I. State Issues
a. Marijuana Legalization Headed to the Ballot
As expected, both houses of the State Legislature voted Monday to place a question on the November 2020 ballot asking the citizens of the State to approve the legalization of marijuana. The measures both passed the respective houses by a 3/5th majority, which means they do not need to act again and the measure heads to the ballot.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
b. Expungement Expansion Approved and Signed into Law
Also on Monday, S-4154 was approved by both houses. The Governor, in turn, signed the new law in Newark on Wednesday. The new law establishes a process for individuals who have not committed any crimes for ten years and have only been convicted for certain minor offenses for a “clean slate” expungement. Additionally, the bill directs a task force to develop and the Administrative Office of the Courts to implement an automated clean slate expungement system. The new also requires that low-level marijuana convictions be sealed, and requires the creation of an e-filing system, eliminating fees to petition for an expungement.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
c. Bill Allowing Municipalities to Access Property for Lead Line Replacement Heads to Governor
The Senate and Assembly on Monday approved legislation that would give municipalities the authority to adopt ordinances allowing access to private property for the replacement of lead service lines. The legislation now awaits Governor Murphy’s action.
S-4110, which the League supports, provides clear authority allowing a municipality to pass an ordinance allowing the municipality, municipal water system, or an agent thereof to enter onto property within the municipality to perform lead service line replacement. The legislation requires that the municipality provide notice to the property owner at least 72 hours prior to entering the property.
The League would like to thank the bill’s sponsors; Senator Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Pintor Marin for their efforts in assisting municipalities to see that their communities are free of lead water service lines.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
d. 20 and Out Expansion Poised for Senate Action
On Monday, the General Assembly approved A-6024. This bill, along with its Senate companion S-4297 would create an additional category of service retirement for Police Fire Retirement System (PFRS) employees. Under the bill, a PFRS employee who is enrolled before or after the bill’s effective date may retire, regardless of age, upon attaining 20 or more years of service credit and would receive a retirement allowance equal to 50% of the member’s final compensation.
The December 12 statement from the Assembly Appropriations Committee on the Assembly companion bill, A-6024 included a fiscal impact analysis, which was prepared by the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS). The OLS analysis stated that the bill "...will have a significant, indeterminate fiscal impact, likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars, on both the State and local portions of the PFRS pension funds and the unfunded liability costs that would be charged to the State and local government entities to fund the unfunded liability created by the bill.” The public safety unions pushing this legislation and whose members benefit from this change, have countered with their own analysis, challenging the OLS conclusions.
The League has stated its opposition to the bill, which now may be considered by the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee in early January. The League will review all data and analysis related to the bill and report back to you, but in the meanwhile we ask that you bring these concerns to your State Senator in a timely fashion. The League’s Town Crier blog post has more information.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
e. New Jersey 2020 Legislative Priorities Survey
The League’s Legislative team is your link to policymakers in Trenton. As your municipality’s primary policy decision-maker, your opinions on these issues is crucial to our efforts to represent you in the State Capital.
In his first act as League President, Hardwick Committeeman Jim Perry has directed the League to survey the State’s mayors to identify their five legislative priorities going forward. President Perry intends to prioritize these top issues to develop consensus policy recommendations for presentation to State policymakers.
Please take the time to complete this very brief survey.