Asm. Tennille McCoy

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (ACR 123) urges the U.S. President, Congress, and USDA to address rising SNAP benefit fraud. It specifically requests permanent federal authorization to replace stolen SNAP benefits retroactively to October 2021 (not just 2022), and funding to transition all SNAP EBT cards from vulnerable magnetic strips to secure EMV chip technology. The resolution targets fraud where criminals install skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals to steal card data and duplicate EBT cards, leaving SNAP recipients without recourse. It directly affects low-income households nationwide who rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance. The resolution does not create new law but calls for federal action to protect this vulnerable population.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE), working with the Departments of Human Services and Children's Services, to create and distribute guidelines to all public school districts for improving student mental health services. The guidelines must cover key areas like multi-tiered mental health support systems, culturally sensitive care, virtual service options, community partnerships, and provider-to-student ratios, based on a 2022 state resource guide. School districts must use these guidelines to enhance their mental health programs, and the DOE will post them online with links to professional development resources. The guidelines must be reviewed and updated annually with input from educators, mental health professionals, and school administrators.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (with input from the Department of Health) to conduct a detailed study of the state's healthcare workforce. The study must examine current vacancy rates, workforce composition (by race, ethnicity, gender, occupation, education, and regional distribution), patient care needs by region, and future workforce supply versus demand. It will identify gaps in staffing and recommend solutions to address them. The commissioner must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date. The study applies to all healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care centers, and home health agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year "Conception to Cradle Pilot Program" within New Jersey's Department of Education to provide integrated early childhood services. The program targets 50 public schools with the worst student performance in low-income communities, requiring them to partner with health and social service providers to offer prenatal care, pediatric health services, and developmental support for infants and toddlers from birth to age three. A nonprofit organization will manage the pilot, train school staff, assign site coordinators (employed by the nonprofit, not the school), and develop selection criteria prioritizing schools serving under-resourced communities. The program includes annual audits and an evaluation, funded through a dedicated nonlapsing state fund that may accept private contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $2 million program to support volunteer firefighters in New Jersey. It provides new volunteers with a $750 monthly stipend for their first year of service (up to 15 hours monthly), funded through a dedicated state fund. The bill also establishes tuition help for volunteer firefighters attending college, a $1,000 annual tax credit for those completing 100+ service hours, and requires school districts to include fire service education in health classes. These measures directly target recruitment and retention by offering financial incentives and early career exposure to students.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member Interagency Council on Menopause within New Jersey's Department of Health. The council includes 3 Department of Health officials (ex officio) and 12 public members appointed by the Governor, such as individuals with menopause experience, healthcare providers, researchers, and advocates. Its key duties include promoting evidence-based menopause care, creating multilingual educational resources for health providers, supporting research, and developing state-supported treatment services. The council must report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its findings and recommendations regarding menopause care access and quality. This bill directly affects New Jersey residents experiencing menopause and the state's healthcare system.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A441) exempts volunteer firefighters with five or more years of fire suppression or rescue experience from being barred from active duty solely due to lacking certification or not meeting non-mandatory requirements. It applies to all fire departments (paid, part-paid, or volunteer) across New Jersey, preventing them from prohibiting experienced firefighters based on unmet non-statutory standards. The key provision requires departments to allow these qualified individuals to continue firefighting work regardless of their certification status, as long as the requirement they don't meet isn't mandated by law. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions from asking about applicants' criminal history on admission applications, with exceptions for serious offenses including sexual assault, kidnapping, human trafficking, and criminal homicide. It establishes a 24-member Universal College Application Development Task Force to create a standard application that allows students to apply to multiple institutions with a single form. After admission, institutions may inquire about criminal history for counseling services or campus participation decisions, but must consider factors like the nature of the offense, time passed since the offense, and evidence of rehabilitation. Law schools are exempt from these requirements, and the task force must submit its final report within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $100 million in existing federal funds (from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for grants to local governments. It creates a program to fund drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects, requiring the DEP to establish transparent grant criteria and publish them online within six months. At least 10% of the funds must support projects targeting harmful algal blooms in Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake, while up to 3% covers program administration. The DEP must report on all funded projects to the Governor and Legislature within three years, after which the program expires.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution 112 urges New Jersey public schools to implement share tables in cafeterias to reduce food waste and address food insecurity. Share tables are designated areas where students can leave unopened, unconsumed food for others to take or donate to food pantries, directly affecting school cafeterias and students. The resolution cites that 21% of school lunch calories are wasted and nearly 10% of children in New Jersey face food insecurity. It is a non-binding resolution that would be shared with school officials for consideration but does not require schools to adopt the program.