Asm. Tennille McCoy

Maddy summaryAJR 156 establishes the "Williams and Amenhotep New Jersey Task Force on Missing Persons" to review and improve how New Jersey handles missing persons cases. The task force, composed of nine members including state agency heads, police representatives, and appointed public members, will examine statewide law enforcement responses to missing persons reports and investigate best practices for investigations. Within 12 months of forming, the task force must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature with findings and recommendations for potential policy changes. The task force will dissolve three months after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryAJR 157 designates September each year as "Emergency Preparedness Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about disaster readiness. The resolution requests the Governor issue a proclamation encouraging residents and officials to observe the month with activities focused on preparedness. It highlights key steps for families, such as creating evacuation plans, establishing communication strategies, and reviewing property insurance, without imposing new legal requirements. The bill directly affects all New Jersey residents by promoting proactive planning for natural or manmade emergencies. This is a symbolic resolution, not a law with new regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public high schools and charter schools to mandate that all students (and their parents or guardians) complete a financial aid application as a condition for receiving a high school diploma, making a temporary requirement permanent. Students may qualify for an exemption through a waiver signed by a parent/guardian (or by the student if 18+), or a school counselor may approve a waiver for students under 18 when parental consent cannot be obtained. The state must provide resources like guides and webinars to help families complete the application, and schools must annually notify families of this requirement. Schools cannot penalize students for having a waiver, and the law does not require school staff to assist with the application process.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Manufacturing Reboot Program" within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide financial assistance to qualifying manufacturing businesses affected by the pandemic. It directly targets businesses operating in New Jersey with specific criteria: they must pay above-average salaries, provide health benefits, and be at risk of discontinuing operations due to pandemic impacts. The program offers grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 per business for equipment, payroll, or employee training, prioritizing those retooling to produce healthcare products like vaccines, PPE, or medical devices. The bill appropriates $10 million from the state General Fund - $5 million specifically for vaccine manufacturing and $5 million for other healthcare products - to fund these grants, with recipients required to report quarterly on employment and fund usage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3991) directs New Jersey's State Board of Education to create a new "general science" endorsement for teaching certificates. This endorsement would allow certified teachers to teach any high school science course (grades 9-12), rather than being restricted to specific subjects like biology or chemistry. To qualify, teachers must hold a science-related degree (biology, chemistry, physics, or equivalent), maintain a 3.0 GPA, pass basic skills and subject matter tests, and meet other commissioner requirements. Existing science teachers with specialized endorsements (e.g., biology, chemistry) can apply for this general endorsement if they meet the new standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to award academic credit to undergraduate students who volunteer as emergency responders. It applies to those who served within five years before enrollment (or concurrently) with approved organizations like fire companies, EMS squads, or emergency management offices, provided they hold required certifications and submit proof of hours. Credit amounts must match the volunteer hours and apply toward relevant coursework. The Secretary of Higher Education must develop credit recommendations for institutions, but the bill does not require schools to admit students or waive admission standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems serving over 500 customers (not regulated public utilities) to publish specific operational information online. They must post service area maps, annual budgets, financial reports, management contact details, and a list of vendors paid $17,500+ annually. The goal is to increase public transparency about water system operations and spending. The requirement applies to all qualifying water purveyors, not individual residents. The bill supplements New Jersey's existing Water Quality Accountability Act.

Maddy summaryAJR 158 establishes a 13-member task force to study ways to increase diversity within New Jersey's law enforcement agencies, including state, local, and municipal departments. The task force will examine current diversity data, identify effective recruitment and retention strategies, and develop recommendations for implementation. It includes members from both legislative chambers, law enforcement unions, civil rights organizations (like the NAACP and ACLU), and community representatives from urban and non-urban areas. The task force must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its formation. This resolution directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies by initiating a formal review of diversity efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice, video, and electronic mail services to incarcerated individuals, eliminating all fees for calls or messages. It prohibits facilities from charging per-minute rates, setup fees, or any other charges to incarcerated persons or their families, and mandates that services must be provided at no cost to any party. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover implementation costs, ensuring facilities can provide these services without financial burden. As a result, incarcerated individuals and their families will no longer face costs previously associated with communication, such as domestic call fees up to 11 cents per minute.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey's Department of Transportation to establish a paratransit brokerage program that consolidates two separate paratransit services currently provided by different state agencies: ADA paratransit service (managed by NJ Transit under the Access Link program) and Medicaid paratransit service (managed by the Department of Human Services). The program would be managed by a transportation broker contracted by DOT, using interactive software that allows eligible passengers to schedule service requests and paratransit providers to competitively bid to fulfill those requests. The brokerage model aims to achieve cost savings and operational efficiencies by creating a single streamlined system, with compensation for providers based solely on fulfilled service requests. The program would initially exclude county transit agencies and community organizations but could be expanded after a study assessing cost savings and provider network capacity.