Here's what the state Senate did in its voting session last Monday. Two proposed passed with the minimum 21 votes needed for passage -- one encouraging Gov. Chris Christie not to join the multi-state lawsuit opposing federal health care reform, the other requiring ballots to be counted even if they arrive seven days after the polls close, so long as they're postmarked by Election Day.
PASSED, SENT TO GOVERNOR
- A515/S1024 (Connors/Van Drew) Expands the provisions of Operation Recognition to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. PASSED 38-0.
- A1168/S1612 (Van Drew/S.Kean) Permits bars and restaurants to serve alcohol at bingo games on premises. PASSED 38-0.
- A1654/S573 (Beach/Sweeney) Requires DCF to provide information on home visitation resources and shaken baby syndrome to parents of newborn infants. PASSED 38-0.
- A1945/S1869 (Madden/Norcross) Creates New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon. PASSED 38-0.
AMENDED ON SENATE FLOOR
- S1923 (Norcross) Permits sale of motorcycles on Sunday. Puts limits on that expansion.
- S1928 (Madden/Allen) Establishes New Jersey Epilepsy Task Force. Adds consultant pharmacist, says public members can't be associated with drug companies.
HELD WITHOUT A VOTE, THEN ENTIRELY WITHDRAWN
- S377 (Weinberg) Specifies public members on Board of Medical Examiners and requires board to take certain actions to investigate licensees. HELD.
PASSED, SENT TO ASSEMBLY FLOOR
- S1181 (Van Drew) Changes perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around occupied building. PASSED 25-7.
- A914/S562 (Cunningham/Beach) Directs Chief Technology Officer in the Office of Information Technology to study and report potential benefits of expanding the use of electronic transactions, including the use of electronic signature and electronic record by the State. PASSED 38-0.
- A2137/S1333 (Vitale/Ruiz) Provides for educational stability of children placed in resource family homes and that school district of residence for the child shall be present district of residence of parent or guardian. PASSED 37-1.
PASSED, FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE
- SR64 (Beach/Vitale) Declares May 8 through May 14, 2011 "Tinnitus Awareness Week." PASSED BY VOICE VOTE.
PASSED, SENT TO ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
- S135 (Bucco) Individual's status as minor may not disqualify him from bone marrow donation if medical criteria and informed consent requirements are met. PASSED 37-0.
- S339 (Oroho/Sweeney) Establishes "New Jersey Commission on Government Efficiency and Cost Control" to recommend measures for efficiency and cost reduction in State government. PASSED 38-0.
- S463 (Smith/Buono) Authorizes creation of local renewable energy collaboratives and central renewable energy generation systems, and provides for sale of renewable power generation. PASSED 26-10.
- S466 (Smith/Kyrillos) Requires BPU to offer similar incentives to residents purchasing certain oil heating equipment as are offered to residents purchasing certain natural gas heating equipment. PASSED 35-0.
- S501 (Girgenti) Expands authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside normal territorial jurisdictions. PASSED 38-0.
- S617 (Gordon/Sarlo) Limits DEP regulation of medical diagnostic x-ray equipment in facilities performing 750 or fewer x-rays per year. PASSED 36-0.
- S725 (Sacco/Ciesla) Concerns lost or stolen E-ZPass transponders. PASSED 38-0.
- S817 (Vitale) Permits certain patient data to be reported to DHSS under "Health Care Facility-Associated Infection Reporting and Prevention Act". PASSED 38-0.
- S823 (Codey) Establishes task force to preserve original Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital main building. PASSED 38-0.
- S941 (Bateman/Singer) Clarifies informed consent provisions of "Access to Medical Research Act" for persons with developmental disabilities. PASSED 38-0.
- S1002 (Allen/Girgenti) Requires Domestic Security Preparedness Planning Group to include a representative of New Jersey State First Aid Council. PASSED 38-0.
- S1057 (Connors/Allen) Clarifies that non-credit courses are eligible courses under the volunteer tuition credit program. PASSED 38-0.
- S1189 (Van Drew/Connors) Establishes "New Jersey Veterans' Hospital Task Force." PASSED 38-0.
- S1446 (Cardinale/Girgenti) Authorizes display of flashing amber warning lights on sanitation vehicles. PASSED 38-0.
- S1916 (Lesniak) Requires mail-in ballot postmarked before election day but received within seven days after closing of polls to be considered valid and counted. PASSED 21-14.
- SCR108 (Lesniak/Vitale) Urges Governor not to join lawsuit against enforcement of new federal health reforms. PASSED 21-16.
- SJR31 (Vitale/Goodwin) Designates July 20 of each year as "Emma's Day" to raise awareness of lysosomal storage disorders. PASSED 38-0.
- SJR35 (Sacco) Designates May of each year as "New Jersey Bike Month." PASSED 38-0.