Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to annually collect data from schools on the use of physical restraints and seclusion on students with disabilities. Schools must report the number of incidents, types of restraint/seclusion used, duration, and the number of affected students. The Department must publish this data online each year, broken down by county, student race, gender, and age, while protecting student privacy. It directly affects all public and private schools serving students with disabilities in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey counties to expand community mental health programs to include mental health services specifically for veterans and prohibits denying veterans these services based solely on their military status. It amends existing law to explicitly list "Services for veterans" as a required component of community mental health centers and mandates that state funding for mental health services must cover veterans in need. Counties must refer veterans to the VA for eligibility determination while ensuring they receive county services during the wait, and cannot deny services due to veteran status or VA wait times. The bill directly affects veterans seeking mental health care and county mental health programs receiving state funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program offering tax credits to New Jersey commercial farms that donate edible fruits and vegetables to local charities. Farm operators can claim a 50% credit (up to $5,000 per donation period) against their corporation business tax or gross income tax for the wholesale value of donated produce. To qualify, farms must obtain written verification from charities detailing the donation’s variety, grade, quantity, and value, with the Secretary of Agriculture setting monthly wholesale value rates. The program caps total annual credits at $100,000 and requires donations to be documented through a standardized form. It directly affects commercial farms and qualifying charities, aiming to incentivize food donations while reducing tax liability.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 396) prohibits posting, publishing, or disclosing on the Internet the home address or unpublished phone number of active-duty military personnel, New Jersey National Guard members, or their spouses/children without consent. It directly affects military members and their families by preventing online exposure that could lead to harassment or safety risks. Violations carry criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison for intentional acts) or require paying $1,000 per violation plus damages in civil lawsuits. Government agencies must obtain written permission before sharing such information online.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 360) prohibits New Jersey school districts and public colleges from banning active-duty military members or veterans from speaking to students at school events, classes, assemblies, graduation ceremonies, or student groups. It requires schools to forward any correspondence from military/veterans seeking to speak to county superintendents and mandates that schools cannot adopt policies blocking such addresses. Violations risk state aid reductions for school districts (via the Commissioner of Education) or public colleges (via the State Treasurer). The law applies immediately to all public educational settings in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 853) requires certain residential care facilities in New Jersey to provide parents, legal guardians, or authorized representatives with real-time online access to residents' medical and personal histories. It directly affects residents of community-based residential programs (like group homes for people with developmental disabilities) and long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes and assisted living centers). The online portal must include all medications, treatments, procedures, and important incidents like falls or injuries, updated continuously during the resident's stay. The law mandates this access at all times and allows health and human services officials to create necessary rules to implement it, effective 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $10 million grant program to support New Jersey's volunteer fire companies. It creates a permanent fund within the Division of Fire Safety to provide annual grants covering operational costs and emergency equipment (like protective gear, tools, and maintenance), but not new vehicles or buildings. Volunteer fire companies must apply with detailed plans for how funds will be used to sustain operations, and recipients must report on expenditures and impacts. The program aims to strengthen community fire services through direct financial support to local volunteer departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates for honorably discharged veterans. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of honorable discharge (like a DD-214 form) and pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual fee. The plates must display "Veteran" and the veteran's military branch insignia, designed with input from the Adjutant General. Fees collected fund a dedicated veterans' support account, with initial costs potentially offset by private donations up to $25,000. The program requires annual certification of costs and can be discontinued if fees don't cover expenses for two consecutive years.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands when juveniles (under 18) can be sent to adult court for motor vehicle theft or unlawful taking. It adds specific offenses - like theft of a motor vehicle under N.J.S.2C:20-10.1 or unlawful taking under N.J.S.2C:20-10 - to the list of crimes that automatically trigger a waiver to adult court if the juvenile has *previously* been found delinquent for the same offense. The key mechanism requires prosecutors to seek waiver for these cases without the juvenile’s consent, with courts considering factors like the juvenile’s prior record and maturity. It directly affects juveniles with prior adjudications for motor vehicle theft or unlawful taking, potentially leading to adult criminal sentencing instead of juvenile court processing.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends early intervention services to children aged three through five who are already receiving these services at age three. It requires the Department of Health to allow eligible children to continue receiving early intervention services until they turn six years old or become eligible for kindergarten, whichever occurs first. The services must comply with federal early intervention rules, including parental consent requirements. This change aims to minimize service disruptions during the transition from early intervention to school-based special education. The bill directly affects young children with developmental delays and their families in New Jersey.