Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. It appropriates $1 million to fund confidential mental health services for firefighters (full-time public fire department employees) and their immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, children, or parents living in the same home) experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts. The program awards grants to mental health providers who meet geographic accessibility criteria (aiming to limit travel time to under one hour), with the Commissioner of Human Services managing applications, selection, and publishing a list of approved providers online. The bill directly addresses barriers to treatment by creating a confidential, accessible service pathway for firefighters and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides health care coverage to surviving spouses and dependent children of retirees who received accidental disability retirement benefits due to health conditions resulting from participating in 9/11 WTC rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It clarifies that retirees who participated in these operations and later developed qualifying health conditions can apply to have their retirement allowance recalculated as an accidental disability retirement allowance. The bill establishes eligibility requirements including participation in the operations for a minimum of eight hours, documentation of a qualifying health condition, and filing a statement with the retirement system within specific timeframes. The State would cover most of the health care costs, with surviving spouses contributing a percentage based on their retirement allowance amount. This applies to members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, State Police Retirement System, and Public Employees' Retirement System.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3773) regulates multi-level marketing (MLM) companies to prevent deceptive practices. It prohibits recruiters from making false claims about income or company details, requires disclosure of potential recruiting profits, and bans misleading advertising (like unproven health claims or fake before/after images). The Division of Consumer Affairs must create a public web page about MLM risks and establish a complaint system. Companies violating the law face fines starting at $500 for first offenses (up to $50,000 for repeat violations), with penalties paid to fund future investigations. The bill directly affects MLM companies operating in New Jersey, not individual participants.

Maddy summaryACR 119 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a fundamental right for all New Jersey residents to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and protected natural habitats. It would require the state to act as a trustee for public natural resources - such as water, air, forests, and public lands - ensuring these are preserved for both current and future generations. The amendment specifies these environmental rights are "self-executing," meaning they would take effect immediately without needing additional laws, and would exist alongside existing legal protections. If approved by voters, this would become part of New Jersey's Constitution, directly affecting all residents and imposing a duty on the state to protect these resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $70 million in federal pandemic recovery funds to New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDA, in consultation with the State Council on the Arts, will distribute $50 million in grants for financial recovery (including $10 million specifically for arts education programs in schools and after-school settings) and $20 million for placemaking projects like public art installations, park beautification, and educational signage. Qualifying organizations - covering both non-profits and for-profit businesses - can use funds to offset pandemic-related revenue losses or build cash reserves for future disruptions. The funding comes directly from New Jersey's allocation of the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) Oversight Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to ensure quality care for Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare enrollees. It requires MCOs (the five private insurers contracted to provide care) to submit quarterly data on providers and beneficiaries, including updated contact information and directory accuracy. The program must independently verify 20% of provider location data annually and confirm all directory providers are Medicaid-eligible, while also checking that provider panel sizes comply with limits. MCOs failing to submit required data face minimum $50,000 fines per violation, with potential contract termination after an administrative hearing.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Commission on Insurance Reimbursement within New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance. The commission reviews and approves or denies applications from health insurance carriers seeking to reduce payment rates for specific medical procedures (identified by CPT codes). Carriers must submit detailed justifications for proposed rate cuts, and the commission evaluates whether such cuts would interfere with patient access to care, destabilize the healthcare system, or harm licensed providers or facilities. The commission must issue a written decision within 60 days and annually report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. This directly affects insurance carriers, healthcare providers, and patients by adding a review step before rate reductions take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program to provide additional financial support to health care workers who contracted COVID-19 while working and are already receiving workers' compensation. The program provides supplemental benefits to make total weekly compensation equal to 100% of the worker's weekly wage (capped at $1,800), up to a maximum of 180 weeks, after regular workers' compensation benefits have ended. It appropriates $30 million from federal recovery funds for this purpose, administered through the Division of Workers' Compensation with an advisory council to oversee implementation. The bill specifies these supplemental benefits will not affect workers' compensation surcharges or employer experience ratings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey contractors who perform renovations, repairs, or painting in homes built before 1978 to comply with federal lead paint regulations (40 C.F.R. 745, Subpart E) at the time of initial registration and during renewals or reinstatements. It directly affects contractors registered under New Jersey's Contractors' Business Registration Act who work on pre-1978 housing. The key mechanism mandates proof of EPA certification or an approved state program certification before registering or renewing their business license. The requirement aims to prevent lead paint exposure, as lead dust from disturbed paint poses health risks, particularly to children, per federal health research.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases protections for New Jersey residents facing debt collection. It raises the homestead exemption (protecting primary homes from forced sale) to the greater of $300,000 or a county-specific median home value (capped at $600,000), doubling to $1.2 million for seniors/disabled residents. Household goods exempt from seizure rise from $1,000 to $15,000, and bank account exemptions increase to $10,000 (single) or $15,000 (joint). All exemption amounts will automatically adjust every three years based on regional inflation data.