Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThe "Improved Suicide Prevention, Response, and Treatment Act" (A1536) requires psychiatric facilities, outpatient mental health providers, and suicide hotlines in New Jersey to maintain 24/7 access to trained suicide prevention counselors who conduct standardized risk assessments and provide ongoing counseling to at-risk patients. The bill mandates "warm hand-offs" to appropriate care during transitions, requires law enforcement officers to complete annual suicide response training focused on de-escalation, and requires health insurance to cover suicide prevention assessments and counseling services. It prohibits discharging at-risk patients into homelessness or having them arrested unless they pose an uncontrollable risk to others. The law aims to improve coordinated care for people experiencing suicidal crises across health, emergency, and law enforcement systems through standardized protocols and accountability measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to provide public employers (non-State entities participating in SHBP) with detailed claims data upon written request. It mandates inclusion of 26 specific data points, including prescription utilization reports (top 50 drugs by volume/cost), medical claims summaries by diagnosis, and provider information, while maintaining HIPAA-compliant privacy safeguards. Public employers may request this data once per calendar year (reducing the prior 24-month limit), and employee majority representatives can also access it within 15 days of a public employer’s request. The bill directly affects public employers and their employees by increasing transparency into health plan spending and utilization patterns.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program offering financial support to licensed mental health professionals in New Jersey who provide full-time services to children and adolescents. Eligible professionals can receive up to $1,000 annually toward student loan repayment (max 4 years) and a $1,000 annual gross income tax credit for working in qualifying roles. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents, hold relevant licenses, work full-time serving youth, and have outstanding student loans without default. The program requires annual verification of residency, employment, and loan balance, with penalties for false claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school boards to give hiring preference to veterans for teaching positions when veterans are equally qualified as other candidates in all measurable criteria. It applies to all public school districts except those using Civil Service rules (Title 11A), where existing civil service veteran preference provisions would take precedence for classified staff. The preference is limited to the hiring process itself and does not guarantee employment. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1069) requires New Jersey school districts hosting high school college or career fairs to notify all registered apprenticeship programs in their county about the event. School districts must provide the fair's date, time, location, and registration instructions for apprenticeship programs to participate. The law directly affects school districts organizing such fairs and registered apprenticeship programs seeking to attend. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft) operating in New Jersey to notify riders within 48 hours about two specific account changes: updates to personal information (password, email, or phone number) or unusual ride patterns (e.g., sudden spikes in prearranged rides). It also mandates that companies provide 24/7 access to a live customer service representative via digital channels or phone to resolve account issues or dispute unauthorized charges. Transportation network companies must annually submit written compliance descriptions to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. These requirements apply directly to riders using TNC services and affect all companies seeking or maintaining a permit to operate in the state.

Maddy summaryACR 102 is a non-binding resolution urging New Jersey's Department of Education to impose a two-year moratorium on developing or implementing new Student Learning Standards. It requests this pause due to recent adoption of standards in 2020, parent concerns about current standards, and pandemic-related learning loss. The resolution does not change existing standards but asks the Department to halt new standards development while the Legislature considers related bills addressing learning loss. This affects the Department's curriculum planning process during the moratorium period.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily reduces New Jersey's corporate business tax rate from 9% to 7.5% for five tax years (starting January 1 after enactment) and repeals the 2.5% corporation business surtax. It directly affects most corporations (excluding S corporations and partnerships with over $100,000 annual net income) by lowering their tax burden on net income. The key provisions are the rate reduction and surtax repeal, which were set to expire in 2023. The sponsor states the goal is to promote economic development and job creation by easing taxes for businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to set maximum hourly rates for self-directed employees (caregivers hired directly by eligible individuals) equal to the rates paid to contracted service providers for identical services, duration, and care level. Currently, self-directed employee rates average $20-$25/hour for high-acuity support, while service providers receive about $51/hour for the same care. The bill mandates that the division establish provider rates as the ceiling for self-directed rates, closing this pay gap. It directly affects individuals using self-direction services and their authorized representatives who hire personal caregivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines EMT-Basic certification by capping total required training hours at 90 for initial certification and 30 for additional certifications within an EMT-Basic scope of practice. Training agencies offering EMT-Basic programs exceeding these hour limits would become ineligible for state certification. The bill directly affects EMT trainees, training programs, and the New Jersey Department of Health. It aims to make certification more accessible by reducing training burdens, aligning with practices in other states.