N.J. legislators act on a flurry of bills

TRENTON - New Jersey lawmakers will set aside $1 million to help school districts implement an anti-bullying law passed last year, a fix worked out by Republican Gov. Christie and Democrats after a state panel in January declared the law an unfunded mandate.

The bill, approved by both chambers Thursday, now heads to Christie's desk.

In their final voting session before they hunker down to work on the state budget, both Democratic- led chambers also passed a bill that would allow individuals and small businesses to shop online for health-care plans - a measure written to adhere to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Also, local residents would have the final say on whether a charter school could open in their community under a bill passed by the Assembly on Thursday. The bill has not yet been heard in the Senate, and Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Senate voted to have the state rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a coalition of Northeastern states aiming to limit carbon-dioxide emissions and promote renewable energy by requiring companies to buy pollution credits. Christie pulled New Jersey out of the group last year and has indicated he has no interest in rejoining.

The health-care bill approved Thursday would make New Jersey one of 13 states, along with the District of Columbia, that has begun setting up a system that would accord with the federal health-care plan championed by President Obama and signed into law in March 2010.

The bill would establish an online exchange that would operate as a "one-stop shop" for individuals, families, and employers seeking coverage. The website would offer information about health-care coverage and allow consumers to comparison-shop. Supporters hope the measure will help some of the state's estimated 1.3 million people who are uninsured.

Christie has said he wants to be certain that the federal health-care law is legal before he acts on the state's plan to implement it. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hold three days of hearings on the federal health-care overhaul beginning March 26. A number of states have sued, arguing that the mandate to provide health insurance included in the law is unconstitutional.

Trenton's mid-March voting session was marked with unexpected drama and arguments.

A sergeant-at-arms passed out just outside the Senate chamber during a recess, hitting his head on the white marble floor and cutting it open. Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D., Burlington), the Legislature's only doctor, rushed from his chamber's session to help Sgt. Robert Ferro, who is in his 70s and lives in Bogota, colleagues said.

"He banged his head but he's alert," Conaway said after the man was wheeled out of the Statehouse on a gurney and transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

The Assembly session, scheduled to start at 1 p.m., began hours late, and its members enjoyed a show from both Irish dancers and a band before taking up legislation.

The Senate, meanwhile, bickered over birth control after Democrats posted a last-minute resolution supporting Obama's mandate that employers, including religiously affiliated schools and hospitals, buy health-insurance plans that cover contraception for their employees. The bill was posted for a vote at 5 p.m. Wednesday, which infuriated some Republicans.

"Why was it not made available to us until just now?" Sen. Robert Singer (R., Ocean) asked.

Although the resolution has no relevance to the federal health-care law and will not affect New Jerseyans, Democrats and Republicans squabbled over whether the debate in Washington was about women's health or religious freedom.

Sen. Sam Thompson (R., Monmouth) drew sniggers and guffaws when he talked about how much Viagra costs under the state's health-care plan and asked Sen. President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) if he knew whether birth control was cheaper. Sweeney, grinning, said he did not know.

The measure eventually passed by 26-11.