Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryAJR 101 designates the second Friday in December each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to honor paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). This resolution directly recognizes PSRPs - including instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians, and maintenance workers - who support students through tutoring, classroom assistance, translation, meal service, and facility upkeep. The key mechanism is an annual observance calling on the Governor, Legislature, and citizens to acknowledge these workers' contributions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but establishes a recurring day of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to consult with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) when a court finds that a person who abused or neglected a child has a developmental disability and qualifies for DDD services. It mandates DCPP to work with DDD to create a tailored services plan for that individual, considering their disability. DDD must then determine the most appropriate service methods based on the person's specific disability needs. The policy change applies directly to adults with developmental disabilities involved in child abuse/neglect cases who are eligible for DDD support, ensuring their treatment aligns with disability-specific care standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act," stops New Jersey from collecting past child support arrears for children in the care of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). It voids all current and past court judgments, liens, and warrants related to unpaid child support obligations for maintenance costs incurred while a child was in DCPP custody. The law aligns with a 2022 federal policy change that discourages states from pursuing such collections due to high costs, low collection rates, and negative impacts on families. This directly affects legally responsible parents (typically parents) who previously faced penalties for unpaid child support in DCPP cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues - funds already set aside by voter-approved constitutional amendment - to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for specific improvements at state parks, forests, and conservation lands. The funds will directly support projects like repairing bridges and buildings, developing camping facilities, enhancing habitat access, and maintaining historic structures across state-managed recreation areas. It uses existing tax revenues (not new taxes) that were constitutionally earmarked for open space preservation under the Preserve New Jersey Act. The DEP can implement these projects without requiring separate budget committee approvals, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Aspire Program Act Amendments This bill amends and supplements the "New Jersey Aspire Program Act" (Aspire Program) and makes related changes to New Jersey's Gross Income Tax and Corporation Business Tax. ## Key Changes to the Aspire Program ### Program Definitions - Revised definition of "commercial project" to include warehouse/distribution centers - Amended "incentive area" definition to include endorsed plans (removing transportation requirements) - Defined "mixed-use project" as having residential and nonresidential components - Clarified that "project cost" applies to "total project cost" (replacing current "total development cost" definition) ### Residential Projects - Housing affordability controls now align with Fair Housing Act (excluding bedroom distribution requirements) - Residential tenants exempt from prevailing wage requirements for building services work ### Occupancy Requirement - Commercial projects must maintain at least 60% occupancy during eligibility period (residential projects exempt) - Tax credits forfeited if occupancy falls below 60%, restored upon return to 60%+ occupancy ### Eligibility Period - Reduced maximum duration from 15 years (commercial/mixed-use) to 10 years for all project types - Authority may establish shorter eligibility periods to enhance tax credit monetization ### Tax Credit Enhancements - Up to 10% increase for redevelopment of "stranded assets" (abandoned/vacant buildings) - Up to 5% increase for residential projects meeting three-bedroom distribution requirements - Up to 3% increase for meeting local first source hiring requirements - Total tax credits (with other programs) limited to: - 90% of project cost for LIHTC projects - 80% of project cost for all other projects ### Tax Credit Usage - Allows tax credits to be applied within three successive tax periods after receiving certificate - Permits transfer of tax credits to transferees who can use them within three successive tax periods ### Transformative Projects - Reduced commercial space requirement from 50,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. for residential projects with <700 units - Permits parking component to count toward square footage (subject to local requirements) - Requires entire parking component to count if project is in government restricted municipality ### Program Administration - Requires fees proportional to tax credit amount allowed - Establishes "Redevelopment Project Bridge Financing Program" for loans/guarantees to developers with financing gaps - Requires Department of Treasury to redeem unused tax credits (up to 10% discount) - Amends tax code to exclude gains from tax credit transfers from "entire net income" and "gross income" The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution expresses the New Jersey General Assembly's support for the "Breakfast Bowl," an annual football game between Montclair State University and Rowan University designed to raise awareness about food insecurity in New Jersey. The resolution recognizes the universities' existing food insecurity initiatives, including Montclair's Red Hawk Pantry and Rowan's SHOP food pantry, which provide fresh produce and food assistance to students and community members. The winner of the game will also determine whether New Jersey's signature breakfast meat is called "Pork Roll" or "Taylor Ham" until the next year's event.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires campus police officers at New Jersey colleges and universities to wear body cameras that record audio and video during official duties. It specifies that cameras must be activated during public encounters and interactions, with exceptions for undercover work, non-emergency civilian requests, or specific situations like school environments. The bill also establishes minimum recording retention periods (180 days minimum, longer for incidents involving complaints or use of force) and prohibits using recordings for commercial purposes. Campus police officers are the primary group directly affected, as this legislation specifically expands the body camera requirement to include them under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5148) allows 12th-grade students in New Jersey public schools to have excused absences for military enlistment activities without penalty. It directly affects students planning to join the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard, covering required activities like testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting. The absence is recorded as excused on attendance records, does not appear on transcripts or employment forms, and is excluded from perfect attendance calculations. Schools may require documentation to verify the student's eligibility under this provision. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's law governing employment programs for people with disabilities, renaming the "Sheltered Workshop Act" to the "Extended Employment Act." It changes eligibility requirements by redefining disabilities from "severe" to "significant" and removes the need for participants to complete workshop programs or prove they can't compete in the regular labor market. The bill eliminates oversight by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, revises funding mechanisms to adjust annually based on inflation, and repeals outdated provisions about product labeling and sales from these programs. The changes aim to modernize the program to better serve people with disabilities who may not have qualified under previous rules. The bill directly affects nonprofit extended employment providers and people with disabilities enrolled in these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus personnel transporting students with disabilities to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies and report these calls to the Office of Special Education. It mandates that school buses carrying students with disabilities be equipped with interior video cameras, real-time GPS tracking, and two-way communication devices. The bill expands training requirements for school bus personnel to include recognizing and responding to potential life-threatening emergencies involving students with disabilities. School bus contractors and school districts that fail to comply face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, and video footage and GPS data must be retained for at least 180 days.