Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1553) extends the deadline for college students to apply for a temporary substitute teacher credential in New Jersey. It changes the current application window - originally set to end June 30, 2023 - to June 30, 2026, allowing students enrolled in accredited colleges with at least 30 completed semester credits to apply under this pathway. The bill also extends the deadline for the Commissioner of Education to issue a report on this credential pathway, requiring the report to be submitted within one year of the new deadline (June 30, 2026). This directly affects college students seeking substitute teaching roles who meet the credit and age requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey businesses with tax credits for hiring released nonviolent offenders. Specifically, it allows a credit equal to 15% of wages paid to eligible individuals (capped at $900 per employee) against both the corporation business tax and gross income tax. To qualify, an offender must have committed a nonviolent crime (excluding certain dangerous offenses), completed incarceration or community supervision, and been released to the community. The credit applies to wages paid during the tax year and cannot exceed 50% of the business's tax liability for that year.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows children aged three through five with developmental delays or disabilities to continue receiving early intervention services without interruption. Currently, services typically end at age three as children transition to preschool special education; this bill extends eligibility until age six or when a child enters kindergarten, whichever occurs first. It requires the Department of Health to comply with federal IDEA Part C regulations, including obtaining parental consent for continued services. The change aims to minimize disruption in care during the transition period while maintaining federal compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts veterans from paying any camping facilities fee at New Jersey State parks and forests. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans (including those who served in the American Merchant Marine during WWII) and Gold Star Family members, who will no longer pay fees for campsites, cabins, lean-tos, or shelters. The law amends existing statutes to prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection from charging these fees for veterans' use of park facilities. The exemption applies immediately upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the BRAVE Act, requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to prioritize vendors with higher percentages of veteran employees when awarding contracts for goods or services. Specifically, for each contract, the DMVA must compare the top three vendors based on the percentage of their full-time employees who are veterans (defined as honorably discharged veterans or disabled veterans certified by the VA), and award the contract to the vendor with the highest percentage. Vendors must submit employee data, which the DMVA must verify within 30 days; false claims can result in a five-year contract ban for the vendor and its principals. The bill directly affects businesses seeking DMVA contracts and aims to support veteran employment by creating a financial incentive for hiring veterans.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution 59 (AR 59) is a non-binding resolution urging New Jersey schools and colleges to include veterans and active military members in discussions about military service, military values, and leadership. It directly affects all K-12 schools and higher education institutions across New Jersey. The resolution encourages schools to invite veterans and service members to share their experiences, particularly during Veterans Month in November, to help students understand military values like integrity and service. It does not create new legal requirements but formally requests that educational institutions incorporate these perspectives into relevant curriculum or events.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A298 requires the Department of Education to annually collect and publicly publish data on the use of physical restraints and seclusion on students with disabilities in public schools, school districts, and approved private schools. The bill mandates that this data include the frequency, duration, and type of restraint or seclusion used, while protecting student privacy. The published data must be disaggregated by county, student race, gender, and age to enable transparency and identify potential disparities. This policy change focuses solely on data collection and reporting, without altering school practices or requiring changes to restraint protocols.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2310) requires all health insurance carriers to cover mental health treatment and therapy for victims of domestic violence as medically necessary, providing full benefits without limitations. It applies to all health insurance providers, including hospitals, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and individual and group health insurance plans. The bill amends current law to mandate that mental health treatment for domestic violence victims be treated the same as physical injury treatment for coverage purposes. This fills a gap where insurance previously covered physical injuries from domestic violence but not mental health services for the same victims. The coverage requirement applies to all plans where insurers can change premiums.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires crisis hotline centers contracted with New Jersey's Department of Human Services to employ staff with prior experience working with military veterans. The Commissioner of Human Services must include this requirement in rules governing staffing qualifications, training, and experience for these centers. These centers are part of the state's 24/7 mobile behavioral health crisis response system, which provides emergency mental health services. The policy change specifically adds veteran experience as a staffing criterion without altering other existing service requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools with grades 9-12 to have counselors or teachers discuss career opportunities in skilled trades, military service, and agriculture with students and their parents/guardians. Schools must also provide information about military enlistment tests during these discussions. The state education commissioner, working with labor and agriculture officials, must supply schools with resources detailing required education, certifications, or apprenticeships for these career paths. The law applies to all high schools starting the first full school year after enactment.