In the penultimate voting session of 220th legislative session, both the Senate and Assembly are slated to move on a several bills of interest to the New Jersey State Bar Association.
S2991 (Singleton)/A2351 (Mukherji) - Elective Spousal Share
The NJSBA drafted this legislation, which permits a court to effectuate equitable distribution when a complaint for divorce or dissolution of a civil union has been filed and either party has died prior to a final judgment. It provides that a surviving party would not receive an intestate or elective share and considers prior agreements regarding equitable distribution and clarifies court proceedings relative to this issue.
S3011 (Scutari)/A4800 (Murphy) – Ignition Interlock Devices
The Assembly will vote on an amendment to this bill, which would permit plea bargaining, extend the expiration of the current drunk driving statute and increase the period required for an ignition interlock device. The NJSBA supports the bill which provides discretion to better address the specific circumstances of each case.
S2740 (Codey)/A4723 (McKeon) – Motor Vehicles and Personally Identifiable Information
The NJSBA urged further amendments to strengthen this bill, which would require motor vehicle dealers to offer to delete personal information in motor vehicles in certain situations. Overall, the Association supports the aim of the bill and vowed to work on further measures to strengthen the consumer protections in this bill.
S524 (Ruiz)/A1700 (Quijano) – Mental Health Diversion Program
The Association supports this bill, which creates the Mental Health Diversion Program to divert eligible persons away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate case management and mental health services. The bill was conditionally vetoed by the Governor earlier this year with recommendations to remove from eligibility Megan’s Law triggering crimes.
S2004 (Diegnan)/A2019 (Conaway) – Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls
The NJSBA supports this bill, which requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicles and requires repairs of motor vehicles subject to a recall. The bill was touted by members as a consumer protection bill that helps consumers stay informed about their vehicles and provide for safer vehicles.
S3627 (Vitale)//A5235 (Lampitt) – Health Insurance Coverage Requirements for Treatment of Infertility
The NJSBA supports this bill, which expands access to treatment of infertility by requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for such treatment when a person has been determined by their physician to be in need of medical intervention to achieve a pregnancy. The bill also revises the definition for the disease of infertility to include individuals who cannot achieve a pregnancy without assistance of reproductive medicine because they are either a same sex couple or single.
S1000 (Ruiz)/A1704 (Speight) – Expands Language Requirements for Certain Domestic Violence Restraining Orders and Notices
The Association supports this bill, which would require that certain domestic violence restraining orders and notices to domestic violence victims be issued in languages in addition to English. While the NJSBA supports the bill as written, it remains vigilant that there may be the need for making these orders available in additional languages.
This is a status report provided by the New Jersey State Bar Association on recently passed and pending legislation, regulations, gubernatorial nominations and/or appointments of interest to lawyers, as well as the involvement of the NJSBA as amicus in appellate court matters. To learn more, visit njsba.com.