Inside Trenton. Moderator: William Maer Public Strategies Impact

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1 2017 NJSBA Annual Meeting Inside Trenton Moderator: William Maer Public Strategies Impact Speakers: Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (18 th District) Deputy Speaker/Parliamentarian Assemblyman Jon M. Bramnick, Esq. (21 st District) Republican Leader Bramnick Rodriguez Grabas Arnold and Mangan, LLC, Scotch Plains Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco (25 th District) Republican Whip Assemblyman John F. McKeon (27 th District)

2 ADVOCACY New Jersey State Bar Association's INSIDE TRENTON 2017

3 INSIDE TRENTON May 17, :10-3:50 p.m. Central Meeting Room 3 Want to know what s going on in Trenton? Hear from legislators and lobbyists about essential, up-to-the-minute legislation important to you and your clients. Learn what you need to know about where the law stands so you can help your clients, your practice, and your business. MODERATOR: William Maer, Partner, Public strategies Impact, LLC William Maer is a Partner at Public Strategies Impact. Prior to PSI, Mr. Maer had extensive government experience, he served in several governmental positions including as an Aide to former Governor James Florio, Chief of Staff to Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr., and as the Associate Executive Director of the Assembly Democratic Legislative Leadership Office. Additionally, he previously served as a staff member to the Democratic members of both the Legislative and Congressional Apportionment Commission. In 2009, Maer served as a Senior Political Advisor to Governor Jon Corzine. Mr. Maer served as a gubernatorial appointee to the New Jersey Building Authority, is a former member of the Board of Trustees at Brookdale Community College and currently serves as Chief Spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriff s Office. Active in local and State Democratic Party politics and campaigns, Mr. Maer has consistently been on POLITICKER- NJ's Top 100 Power List, including a top 25 listing in Mr. Maer was a member of the credential committee for the 2016 Democratic National Committee Convention. Mr. Maer is also a Federally Registered Lobbyist. Mr. Maer received his B.A. in Government from Clark University and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Villanova University. He currently serves as outside lobbyist to the NJ State Bar Association.

4 SPEAKER: Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. represents the 18th Legislative District of New Jersey. The district includes, East Brunswick, Edison, Helmetta, Metuchen, South Plainfield, South River and Highland Park, all located in Middlesex County. He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001 and was re-elected to eight terms until his ascension to the State Senate in May 2016 after the confirmation of former Senator Peter J. Barnes III as a Superior Court Judge. Senator Diegnan currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee. He is a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historical Preservation Committee and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. A lifelong resident of South Plainfield the Senator was inducted into the South Plainfield Hall of Fame in He holds his B.A. and Juris Doctorate degrees from Seton Hall University. Senator Diegnan is an attorney in private practice in South Plainfield. He is a member of the New Jersey and Middlesex County Bar Associations. He is also a former instructor of law and accounting at Middlesex County College. Senator Diegnan has been the prime sponsor of over 100 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law. In 2015, President Barak Obama signed federal legislation that was modeled on a New Jersey bill written by Senator Diegnan to phase out the dangers posed by synthetic plastic microbeads. These small bits of plastic, used in personal care products, were slipping through water treatment systems after they were washed down the drain. As a result, these microbeads often end up in local streams, rivers, larger bodies of water and ultimately in our food supply. In 2009, he sponsored a seven-bill package to simplify many of New Jersey s corporate governance statutes and make the state more attractive to businesses, as part of a larger effort by the Legislature to help the state and its residents cope with financial uncertainty and emerge stronger from the Great Recession. Senator Diegnan is an authority on policies that shape the educational landscape in New Jersey. He was an early leader of the NJ STARS program which is a scholarship program exclusively for New Jersey residents who graduate in the top 15 percent by covering the cost of tuition at New Jersey s 19 county colleges. He has been a forceful proponent and sponsor of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act which passed in Senator Diegnan has also spearheaded initiatives to protect student athletes. He sponsored legislation requiring school districts to develop policies to address the issue of concussions in student athletes which was signed into law on December 7, Recent newspaper accounts have cited his 2013 bill to require Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in schools as the lifesaving measure used to aid multiple student-athletes with undiagnosed heart ailments during their times of crisis. As a commissioner of the New Jersey Corporate & Business Law Study Commission, Senator Diegnan has shaped corporate governance policy in the state to align with national best practices and raising New Jersey s business profile. Senator Diegnan has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the 2004 Middlesex County Jewish Center Honoree, the 2004 New Jersey Outstanding Legislator Award from the Displaced Homemakers Network,

5 the 2007 Irishman of the Year from the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the 2008 ArtPride NJ Distinguished Arts Advocate Award, the 2008 Legislative Excellence Award from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and the Metuchen-Woodbridge-Edison YMCA 2009 Peter J. Barnes Community Champion Award, the 2010 YMCA NJ State Alliance Friend of the YMCA award, the 2011 Presidential Award from the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey, the 2011 Roscommon Man of the Year from the Roscommon Society of New York and the Hubert H. Humphrey Friend of Labor award from the Middlesex and Somerset Counties AFL-CIO Labor Council, 2015 New Jersey Law Enforcement Police Officers Brotherhood Legislator of the Year and the 2016 Morheuser Humanitarian Award from the NJ Education Law Center. He also has served as past-president of the Sacred Heart Church Parish Council. The Senator and his wife of 40 years, Anita, have two daughters: Heather Paragano and Tara Webster. He and his wife, Anita, are the proud grandparents of Vanessa and Alexa Paragano and Brooke Webster.

6 SPEAKER: Assembly Republican Leader Assemblyman Jon M. Bramnick Assemblyman Jon M. Bramnick is serving his sixth term in the New Jersey General Assembly representing Union, Somerset and Morris Counties in the 21st District. Assemblyman Bramnick was elected by his colleagues in November 2015 to serve his third term as the Assembly Minority Leader, making him the highest-ranking member of the Republican Caucus in the Assembly. Assemblyman Bramnick served on the Plainfield City Council. He was an assistant professor of business law at Rider University and an adjunct professor of business law at Rutgers University, where he won the Inspirational Professor of the Year Award. Assemblyman Bramnick has been honored with the Legislator of the Year Award from the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the Hospital Association Assemblyman of the Year Award, the Spirit of the YMCA Award, the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business, the James J. McLaughlin Award from the Bar Association, presented to a lawyer who has demonstrated civility, legal competence, and professionalism, and the Robert B. Meyner Award from the Bar Association. He was also inducted into the Plainfield High School Hall of Fame. Assemblyman Bramnick holds the title Funniest Lawyer in New Jersey after winning contests sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) at Rascals Comedy Club. He often volunteers his services as a comedic auctioneer on behalf of non-profit organizations. Assemblyman Bramnick is also a partner in the law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, based in Scotch Plains. He is a certified civil trial attorney and a frequent lecturer for both the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and the American Association for Justice. He served as President of the Richard J. Hughes Inns of Court, an association of professional attorneys dedicated to teaching young attorneys. He was named the Professional Attorney of the Year by the Union County Bar Association. Assemblyman Bramnick holds a B.A. in political science from Syracuse University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also holds a J.D. from Hofstra University s School of Law. He resides in Westfield with his wife Patricia and has two grown children, Brent and Abigail and a granddaughter Lacey.

7 SPEAKER: Assembly Republican Whip Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco Republican Anthony M. Bucco is serving his third term in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 25th Legislative District which includes parts of Morris and Somerset Counties. He was named Republican Whip in October, 2016 by his Assembly colleagues. Anthony was named Deputy Minority Leader by his Assembly Republican colleagues for the 215th and 216th Sessions of the New Jersey Legislature. Anthony serves on the Budget Committee, the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Council of State Governments, the State Fire Commission and the Legislative Services Commission. Anthony is a lifelong resident of Morris County and currently resides in Boonton Township with his wife, Amy, and their six children. Anthony is a civic leader, a community volunteer, a husband, father and grandfather. Anthony is a partner in the law firm of Murphy McKeon, P.C. and the son of current State Senator Anthony R. Bucco and his wife Helen. Over the last 30 years, Anthony has been heavily involved in many state and local organizations as a dedicated community volunteer, spending tens of thousands of hours volunteering and helping others. This includes over three decades as a Boonton volunteer fireman. Anthony is also a Co-Founder of Daytop New Jersey, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for adolescents, located in Mendham. He also serves as a Morris County Crime Stoppers Commissioner and was appointed by both Republican and Democrat Governors, to the Governor s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Professionally, Anthony is a successful municipal attorney and local government expert. Anthony has represented local governing bodies for close to 30 years. He is also the attorney for the Morris County Republican Party and a member of the Morris County Republican County Committee. During his time in the Assembly, Anthony has had several bills signed into law by Governor Chris Christie. Some examples of his accomplishments are: S-2097/A-3004 which directs the transfer of $22 Million to support the Main Street Business Assistance Program. This program encourages New Jersey banks to lend to small and medium-sized businesses by providing credit enhancement and limited subordinate financing. Assemblyman Bucco was also a Prime Sponsor of a bill which is assisting the Department of Labor in their mission to put an end to unemployment fraud. The bill requires the Department of Human Services, which receives notification of all new hires in the state, to share that information with the Department of Labor so that those people can be removed from unemployment assistance, saving the state millions of dollars in improperly collected benefits. The Assemblyman also sponsored the law that allows families of deceased veterans to obtain a copy of their loved one s death certificate free of charge. He sponsored A2920/S2114 which develops a school district dating violence policy and requires school districts to provide dating violence education in the health curriculum to teach our young people the difference between a healthy and unhealthy relationship. His most recent accomplishments include S1567/A410, which is designated Patrolman Joseph Wargo s Law. This law allows Municipalities, law enforcement officials or the next of kin of a fallen first responder to establish roadside memorials and signs of recognition to their service; A3534/S2086, which allows municipalities to defer, waive or reduce payments for municipal water, sewerage and electricity for active duty service members; and S86/A3629 which establishes the category of Class 3 Special Police Officers and

8 gives municipalities and/or school districts the option of hiring them to protect local schools. During his time in the legislature, Anthony has earned numerous legislative awards including: 2016 Legislator of the Year by the New Jersey Mayors Association; the 2016 Award for Conservative Excellence by The American Conservative Union; 2016 Heroic Legislator Award by the Alliance of Free Choice in Education; 2015 Columbian Foundation Humanitarian and Achievement Award; Defender of the Taxpayer from and 2016 and Taxpayer Hero in 2014 from Americans for Prosperity; Defender of the Family in 2012 from the New Jersey Family Policy Council; Defender of Liberty in 2012 and 2013 from the American Conservative Union; Taxpayer Champion Award in 2011 from the New Jersey Taxpayer Alliance; Guardian of Small Business for 2011 from the National Federation of Independent Businesses; and the 2014 New Jersey Small Business Development Center s Business Advocate Award. New Jersey s 25th District encompasses the following towns: Town of Boonton, Boonton Township, Borough of Chester, Chester Township, Denville Township, Town of Dover, Borough of Mendham, Mendham Township, Mine Hill Township, Morris Township, Town of Morristown, Borough of Mount Arlington, Borough of Mountain Lakes, Borough of Netcong, Randolph Township, Borough of Rockaway, Roxbury Township, Borough of Victory Gardens, Washington Township, and Borough of Wharton in Morris County; and the Borough of Bernardsville in Somerset County.

9 SPEAKER: Assemblyman John F. McKeon Assemblyman John F. McKeon was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly on November 6, 2001 and is currently serving in his seventh term. From he also served as Mayor of West Orange and as a member of the Town Council from prior to this. John is a former Chairman of the Assembly s Environment and Solid Waste Committee, while he now serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Environment and Solid Waste Committee, and is a member of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. His previous leadership positions in the Assembly have included time as Deputy Speaker, Majority Whip, Assistant Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Whip. John is one of the state s leading legislative advocates for protecting New Jersey s environment. In 2004, he authored the historic Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act to safeguard thousands of acres of land in the Highlands Region- the source of drinking water for half the state s residents. He was a prime sponsor of the landmark Global Warming Response Act and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which set a mandatory cap on greenhouse emissions of carbon dioxide. John has also strengthened New Jersey s nationally renowned recycling programs by sponsoring the Recycling Enhancement Act and Electronic Waste Recycling Act. He is also proud to have sponsored pro-business regulations that offer incentives for New Jersey businesses and individuals to invest in clean, renewable energy. In addition to legislation protecting the environment, John has been on the forefront of many issues, such as criminalizing racial profiling and authorizing funding for stem cell research. He has also sponsored the New Jersey Smoke Free Act, which bans smoking in indoor spaces, has championed tort reform, and authored a law that requires newly constructed affordable housing units, also known as Mt. Laurel Units, to be built for adaptable use by physically disabled persons and the elderly. In 2007 he sponsored a bill that capped local property tax increases at 4% per year, and in 2010 he sponsored the law that reduced this cap even further to 2%. John is seen as a leader on equality issues, with his sponsorship of the Domestic Partnership Act, New Jersey s Civil Union Law, a bill to enact marriage equality, and the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. One of his proudest achievements is his celebrated 2008 organ donation legislation, also known as the New Jersey Hero Act, which amongst other stipulations, requires residents to make organ donation decisions before applying for a driver s license. Throughout his time in office, John s influence has been able to reach beyond just his colleagues in the Legislature. Several of his ideas have been met with widespread approval by New Jersey voters in the ballot box over the years. A 2006 referendum that he sponsored allowed for the usage of a portion of sales tax revenue to be allocated as a permanent source of funding for the restoration of State and local parks. In addition, his sponsorship of a 2005 referendum led to the funding of a diesel retrofit program that has resulted in a reduction of carcinogens released into the air by diesel engines. In 2007 and 2009, he sponsored the ballot questions that were approved by voters to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding to preserve open space through the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund, one of the country s most successful land preservation programs to date. John Francis McKeon was born on June 3, 1958 in Montclair, New Jersey. He was raised in the Townships of Orange and West Orange, where he graduated from West Orange Mountain High School. In 1980 he graduated Cum Laude

10 from Muhlenberg College and earned his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law in John is recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a certified trial attorney and is a partner at the law firm of Hardin, Kundla, McKeon and Poletto located in Springfield, New Jersey. He currently resides in West Orange with his wife, Ann Mader McKeon, Esq. and their three daughters, Lacey, Melissa and Jaclyn.

11 STATE OF NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATION CHRIS CHRISTIE, ESQ., GOVERNOR Amy Cradic, Chief of Staff Gregory Acquaviva, Chief Counsel Kim Guadagno, Esq., Lt. Governor & Secretary of State Dennis R. Robinson, Chief of Staff to the Lt. Governor Cabinet Dr. Allison Blake, Commissioner Department of Children and Families Richard J. Badolato, Acting Commissioner Department of Banking and Insurance Cathleen D. Bennett, Acting Commissioner Department of Health Elizabeth Connolly, Acting Commissioner Department of Human Services Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, Adjutant General Department of Military and Veteran Affairs Robert Czech, Chair Civil Service Commission Philip James Degnan, Acting State Comptroller Office of the State Comptroller Douglas H. Fisher, Secretary Department of Agriculture Colonel Joseph R. Fuentes, Superintendent New Jersey State Police Richard Hammer, Acting Commissioner Department of Transportation Rochelle Hendricks, Secretary Office of the Secretary of Higher Education Kimberly Harrington, Acting Commissioner Department of Education Christopher S. Porrino, Attorney General Department of Law & Public Safety Gary Lanigan, Commissioner Department of Corrections Bob Martin, Commissioner Department of Environmental Protection Raymond Martinez, Chair and Chief Administrator Motor Vehicle Commission Richard S. Mroz, President Board of Public Utilities Melissa Orsen, Chief Executive Officer Economic Development Authority Charles A. Richman, Acting Commissioner Department of Community Affairs Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, Director Office of Homeland Security Ford M. Scudder, Acting State Treasurer Department of the Treasury Harold J. Wirths, Commissioner Department of Labor & Workforce Development

12 SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Senate Leadership Senate President: Stephen M. Sweeney (District 3) Majority Leader: Loretta Weinberg (District 37) President Pro Tempore: Nia H. Gill (District 34) Deputy Majority Leader: Paul A. Sarlo (District 36) Assistant Majority Leaders: James Beach (District 6) Linda Greenstein (District 14) M. Teresa Ruiz (District 29) Majority Conference Leader: Robert M. Gordon (District 38) Majority Whip: Sandra B. Cunningham (District 31) SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Republican Leader: Thomas H. Kean Jr. (District 21) Deputy Republican Leader: Diane B. Allen (District 7) Conference Leader: Robert W. Singer (District 30) Deputy Conference Leader: Jennifer Beck (District 11) Assistant Republican Leader: Joseph Pennacchio (District 40) Republican Budget Officer: Anthony R. Bucco (District 25) Secretary of the Senate: Jennifer A. McQuaid

13 Assembly Leadership ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP Assembly Speaker: Vincent Prieto (District 32) Majority Leader: Louis D. Greenwald (District 6) Speaker Pro Tempore: Jerry Green (District 22) Majority Conference Leader: Shavonda E. Sumter (District 35) Deputy Speakers: John J. Burzichelli (District 3) Wayne P. DeAngelo (District 14) Benjie E. Wimberly (District 35) Gordon M. Johnson (District 37) Pamela R. Lampitt (District 6) Gary S. Schaer (District 36) Mila M. Jasey (District 27) Valerie Vaineri Huttle (District 37) John S. Wisniewski (District 19) Deputy Majority Leaders: Joseph V. Egan (District 17) Thomas P. Giblin (District 34) Reed Gusciora (District 15) Annette Quijano (District 20) Annette Quijano Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore: Daniel R. Benson (District 14) Deputy Conference Leader: Tim Eustace (District 38) Parliamentarian: Craig J. Coughlin (District 19) Deputy Parliamentarian: Joseph A. Lagana (District 38) Majority Whip: Herb Conaway Jr. (District 7) Deputy Majority Whip: Ralph R. Caputo (District 28) Appropriations Chair: John J. Burzichelli (District 3) Budget Chair: Gary S. Schaer (District 36) Speaker Emeritus: Sheila Y. Oliver (District 34) ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Republican Leader: Jon M. Bramnick (District 21) Conference Leader: David P. Rible (District 30) Republican Whip: Anthony M. Bucco (District 25) Deputy Conference Leader: Nancy F. Munoz (District 21) Republican Budget Officer: Declan J. O'Scanlon, Jr. (District 13) Deputy Republican Leader: Amy H. Handlin (District 13) Deputy Republican Leader: David W. Wolfe (District 10) Parliamentarian: Michael Patrick Carroll (District 25) Appropriations Officer: John DiMaio (District 23) Assistant Republican Leader: Chris A. Brown (District 2) Assistant Republican Whip: Erik Peterson (District 23) Assistant Republican Whip: Policy Co-Chairs: Jack M. Ciattarelli (District 16) Brian E. Rumpf (District 9) DiAnne C. Gove (District 9) Assembly Clerk: Dana M. Burley

14 Lawyer Legislators State Senate Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego Sen. Christopher Bateman Sen. Christopher J. Connors Sen. Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. Sen. Michael J. Doherty Sen. Nia H. Gill, Esq. Sen. Linda R. Greenstein Sen. James W. Holzapfel Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari Sen. Bob Smith General Assembly Asm. Jon M. Bramnick Asm. Chris A. Brown Asm. Anthony M. Bucco Asw. Marlene Caride Asm. Michael Patrick Carroll Asm. Nicholas Chiaravalloti Asm. Craig J. Coughlin Asm. Herb Conaway Jr. Asw. Joann Downey Asm. Louis D. Greenwald Asm. Reed Gusciora Asm. Sean T. Kean Asm. Joseph A. Lagana Asw. Elizabeth Maher Muoio Asm. Gregory P. McGuckin Asm. John T. McKeon Asm. Raj Mukherji Asm. Erik Peterson Asm. Annette Quijano Asm. Brian E. Rumpf Asm. David C. Russo Asw. Holly Schepisi Asm. Adam J. Taliaferro Asm. Jay Webber Asm. John S. Wisniewski *NJSBA members are listed in BOLD*

15 LEGISLATION TO BE DISCUSSED A1982 Prieto Requires certain civil actions against certain licensed persons to be brought within two years. This bill was introduced and referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee on 01/27/2016. A1238 Bucco Limits number of bills member of Legislature may introduce; requires every bill to be heard in committee; requires estimate be prepared of cost of drafting and considering each bill. This bill was introduced and referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee on 01/27/2016. A3534 Bucco / S2086 Bucco 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. This bill was signed by the Governor on 01/09/2017. P.L.2016, c.102. A3629 Bucco / S86 Bucco Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges. This bill was signed by the Governor on 11/30/2016. P.L.2016, c.68. S3 Vitale / A3 Prieto Requires health insurance coverage for treatment of substance use disorders; places certain restrictions on the prescription of opioid and certain other drugs; concerns continuing education related thereto. This bill was signed by the Governor on 02/15/2017. P.L.2016, c.28.

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32 N E W J E R S E Y S T A T E B A R A S S O C I A T I O N MISSION STATEMENT To serve, protect, foster and promote the personal and professional interests of its members. To serve as the voice of New Jersey attorneys to other organizations, governmental entities and the public with regard to the law, legal profession and legal system. To promote access to the justice system, fairness in its administration, and the independence and integrity of the judicial branch. To encourage participation in voluntary pro bono activities. To foster professionalism and pride in the profession and the NJSBA. To provide educational opportunities to New Jersey attorneys to enhance the quality of legal services and the practice of law. To provide education to the New Jersey public to enhance awareness of the legal profession and legal system. December 11, 1992 Revised December 2007 REVISED MAY 2014

33 N E W J E R S E Y S T A T E B A R A S S O C I A T I O N For more information on legislative matters, please contact: LISA CHAPLAND, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS New Jersey State Bar Association One Constitution Square New Brunswick, New Jersey Direct Dial: (732) lchapland@njsba.com New Jersey State Bar Association Phone: (732) Facsimile: (732) Web: