Chris Christie Signs 19 Bills Into Law, Including Domestic Violence Bill, Vetoes 2 Others

Gov. Chris Christie signed 19 bills into law Monday, including legislation to prevent domestic violence, while vetoing two others.

Christie said the domestic violence law will enhance criminal penalties and ensure immediate compliance with stronger protective orders.

“Survivors of domestic violence will be safer than ever before," he said in a statement. "I am proud we came together to enact this model legislation that is much more than just symbolic and is real reform that fulfills our primary responsibility of improving public safety in New Jersey.”

The new law reinforces existing laws by creating a more in-depth process to ensure domestic violence offenders’ firearms, identification cards and permits are confiscated as required while they are subject to restraining orders, according to the governor's office.

It forces offenders to immediately upon sentencing – rather than after several days – arrange for the surrender of their firearms, identification cards and permits to a law enforcement officer.

In addition to signing S-2483/A-4126 (Weinberg, Beck/Mosquera, Greenwald, Downey, Houghtaling, Munoz, Sumter, Benson, Lampitt, Wimberly) into law, the governor also took action today on the following legislation:

BILL SIGNINGS:

S-909/A-2688 (Rice/Spencer, Pintor Marin) - Exempts person who remediates property in environmental opportunity zone from remediation funding source requirement

S-976/A-2332 (Gordon, Beck/Benson, Downey, Eustace) - Requires Public Health Council to promulgate rules and regulations for use of quality control programs in bio-analytical and clinical laboratories

S-981/A-2375 (Smith, Bateman, Greenstein/McKeon, Gusciora, Spencer) - Revises "Electronic Waste Management Act"

S-1489/A-1465 (Cruz-Perez, Cunningham/Lampitt, Mosquera, Wimberly, Downey, McKnight) - Ensures equal rights and opportunities for pregnant students in institutions of higher education

S-2098/A-3549 (Sacco, Pennacchio/Johnson, Zwicker, Wisniewski, Benson) - Exempts hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from certain labeling requirements

S-2463/A-3892 (Vitale, Rice, Allen/Vainieri Huttle, Lampitt, Mukherji) - Changes the time when child placement review hearings are initiated from 45 days to 60 days

S-2526/A-4105 (Diegnan, Thompson/Dancer, DeCroce, Clifton, Pinkin, Mukherji) - Designates portion of Interstate Highway Route 195 in Upper Freehold Township as "State Trooper Anthony A. Raspa Memorial Highway"

S-2601/A-4207 (Pou, Beck/Vainieri Huttle, Holley, Downey, Mukherji, Muoio, Jasey) - Modifies scope of "Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act of 2015" and enforcement of protective orders under that act

S-2708/A-4064 (Codey/Jasey, McKeon, Mukherji) - Authorizes State Treasurer to convey surplus real property known as Millburn Regional Day School in Millburn Township, Essex County, to Millburn Township Board of Education or to Millburn Township for $3,550,000

SJR-29/AJR-58 (Weinberg/Vainieri Huttle, Jasey, Jones, McKnight, Phoebus, Wimberly) - Designates one night in November of each year as a "Night of Conversation" about drug and alcohol addiction

A-793/S-316 (Andrzejczak, Land, Taliaferro/Van Drew, Connors) - Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to work with US Army Corps of Engineers to establish joint permit application process for aquaculture projects

A-794/S-317 (Andrzejczak, Land, Taliaferro, Van Drew, Connors) - Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to adopt coordinated permit application and review program for aquaculture projects

A-1424/S-1050 (Johnson, Wimberly, Sumter/Weinberg, Stack) - Authorizes Victims of Crime Compensation Office to make payment for relocation expenses of certain witnesses of crimes

A-2106/S-2351 (Mukherji, Chaparro, Holley, Jimenez, Pintor Marin, Sumter, Wimberly/Ruiz, Madden) - Permits homeless to receive certified copy of birth certificate without fee

A-2107/S-2350 (Mukherji, Holley, Gusciora, Pintor Marin, Wimberly/Ruiz, Madden) - Exempts homeless from fee for non-driver identification cards

A-2158/S-2241 (Coughlin, Wolfe, Holley, McKnight/Diegnan) - Authorizes use of emergency reserve fund or proceeds from bonds issued by EDA to finance school security improvements

A-2763/S-1933 (Mazzeo, Mosquera, Mukherji, Andrzejczak, Land, Houghtaling/Sweeney, Stack) - Enters NJ in Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

A-3534/S-2086 (A.M. Bucco, Singleton, Webber, Benson, Moriarty/A.R. Bucco, Van Drew) - Permits authorities and local units operating water supply or sewerage facilities to waive, reduce, or defer sewerage and water service fees for deployed military personnel

BILLS VETOED:

S-790/A-3256 (Sarlo, O'Toole/Lagana, Benson, Sumter) – CONDITIONAL - Requires Police Training Commission to develop accelerated training course for certain county corrections officers

A-312/S-2557 (Singleton, Lampitt, Quijano, Pintor Marin, Wimberly, Downey/Cruz-Perez, Stack) – CONDITIONAL - Requires Division of Local Government Services to include certain property tax information on division’s web page

Patch file photo