Asm. Tennille McCoy

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member Task Force on Mercury Exposure in Schools and Child Care Centers within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force will examine health risks from mercury in flooring, develop testing protocols for schools and licensed child care centers, create remediation standards, and provide implementation strategies. It requires the task force to submit a final report with recommendations within one year of its formation, after which it will dissolve. The bill directly affects public and nonpublic schools and licensed child care centers statewide by creating a structured process to address potential mercury hazards in their facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes guidelines for how landlords assess creditworthiness when renting affordable housing. It prohibits using credit scores to deny housing to applicants with federal or state tenant-based housing subsidies (like Section 8 vouchers), except when an individualized assessment shows repeated failure to pay rent while receiving a subsidy. For other affordable housing applicants, landlords must conduct individualized assessments considering income, employment, payment history, health factors, and budgeting efforts rather than relying solely on credit scores. Landlords must provide written denial notices explaining their decision in English and Spanish, and submit annual reports to the Attorney General with demographic data on denials. The bill aims to prevent credit-based discrimination against low and moderate-income households seeking housing they can afford.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey nurse aide workforce development program to support individuals seeking certification. It requires the Department of Health to provide free information on certification benefits, requirements, and cost protections - such as no fees for certification exams during training for those employed in long-term care facilities, and reimbursement for training costs within 12 months of hiring. A one-year pilot program will reimburse eligible nurse aide students up to 25% of training costs after course completion. All resources will be centralized on a dedicated Department of Health website, using available funds and expiring 365 days after the pilot begins.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 26-member Behavioral Health Services Task Force within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. The task force will review and analyze the state's mental health and substance use disorder services across all counties, identifying gaps in care for children, adolescents, and adults. Over 18 months, it will conduct county-by-county surveys and make recommendations to improve emergency access, coordinate services, maximize funding, and develop new programs. The task force will expire after submitting its final report to the Governor and Legislature. It directly affects all New Jersey residents seeking behavioral health services by aiming to improve system-wide access and quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Life Sciences Training and Development Program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), funded by allocating 2% of workforce development funds. It connects life sciences employers across New Jersey with college graduates in life sciences fields through job training and career development programs hosted at employers' locations or higher education institutions. The program provides employers with free worker training, preparing graduates for immediate employment in life sciences roles. DOLWD must evaluate the program's effectiveness in promoting life sciences business growth and employment within five years of its implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a voluntary program for New Jersey drivers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to self-identify. Participants must submit a medical certification form (signed by a doctor) to their local police department, which then issues a distinctive decal to place on their vehicle. When police stop a vehicle displaying this decal, they must recognize the driver's PTSD diagnosis and adjust their approach accordingly. The program requires the State Police to create a database of participants and develop training for law enforcement on interacting with drivers who have PTSD. The bill directly affects licensed drivers with a PTSD diagnosis who choose to enroll.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey public school students experiencing specific menstrual disorders - such as severe cramps (dysmenorrhea), endometriosis, heavy bleeding (menorrhagia), or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - to attend school remotely when symptoms interfere with in-person learning. Parents or guardians must submit a written request by the start of the school day and provide medical documentation as required by the school principal. Remote attendance will count as a full day of school for graduation requirements and course credit. The state education commissioner, in consultation with health officials, will establish guidelines for schools to define eligible remote days.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A890) prohibits medical creditors from reporting unpaid medical debt to credit reporting agencies. It directly affects patients who owe money for health care services, preventing their medical debts from negatively impacting their credit scores. The law defines "medical creditors" as health care providers (like doctors or hospitals) or entities that purchase medical debt, and bans them from reporting any portion of such debt to credit bureaus. The provision takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to teach students in grades 7-12 about safe practices for using ride-share apps (like Uber or Lyft) and classified websites (like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace) as part of health and physical education. It mandates specific safety steps for ride-share use, such as paying digitally, confirming driver details before entering a vehicle, riding in the back seat, and sharing trip details. For classified website transactions, it requires meeting in public places during daylight, avoiding cash payments, not sharing personal information, and bringing others to transactions. The instruction must be integrated into existing health education standards starting from the 2020-2021 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2985) requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to mandate that Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams consider staffing consistency when developing IEPs for students prone to regression - such as those with autism spectrum disorder - during placement decisions. It specifically adds "consistency of staffing" as a required factor alongside location and curriculum stability when determining in-district special education placements. The law amends existing regulations (P.L.2013, c.19) to ensure IEP teams evaluate how frequent staff changes might impact a student’s progress. This applies directly to school districts, IEP teams, and parents/guardians of students identified as vulnerable to regression due to inconsistent service delivery.