(TRENTON) – Property tax reform bills to control police and firefighter arbitration awards and keep lobbyists out of the pension and benefit system and bills to help New Jersey’s horse racing industry and ban public transit operators from using an electronic communication device while their vehicles are moving top Monday’s Assembly voting session.
The session is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
It will be streamed live at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
Highlights include:
· Arbitration reform legislation (A-3393) that would impose a 2 percent cap on police and firefighter arbitration awards from Jan. 1, 2011 to April 1, 2014. It’s sponsored by Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) and Joan Quigley (D-Hudson/Bergen).
· Legislation (A-2499) to bar lobbyists from receiving taxpayer-funded pension and health benefits. It’s sponsored by Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).
· Final legislative approval for two bills to enhance New Jersey’s horse racing industry. One bill (A-1705) would expand off-track wagering. The other (A-2926) would authorize exchange wagering. They’re sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem), Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union).
· Legislation (A-407) to prohibit public transportation operators from using a wireless telephone or electronic communication device while their vehicles are moving The bill stems from a commuter train crash in California that killed 25 people. Investigators found the operator of the passenger train sent a text message 22 seconds before the collision with an oncoming freight train. It’s sponsored by Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex), Caridad Rodriguez (D-Hudson) and Coughlin.
· Legislation (A-1692) to require retailers to charge consumers an advertised after-rebate price rather than making buyers send in coupons or log onto manufacturer’s Web sites to claim their saving. It’s sponsored by Burzichelli, Moriarty, Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) and John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).
· Legislation (A-2258) to create a self-defense justification for domestic violence victims. It’s sponsored by L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex) and Ralph Caputo (D-Essex).
· Legislation (A-1812) to require an investigating law enforcement officer to contact next of kin of unconscious motor vehicle accident victim who has been transported to hospital emergency room. It’s sponsored by Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland).
· Legislation (A-647) sponsored to prohibit the sale of lottery tickets after the top prize has been claimed. It’s sponsored by Moriarty, Burzichelli and Quijano.
