Bills address casino rules, workers' comp

TRENTON - New Jersey lawmakers devoted most of their attention yesterday to legislation involving the state budget, public worker benefits, and school construction, but they also considered other key matters.

Bills receiving final approval include:

Empowering casinos and horse-racing tracks to police themselves when state inspectors aren't working in the event of a state government shutdown. The bill would allow the governor to close casinos and tracks for serious wrongdoing when inspectors are absent.

Plans to reform state affordable-housing laws, including barring suburban communities from paying cities to take their affordable-housing obligations.

A package of workers' compensation measures designed to help those facing delays for treatment and benefits. The bills follow reports by the Star-Ledger of Newark showing long waits for benefits.

Permitting overseas voters to use absentee ballots in state and local elections. Current law allows overseas voters to use absentee ballots only in federal elections.

Requiring local government officials to file financial disclosures within 30 days of taking office. They now have until April 30 to file the statement, allowing some to go almost a year without filing it.

Extending all state and local building and environmental permits through July 1, 2010. Stalled projects with permits that expired after Jan. 1, 2007, will be able to be revived. The bill is meant to help developers in the slow economy.

Allowing parents of twins to decide whether they want their children placed in the same or separate classrooms.

Creating an autism awareness program for emergency responders.

Removing a price cap on legal ticket scalping for sales made only through a Web site. Current law bars reselling tickets for more than 20 percent or $3 more than the face value, whichever is greater.

Authorizing an aquarium be built at the Meadowlands.

Banning the sale of flavored cigarettes and requiring cigarette distributors to affix encrypted stamps onto packs to combat counterfeit cigarettes.

Bills that received final Assembly approval include:

Prohibiting individuals from buying more than one handgun per month.

Allowing a judge to waive or reduce parole eligibility for or place on probation a person convicted of a drug charge within 1,000 feet of school or school bus.

Extending accidental-death benefits to survivors of police officers and firefighters who die on active duty in a Reserve or National Guard unit.

Legislation meant to bring more off-track wagering facilities to the state.

Bills that received final Senate approval included:

Requiring that signs posted by gas stations indicate prices for both cash and credit card purchases and establishing a $1,000 penalty for violations.