8 New NJ Law Proposals That Could Impact Your Life

NEW JERSEY — Helmet requirements, stiffer auto-theft penalties and tutoring to combat learning loss are among the measures up for consideration in the State Legislature.

Here are eight bills that could impact you (or your children) if they become New Jersey law:

Helmet Requirement

Current state law requires minors to wear a helmet while bicycling, roller skating or skateboarding. A Democrat-backed bill in the State Assembly would extend the requirement to adults, while expanding the helmet mandate to scooters — both motorized and non-motorized.

If passed, the measure would take effect the first day of the seventh month following enactment. Officials referred the bill to the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.

Restricting Diet Pills, Supplements For Minors

The legislation would prohibit the sale of diet pills and muscle-building supplements to minors, unless they're accompanied by a parent or guardian. Retailers and employees selling the product to customers younger than 18 would face a fine of up to $750.

The bill would take effect on the first day of the sixth month following its passage. The full Assembly is scheduled to vote on the measure Thursday, potentially advancing the legislation to the State Senate.

Bipartisan Car-Theft Legislation

This four-bill package is designed to thwart auto thefts, primarily by imposing stiffer penalties on related offenses. With 13,849 vehicle thefts reported this year as of Nov. 5, New Jersey is on pace to surpass last year's total of 14,320 — despite declines in September and October from those months in 2021.

The Assembly Law and Public Safety unanimously voted Dec. 5 to advance all four bills. The measures would:

• establish car thefts as an offense separate from New Jersey's general theft statute. The bill also makes receiving a stolen vehicle its own offense and extends sentences of persistent offenders.
• increase penalties for carjacking and auto theft.
• expand penalties for the illegal use of a master key — designed to unlock and start the ignition on multiple vehicles — while including new technologies used to steal cars with keyless-entry systems.
• require owners of scrap-metal businesses to retain certain information from people selling used catalytic converters that aren't attached to a vehicle.

It's not clear how many recent auto thefts have involved vehicles left unlocked or with keys inside. But local police departments have consistently alerted the public of stolen cars that the owner left in that state. Police and state officials have repeatedly reminded the public to lock their vehicles and remove keys.

Free-Tutoring Availability

In an effort to rebound from pandemic-linked learning loss, this bill would establish a registry of individuals and organizations offering free tutoring. Under the legislation, the state Department of Education would develop a publicly available online registry that includes names, contact info, subject-matter expertise and schedules of availability for those providing the service.

The DOE would conduct background checks on individuals and require assurances from organizations that their tutors have undergone criminal-history record checks. While organizations providing false information could get fined up to $500, the registry would include a disclaimer that the information has not been independently verified and isn't meant as an endorsement.

The Assembly Education Committee voted Dec. 8 to advance the bill, pushing it to a second reading in the Assembly. The measure would immediately take effect upon passage.