Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 711 requires public colleges and universities to create and maintain cyber security plans to protect student and staff data. The plans must cover monitoring for threats, assessing risks, preventing breaches, and responding to incidents. Institutions must regularly update these plans and consult with the state’s Cybersecurity Center for best practices. The bill defines a "cyber attack" as unauthorized access to personal information (like Social Security numbers or financial data) without proper security, but excludes phishing attempts and legitimate employee data use. It also mandates reporting actual cyber attacks to the state office while clarifying what does not count as an attack.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 719) amends New Jersey's statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions involving DNA or fingerprint evidence. It clarifies that the time limit for prosecuting such cases does not begin until the state confirms a match between crime scene evidence and a suspect's DNA or fingerprint. This directly affects prosecutions for serious crimes where DNA/fingerprint evidence is key, such as sexual assault or homicide cases. The change corrects a previous court interpretation (State v. Thompson) that had incorrectly placed the start date earlier. The policy change ensures prosecutions can proceed once a match is verified, not just when evidence is collected.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes where juvenile delinquency cases must be heard in New Jersey. It requires that when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act, the case must be prosecuted in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. Currently, cases could sometimes be heard in the juvenile's home county unless a court found "good cause" to keep it in the incident county. The bill removes this exception, making the county of the incident the mandatory location for prosecution. This applies specifically to juvenile delinquency cases handled under New Jersey's juvenile court system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain rooming and boarding houses, as well as cooperative sober living residences, to comply with municipal land use regulations like zoning rules. It specifically mandates that applicants for a state Class F license to operate a cooperative sober living residence must submit written approvals from local zoning, fire, health, and building authorities with their license application. Currently, these facilities were exempt from municipal land use regulations (though subject to construction codes), but this bill removes that exemption for land use. The change directly affects owners and operators of these housing types in New Jersey, requiring new paperwork for state licensing. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryBill A-1838 removes a current prohibition that prevents New Jersey state/local government agencies and private detention facilities from entering agreements to detain noncitizens for civil immigration violations. Currently, such agreements are barred under state law, but this bill would permit them. The key change eliminates the ban on immigration detention agreements, allowing entities to enter, renew, or extend these contracts. This directly affects how New Jersey manages noncitizen detention under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bribery statute (N.J.S.2C:27-2) to clarify that receiving any unauthorized benefit - whether before or after an official act - constitutes bribery. It directly affects public officials, party leaders, and voters who might accept such benefits in exchange for decisions, votes, or official actions. The key change adds that "benefit as consideration" includes payments received at any time relative to the official act, not just before. This update responds to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited similar federal law to pre-act benefits. The amendment ensures New Jersey's law covers all bribery scenarios involving timing of benefits.

Maddy summaryBill A 660 requires New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to conduct criminal history background checks on prospective employees who need access to security-sensitive areas (defined as areas critical to facility and operational security). It mandates fingerprinting with written consent, prohibits hiring if disqualifying records exist, and gives applicants 20 days to appeal disqualifications based on record accuracy or rehabilitation. Current security employees must wear visible photo identification cards displaying their name, photo, signature, and employment proof at all times while on duty, and are prohibited from sharing these cards. The bill directly affects NJ Transit security personnel in roles requiring access to sensitive areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey shore municipalities to offer free or reduced beach access fees to the spouse and dependent children (over age 12) of veterans who were honorably discharged after at least 90 days of active duty or due to a service-connected injury/disability. It amends existing law, which already permits fee waivers for active military personnel, National Guard members, seniors, and others, by adding veterans to the eligible group. Municipalities are not required to adopt this policy but may choose to do so via local ordinance. Veterans can verify eligibility using standard documents like a DD-214 form or state veteran ID.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 14-member task force to develop safety and economic guidelines for tourism-dependent businesses in Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean, and Monmouth counties. The task force must create reopening guidance (including social distancing), assess economic impacts on these businesses, and evaluate how its recommendations affect coronavirus spread. Members include health officials, tourism department representatives, bipartisan legislators, and business owners from each affected county. The task force must submit its report to county health departments, the state chamber of commerce, the governor, and legislature within 30 days, after which the bill expires.

Maddy summaryBill A-675 prohibits New Jersey Transit (NJT) from making major rail yard modifications - such as adding tracks, building fuel tanks, or upgrading facilities - near environmentally sensitive areas. It specifically applies to rail yards located within coastal zones, within 1,000 feet of wetlands or tidal water bodies, or where water flows into the Barnegat Bay Estuary. NJT must obtain the Governor’s written authorization after consulting the Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA before proceeding with such changes. This law aims to protect ecological areas by requiring environmental review and approvals before rail yard alterations.