This bill creates a program to reward employees who report tax law violations by employers in New Jersey's construction industry. Whistleblowers who provide specific, credible information leading to an administrative or judicial action against an employer can receive 15% to 30% of recovered taxes, penalties, and interest, or up to 10% if the tip came from media or government sources. It excludes employees who obtained information through their official duties or planned the violations themselves, and includes protections against retaliation under New Jersey's Conscientious Employee Protection Act. The program applies specifically to employers engaged in building, construction, repair, or maintenance work as defined in the bill.
This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education to create a multimedia advertising campaign promoting teaching and education support careers as engaging and rewarding opportunities. The campaign must highlight available scholarships, student loan programs, and financial support for prospective educators, using digital, TV, radio, and print media. It also requires targeted outreach to recruit teachers from underrepresented racial groups and into high-demand fields like STEM education, special education, and bilingual programs. The bill appropriates $1 million from federal ARP Act funds to implement these efforts, effective immediately.
This bill establishes a statewide program providing free legal counsel to income-eligible tenants facing eviction in New Jersey. It directly affects tenants with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or those receiving specific public benefits like SNAP or housing vouchers. The program, funded by a $20 million appropriation from the General Fund, requires designated legal organizations to provide representation starting at the tenant's first court appearance in eviction cases. Courts must also provide plain-language notices about this right to tenants in covered proceedings.
This bill provides a one-time $100,000 grant to a New Jersey four-year public university to study ways to increase youth involvement in government. The university must submit a detailed proposal and budget, then produce a report within one year identifying existing best practices and recommending the most effective methods for engaging young people. The report will be shared with state education officials and distributed to all school districts within 60 days. The bill directly affects public universities selected for the grant and aims to inform future youth engagement efforts in New Jersey.
This bill changes New Jersey's funding for high-cost special education services, requiring the state to reimburse school districts 100% of costs exceeding thresholds instead of the previous partial rates. It directly affects school districts educating students with disabilities in public or private placements when costs surpass $40,000 (for public school settings) or $55,000 (for private school placements). The key mechanism updates the reimbursement calculation to cover the full amount of costs above these thresholds, replacing the prior 90% (public) and 75% (private) rates. Districts must apply for reimbursement by documenting expenses, with payments issued in the following school year.
This bill creates a New Jersey gross income tax credit for active members of volunteer fire departments, first aid squads, and rescue organizations who use personal vehicles for emergency duties. Eligible members receive a credit based on miles driven for emergency response, calculated using the IRS standard mileage rate (capped at $500 per individual or $1,000 for married couples filing jointly). To qualify, members must maintain active status, complete required service hours (400+ hours or attendance thresholds), and provide documentation through their organization. The credit directly reimburses volunteers for vehicle-related costs incurred while serving their communities.
This bill creates a permanent "Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund" in New Jersey's Department of Treasury. It requires a $200 fee from individuals convicted of specific sex offenses (including certain computer-related crimes under C.2C:20-25) to fund the program. The money will be used to provide grants to county prosecutors for training and equipment to investigate and prosecute online sex crimes. The fund replaces previous collection methods for these fees, directing all payments to the new account.
This bill provides supplemental state funding to specific New Jersey school districts that received reduced special education, security, and transportation aid under recent funding formulas. It directly affects districts that experienced aid cuts in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years while spending below state adequacy standards. The key mechanism requires the state to cover the difference between current aid amounts and the higher levels calculated under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act for eligible districts. This temporary measure aims to prevent budget shortfalls for these districts during the 2024-2025 school year.
This bill establishes a New Jersey County College Remissible Student Loan Program to help students cover tuition, fees, and textbooks not covered by other aid. It directly affects eligible New Jersey residents enrolled part-time at county colleges who have applied for all other available grants and scholarships. The key provision allows borrowers to receive loans that are fully forgiven if they earn an associate degree within three years, with $1 million appropriated to fund the program. Loans cannot exceed tuition/fees costs, and repayment is deferred until after degree completion, though interest accrues.
ACR 11 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to offer a partial property tax exemption on the primary residence of eligible 9/11 first responders. It would specifically apply to police officers, firefighters, and EMTs disabled due to medical conditions certified as related to their work at the World Trade Center site after the 2001 terrorist attack. The exemption would cover the first 15% of a home's assessed value, with municipalities required to enact it via local ordinance after the Legislature passes implementing legislation. The state would not reimburse municipalities for lost tax revenue from this exemption. This amendment requires voter approval before any such local ordinances can be adopted.
