Global Warming In the News

New year, new laws in New Jersey.

Perhaps the one with the longest reach isn't actually new. But the state's paid family leave program, which technically took effect May 2, begins to boost workers' disability taxes by $25 a year starting Jan. 1. Benefits begin to be paid July 1.

New Jersey also now implements the California Low Emission Vehicle program, though a portion of the program implementing standards for carbon dioxide emissions that are stricter than federal standards has been blocked by the Bush administration.

The 2004 state law adopts California's tougher standards for emissions of smog, soot and air toxics and requires more hybrid cars be sold in New Jersey. It also requires automakers to sell zero-emission cars in the state by 2011.

The advocacy group Environment New Jersey said car manufacturers have banked credits toward meeting the sales quota for alternative-technology cars sold in the state since 1999 — including 69,006 low-emission gas-powered cars, 14,416 gas-electric hybrids and 125 zero-emission electric cars, usable for local driving.

"For future years, they will have to aggressively pick up the pace and put cleaner, more efficient engines into many more models of cars sold in New Jersey and other (low emission vehicle) states," said Dena Mottola Jaborska, the group's executive director. "This is consistent with what auto industry leaders have stated they will do with federal bailout dollars."

Other laws effective with the start of 2009:

— New Jersey's sales tax is adjusted to conform with a multi-state agreement, meaning the tax on sales of fur clothing goes from 6 percent to 7 percent; that sales taxes are no longer charged on long-distance pay phone calls; and that sales taxes will be charged on purchases of mobility-enhancing equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs unless the buyer has a prescription.

— Charities that operate clothing bins must register with a municipality and get written consent from property owners to place their bins. Information is also needed on the bins revealing which groups ultimately receive the donations.

— Gasoline cannot be sold if it contains more than 0.5 percent in volume of MTBE, short for methyl tertiary butyl ether, an additive once commonly added to gas to meet clean-air standards that was contaminating groundwater.

— Employees of public utilities that use their personal cars for work are allowed to display temporary amber warning lights on their cars' roofs when needed. They can also put a magnetic sign with their company's logo on the driver-side front door.