Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program to help reduce financial barriers for future teachers. It provides eligible students up to $7,200 per semester for full-time clinical practice in teacher preparation programs, covering a maximum of two academic semesters. To qualify, students must be New Jersey residents enrolled full-time in approved education programs and complete required steps for clinical practice. The program requires participants to maintain good academic standing, and scholarships terminate if students are dismissed or withdraw due to illness (without requiring repayment). The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will manage applications and collect annual data on program participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" within New Jersey's public employees' retirement system (PERS) to include firefighters, emergency medical technicians, public safety dispatchers, and specific corrections and police roles. It requires current employees in these newly eligible positions to be transferred to the enhanced retirement category within 90 days (unless they waive it), granting them access to better retirement benefits. Additionally, the bill prohibits the State or counties from hiring anyone over age 35 for positions qualifying for the separate police and fire retirement system (PFRS). Existing employees in these roles are not affected by the hiring restriction.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows police officers to be present at senior residential centers or public schools serving as polling places when requested by the facility, provided officers wear plain clothes and do not interfere with voters. It requires schools to develop security plans that include a locked, separate voting area to prevent voter-student interaction during elections if the school is in session. Schools must notify the district board at least seven days before an election, triggering a chain of notifications to county election officials and the Secretary of State. The Department of Education and Secretary of State must immediately inform schools of the security plan requirement after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3889) requires courts to mandate domestic violence counseling for individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses or placed on probation/sentence suspension for such offenses. The court must order the defendant to complete counseling provided by a professional with demonstrated expertise in domestic violence, and the defendant must provide documentation of attendance. Completion of counseling is required before a restraining order can be dissolved. The bill applies to all relevant convictions occurring on or after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force" in New Jersey to address fragmentation in the state's addiction treatment system. The task force will coordinate oversight currently split across multiple agencies - like the Department of Health (licensing treatment centers), Department of Community Affairs (sober homes), and Division of Human Services (community services) - which the bill states causes inefficiencies. It directly affects New Jersey residents seeking addiction treatment and the providers operating in this system, aiming to improve service coordination and address issues like fraud identified in a state investigation. The task force will develop best practices to streamline care and protect individuals accessing treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurers to collect and publicly report specific data about claims processed through automated systems. Insurers must track denied claims (including appeal outcomes), denial patterns by medical specialty, and prior authorization decisions, then submit this data annually to the Department of Banking and Insurance. If an insurer unjustifiably denies 20% or more of claims, it must refund the denied service costs to affected patients. Additionally, insurers must disclose denial rates and automated system usage on their websites, include consumer assistance instructions on denial notices, and ensure all claims are reviewed by a medical director.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR 120) urges the U.S. Congress to pass the federal "Alice Paul Voter Protection Act" (H.R. 1583), sponsored by New Jersey Representatives Andy Kim and Donald Norcross. The referenced federal bill would criminalize interfering with voter registration - such as obstructing someone from registering to vote or assisting others to register - with penalties including fines or up to five years in prison. It also requires the federal Election Assistance Commission to create best practices for states to prevent such interference. The resolution honors Alice Paul, a New Jersey suffrage leader instrumental in securing women’s voting rights, but the resolution itself has no legal effect - it only advocates for federal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies to provide public-facing forms, applications, and documents in the five most commonly spoken languages in the state (based on the latest federal census data). Agencies must also offer documents in Gujarati, Korean, and Punjabi upon request. It applies to all state departments, commissions, and independent authorities that interact with the public. The law takes effect three months after enactment, with the Secretary of State tasked with creating implementation rules.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill 3777 establishes a food rescue hotline managed by the Food Security Advocate. The hotline will accept requests from individuals or organizations seeking to donate large quantities of food and connect them directly with local food banks and community resources to facilitate delivery. The bill also requires a public awareness campaign using media like TV, radio, and social media to inform the public about the hotline. This service aims to streamline food donations, reduce waste, and improve access to food for those in need.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Community Learning Program within the Department of Education to fund comprehensive after-school programs in school districts located in "impact zones" - areas historically affected by cannabis-related enforcement, high unemployment, and poverty. It dedicates a portion of annual state cannabis tax revenue (from recreational sales) to cover all program costs for eligible districts. Impact districts must develop and submit detailed program plans - including service descriptions, staffing, locations, and costs - to the Commissioner for approval, and must provide transportation for students. The program aims to close achievement gaps by offering academic support and enrichment during non-school hours, including summer, with funding contingent on annual cannabis tax revenue deposits.