
S2542 [Rice, Ronald L.+1], Housing auth. exec. dir.-concerns

*Senate Education Meeting 10:00 AM

A2752 [Caputo, Ralph R./Vainieri Huttle, Valerie+3], Voter regis. material-prov elig students
S524 [Girgenti, John A.+2], Nature of drugs instructional prog-estab
S1007 [Allen, Diane B.], Zero Tolerance for Guns Act-concerns
S2490 [Turner, Shirley K.], Sch. Ethics Act-makes changes
S2541 [Rice, Ronald L./Redd, Dana L.], Voter regis. material-prov elig students
S2647 [Turner, Shirley K.], Sch. dist vol-crim hist record check req
SJR63 [Gordon, Robert M.], High Sch. Voter Regis. Wk-last wk in May
SJR72 [Turner, Shirley K.], Tech. Innovation Wk.-first wk. in March

Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Meeting

A2038 [Gusciora, Reed/Oliver, Sheila Y.+1], Psych. liens-concerns cert. access
S1003 [Madden, Fred H.], Organ donations-gross income tax deduct.
S1636 [Turner, Shirley K.], Child support-concerns
S1767 [Sarlo, Paul A.], Prescription drug blank forms-concerns
S1808 [Kean, Thomas H./Vitale, Joseph F.], Psych. liens-concerns cert. access
S1974 [Ciesla, Andrew R./Connors, Christopher J.], Home health aides-concerns
S2471 [Vitale, Joseph F./Sweeney, Stephen M.+11], Patient safety-concerns
S2502 [Singer, Robert W.], Lung Cancer Research Fd.-estab.
S2550 [Weinberg, Loretta/Codey, Richard J.], Schedule II drugs-concerns prescribing
SCR65 [Connors, Christopher J.], America Cares prog-urge Congress, Pres.
SJR29 [Sarlo, Paul A./Madden, Fred H.], Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Wk

For Discussion Only:
S236 [Adler, John H./Turner, Shirley K.+6], Casinos, smoking ban exception-elim.

*Senate Judiciary Meeting 10:00 AM

Considered:
to be a member of the William Paterson University of NJ - Board of Trustees:
Linda A. Niro of Bridgewater to replace Sonia Rosado, resigned, for the term prescribed by law.
William J. Pesce of Basking Ridge to succeed himself, for the term prescribed by law.

Interviewed:
to be a Judge of the Superior Court:
William Anklowitz of West Windsor for the term prescribed by law.
John Tassini of Brielle for the term prescribed by law.
Gary Wodlinger of Millville for the term prescribed by law.

to be a member of the NJ Board of Public Utilities:
Jeanne M. Fox, Esq. of New Brunswick to succeed herself, for the term prescribed by law.

Senate Labor Hearing 1:00 PM

The Committee will hear testimony from guests and the public about the impact of the current recession on New Jersey workers and businesses and the effectiveness of State, Federal and Local programs to assist workers and their families (including unemployment insurance (UI), job training and job placement programs).

Senate Labor Meeting (Immediately Following the Public Hearing)

S2640 [Madden, Fred H./Kean, Thomas H.], Unemp. benf during job training-concerns

Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Meeting

The Chairman has invited Richard L. Canas, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, to deliver a homeland security briefing to the Committee and update the Committee on the 7447 implementation of the New Jersey Data Exchange initiative.

A2218 [Moriarty, Paul D./Love, Sandra], Criminal id theft-concerns
S958 [Allen, Diane B./Girgenti, John A.], Assault on law enforcement off-mand term
S1073 [Bucco, Anthony R.], Domestic Security Planning Group-memb.
S2119 [Redd, Dana L./Van Drew, Jeff+3], Criminal id theft-concerns
S2418 [Van Drew, Jeff/Kean, Sean T.+1], Alco. bev. at bingo games-concerns

For Discussion Only:

S1810 [Sweeney, Stephen M./Stack, Brian P.+4], Wine-concerns direct shipping