Under the Dome 3/9: Assembly and Senate Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 12:04:00 AM EDT

The Assembly committees, along with hearing their regular slate of bills, will begin discussing how to distribute the Federal Stimulus funds.

The Assembly Budget Committee:The committee has invited state Comptroller Matthew Boxer to discuss federal requirements for oversight and transparency for money received through the stimulus package and actions the state may take to complement and augment these efforts.

The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee: The committee has invited state Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard to discuss efforts by the department to obtain federal stimulus money for, among other things, federally qualified health centers, senior nutrition services, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants and Children , early intervention services, immunization programs and the adoption and use of health information technology.

The Assembly Higher Education Committee: The committee will receive testimony from Jane Oates, executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, on how the federal package will impact the state?s higher education sector.

The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee: The committee has invited state Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria to discuss the impact of the federal economic stimulus plan on New Jersey as it relates to weatherization. The Committee will also take testimony on infrastructure and energy efficiency initiatives.

The Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee: The Committee will receive testimony from Doria concerning the effect of  the stimulus package on New Jersey's housing market.

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee: The committee has invited the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to discuss expanded financing opportunities for economic development under the stimulus package and to provide a status update on the InvestNJ and Main Street Programs, as part of the state's economic stimulus efforts. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association will discuss tax incentive provisions contained in the stimulus package, and the committee will also hear from the Department of the Treasury on the expanded efforts of the Small Business Registration and Women / Minority-Owned Business Certification Programs.

In the Senate Judiciary committee, the confirmation of Jeanie Fox at the BPU will probably get the most news coverage. Senator Sweeney came out in support of her late last week. One bill that still isn't on the agenda is the pension deferral legislation, which the Governor will probably propose in the budget the next day. The Senate Community and Urban affairs will consider legislation that would give incentives for shared services and provide Disabled veterans a property tax exemption. The Senate Education committee will talk voting education and a bill that Requires school districts to report to DOE certain information on students removed from school pursuant to "Zero Tolerance for Guns Act."   The Budget committee has fifteen bills up including one that Requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a 45-day State tax amnesty period. The Senate Commerce committee will hear a bill to lift restrictions on non-proft spending.

A2889 [Burzichelli, John J./Malone, Joseph R.+3], Personal Asst. Svcs. Prog.-concerns
A3101 [Watson Coleman, Bonnie/Cruz-Perez, Nilsa+7], Co. Homelessness Trust Fds.-co. create
A3521 [Roberts, Joseph J./Greenwald, Louis D.], Camden City, econ. devel. sites;$3.043M
S1178 [Rice, Ronald L./Redd, Dana L.], Kinship caregivers-concerns
S1986 [Ruiz, M. Teresa/Vitale, Joseph F.+3], Personal asst. svcs. prog.-revises
S2354 [Redd, Dana L./Stack, Brian P.+7], Co. Homelessness Trust Fds.-co. create
S2392 [Baroni, Bill/Whelan, Jim+3], Hist. sites-estab. roadside markers
S2475 [Smith, Bob/Buono, Barbara+3], Env. Infrastructure Finan. Prog.-changes
S2512 [Redd, Dana L.], Camden City, econ. devel. sites;$3.043M
S2519 [Whelan, Jim/Van Drew, Jeff], Casinos, casino simulcasting-concerns
S2563 [Sarlo, Paul A.], Court fees, cert.-concerns
S2678 [Buono, Barbara/Sweeney, Stephen M.], St. tax amnesty period-prov.

Pending Referral or Transfer:

A3589 [McKeon, John F./Gusciora, Reed+1], Env. Infrastructure Finan. Prog.-changes
S2552 [Sweeney, Stephen M.], St. assets-permits cert. investments
S2640 [Madden, Fred H./Kean, Thomas H.], Unemp. benf during job training-concerns

Senate Commerce Meeting 1:00 PM

S2341 [Singer, Robert W./Weinberg, Loretta], Court reporting agencies-concerns reg.
S2583 [Codey, Richard J./Ruiz, M. Teresa], Charitable org.-mgt., use of investments

For Discussion Only:

S2532 [Weinberg, Loretta/Gordon, Robert M.+1], Health svc. corp.-domestic stock insurer

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
S2609 [Karrow, Marcia A./Oroho, Steven V.], Recycling coordinator, mun.-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 Environment Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

*Senate Judiciary Meeting 10:00 AM

Considered:

to be Brigadier General of the NJ Army National Guard:
Colonel James John Grant of Mount Holly for the term prescribed by law.

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.
Robert Billmeier of Pennington 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.

to be a member of the NJ Turnpike Authority:

Ulises E. Diaz of Rutherford to replace Joseph P. Miele, resigned, for the term prescribed by law.

Senate Transportation Meeting 1:00 PM

S1019 [Beck, Jennifer], Corporal Philip A Reynolds Memor. Bridge
S1850 [Girgenti, John A./Sarlo, Paul A.], Chaplain Charles J Watters Mem Bride-Rt3
S2391 [Cunningham, Sandra B./Sweeney, Stephen M.+4], NJT bd.-adds non-voting memb.
S2536 [Sacco, Nicholas J./Stack, Brian P.], Wireless telephone use-concerns
S2537 [Sacco, Nicholas J./Stack, Brian P.], Rail operations-proh. wireless phone use
S2567 [Gordon, Robert M.], Predatory Towing Prev. Act-modifies
S2579 [Kean, Thomas H.], Compression release engine brake-concern

Senate Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Assembly Appropriations Meeting 2:00 PM

A919 [Scalera, Frederick/Greenstein, Linda R.+2], Internet pharmacies/prescriptions-reg.
A1941 [Oliver, Sheila Y./Giblin, Thomas P.+1], Dam restoration proj.;$7M
A2464 [Albano, Nelson T./Milam, Matthew W.+1], St. reports & publications-concerns
A2844 [Love, Sandra/DeAngelo, Wayne P.+10], Silver Alert Sys.-estab, missing elderly
A3365 [Oliver, Sheila Y./Cruz-Perez, Nilsa+2], Court appointed special advocate prog.
A3763 [Barnes, Peter J./Albano, Nelson T.+4], Computer Crime Prev. Fd.-creates
A3817 [Schaer, Gary S.], St. assets-permits cert. investments
A3818 [Pou, Nellie], Unemp. benf during job training-concerns
S1310 [Gordon, Robert M./Lance, Leonard+2], Dam restoration proj.;$7M

Assembly Budget Meeting 10:00 AM

The Chairman has invited the State Comptroller, Matthew Boxer, to discuss Federal requirements for oversight and transparency for funds received pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as well as actions the State may take to complement and augment these efforts.

A3819 [Greenwald, Louis D./Diegnan, Patrick J.], St. tax amnesty period-concerns

Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Meeting

The Committee has invited the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to discuss expanded financing opportunities for economic development under the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and to provide a status update on the InvestNJ and Main Street Programs, as part of the State?s economic stimulus efforts.  The New Jersey Business and Industry Association will discuss tax incentive provisions contained in the Act.  The Committee will also hear from the Department of the Treasury on the expanded efforts of the Small Business Registration and Women/Minority-Owned Business Certification Programs.

Assembly Consumer Affairs Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Meeting 10:00 AM

A3767 [Diegnan, Patrick J./Stender, Linda+8], Resid. mortgage foreclosure-concerns
A3816 [DeAngelo, Wayne P./Schaer, Gary S.+1], Resid. Mortgage Lending Act

Assembly Health and Senior Services Meeting 10:00 AM

The Committee has invited Commissioner Heather Howard of the Department of Health and Senior Services to discuss efforts by the Department to obtain federal stimulus funding for programs under its jurisdiction, including, but not limited to:  Federally qualified health centers, senior nutrition services, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), early intervention services, immunization programs, and the adoption and use of health information technology.

AJR57 [Voss, Joan M.+1], Asperger's Syndrome Awareness Wk.-April
AJR118 [Watson Coleman, Bonnie], Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Mo.-Sept.
AR184 [Watson Coleman, Bonnie], Cord blood donation-pub. awareness
AR185 [Conaway, Herb/Wagner, Connie], Natl. Nutrition Mo. in NJ-March 2009
AR186 [Conaway, Herb], Health Info. Tech. Awareness Day-March 9

For Discussion Only:

A1264 [Moriarty, Paul D./Greenstein, Linda R.+25], Health care fac.-concerns adverse events
A3371 [Moriarty, Paul D./Greenwald, Louis D.+12], Hosp. charges-concerns
A3633 [Conaway, Herb/Vas, Joseph+5], Patient safety-concerns

Assembly Higher Education Meeting 10:00 AM

The Committee will receive testimony from Jane Oates, Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, concerning the impact of the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" on the State's higher education sector.

A361 [Diegnan, Patrick J./Moriarty, Paul D.+4], St., co. coll bd of trustees-adds 2 emp.
A836 [Chivukula, Upendra J./Watson Coleman, Bonnie+5], Primary care practitioners-loan redemp
S1220 [Weinberg, Loretta/Turner, Shirley K.+3], Primary care practitioners-loan redemp

Assembly Housing and Local Government Meeting 2:00 PM

The Committee will receive testimony from Commissioner Joseph Doria of the Department of Community Affairs concerning the effect of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on New Jersey?s housing market.

A1026 [Wisniewski, John S.], Sr. homeowners-exempt, mun. permit fees
A3062 [McKeon, John F./Chivukula, Upendra J.], Wind, solar tech fac-zoning use variance
A3201 [Spencer, L. Grace/Coutinho, Albert], Sr. tenants-concerns rent control
A3628 [Milam, Matthew W./Albano, Nelson T.], Homestead prop. tax reimb.-elig criteria
A3657 [Burzichelli, John J./Green, Jerry], Loc. govt. finan. agreements-concerns
A3772 [Greenwald, Louis D./Malone, Joseph R.], Non-age-restricted housing-devel.
S1303 [Smith, Bob/Baroni, Bill], Wind, solar tech fac-zoning use variance

Assembly Law and Public Safety Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Assembly Regulated Professions Meeting

The Committee will not meet.

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Meeting 10:00 AM

The Chairman has invited Commissioner Joseph Doria of the Department of Community Affairs to discuss with the Committee the impact of the federal economic stimulus plan on New Jersey as it relates to weatherization.  The Committee will also take invited testimony on infrastructure and energy efficiency initiatives.

Assembly Tourism and Gaming Meeting 2:00 PM

A2046 [Wisniewski, John S./Giblin, Thomas P.+27], Sr. Cit., Disabled Transp. Prog-concerns
AJR84 [Milam, Matthew W./Albano, Nelson T.], Sunset Lake Hydrofest-Gov's cup Series
SJR27 [Van Drew, Jeff], Sunset Lake Hydrofest-Gov's cup Series