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A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by Assemblymen John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) and Nelson Albano (D-Cape May) to prohibit the state from raiding funds meant to provide unemployment and other benefits will also be considered.

The proposed amendment, ACR-134, would seek voter approval to ban state diversions of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Temporary Disability Fund and the Paid Family Leave Fund. Voters would decide on the measure in November.

"It's never been responsible to divert for other uses accounts that were created for specific reasons and funded by the wages of New Jersey's hard-working men and women, but unfortunately we've seen both parties do it repeatedly through the years," Burzichelli said. "It's long past time that we put a stop to this, and I'm confident the voters will agree."

Legislation, A-4300, sponsored by Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley (D-Hudson) to expedite the payment of accidental pension death benefits for the families of fallen police and firefighters will also be considered.

The bill stems from the nearly 3-month-wait endured by the widow of Jersey City police officer Marc Anthony DiNardo, who was killed after being shot in July in a fierce gun battle. He left behind a wife and three young children who spent months battling through bureaucratic red tape before receiving his pension benefits.

"To have seen this family get caught in a bureaucratic mess was outrageous," Quigley said. "This can't go on and it has to be fixed. It was unacceptable and must not happen again."

Also on tap is legislation, A-4227/4228, sponsored by Assemblywomen Connie Wagner and Joan Voss (both D-Bergen) to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and include e-cigarettes in the New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.

Wagner said she's concerned e-cigarettes are being marketed to children because they offer flavors like chocolate, banana and strawberry and could serve as a gateway to real cigarette use.

"These are dangerous devices and I want to make sure our children are protected," Wagner said. "I'm very concerned that young people who use these things will get hooked on the nicotine and eventually move onto the real thing, opening the door to a lifetime of expensive and debilitating health problems."

Also on tap is legislation sponsored by Wagner and Voss to require prompt parental notification of contaminated soil found on school property.

The bill stems from a 2007 incident in Paramus in which the school district waited several months before notifying parents that pesticide-laden soil had been discovered on the grounds of West Brook Middle School.

"Quite simply, parents deserve to be notified promptly when contamination is found on school grounds," Voss said. "They shouldn't have to wait months, though that's what we've seen happen. Parents have a right to quickly know when their children are in danger."