Legislative Update 4/6/16

TRENTON WATCH  

April 6, 2016

Tracking Legislation and Other Items Important to the Business Community:

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee

Taxing Bottles - A-2281 (Vainieri Huttle/D-37; Spencer/D-29): Assembly committee passed. This "bottle bill" would require a 10-cent deposit on all plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans less than 24 oz. and a 20-cent deposit on such beverage containers over 24 oz. up to 3 liters. The proposal would include juice, sports drinks and bottled waters as well as soda, wine and beer containers. New Jersey has a successful mandatory recycling program and a "bottle bill" would disrupt this program by diverting these curbside recyclables. Curbside recycling is effective and convenient for consumers. The State Chamber believes this measure will have a negative economic impact on current recycling efforts by local and county governments, increasing costs and imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee A-2281 Vote: Spencer, L. Grace (C) - Yes; McKeon, John F. (VC) - Yes; Rumana, Scott T. - No; Vainieri Huttle, Valerie - Yes; Wolfe, David W. - Not Voting; Zwicker, Andrew - Abstain 

ENVIRONMENT

Assembly Appropriations Committee

Regulates E-Waste - A-2375 (McKeon/D-27; Gusciora/D-15; Spencer/D-29)/S-981:(Smith/D-17; Bateman/R-29; Greenstein/D-14): Assembly committee passed. Requires manufacturers of electronics to provide for the collection, transportation and recycling of its market share in weight of disposed electronics collected in a program year. The State Chamber opposes this legislation because it shifts financial responsibility from recyclers to current New Jersey manufacturers and grants the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection with unlimited authority to establish expensive recycling mandates on electronic product. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Assembly Appropriations Committee A-2375/S-981 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Spencer, L. Grace (VC) - Yes; Conaway, Herb - Not Voting; DiMaio, John - No; Lagana, Joseph A. - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; Mosquera, Gabriela M. - Yes; Phoebus, Gail - No; Quijano, Annette - Not Voting; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Schepisi, Holly - No

HEALTH

Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Reform and Federal Affairs Committee

Value-Based Health Plans - A-886 (Muoio/D-15; Gusciora/D-15; Quijano/D-20; DeAngelo/D-14; Pinkin/D-18)/A-887 (Muoio/D-15; Gusciora/D-15; Vainieri Huttle/D-37; Conaway/D-7; DeAngelo/D-14)/A-2328 (Vainieri Huttle/D-37; Muoio/D-15; Gusciora/D-15; Wisniewski/D-19; DeAngelo/D-14; Quijano/D-20)/A-2329 (Vainieri Huttle/D-37; Wisniewski/D-19; Muoio/D-15; Gusciora/D-15)/A-2585 (Gusciora/D-15; Muoio/D-15; Quijano/D-20): Assembly committee passed. One of the main influencers on business decisions remains the increasing costs of health care. Businesses are seeking diverse alternatives, including coverage tailored around patient-centered collaborations which pay for claims based on patient outcomes. Consumers have too often paid costly and redundant medical bills, which has a negative impact on a business's fiscal plan. A diverse health marketplace is what employers need to help curb their health care costs. The State Chamber supports innovation and choice of products, which can help address the needs of the state's employers. Tiered network plans have been an outgrowth of consumer demand for greater options, greater innovation and lower costs. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Reform and Federal Affairs Committee A-886/A-887/A-2328/A-2329/A-2585 Vote: Gusciora, Reed (C) - Yes; Wimberly, Benjie E. (VC) - Yes; Brown, Chris A. - No; Rumpf, Brian E. - No; Tucker, Cleopatra G. - Yes

LABOR

Assembly Women and Chuildren Committee

Mandatory Flex Time - A-1117 (Oliver/D-34; Lampitt/D-6; Holley/D-20): Assembly committee passed. Requires retail, food service, and cleaning employers (with 15 or more employees) to provide more predictable and stable schedules for employees. This legislation complicates the ability of employers to predict and properly staff their general business operations. Additionally, employers could be penalized if they do not provide a written reason for denying an employee's scheduling request. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Assembly Women and Children Committee A-1117 Vote: Lampitt, Pamela R. (C) - Yes; Mosquera, Gabriela M. (VC) - Yes; Chaparro, Annette - Yes; Holley, Jamel C. - Yes; Munoz, Nancy F. - No; Phoebus, Gail - No

STATE BUDGET

Throughout the month of April to mid-May, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee will conduct departmental hearings on the Governor's Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meets in Committee Room 4 on the first floor of the State House Annex, while the Assembly Budget Committee meets in Committee Room 11 on the fourth floor. The following are hearings scheduled by some of the major departments of the state:

• On Wednesday, April 13, the Assembly Budget Committee will hear from representatives of the Department of Transportation/NJ Transit and the Motor Vehicle Commission at 10 a.m. as well as the Department of Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m.;

• On Monday, April 18, the Assembly Budget Committee will hear from a representatives of the Department of Health at 10 a.m.;

• On April 19, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will hear from representatives of the Department of Transportation/NJ Transit and the Motor Vehicle Commission at 10 a.m., as well as the Department of Health at 1:30 p.m.;

• On May 9, the Assembly Budget Committee will hear from representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection at 10 a.m. and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 1 p.m.;

• On May 10, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will hear from representatives of the Economic Development Authority and the Board of Public Utilities at 10 a.m. and the Department of Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m.;

• On May 11, the Assembly Budget Committee will hear from representatives of the Economic Development Authority and the Board of Public Utilities at 10 a.m.;

• On May 12, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will hear from representatives of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 10 a.m. and the Department of Environmental Protection at 1 p.m.;

• On May 18, the Assembly Budget Committee will receive a revenue update from the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) at 10 a.m. and the State Treasurer at 1 p.m.; and

• On May 19, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will receive a revenue update from the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) at 10 a.m. and the State Treasurer at 1 p.m. 

Thumbs up and down indicates the chamber's support or opposition to issues. Call the State Chamber Government Relations Department at (609) 989-7888 with questions or comments.