Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to keep nasal rescue medications (like diazepam or midazolam sprays) and portable oxygen devices in secure, accessible locations throughout all school buildings and during school events. School nurses must designate trained staff to administer these during seizures if the nurse isn't present, after obtaining parental written consent and confirming staff training through state-established protocols. Parents must sign agreements acknowledging the school has no liability for injuries from administration and agree to cover potential costs. The state will reimburse districts for these costs, with training protocols developed by the Department of Education and Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to create a new "Teacher of the Blind or Visually Impaired Kindergarten through Grade 12" endorsement for instructional certificates. It directly affects educators seeking to teach blind or visually impaired students in public schools, allowing them to hold this specialized endorsement without needing additional subject or grade-level endorsements. To qualify, candidates must complete a state-approved training program for this specialty. The bill addresses a current gap where teachers needed multiple endorsements, aiming to help schools hire qualified specialists amid a nationwide shortage of such educators.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey health insurance companies and other covered health plans from limiting coverage based on the duration of anesthesia services before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. It directly affects insurance carriers (including health maintenance organizations and hospital service corporations) by requiring them to cover anesthesia services without time-based restrictions. The law uses standard medical coding (from the American Medical Association) to define anesthesia services, ensuring coverage applies to all procedures where anesthesia is used. It takes effect 90 days after enactment for new or renewed insurance policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide public boat access at state-owned lakes where boating is permitted, within two years of enactment. The DEP must either build access points or contract with private marinas via public bidding to ensure the public can launch boats with or without motors. It appropriates $1 million from the state General Fund specifically to fund this access. The law directly affects public boaters seeking access to lakes like Greenwood Lake, which currently lacks public boat launches as private marinas restrict or eliminate day-use access.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 409) updates New Jersey's domestic violence restraining order laws. It ensures that a final restraining order continues to protect other people listed in the order - even if the original person who filed the order (the plaintiff) dies. The bill also requires prosecutors to notify all protected individuals (not just the original plaintiff) when a defendant charged with domestic violence is released from custody. These changes aim to strengthen ongoing safety protections for families and others covered by the order.

Maddy summaryThis bill suspends time limits for county planning boards to review land development applications during declared emergencies. It applies to all county planning boards and anyone submitting subdivision or site plan applications. The suspension begins when a state of emergency is declared (by the President, Governor under specific laws, or via public health emergency) and lasts until 60 days after the emergency ends. During this period, applications cannot be automatically approved due to the board's inaction.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's cosmetology licensing exam requirements. It expands language options beyond English by requiring the State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to offer practical and written exams in English plus the four most commonly spoken languages in the state (determined using Census data). This affects both new applicants and practicing licensees, who may now take each exam portion in one of these four languages or use a translator for practical exams if approved by the board. The Division of Consumer Affairs must verify and update the list of available languages every five years using official data. The change replaces the current limited option of Spanish for practicing licensees.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's protected tenancy law to provide senior citizens (62+ years) and disabled tenants with lifelong protection from eviction when landlords convert rental buildings to condos or cooperatives. It directly affects eligible tenants who meet income requirements and have lived in the property for at least one year, preventing forced moves due to ownership changes. The key change modifies the existing law to guarantee protected tenancy "for the full lifetime" of qualifying tenants, rather than a maximum 40-year period. This ensures these tenants can remain in their homes without rent hikes or lease changes solely because of a conversion, addressing concerns about displacement during economic hardship.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 846 requires the Secretary of State to establish a statewide voter list maintenance program that cross-checks voter registration data with information from state agencies, including the Motor Vehicle Commission (for driver's license records), the Department of Health (death records), and the Department of Corrections (incarceration data). This program aims to remove ineligible voters (e.g., deceased, non-residents, incarcerated individuals) while preventing errors that might remove eligible voters. The bill mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing the program's effectiveness, system security, and recommendations for improvement. It directly affects voters (through potential registration updates), county election officials (responsible for data entry), and state agencies (required to share data).

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (ACR 59) declares that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) proposed "NJPACT-REAL" rules - aimed at climate resilience and expanding flood zones - are inconsistent with legislative intent. It challenges the DEP's authority to unilaterally create these rules, arguing they exceed constitutional limits since the Legislature never authorized such sweeping changes through new laws. The resolution requires the DEP to amend or withdraw the rules within 30 days or face potential legislative action to invalidate them. This is a procedural step, not a law altering policies, focusing solely on the DEP's proposed rules' constitutional validity.