(TRENTON) – Assembly panels on Monday will consider legislation to fix the state’s anti-bullying law, create a level playing field between retailers and online sellers such as Amazon.com, reverse the Christie administration’s anti-consumer law governing unclaimed property and increase the minimum wage for tipped workers.
Bills to promote electric vehicle usage, eliminate the waiting period for marriage licenses and protect law enforcement animals are also on tap, as are discussions on Internet gaming and the status of Urban Enterprise Zones.
Hearings are slated to start at 10 a.m. Audio of the hearings will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
Complete agendas are attached, but highlights include:
· Legislation (A-2709) to fix the anti-bullying law passed last year to ensure it continues to protect children through prevention and training programs. It’s sponsored by Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and is to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· A bill (A-2608) to create a level playing field between brick-and-mortar retailers and online sellers such as Amazon.com while also promoting the creation of new full-time jobs with benefits for New Jersey residents. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is sponsored by Albert Coutinho (D-Essex), Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen), Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) and Lou Greenwald (D-Camden).
· A bill (A-1871) to reverse the Christie administration’s law governing the state’s treatment of unclaimed property such as gift cards. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is sponsored by Patrick J. Diegnan (D-Middlesex), Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) and Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen).
· A bill (A-2708) sponsored by Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic/Bergen), Marlene Caride (D-Passaic/Bergen), Joe Egan (D-Middlesex/Somerset) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Labor Committee.
· Legislation (A-566) to provide a corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credit for buying and installing electric vehicle charging stations. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is sponsored by Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).
· A measure (A-1335) to eliminate the waiting period for marriage and civil union licenses to try to invigorate New Jersey’s weddings market. It’s sponsored by Lou Greenwald (D-Camden), Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union) and will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
· The Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee will hear testimony at noon on the issue of authorizing Internet wagering through Atlantic City casinos.
· The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee will hear testimony at 2 p.m. on the status of Urban Enterprise Zone programs.
· The Assembly Agriculture and Natural ReDests Committee will consider a bill (A-495) at 2 p.m. sponsored by Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) to create the crime of threatening the life of law enforcement animals.
