Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county correctional facilities to use inmate welfare funds for reentry services that help incarcerated individuals transition to community life after release. Specifically, it permits counties to spend these funds - currently used for amenities like recreation, library materials, and commissary items - to pay staff salaries for coordinating access to benefits such as Medicaid, housing assistance, and substance abuse treatment. The policy directly affects county correctional facilities and the inmates they serve, expanding the permitted use of existing welfare funds beyond in-facility amenities. It requires no new funding, instead redirecting existing county inmate welfare resources toward post-release support.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to seek federal Medicaid waivers to fund additional graduate medical education slots focused on behavioral health care. It directly affects medical training programs in the state, enabling them to use Medicaid funds for new training positions in behavioral health. The bill establishes a process where existing and new medical education programs can request these funds, contingent on federal approval of the required Medicaid plan amendments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year WATER Pilot Program within New Jersey's Department of Labor, appropriating $1 million to fund water-sector apprenticeships. It directly affects eligible organizations - such as businesses, unions, colleges, nonprofits, and public utilities - that run accredited water-related training programs (e.g., for wastewater workers) and partner with industry. Key provisions require applicants to demonstrate U.S. Department of Labor accreditation, secure industry partnerships, and prioritize underserved communities, with grants covering program costs. Grantees must report annually on participant enrollment, completion, and job placement, while the Department must evaluate the program’s effectiveness yearly.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares September 22-28, 2024, as "Diaper Need Awareness Week" in New Jersey. It defines "Diaper Need" as a lack of sufficient clean diapers, which affects infants, toddlers, and low-income families (noting one in three mothers experience it). The resolution urges state agencies to organize diaper drives during this week and requests the Governor issue a proclamation encouraging public participation in supporting diaper banks. It does not create new funding or eligibility rules but aims to raise awareness and promote community action.

Maddy summaryAJR 94 extends the deadline for the Disparity in State Procurement Study Commission to submit its final report to December 31, 2024. The commission, established in 2017, studies disparities in state procurement practices affecting minority- and women-owned businesses. This procedural change gives the commission additional time to complete its study and recommendations before it expires 30 days after the report is issued. The bill does not alter the commission's purpose, membership, or the scope of its work.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the mandatory school transportation mileage thresholds in New Jersey: elementary students living more than 1.5 miles from school and secondary students living more than 1.5 miles must now qualify for district-provided transportation (down from 2 miles and 2.5 miles, respectively). It allows school districts to optionally provide transportation for students living closer than these new limits, with parents potentially paying costs. Parents may also formally waive transportation services for the school year, though districts must create hardship policies for affected families. The bill includes a cost cap of $675 annually (adjusted for inflation) for transportation to nonpublic schools within 20 miles, with districts covering costs if bids stay under this limit.

Maddy summary"Stephanie's Law" requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly accessible domestic violence registry. This registry will list individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, subject to final restraining orders, or found in contempt of such orders, including their name, aliases, physical description, photo, vehicle details, and last known address. Law enforcement officers must search both this public registry and the existing private registry during arrests to check for domestic violence restraining orders. Individuals wrongly listed can petition for removal, and those listed must update their address within five days of a change.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the size of New Jersey's Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission from 13 to 17 members and expands its reporting requirements. The commission now includes additional public members appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, with specific instructions to seek diverse expertise in criminal justice fields. It must review sentencing laws to address racial and ethnic disparities throughout the criminal justice process - including policing, charging, and sentencing - and make recommendations on sentencing options, judicial discretion, and alternatives to incarceration. These changes directly affect the commission's structure and its role in shaping New Jersey's criminal justice policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large supermarkets (over 16,000 sq ft), grocery stores, and food suppliers to make a reasonable effort to donate surplus food that is safe for human consumption but would otherwise be discarded. The donation must cover food fit for consumption (including perishable items like produce, dairy, and prepared foods), but not spoiled or unsafe items. Covered businesses must donate to food banks, nonprofits, or directly to people, with donations limited to covering only handling costs. The law would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to create financial incentives within 90 days to encourage private investment in childcare facilities located in "child care deserts" - areas where demand for quality childcare exceeds available supply, as defined by the state. The incentives may include tax credits, tax exemptions, loan guarantees, and assistance with hiring and training staff. The program must coordinate with multiple state agencies, including the Economic Development Authority and Treasury, and seek federal waivers to maintain funding for existing childcare subsidy programs. It directly affects private childcare providers seeking to expand in underserved areas and aims to increase access to childcare for families in those communities.