New New Jersey Laws

During the final hours of his temporary tenure, Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco signed dozens of bills, from the obscure to the ceremonial to the practical, several of which carried price tags in the millions. DiFrancesco and his staff were prepared to stay until nearly midnight Monday, as the Legislature finished its final voting sessions of the term. The acting governor also used his veto powers, rewriting some bills and rejecting others.

A plan to repair dams got through, but DiFrancesco slashed the $135 million the Legislature approved. After he vetoed portions of the bill, DiFrancesco signed a measure that spends almost $7 million.

Both DiFrancesco and the Legislature are legally out of work at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday.

Bills must be passed by then or they die. DiFrancesco could sign as many as he pleased until he leaves office.

The incoming acting governors – Republican John O. Bennett and Democrat Richard Codey – have the legal power to sign bills until Gov.-elect James E. McGreevey takes office Jan. 15.

Other bills signed into law by DiFrancesco would:

Require the state to license all foster parents who provide care to children temporarily placed outside their homes and to do criminal background checks of foster parents;

Allow people to challenge child support orders based on genetic evidence;

Create a permanent commission to study Italian American heritage with a budget of $250,000.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News