5 New NJ Laws, Rule Changes Take Effect Today And Friday

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey has some new laws and regulations taking effect on Tuesday that you may find useful — if not very important.

Under one change, more than 5,000 people in New Jersey can now get help paying their electric and gas bills. The Board of Public Utilities announced it will add up to 5,700 households to a program that helps people pay their utility bills.

Another law will look to address a shortage of police officers working in schools. And the Murphy administration also made a decision on gas prices.

Here's what takes effect Tuesday:

School police officer shortage

One new law that takes effect Tuesday addresses a shortage of police officers in schools. The measure makes retired state and county corrections officers eligible to serve as officers in schools.

The program was initiated through legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce. The law allows retired police officers to work in schools to help protect the community.

Law enforcement experts have predicted a shortage of available officers because of the stringent hiring requirements and an increase in demand by municipalities and school districts, lawmakers said.

"Schools have scrambled to find retired police officers for several years and we want to make sure that more trained officers are available before they have to hire private security guards with less experience and at a higher cost," said Bucco, R-Morris. "More than ever before, schools across the state are looking for special police officers to help protect our school communities. These officers are in demand because they often come from the community and are familiar with the local police department and the school system."

The uniformed, armed officers work part time and get paid at a lower scale, making it the most affordable option for placing guards in schools, lawmakers say. The special officers are paid about $30 to $40 an hour and are not entitled to a pension or benefits for their service, but they still report to the local chief of police.

Break on electric bills

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently raised the eligibility limit for utility assistance from 175 percent to 185 percent of the poverty level—a monthly gross income of $3,870 for a family of four.

The modifications take effect on Tuesday.

Several months ago, the board asked its staff to look into what's called the "Universal Service Fund" and determine how it could better help residents keep their gas and electric on, NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso said.

“Updating the income threshold to make more residents eligible for support is an important step in furthering our mission of ensuring affordable utility service for all customers in the Garden State," Fiordaliso said.

The fund, established in 2003 and funded by a charge on ratepayers’ utility bills, is a statewide energy assistance program that ensures electric and gas utility customers have access to more affordable energy.

In 2018, the fund assisted 174,943 New Jersey households with benefits totaling over $115 million.

In April, NJBPU sought public input on how the program could better serve residents. Comments were accepted during a public meeting in May in Trenton, as well as via written submission, according to a press release from the board.

After a review, the board determined the income eligibility limit should be raised from 175 percent of federal poverty level to 185 percent, bringing it to parity with the current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) income limit and eliminating the gap between the assistance programs’ eligibility requirements, the release said.

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must be income-eligible and spend more than 3 percent of their annual income for each electric and gas utility service, or more than 6 percent of annual income on electric heat.

Benefits are paid directly to the utility companies and reflected as monthly bill credits for eligible customers, with a benefit cap of $150 per month or $1,800 per year. First-time enrollees are also eligible for the "Fresh Start" program, which provides debt forgiveness for overdue energy balances of $60 or more, the release said.

Gas prices

A little-talked-about provision in the 2016 gas-tax increase could have triggered another hike by Tuesday. The state, however, has chosen a different path.

The Murphy administration has decided not to raise the gas tax again, nearly three years after raising it 23 cents to help fund the Transportation Trust Fund.

The state decided not to take advantage of a provision that would have allowed a tax hike if revenues that fund the Transportation Trust Fund fell short of expectations. The fund pays for important emergency road projects.

The administration's Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax shows the tax rate will stay the same after Tuesday. A treasury department spokesman confirm that there will be no gas tax hike.

"We're pleased that fuel consumption levels, coupled with our realistic projections last year, have allowed us to avoid an increase in the gas tax rate for this year," State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said. "This dedicated revenue stream has enabled us to disburse billions in funding across the state to bolster our transportation infrastructure and keep New Jersey moving forward." Read more: 3 Rest Areas To Close As Gov. Murphy Makes Decision On NJ Gas Tax

Disability benefits (effective Friday)

Two laws were passed that deal with disability.

One law allows an individual who applies for temporary benefits for disability resulting from pregnancy or childbirth to have the application immediately processed.

Another law permits individuals to submit temporary disability and family temporary disability leave claims up to 60 days prior to departure from their job.