TRENTON WATCH
June 12, 2013
Provided by the NJ State Chamber of Commerce
Tracking Legislation and Other Items Important to the Business Community:
Economic Development
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Eminent Domain Reform - S-2447 (Van Drew/D-1; Rice/D-28) and A-3615 (Coutinho/D-29; Bucco/R-25; Munoz/R-21): Committee passed. Amends the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law" to incorporate the decision of the New Jersey Supreme Court in Gallenthin v. Paulsboro, 191 N.J. 344 (2007), which clarifies that the use of eminent domain can be justified if a property is underutilized and meets the criteria for blight. The State Chamber believes this clarification will create more opportunities for towns and developers to advance beneficial redevelopment projects throughout the state. Contact: Matt Malat
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee S-2447/A-3615 Vote: Sarlo, Paul A. (C) - Yes; Stack, Brian P. (VC) - Yes; Beck, Jennifer - Yes; Bucco, Anthony R. - Yes; Cunningham, Sandra B. - Not Voting; Greenstein, Linda R. - Yes; O'Toole, Kevin J. - Yes; Oroho, Steven V. - Yes; Pennacchio, Joseph - Yes; Pou, Nellie - Yes; Ruiz, M. Teresa - Yes; Van Drew, Jeff - Yes; Weinberg, Loretta - Yes
Labor
Assembly Women and Children Committee
Creates New Requirement for State Contracts - A-4044 (Lampitt/D-6): Assembly committee passed. Requires any state contractor that is not subject to the prevailing wage requirement to report to the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, information regarding the gender, race, job title, occupational category, and total compensation of every employee working in connection with the contract. The State Chamber is concerned that the mandates requiring employers to supply sensitive and private information to the State could jeopardize identity protection of employees. Contact: Michael Egenton
Assembly Women and Children Committee A-4044 Vote: Lampitt, Pamela R. (C) - Yes; Fuentes, Angel (VC) - Yes; Casagrande, Caroline - Not Voting; DeCroce, BettyLou - No; Mosquera, Gabriela M. - Yes; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Wimberly, Benjie E. - Yes
Assembly Appropriations Committee
Suspends Employer UI Tax - A-4112/A-3675 (Eustace/D-38; Singleton/D-7; Wagner/D-38; McHose/R-24; Egan/D-17; Coughlin/D-19) and S-2404 (Madden/D-4; Oroho/R-24): Assembly committee passed. Suspends the 10 percent unemployment surcharge scheduled to take effect for FY-2014, saving the employer community an estimated $293 million. Specifically, the bill would base the employer unemployment insurance tax on the "E" column of the tax table, but without the 10 percent surcharge provided in the law. This legislation was a result of a recommendation by the Unemployment Insurance Task Force and will help address the need to restore solvency to the Unemployment Trust Fund. Contact: Michael Egenton
Assembly Appropriations Committee A-4112/A-3675 and S-2404 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Barnes, Peter J., III (VC) - Yes; Casagrande, Caroline - Yes; Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes; DiMaio, John - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; McHose, Alison Littell - Yes; Prieto, Vincent - Yes; Spencer, L. Grace - Yes
Assembly Women and Children Committee
Wage Recovery - A-4124 (Lampitt/D-6): Assembly committee passed. Expands the statute of limitations governing discriminatory compensation claims under the "Law Against Discrimination". This bill goes beyond the scope of the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 that caps the statute of limitations at two years. While this bill's attempt to address pay disparity is laudable, the State Chamber believes this legislation should not expand the current statute of limitations for the recovery of lost wages. Contact: Michael Egenton
Assembly Women and Children Committee A-41244 Vote: Lampitt, Pamela R. (C) - Yes; Fuentes, Angel (VC) - Yes; Casagrande, Caroline - Not Voting; DeCroce, BettyLou - No; Mosquera, Gabriela M. - Yes; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Wimberly, Benjie E. - Yes
LEGAL
Assembly Appropriations Committee
Increases Penalties on Cigarette Counterfeiters - A-3278 (Handlin/R-13; Barnes, III/D-18; Bucco/R-25): Committee passed. Increases penalties involving unstamped and counterfeit cigarettes, cigarette smuggling and various schemes to evade the cigarette tax, and imposes certain reporting requirements under the Cigarette Tax Act, N.J.S.A.54:40A-1 et seq., and the Cigarette Sales Act, N.J.S.A.54:40A-46 et seq. This bill establishes a new third degree crime of importing, selling, distributing, transporting, or possessing with intent to sell, counterfeit cigarettes. The State Chamber believes the quality and integrity of goods sold to New Jerseyans should be maintained by increasing the penalties for violations. Contact: Michael Egenton
Assembly Appropriations Committee A-3278 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Barnes, Peter J., III (VC) - Yes; Casagrande, Caroline - Yes; Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes; DiMaio, John - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; McHose, Alison Littell - Yes; Prieto, Vincent - Yes; Spencer, L. Grace - Yes
TRANSPORTATION
Third Degree Crime on Trucking Companies - A-1578 (Wisniewski/D-19; Prieto/D-32; Giblin/D-34; Quijano/D-20) and S-1450 (Weinberg/D-37): Senate passed 21-17; sent to the Governor. Creates a third degree crime when trucking companies hire independent owner-operators to move goods. The State Chamber opposes this measure because it prohibits trucking companies from continuing a pre-established relationship with independent owner-operators through a federal lease and could potentially drive up the cost of goods throughout New Jersey. Contact: Michael Egenton
