Asm. Joe Danielsen

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide mobile crisis response system to provide immediate services to adults with disabilities (including intellectual/developmental disabilities or mental illness) experiencing behavioral health crises. Mobile crisis response teams must provide up to 72 hours of services per episode, with the option to temporarily place individuals in licensed temporary stabilization units for up to seven days when needed. The bill creates a 9-8-8 trust fund through a monthly fee on mobile service users to support the system, and requires training for direct care staff in group homes on crisis recognition and response. The goal is to stabilize crises in the least restrictive environment while preventing inappropriate hospitalizations or residential placements.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the standard for lawful firearm transporters who deviate from their course of travel from "reasonably necessary" to "reasonable." It specifically allows for common, brief, lawful detours like picking up passengers, obtaining supplies or medication, and using restrooms before reaching a permitted destination. The bill also explicitly permits firearm transportation during bona fide emergencies or declared disaster evacuations. This affects individuals lawfully transporting firearms under existing exemptions, such as gun owners traveling between home and business, hunters, and members of rifle/pistol clubs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school districts to temporarily exceed their usual 2% annual tax increase limit when opening a new school facility during the budget year. It specifically adds a new adjustment to the tax levy calculation for costs directly related to the new facility's first-year operation, including new staff salaries, equipment, materials, and maintenance. The adjustment covers only the initial costs of opening the facility, not ongoing expenses. This change directly affects school districts planning to open new schools, providing flexibility to fund necessary startup costs without violating standard tax cap rules. The policy change applies only to the first year of the new facility's operation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program requiring New Jersey emergency rooms to refer patients with mild-to-moderate mental health or substance use concerns (who do not need inpatient care) to coordinated community behavioral health services. Participating hospitals must connect patients to local treatment options through Regional Health Hubs, which will develop protocols for timely referrals, follow-up care, transportation assistance, and coordination with services like housing support or medication-assisted treatment. The State Medicaid program will cover these services under the pilot, with state funding supporting Regional Health Hubs to manage the program. The initiative targets individuals seeking emergency care for behavioral health needs to improve access to ongoing support.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey long-term care facilities (including nursing homes and assisted living residences) to meet annually with each resident and their family to review emergency contact details on file. It also mandates that facilities offer residents the opportunity to update their primary and secondary emergency contacts at least twice yearly. The law applies to all facilities licensed under state law and aligns with existing privacy regulations. Facilities must follow these steps to ensure contact information remains current for resident safety during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, if enacted, would require New Jersey's Director of Consumer Affairs to create and annually update a written notice about fraud and identity theft risks specifically for senior citizens aged 60 and older. The notice must explain common scam tactics targeting seniors and provide prevention tips. The Commissioner of Human Services would then distribute this notice to all senior-focused organizations receiving state funding (for them to share with seniors), to the public upon request, and post it online. The notice would need regular updates to reflect current fraud methods, ensuring seniors receive the most relevant safety information each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects insurers and insurance producers who provide coverage to cannabis-related businesses operating legally under New Jersey law. It prohibits state and local agencies from penalizing, discouraging, or terminating insurance services for these businesses, or taking adverse actions against policies solely because a business is cannabis-related. Insurers and their employees are shielded from liability under state law for engaging in this business or investing income from it. The bill does not require insurers to offer such coverage or override existing insurance regulations. It directly affects cannabis businesses, their employees, and property owners leasing to them.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to improve coordination of behavioral health services for people with severe mental health or substance use disorders in New Jersey. Managed care organizations will identify eligible patients using Medicaid data, require providers to conduct needs assessments, and implement care transition methods like warm hand-offs and supportive contacts. The program will be funded through a Medicaid value-based payment system that allows managed care organizations to retain savings if they reduce per-patient costs through effective coordination. After two years, the Department of Human Services must report on the program's effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2154) would amend New Jersey's Open Public Records Act to prohibit requests for government records made for commercial purposes. It defines "commercial purpose" as using government records for profit through sale, rental, solicitation, or other business activities, while exempting news media, educational institutions, scientific organizations, and government entities. The bill requires requestors to certify their requests aren't for commercial use, and imposes fines of $500 for first offenses, $1,000 for second offenses, and $2,000 for subsequent violations. This would directly affect businesses, data brokers, and researchers seeking government information for commercial purposes, while maintaining access for non-commercial users like journalists and advocacy groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans by allowing proportional exemptions based on service-connected disability ratings (up to 100%). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans with permanent service-connected disabilities, including those with mental illness conditions like PTSD or depression as defined by the DSM. The bill extends eligibility to surviving civil union partners and domestic partners of disabled veterans, allowing them to claim the exemption even if the disability was declared after the veteran's death. It also modifies the existing exemption to provide proportional tax relief rather than requiring a 100% disability rating for full exemption.