Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryAJR 101 designates the second Friday in December each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to honor paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). This resolution directly recognizes PSRPs - including instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians, and maintenance workers - who support students through tutoring, classroom assistance, translation, meal service, and facility upkeep. The key mechanism is an annual observance calling on the Governor, Legislature, and citizens to acknowledge these workers' contributions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but establishes a recurring day of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to consult with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) when a court finds that a person who abused or neglected a child has a developmental disability and qualifies for DDD services. It mandates DCPP to work with DDD to create a tailored services plan for that individual, considering their disability. DDD must then determine the most appropriate service methods based on the person's specific disability needs. The policy change applies directly to adults with developmental disabilities involved in child abuse/neglect cases who are eligible for DDD support, ensuring their treatment aligns with disability-specific care standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecom, cable, and internet providers in New Jersey to let customers cancel service contracts without early fees when moving to a long-term care facility for at least 90 days. It applies to individuals receiving a physician's referral or care plan for relocation to licensed facilities like nursing homes, assisted living, or dementia care homes. Customers must typically provide 45 days' notice (or 48 hours if a physician orders immediate relocation), and providers may request a physician's letter as proof. The bill does not relieve customers of equipment return fees or payments for equipment they already purchased.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the New Jersey Department of Health to increase public awareness about xylazine, a veterinary drug not approved for human use that is being used recreationally and linked to overdose deaths. It requests the Department to provide educational resources informing residents about xylazine's health risks - including its incompatibility with naloxone (used for opioid overdoses) and its frequent combination with fentanyl - which can cause severe complications like skin ulcers and dangerous respiratory depression. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but calls on the Department to address this public health concern through targeted outreach. The resolution specifically highlights xylazine's role in rising overdose deaths in New Jersey and surrounding states.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $500,000 in state funding to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) for its Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The funds directly support approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and 7,000 at-risk individuals by covering pre-symptomatic testing, neurology/psychiatry services, counseling, and disease management through grants to eligible institutions. The supplemental appropriation raises the program's total FY2023 funding from an estimated $200,437 to $700,437. It does not change eligibility criteria but increases available resources for existing services. The bill is a straightforward funding measure with no new requirements or procedural changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5148) allows 12th-grade students in New Jersey public schools to have excused absences for military enlistment activities without penalty. It directly affects students planning to join the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard, covering required activities like testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting. The absence is recorded as excused on attendance records, does not appear on transcripts or employment forms, and is excluded from perfect attendance calculations. Schools may require documentation to verify the student's eligibility under this provision. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus personnel transporting students with disabilities to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies and report these calls to the Office of Special Education. It mandates that school buses carrying students with disabilities be equipped with interior video cameras, real-time GPS tracking, and two-way communication devices. The bill expands training requirements for school bus personnel to include recognizing and responding to potential life-threatening emergencies involving students with disabilities. School bus contractors and school districts that fail to comply face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, and video footage and GPS data must be retained for at least 180 days.

Maddy summarySJR 71 designates the first full week of May each year as "Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week" in New Jersey to honor veterans who sustained physical or mental injuries while serving. The resolution requests the Governor issue a proclamation encouraging public awareness and support for wounded veterans adjusting to civilian life. It does not create new programs or funding but formally recognizes the challenges faced by veterans, including those with combat-related stress, depression, or traumatic brain injuries. This ceremonial designation applies statewide and became law in December 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4148, now P.L.2024, c.103) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE) to create and distribute informational materials about type 1 diabetes to parents and guardians of public school students. The materials must explain type 1 diabetes, its warning signs, screening recommendations, treatment planning, and school care protocols, as specified in the law. School districts must make these resources available to families through the DOE website. The law took effect immediately upon approval and directly affects all parents/guardians of students in New Jersey public schools.

Maddy summaryBill A5109 establishes the "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Grant Program" within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The program provides grants to accredited nonprofit organizations (requiring 501(c)(3) status and accreditation by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation) to provide service dogs to disabled veterans at no cost. Key provisions include requiring nonprofits to submit detailed proposals covering training, marketing to veterans, and humane animal standards, while DMVA must provide veterinary insurance for the dogs that continues even after the grant ends. The bill prohibits nonprofits from charging veterans fees and mandates annual reports on the program's effectiveness.