May 23, 2007

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee
Information Clearinghouse Website – A-2889 (Bateman/R-16; Handlin/R-13; Burzichelli/D-3):  Committee passed.  Requires the NJ Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission to provide an information clearinghouse on its website for businesses interested in relocating to New Jersey.  The information shall be updated monthly and in consultation with the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  The information will include comprehensive state demographic data, major employer data, business sites and building information.  This bill recognizes the importance of attracting business to our state through education and promotion. Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Assembly Labor Committee
Mandated Prevailing Wage – A-4001/S-2247 (Fisher/D-3; Egan/D-17; Van Drew/D-1; Sweeney/D-3; Coniglio/D-38): Committee passed, referred to the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.  Requires that Business Employment Incentive Program and other program grant recipients pay the prevailing wage on certain public work projects.  Since its inception, the BEIP has been shown to be a successful incentive program that creates new jobs and fosters economic growth. Additionally, the BEIP has a high rate of accountability since financial assistance is directly tied to job creation. This bill’s costly mandate would discourage employers from locating or expanding their operations in New Jersey.  Contact: Jim Leonard

EDUCATION

Senate Education Committee
Financial Literacy for High School Seniors – S-2101/A-3024 (Sarlo//D-36; Doria/D-31; Schaer/D-36; Whelan/D-2; Wolfe/R-10; Malone/D-30): Committee passed, referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.  Establishes a three-year pilot program to provide high school seniors in selected districts with personal financial literacy instruction.  As bankruptcies soar among young adults under the age of 25, it is essential that students graduate with an understanding of how to manage their finances.  Contact: Dana Egreczky

Assembly Higher Education Committee
Assisting Technology Education Teachers – A-4062 (Voss/D-38; Malone/D-30): Committee passed.  Establishes the Technology Education Teacher Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.  Under the program, a participant would redeem 20% of eligible student loan expenses for each year of service as a certified technology education teacher in a public school in New Jersey.  In other states, as much as 20% of the student population graduates with degrees in engineering. In New Jersey, only 9% of our graduates become engineers. Our companies need engineers and technology education helps students learn about careers in engineering and fundamental concepts.  Contact: Dana Egreczky

ENERGY

Relief from Energy Taxes – A-3759 (Pou/D-35; Chivukula/D-17; Voss/D-38; Vas/D-19; Steele/D-35; Doria/D-31; Codey/D-27):  This legislation became law, without the Governor’s signature, on May 10.  Exempts from payment for seven years specific taxes and energy charges for certain manufacturing facilities. Manufacturers are among the largest users of electricity and natural gas. The Chamber believes that high energy costs are hampering state manufacturers and the exemptions provided under this bill will encourage them to stay here and expand operations.  Contact: Michael Egenton

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Energy Exemptions – S-356/1497/2409 (Bark/R-8; Adler/D-6; Smith/D-17; Sweeney/D-3): Committee passed.  Establishes a property tax exemption for “renewable energy systems” - electric energy produced from solar technologies, photovoltaic technologies, wind energy, fuel cells, geothermal technologies, wave or tidal action, methane gas from landfills, resource recovery facility, hydropower facility or a biomass facility.  A renewable energy system would include any equipment that is part of a residential, commercial, or industrial building that produces renewable energy onsite to provide all or a portion of the electrical, heating, cooling, or general energy needs of that building. Contact: Michael Egenton

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
Energy Audits for Business – A-3859 (Karrow/R-23; Chivukula/D-17): Committee passed, referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. This bill allocates $6 million annually from the retail margin surcharge to fund comprehensive energy audits for industrial and commercial energy users.  These audits would evaluate cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation measures.
Contact: Michael Egenton

GOVERNMENT REFORM

Assembly State Government Committee
Banning Political Contributions by Government Entities – A-1740/S-222 (Johnson/D-37; Vainieri Huttle/D-37; Karcher/D-12; Buono/D-18):  Committee passed. Prohibits all state and local public agencies from contributing to a candidate for elective public office or to any candidate committee.  A person who willfully and intentionally violates the bill's provisions will be liable to a penalty of up to $200,000 depending on the amount of the illegal contribution.  In addition, a violator who holds an elective public office may be required to forfeit that office under certain circumstances.  This bill will go a long way in preventing public funds from being used to influence the political process. Contact: Jim Leonard

Assembly Judiciary Committee
Corruption Busting – A-2465/S-1192 (Cohen/D-20; O’Toole/R-40; Adler/D-6; Karcher/D-12): Committee passed.  Establishes the crime of corruption of public resources and is intended to complement existing applicable criminal laws pertaining to official misconduct, theft, fraud and public contracting.  A-3005/S-1318 (O’Toole/R-40; Handlin/R-13; Karcher/D-12; Madden/D-4):  Committee passed.  Establishes the Public Corruption Profiteering Penalty Act and authorizes the assessment of additional monetary criminal penalties on any person convicted of a crime involving the negotiation, award, performance or payment of a local, county or State contract.  A-3873/S-1224 (Baroni/R-14; Greenstein/D-14; Inverso/R-14; Kavanaugh/R-16; Kenny/D-33): Committee passed.  Increases the statute of limitations for certain crimes involving political corruption from five years to seven years. Combating corruption and imposing stiff penalties on violators is a major priority of the Platform for Progress. Contact: Jim Leonard

HEALTH

Assembly Appropriations Committee
Mental Health Mandate – A-2512/S-807 (Gordon/D-38; Johnson/D-37; Manzo/D-31; Burzichelli/D-3; Greenstein/D-14; Vitale/D-19; Buono/D-18): Committee passed.  Provides for expanded health insurance coverage for the treatment of additional mental and nervous disorders, alcoholism, and other substance-use disorders. The State Chamber opposes government health benefits mandates since they ultimately increase premiums at a time when health insurance costs are escalating. In addition, this bill limits the ability of employers to provide affordable insurance to employees, resulting in more uninsured or inadequate coverage.  Contact: Jim Leonard

Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee
Promoting Health Technology – A-4044 (Conaway/D-7; Chivukula/D-17; Prieto/D-32; Greenstein/D-14; Gordon/D-38; Munoz/R-21): Committee passed.  The New Jersey Health Information Technology Promotion Act provides for the development, implementation, and oversight of a statewide health information technology plan and establishes the New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission.  The plan is to be designed to establish a secure, integrated and interoperative, statewide electronic health information infrastructure for the sharing of electronic health information among health care facilities, health care professionals, public and private payers, and patients. Contact: Jim Leonard

TAXATION

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
CBT Credit for Digital Media Industry – A-4250 (Chivukula/D-17; Greenwald/D-6): Committee passed, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee. Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain digital media content production expenses incurred in New Jersey. While similar tax credits for film production were established in 2006 to provide incentives for media production, this bill broadens the credit program to include digital media. The Chamber believes this measure will stimulate economic growth by providing incentives for the digital media industry to operate in New Jersey, attracting new high-wage technology jobs. Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee
Tax Exemption For Security Enhancements – S-324 (Madden/D-4; Adler/D-6): Committee passed, referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Exempts from commercial and industrial property taxation the value of new capital improvements for security enhancement purposes. Security enhancements are defined as any new capital improvement made to real property in the form of any structural alteration for the purpose of protecting the property against terrorist attacks, theft, breaking and entry, vandalism or any other criminal activity, or deterring criminal activity on property grounds.  The Chamber is seeking an amendment to this bill that would provide this exemption retroactively (post 9/11) for businesses who have already made such enhancements.  Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Trenton Watch is a publication of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Thumbs up and down indicates the chamber’s support or opposition to issues. Questions? Call the State Chamber Government Relations Department at (609) 989-7888. Comments are always welcome.