Under the Dome: Senate Committees and Assembly Voting Session

by: Jason Springer

Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 09:15:00 AM EDT

The Senate Judiciary will consider three nominations including Thomas Considine to be Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance, Bob Martin to be Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection and Poonam Alaigh to be Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services. The Martin nomination has raised concerns from environmental groups and the Alaigh nomination has had people on the right up in arms.

The Economic Growth committee will consider Senator Lesniak's legislation that would change the way affordable housing is done in New Jersey. The State Government Committee has invited Catherine Starghill, Esq., Executive Director of the NJ Government Records Council to discuss the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The Environment Committee has seven bills up for consideration including bills dealing with the highlands and renewable energy.

Among the legislation up for consideration in the Assembly voting session is a bill that would convert property tax rebates to direct credits on the tax bill. Also on the agenda is a bill sponsored by Burzichelli to direct the State Commission of Investigation to look into the finances and operations of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association. Still another bill would create a New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon for the New Jersey National Guard. And then A-2420 eliminates the 10-day waiting period for certain shareholder actions not concerning mergers and acquisition activity governed by state law.

I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.

Under the Dome: Senate Session, Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 09:30:00 AM EST

There are 21 bills on the agenda for the Senate Session today. Some of those bills include changes to Municipal land use law, Highlands programs, steroid use among students and gender equity in workplace concerns.

The Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nominations of the heads of Banking & Insurance and the Motor Vehicle Commission.

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development committee has just four bills up for consideration including one dealing with qualifications for green building loans. The Human Services Committee also has just four bills on the agenda including one dealing with Eligibility concerns for NJ Family Care.

I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.

Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:00:00 AM EST

The Economic Growth Committee will discuss the latest incarnation of Senator Lesniaks's bill on COAH reforms and consider a resolution to urge the NFL to pick New Meadowlands Stadium as the site of Super Bowl XLVIII. The Judiciary committee will hold hearings on three of Governor Christie's cabinet nominees:

Janet F. Rosenzweig, MS, Ph.D MPA for Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families

Gary M. Lanigan for Commissioner of the Department of Corrections

Jennifer Velez for Commissioner of the Department of Human Services.

The Education Committee will hear testimony regarding the impact of concussions and other head injuries on student athletes and possible
guidelines for addressing such injuries. The Environment and Solid Waste Committee will hear testimony on the impact of Gov. Christie's cuts to divert funds from the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, the Highlands Protection Fund - Planning Grant program, the Highlands Municipal Property Tax Stabilization Fund, and the New Jersey Clean Energy Fund.

The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee has four bills up for consideration. The Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee will hear from Charles McKenna, the acting Director of the Office of Homeland Security, and consider three bills. The State Government Committee will be talking Census again as they will hear more testimony on the 2010 census and vote on bills that would create a Census Awareness Month and Census Day on April 1.

I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.

Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 09:30:00 AM EST

The Assembly Budget Committee will meet to hear testimony on the status of several state pension systems.  The Housing and Local Government Committee will meet to discuss the future of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). The Health committee will take testimony about the supply and demand for physicians.

The Telecommunications Committee will take testimony from the BPU and invited representatives of business ratepayers on the Administration's proposal, as one of its FY 2010 budget solutions, to divert $158 million in funds from the Retail Margin Fund and Clean Energy Fund.

Along with the testimony, there is a full list of legislation up for consideration and discussion.  I'll put the full agenda below the fold. If you're not in Trenton, you can listen along to the hearings here.

Under the Dome: Senate Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:00:00 AM EST

The Senate Judiciary committee will resume their confirmation hearing for Education Commissioner nominee Bret Schundler, which was cut short last week. They will also consider James Simpson to be Commissioner of Transportation replacing Stephen Dilts.

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee will hear testimony from Eileen Swan, Executive Director of the Highlands Council to provide an update on the work of the council. They also have four bills on the agenda including one that would establish an exemption from the sales tax for purchasing hybrid vehicles.

The Senate Education Committee is talking steroids. They have a bill from Senator Codey that would  require the Department of Education and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to work jointly to develop and implement, by the 2010-2011 school year, a program of random steroid testing of student-athletes who qualify to compete in championship tournaments sanctioned by the association. There doesn't appear to be an Assembly counterpart to this legislation introduced yet.

The State Government will hear testimony and consider SCR1, which would amend the State Constitution to require annual contributions into the pension system. The bill has 25 co-sponsors and would put the question before the voters in November.

I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.

Under the Dome: Senate Voting session, Senate Judiciary and Assembly Budget Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Feb 22, 2010 at 09:15:00 AM EST

The Judiciary committee will consider the nominations of Lee Solomon to replace Fred Butler leading the BPU and Bret Schundler to replace Lucile Davy as commissioner for the Department of Education.

For the Senate voting session, they will start by honoring the Cooper doctors and nurses who went to assist with earthquake relief in Haiti. Much of the attention will focus on the pension and benefits reform package - bills S-2, S-3, and S-4. Another bill up for consideration, S-19 would authorize the President of the Senate to take legal action concerning certain federal legislation prohibiting sports betting.  

I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.

Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 09:30:00 AM EST

Many committees will hear testimony. Acting Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler will testify before the Assembly Education Committee. They will also consider the school choice bill vmars wrote about. The Assembly Judiciary Committee have testimony to discuss the implications of the recent United States Supreme Court opinion, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, on New Jersey's pay to play laws.

The Assembly Transportation Committee invites the public to testify on the potential impact of the Governor's proposal to cut the State's subsidy to New Jersey TRANSIT and any fare increases or service reductions that may result. The Assembly State Government Committee will hear testimony on the 2010 Census from Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., a representative of the U.S. Census Bureau, and Leonard Preston of the New Jersey State Data Center.

The Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs committee will hear testimony from Major General Glenn K. Rieth, the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, to update the Committee on the Department's current initiatives. The Homeland Security committee will hear testimony about the 211 system and the Agriculture committee will hear from invited speakers concerning the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

They've put a limit of 5 minute of testimony in the Senate State Government committee in anticipation of a large crowd to testify regarding legislation that would make changes to the state pension plan. The Senate Judiciary committee will consider the nomination of Governor Christie's nominees to be State Treasurer and to the Civil Service Commission. The Human Services Committee will hear about the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund.

While the spotlight will shine on that testimony and those bills, there is plenty more up for a vote. I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.

Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 08:00:00 AM EST

The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the nomination of Paula Dow to serve as the State's Attorney General.  If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first African-American woman to serve as the State's top law enforcement official.  The will also interview Glenn K. Rieth to succeed himself as Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.

The State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee will hear testimony from State Comptroller Matthew Boxer on his office's audit report on financial mismanagement in Atlantic City's municipal government. They will also consider a constitutional amendment allowing for in-person and account wagering on sports events at Atlantic City casinos and racetracks.  The Military and Veterans Affairs Committee has invited Major General Rieth of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to update the Committee on departmental activities.

Representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection have been invited to discuss the draft water discharge permit for the Oyster Creek
nuclear generating station in the Environment and Energy Committee. The Economic Growth Committee will have Senator Lesniak's bill to abolish COAH up for discussion for the 2nd time. The release contained this note:

Senator Lesniak stressed that the bill is still "a work in progress," and noted that he was open to input from all sides to ensure his proposal is more successful than COAH's failed bureaucracy which has created unwieldy mandates on municipalities and failed to build necessary affordable unit for the State's residents.

There is also plenty of legislation up for consideration.  I'll put the full list of bills on the agenda below the fold. As always, if you can't make it to Trenton, you can listen to the hearings here.

Under the Dome: Senate Committees

by: Jason Springer

Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 09:15:00 AM EST

The Budget and Appropriations committee will get an update on the status of the current FY2010 budget from Dr. David Rosen, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer at the Office of Legislative Services. He will also review the impact of the economy on the state's projected tax revenues and budget.

The Commerce Committee has three bills on the agenda for a vote and one for discussion including a bill that would require consumer complaints to licensing boards of regulated professions to be resolved within 120 days. The bill for discussion would permit persons covered by certain managed care plans to receive covered services from network provider without obtaining written referral from primary care provider.

Over in the Community and Urban Affairs Committee, they will consider four bills including ones that would modify the development application process under the "Municipal Land Use Law" and another that would allow surviving spouses between 55 and 64 years of age to carry forward homestead property tax reimbursement of qualified deceased program participant.

The Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee has four bills up including one that would establishe an Alzheimer's Disease Study Commission, another which would require each hospital board of trustees to adopt a written policy governing conflicts of interest and a third that would allow deductions against gross income for unreimbursed expenses incurred by organ donor.

The Law and Public Safety Committee has four bills including one that expands the authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside normal territorial jurisdictions, a second that would permit direct shipping of wine to New Jersey consumers and a third which upgrades penalties for assaulting certain health care professionals and workers. The Transportation Committee will have three bills to designate roads and another that would require certain New Jersey Transit Corporation employees to undergo criminal history background checks and wear photo identification.  

You can see the full agenda below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along here.

Under the Dome: Abolishing COAH leads Senate Committee Agenda

by: Jason Springer

Mon Feb 01, 2010 at 07:16:56 AM EST

Leading the Senate news will be Senator Lesniak's bill that would abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing and change the way housing for moderate- and low-income residents is provided in the state. The measure is up for discussion in Lesniak's Economic Growth Committee and he plans to have a vote on the legislation February 8. Fair Share Housing put out a statement saying any reforms that will be done should be constitutional.

The Judiciary committee is not scheduled to meet so the new Governor's nominations will have to wait for the next one. The Environment and Energy committee will consider four bills including one that would exempt solar panels from impervious surface or impervious cover designation. Another bill would authorize $17 million for dam restoration projects.

The Senate Education Committee will hear testimony from representatives of the New Jersey Education Association, the statewide teachers' union, and EA, school boards and other educational organizations and associations on their educational priorities in the current legislative session.

A bill in the Senate Government, Wagering and  Tourism committee sponsored by Senator Lesniak proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature by law to allow in-person wagering and account wagering on sports events at Atlantic City casinos and at racetracks. Another bill sponsored by Senators Codey and Pennachio would permanently require the state to establish a public finance website.

You can see the full agenda below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along here.

Sweeney announces new Committee chairs

by: Jason Springer

Fri Jan 15, 2010 at 01:15:00 PM EST

Committee	Chair	Vice Chair
Budget and Appropriations	Paul Sarlo	Brian Stack
Commerce	Nia H.  Gill	Ray Lesniak
Community and Urban Affairs	Jeff Van Drew	Ron Rice
Economic Growth	Ray Lesniak	Sandra Cunningham
Education	Teresa Ruiz	Jim Whelan
Environment and Energy	Bob Smith	Bob Gordon
Judiciary	Nicholas Scutari	John Girgenti
Labor	Fred Madden	Sandra Cunningham
Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens	Loretta Weinberg	Joe Vitale
Law and Public Safety	John Girgenti
State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation	Jim Whelan	Bob Gordon
Transportation	Nicholas Sacco
Military and Veterans Affairs	Jim Beach	Jeff Vandrew
Legislative Oversight	Barbara Buono

There were some changes to committees:

Sweeney added new committees would see their focus change. The Senate Environment Committee, which will also take up energy issues and be re-named the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, and the Senate State Government Committee, which will absorb the Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee and be re-named the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.  He has also created the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:45:00 AM EST

The Assembly has the Appropriations, Education, Environmental, Financial Institutions, Housing, Human Services, Judiciary, Labor, Regulated Professions, State Government and Transportation committees meeting. They will consider a total of 98 bills.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens committee will hear testimony from Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. and invited guests on federal health care reform, and its implications for New Jersey.

The Assembly Education Committee will conduct a discussion with invited participants on charter schools, urban education, and strategies to address the needs of low-income students.

Here are stories about some of the Legislation that is pending before the Committees in Trenton. I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration in the committees below the fold. With everything that is on the agenda, an omission is the Marriage Equality legislation that has been sent back over to the Senate. Garden State Equality will still be holding their Lobby Day in Trenton hoping for a vote to come.

If you're not in Trenton, you can listen along to the hearings here.

Under the Dome: Senate Committees 12/14

by: Jason Springer

Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 09:00:00 AM EST

No committee meetings or floor votes are planned. But the quorum call will allow for new bills to be added to the Legislature's potential plate when it comes back to town in January. When the Assembly left after this past Monday's voting session, the plan was to not reconvene until Jan. 4th.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations committee has just four bills listed including small wind energy legislation and dam restoration projects. The Commerce committee has the largest agenda with twenty five bills getting their day in Trenton. Some of those include medical malpractice liability insurance concerns, Tree care licenses and one that permits a three year payoff of accumulated deficits of municipal health insurance funds.

The Environment and Economic Growth Committee each have five bills up for consideration.  Highlights include permitting for energy facilities, a fix to the site remediation act and renewable energy legislation.

I've put the full board list below the fold and you can listen along to the hearings here.

Under the Dome: Lame Duck kicks off

by: Jason Springer

Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 09:30:00 AM EST

On to the legislative agenda:

Six Senate committees meet. Included on the agendas are bills that let judges waive the mandatory minimums now required for drug-free school zone violations; expand prevailing wage rules to cafeteria contracts; require chain restaurants to put nutrition information on their menus; and boost penalties for repeatedly driving drunk or with a suspended license.

Seven Assembly committees meet. The bills on the docket include proposals to require more state revenue from casino taxes on seniors' transportation; extend prevailing wage rules to cafeteria contracts; prohibit smoking e-cigarettes  in indoor workplaces and public places; and create a registry for adults with autism.

Under the Dome: 6/15 Senate and Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 06:39:23 AM EDT

The big talk will be over the budget.  The official Senate and Assembly bills became available on Saturday afternoon.  They are scheduled for consideration in both the Senate and Assembly Budget committees today. The Assembly committee will take public testimony on the FY2010 appropriations bill at 9am and the committee will consider it. The Senate Committee will follow with a meeting at 2pm. They have all of the individual appropriations bills on the agenda for consideration along with the budget bill.

The Senate Labor Committee will discuss a bill that would address the suspension and revocation of employer licensees for repeated violations of wage, benefit and tax laws. They will also have a bill up for discussion only that would extend prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and state authorities.

Among the bills up for consideration in the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee are two that would memorialize Congress and the President to enact legislation to provide universal health insurance coverage.

The Law and Public safety committee has a few bills up including one that would require all wireless cell phones issued by public entities to receive Amber Alerts and another that would another that would require telecommunications companies to provide caller location information to law enforcement in emergency situations

The full list of bills up for consideration in the committees is listed below the fold. As always, you can follow along with live streaming feeds through the Legislature's website.

Under the Dome: Senate and Assembly Committees 6/11

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 08:45:00 AM EDT

A bill in the Senate State Government Committee would establish electoral and campaign finance requirements for candidates for Lieutenant Governor. Another bill would establish standards for the sale of State surplus real property. They will also consider eliminating the requirement to mail sample ballots to inactive voters.

A bill in the Senate Environment Committee would require parental notification of contaminated soil found on school property.  Another measure would approve the FY 2010 plan for the Environmental Infrastructure trust.  Still anotehr bill would prohibit the DEP from mandating public access to tidal waterfront areas adjacent to critical infrastructure unless they purchase or improve off-site locations.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will consider everything from limited licenses for general barbering to the "New Homebuyers Bill of Rights Act." They will discuss increasing penalities for medical waste and also establish a "Silver Alert System." The Senate Commerce Committee has the "New Jersey Foreclosure Fairness Acit," which imposes additional foreclosure notice requirements and amends the Mortgage Stabilization relief act. They may also ban novelty lighters.

Over on the Assembly side, the Appropriations committee, pending introduction and referral, has the "NJ Economic Stimulus Act of 2009" posted.  The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee will consider legislation to require increased public participation and independent analysis when a health insurer seeks to convert to a for-profit company. The bill proposes more public hearings and an independent study examining the health impact of the proposed conversion.

The full list of bills up for consideration in the committees is listed below the fold. As always, you can follow along with live streaming feeds through the Legislature's website.

Under the Dome: Committees for 5/18

by: Jason Springer

Mon May 18, 2009 at 08:45:00 AM EDT

The Assembly Appropriations committee will hear testimony regarding autism coverage.  Speaker Roberts and renowned autism treatment and research advocate Bob Wright will testify in support of the bill to require insurers to cover autism treatments.

The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee is scheduled to discuss a bill that would bar local officials from lobbying or advocating for certain matters. The ban would take effect if they had a conflict of interest with the topic and, for example, recuse themselves from a related vote. Another bill requires municipality to report all long and short-term financial and tax agreements to DCA; makes reporting a condition for receipt of special Municipal Aid.

The Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs committee will have the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs brief the committee on troop deployments and issues facing members of the armed forces who are returning to New Jersey following active duty service in a military operation.  Another bill   would establish a task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues. There are also a few veterans tax bills up for residents to offer support on their income tax forms.

The Judiciary committee has a list of confirmations for boards and commissions including Joe Ripa to become the Camden County Clerk after Jim Beach resigned to become State Senator.

The Education committee has the "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act" up for consideration which requires each four-year public institution of higher education to provide on its website certain information regarding its costs, faculty, and graduation rates. They will also consider a bill that establishes New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force.

The Health Committee has a bill up that requires applicants and employees of State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and veterans homes to undergo drug testing.

As always, you can follow along with live streaming feeds through the Legislature's website. I've also put all of the legislation up for consideration below the fold.

Under the Dome: 5/11 Senate & Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Sun May 10, 2009 at 11:33:39 PM EDT

On the Senate side, it's the Department of Transporation, NJ Transit and the Motor Vehicle Commission who get their turn before the Senate Budget Committee at 10am.  At 1:30pm, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development steps up to the plate and that should be particularly interesting given all the talk of furloughs, layoffs and unemployment these days.

On the Assembly side, the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste committee takes up the now $600 million open space public question legislation. They also have a resolution opposing offshore drilling for oil and natural gas and encourages use of renewable resources among other bills. The Human Services Committee will vote on a three-bill package to improve state mental health services.

The State Government Committee will consider legislation to require the state to publish contract and grant information on a single, searchable Web site. It will also consider legislation to impose electoral and campaign finance requirements upon Lieutenant Governor candidates. The panel will also weigh legislation to help charitable organizations weather the global economic recession. That bill would give charitable organizations that have been hit hard by the recent economic troubles more discretion to spend and invest endowment money.

The Judiciary Committee will consider legislation that would revise the New Jersey False Claims Act to entitle the state to more recovery in Medicaid fraud cases. They will also have a bill that would create a civil rape shield law. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will take testimony on whether New Jersey should allow raw milk sales. The Labor Committee will vote on a bill that requires the Board of Public Utilities to adopt regulations providing that the prevailing wage rate be paid to workers employed in the performance of any construction undertaken in connection with board financial assistance, or undertaken to fulfill any condition of receiving board financial assistance, including the performance of any contract to construct, renovate or otherwise prepare a facility, the operations of which are necessary for the receipt of board financial assistance.

The Assembly Military and Veterans? Affairs Committee will take up a bill that would exclude pay earned by New Jersey military personnel during combat and hazardous duty and duty subject to hostile fire and imminent danger from state income taxes. The Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee will consider a bill that would create a Highway Construction Zone Safety Program.

As always, you can follow along with live streaming feeds through the Legislature's website. I've also put all of the legislation up for consideration below the fold.

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.

On tap in Trenton: Senate & Assembly Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 12:21:09 AM EST

New Jersey legislators are scheduled to discuss roughly 60 bills today.  Neither body is in session, but both chambers have a full slate of committee hearings on tap:

Senate Quorum	12:00 PM
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens	10:00 AM
Senate Labor	10:00 AM
Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs	10:00 AM
Senate Community and Urban Affairs	02:00 PM
Senate Education	02:00 PM
Senate Judiciary	02:00 PM
Assembly Quorum	01:00 PM
Assembly Consumer Affairs	10:00 AM
Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance	10:00 AM
Assembly Health and Senior Services	10:00 AM
Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities	10:00 AM
Assembly Regulated Professions	01:00 PM
Assembly Appropriations	02:00 PM
Assembly Commerce and Economic Development	02:00 PM
Assembly Housing and Local Government	02:00 PM
Assembly Law and Public Safety	02:00 PM
Assembly Tourism and Gaming	10:00 AM