NJBIA - Agenda for Economic Growth Introduced Legislation

The NJ Business & Industry Association's Agenda for Economic Growth is a blueprint for building a strong private-sector economy in New Jersey, creating jobs, strengthening the State's business climate, and improving its economic competitiveness. These are specific NJBIA recommendations in the areas of Business Taxes, Education, Economic Development, Energy, Environment, Healthcare and Manufacturing.

Listed below is the legislation that has been introduced to date to implement the recommendations. Please contact with any questions. View the complete Agenda for Economic Growth.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
First Vice President of Economic Development & Taxation
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EDUCATION
Director of Education & Workforce Development
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Controlling Costs & Increasing Accountability
Bill:	A-1113 (Cryan, Burzichelli, Voss)/S-1898 (Turner)
Summary:	Eliminates one-year notice that a school district is required to give superintendent of schools if the district determines not to reappoint.
History:	A-1113 - 5/12/08 – Reported out of committee with committee amendments; 2nd reading in Assembly S-1898 – 5/22/08 – Proposed for Introduction
Bill:	A-1107 (Cryan, Lampitt, Fisher)
Summary:	Requires reporting of public high school, district and Statewide drop-out and graduation rates.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee

Expanding Education Options & Innovation NJPRO Middle School Curriculum
Bill:	S-1607 (Lesniak, Kean)/A-2897(Cryan)
Summary:	Establishes pilot program in Department of the Treasury to provide tax credits for contributions to entities which provide tuition scholarships to children residing in Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Paterson and Trenton.
History:	S-1607 – 5/08/08 – Referred to Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee A-2897 – 1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee
Bill:	S-541 (Girgenti, Turner)
Summary:	Establishes pilot program in the NJ Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to elementary school children.
History:	2/14/08 – Referred to Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee
Bill:	A-1943 (Schaer, Lampitt, Coutinho)
Summary:	Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
History:	1/28/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee
Bill:	A-591 (Voss, Malone)
Summary:	Establishes a loan redemption program for certified technology education teachers employed in public schools in the State.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
Bill:	A-590 (Voss, Diegnan)
Summary:	Establishes the Preschool Through Grade 20 Council; appropriates $500,000.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee

Increasing Standards & Expectations for Students NJ STEPS – High School Reform
Bill:	A-2250 (Cryan, Coutinho)
Summary:	Prohibits State Board of Education from authorizing use of special review assessment as an alternative for meeting graduation requirements.
History:	2/25/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee

Maintaining, Expanding and Promoting Workforce Training NJDOLWD Basic Skills Literacy Grant
Bill:	A-327 (Quigley, Johnson, Vas)
Summary:	Requires the State to provide State aid for public school adult high school programs.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee

ENERGY
Assistant Vice President of Energy & Federal Affairs
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Allocate Additional Societal Benefit Charge (SBC) Dollars to Business Ratepayers
Bill:	A-616 (Karrow, Chivukula, Prieto)
Summary:	Provides for allocation of societal benefits charge among residential, small commercial and large commercial and industrial utility customers, establishes a credit against societal benefits charge and provides for certain energy assistance grants.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee

Business Going Green – Keep it Voluntary and Accessible Dollars to Business Ratepayers
Bill:	A-2070 (McKeon, Milam, Lampitt, Greenstein)/ S-1077 (Smith)
Summary:	The "Green Building Tax Credit Act."
History:	A-2070 – 5/12/08 – Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee S-1077 – 2/14/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

Energy Audits & Incentives – Helping Businesses
Lower Their Energy Costs

Reduce Manufacturing Energy Costs by Eliminating the 11 Percent Energy Tax/Surcharge and Promoting Efficiency
Bill:	A-1085 (Cryan, Vas, Karrow)/ S-1032 (Rice)
Summary:	Exempts sales of energy and utility service to manufacturing facilities from the sales and use tax and the transitional energy facility assessment (TEFA) unit rate surcharge.
History:	A-1085 – 1/8/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee S-1032 – 1/28/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Economic

Return CIEP Retail Adder Funds to CIEP Customers
Bill:	A-2507 ACS (ACS) (Chivukula)
Summary:	Authorizes BPU to use revenue from retail margin assessed on certain customer classes to benefit only those customer classes by supporting development of combined heat and power, energy efficiency and demand response projects.
History:	5/5/08 – Reported out of committee with committee substitute, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

ENVIRONMENT
Vice President of Environmental Policy
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Eminent Domain Reform
Bill:	S-757 (Rice)
Summary:	Revises procedures for the use of eminent domain in municipal redevelopment programs.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee

Impact of DEP Regulations on Development and Investment in New Jersey
Bill:	A-2867 (Greenwald, Malone, Cryan, Biondi, McHose)/S-1919 (Sarlo, VanDrew)
Summary:	The “Permit Extension Act of 2008”
History:	A-2867 - 5/19/08 – Assembly Housing & Local Government Committee S-1919 – 5/22/08 – Proposed for Introduction

Legislature’s Oversight Responsibility to Ensure DEP Accountability
Bill:	A-832 (Chivukula, Schaer, Fisher, Love)
Summary:	Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses.
History:	5/8/08 – Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate

Proposed Regulatory and Legislative Changes
to Overhaul the State’s Site Remediation Program

HEALTHCARE
Vice President of Health & Legal Affairs
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Increase the Use of Electronic Health Records to Increase Quality and Reduce Unnecessary Costs
Bill:	S-1011 (Weinberg)/A-1847 (Johnson)
Summary:	Establishes Task Force on Hospital Technology to recommend incentives to encourage hospitals to integrate technology to improve patient care and safety.
History:	S-1011 – 1/28/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee. A-1847 – 1/24/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Health & Senior Services Committee.

Keep Health Insurance Affordable by Not Enacting More Healthcare Mandates
Bill:	A-2255 (Greenwald, Conaway)/S-1680 (Oroho)
Summary:	Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits.
History:	A-2255 – 3/17/08 – Referred to Senate Commerce Committee S-1680 – 5/05/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Commerce Committee

Reform the State-Regulated Health Insurance Market
Bill:	S-1557 (Vitale, Singer)/A2624 (Cohen)
Summary:	Expands NJ FamilyCare, establishes mandate for health care coverage of children, and makes various reforms to individual and small employer insurance markets.
History:	S-1557 – 5/19/08 – 2nd reading in Senate Committee A-2624 – 5/12/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Financial Institutions Committee

Reform the State-Regulated Health Insurance Market
Bill:	A-2595 (Greenwald)
Summary:	The "New Jersey Health Insurance Reform Act."
History:	5/5/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee

LABOR
Vice President of Human Resource Issues & Small Business Issues
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Restore the Fiscal Integrity of Dedicated Payroll Funds before They Become Insolvent
Bill:	SCR-60 (Sweeney, Kean, T.)/ACR58 (Merkt)/ACR134 (Burzichelli)
Summary:	Proposes constitutional amendment requiring contributions collected from assessments on wages to be used for employee benefits and prohibiting use of the contributions for any other purpose.
History:	SCR-60 – 5/15/08 – Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee ACR-58 – 1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Labor Committee ACR-134 – 2/07/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Labor Committee
Bill:	S-1698 (Buono)/A2801 Greenwald, Milam)
Summary:	Revises calculation of Unemployment Trust Fund Reserve Ratio for experience rating year beginning July 1, 2008; appropriates $260,000,000 to unemployment compensation fund.
History:	S-1698 – 5/19/08 – Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate A-2801 – 5/05/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Budget Committee

LEGAL
Vice President of Health & Legal Affairs
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New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act Should Remain Unchanged

TAXATION
First Vice President, Economic Development & Taxation
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Conform New Jersey’s “Net Operating Loss”
Tax Policies to National Standards

Create a New Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit
Bill:	A-2721 (Vas)
Summary:	Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization and expansion.
History:	5/12/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

Enact Single Sales Factor Business Tax Reform for Manufacturers
Bill:	A-2626 (Vas)/A-1449 (DeCroce)
Summary:	Provides manufacturers a single sales fraction corporation business tax income allocation formula.
History:	A-2626 – Proposed for introduction A-1449 – 1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Make Existing Business Tax Credits Available to Non-Corporate Entities
Bill:	A-460 (Malone, Cohen)/S551 (Sweeney)
Summary:	Allows New Jersey S corporations to elect to transfer corporation business tax credits to shareholders to apply against the shareholders' gross income tax liability.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development/Senate Commerce Committee

Reforming the BRRAG Tax Credit Program
Bill:	S-276 (Kyrillos, Cunningham)
Summary:	Provides enhancements to certain State economic development programs.
History:	1/08/08 – Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

Continue to Repeal Unfair Business Tax Policies: Repeal the Throw-Out Rule Tax on Out-Of-State Income
Bill:	A-2722 (Vas)/S-1874 (Oroho, Sweeney)
Summary:	Eliminates throwout of receipts in allocation of entire net income under the corporation business tax.
History:	A-2722 – 5/12/08 – Proposed for introduction S-1874 – 5/12/08 – Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee