By Susan K. Livio and Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media

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Photo by Aristide Economopolous | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

On his last full day in office, Gov. Chris Christie cleared his desk of 150 pieces of legislation Monday.

The state Senate and state Assembly rushed to approve a long list of bills in the last month before the two-year session ended on Jan. 9. Christie had to decide before he left office on noon Tuesday whether he would sign the pile of legislation on his desk, or do nothing and let it expire — also known as a "pocket veto."

Among the many bill signings, Christie endorsed regulating the use of drones, disbanding the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and mandating criminal background checks for people who work in group homes for the disabled.

The ones he vetoed included measures that would have all but banned traveling circuses with exotic animals and granted limited driving privileges to people on the revoked list.

Here's a sample of what Christie did on his last full day:

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BILLS HE SIGNED

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Bump stock ban

New Jersey has now banned “bump stocks,” controversial firearm accessories allegedly used by the shooter in last year’s Las Vegas massacre.

The devices can be affixed to semiautomatic riffles to allow them to fire bullets, mimicking automatic weapons.

But under the new law — which takes effect immediately — anyone who owns one has 90 days to surrender them to authorities. Retailers have 30 days.

Christie, a Republican, signed the law even though he has long opposed new gun-control measures in the state.

"We applaud Gov. Christie's signing into law of a ban on bump stocks, the device used by the Las Vegas mass shooter to effectively turn his weapons into fully automatic machine guns, leading to the largest mass shooting in modern US history," said The Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of the Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action. "We are very pleased that partisan politics played no part in this move toward making the people of New Jersey safer from such mass shootings."

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Photo by Tim Larsen | Governor's Office

A pension sweetner for a select few

The new law allows some politicians to re-enroll in the state's Public Employees' Retirement System after being kicked out because they switched positions.

Lawmakers have not revealed exactly how many people it would benefit, but the most notable is Redd, who is allies with some of the state's top Democrats and worked closely with Christie on initiatives to improve Camden.

Christie signed the bill only days after Redd — who left office Jan. 1 — was hired as CEO of the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors, a post that pays an annual salary of $275,000. The new law could allow her to triple her pension.

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Chewing tobacco ban in schools

Chewing tobacco on school property in now outlawed in New Jersey.

Students caught with chewing tobacco would lose parking lot privileges and forfeit their place on team sports and other extracurricular activities, according to the bill (A493). Adults would face fines of up to $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense, according to the law.

Boards of education must post signs at every public entrance announcing the law.

“Young people might see smokeless tobacco as a safe alternative to cigarettes without realizing the health risks associated with these products,” said Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D-Middlesex. “This makes it clear to students that using any form of tobacco comes with serious health consequences.”

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Don't drink and drone

Christie agreed to criminalize the misuse of drones — those popular unmanned aircraft devices that now outnumber piloted planes — in New Jersey.

People caught using a drone while under the influence of drugs and alcohol drones could face up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine, according to the legislation.

Those who use drones to endanger any person or property, or to hunt wildlife would also face the same penalties.

"The rapid proliferation in the use of drones has outpaced regulations to protect public safety, security and privacy," said Sen. Paul Sarlo D-Bergen, sponsor of the bill (S3370) "They can be used for a wide variety of needs by businesses and individuals, but basic safeguards are needed to prevent their misuse."

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No criminals need apply for group home jobs

New Jersey now requires all workers hired to supervise people with developmental disabilities must undergo state and federal criminal background checks.

Lawmakers rushed to introduce the bill after the Office of the State Auditor released a report in October saying eight percent of workers hired to take care of people with developmental disabilities had evaded a state law requiring they undergo a criminal background check.

"Anyone entrusted with the day-to-day care and well-being of individuals who often can't speak or fend for themselves should be vetted to the fullest," said the law's sponsor, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle D-Bergen.

Even some who complied and were flagged for having a criminal record sometimes got hired anyway, the audit found. State law leaves the hiring decisions up to the 570 group home and supervised housing providers in New Jersey.

The practice allowed one unidentified housing provider to hire a paroled convicted murderer. When the auditors pointed out the worker's record, the employer called it "an oversight" and fired the employee immediately, the report said.

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A new way to police animal cruelty

The authority for investigating animal cruelty offenses in the state has been stripped away from the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and its county counterparts.

Instead, the 21 county prosecutors in the state would each form an animal cruelty task force that would be responsible for enforcing animal cruelty laws. The counties would be aided by municipal humane law enforcement officers appointed in each community, according to the bill (S3558).

The legislation came following State Commission on Investigation's scathing report and press reports that said the state and county SPCA's of failing to respond to complaints quickly, running up excessive legal bills, and keeping sloppy records.

Animal rescue groups urged the bill's passage.

“We have an ethical and moral responsibility to prevent cruelty to animals and to enforce the laws intended to protect them against abuse or mistreatment,” said former Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, who was recognized for his animal rights legislation in New Jersey. “This bill is the most cost-efficient way of creating a uniform, transparent and, most importantly, professional enforcement of our humane laws.”

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N.J. pulls out of the Waterfront Commission

Christie agreed to allow New Jersey to withdraw from the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, created more than 60 years ago to drive out organized crime.

The New Jersey State Police will now handle the duties associated with screening the employees who work on the docks. These responsibilities include processing licensing applications by employees and companies working at the port and supervising the hiring of longshoremen, checkers, and pier guards in the port.

“While it served a purpose in the past, the commission and its restrictive oversight of hiring practices at the port has now become an impediment to economic growth,” said Assemblyman Thomas Giblin, D-Essex. “We cannot allow this at one of the busiest ports in the country. This allows for continued monitoring of port operations without the added red tape created by the commission.”

Christie vetoed the same measure in 2015 because he said he didn't think New Jersey could legally withdraw from the bi-state pact. He did not explain the reason for his change of opinion this time around.

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Photo by Martin Griff | The Times of Trenton

Renaming an Atlantic City landmark for a late state senator

Boardwalk Hall, a landmark on the Atlantic City boardwalk, will soon be renamed in honor of the late state Sen. Jim Whelan, who represented the city for decades, first as mayor and then as a state legislator.

Whelan, a Democrat, died of a heart attack in August.

“Jim Whelan was a friend and mentor to thousands in Atlantic County over his decades-long career as a teacher, councilman, mayor, assemblyman and senator,” Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, said in a statement. “To many, Jim Whelan was the best of Atlantic City. I’m glad to know that his memory will live on forever in the city that he loved and that loved him.”

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Photo by Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

THE VETOES

Christie also chose to let a number of bills expire. By not taking any action, a bill is "pocket-vetoed."

Here's a look at some of the legislation that did not make it passed Christie's desk.

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Permission to drive

This Democratic-sponsored bill would have created a special driver's license to allow residents who have suspended licenses because of unpaid fines or excess points to drive to certain places, such as work, school, child care, or health-care facilities. It would not have been open to people convicted of violent offenses.

Christie gave no reason for why he didn’t sign the measure.

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Photo courtesy of AL.com

No to 'Nosey's Law'

Christie rejected an attempt to ban elephants and other exotic animals from traveling fairs and circuses in New Jersey.

But expect the legislation known as "Nosey's Law" to make a comeback. Former state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, one of the prime sponsors, said his colleague, state Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, D-Camden, will resubmit the bill with some changes.

"A new bill with an education exemption to assuage the concerns from zoos will be on Governor Murphy's desk in a few weeks," Lesniak wrote on his Facebook page Monday.

New Jersey would have been the first to ban exotic animals such as elephants from carnivals, circuses, fairs, parades, petting zoos and similar live events, according to the measure, S2508.

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Police shooting investigations will remain local

This measure would have put a state prosecutor in charge of investigating every fatal police shooting in New Jersey.

It would have the state's attorney general investigate every death involving law enforcement. Currently, such investigations are generally handled by county prosecutors in cases involving local police and the attorney general in those involving state or county authorities.

The state's police unions called the bill an unnecessary intrusion into sensitive investigations.

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7 other 'last acts' by Christie

Here are other things Christie did in his final days:

1. Issued 26 last-minute clemency orders

2. Released report warning about raising the millionaires tax

3. Signed bill aimed at luring Amazon with $5B offer

4. Declared his final state of emergency (during the snowstorm) as governor

5. Took action that could force bigger pension payments

6. Shook up the state's psychiatric hospitals

7. Delivered a feisty State of the State address highlighting his record

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.