NJ Assembly to Consider More Gun Control Bills Tomorrow

More gun violence prevention bills, tougher penalties for child pornography, helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and helping businesses avoid an impending tax increase top Thursday’s Assembly committee agendas.

Also on tap for tomorrow are consumer electronics protections, relief from telemarketing by utilities, enhanced public notice requirements for utilities during emergencies and mental health parity are also on tap.

Highlights for tomorrow’s committee sessions are bills that would:

• Revise statutes and enhances penalties for offenses involving child pornography; makes crime of causing a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act subject to "No Early Release Act." (2 p.m. Appropriations)
• Eliminate 10% surcharge on employer UI taxes during fiscal year 2014. (2 p.m. Appropriations)
• Upgrade the penalty for unlawfully transferring a firearm to an underage person. (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Revise statutes concerning firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits; makes handgun purchase permit valid for four years. (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Clarify that motor vehicles used in firearms trafficking are subject to seizure and forfeiture.  (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Make the crime of firearms trafficking subject to No Early Release Act. (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Require presumption that any bail paid by defendant charged with certain weapons offenses will be in the form of full cash (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Clarify that information concerning the total number of firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase a handgun issued in a municipality are public records. (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Upgrade certain unlawful possession of firearms to first degree crime; revises certain penalties under the "Graves Act." (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Authorize impoundment of motor vehicles for certain crimes and offenses. (1 p.m. Law and Public Safety)
• Establish the Consumer Electronics Warranty Lemon Law. (10 a.m. Consumer Affairs)

The Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to hear testimony on the need to build affordable housing post-Superstorm Sandy.

It will also consider a bill to establish the "Mortgage Assistance Pilot Program."

A bill to prohibit electric power suppliers from making false and misleading claims to potential customers; limits suppliers' calls to customers to once annually where no business relationship exists. (10 a.m. Telecommunications and Utilities)

The "Disaster Information Access Act"; requires utility service providers to report severe weather and emergency related service interruptions; directs utility service providers and State Office of Emergency Management to present reported information online and by telephone. (10 a.m. Telecommunications and Utilities)