Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A838 requires all law enforcement officers to complete four hours of de-escalation and intervention training every three years. The bill amends state law to establish that an officer who fails to de-escalate and intervene when another officer commits an offense against a civilian is legally accountable as an accomplice. The training must include communication techniques to defuse dangerous situations and strategies for handling people experiencing mental or emotional crises.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects fines collected from people convicted of "prostitution as a patron" (paying for sex) to the existing Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund. Specifically, it requires municipal courts to send these fines directly to the state Treasury for deposit into the fund, instead of the local treasury. The fund, established in 2013, uses these monies to provide services for trafficking victims, promote awareness, and develop educational materials. This policy change applies only to fines from the specific offense of paying for sex, not other prostitution-related crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new misdemeanor offense for harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or sexual orientation, whether through physical acts, electronic communication, or verbal gestures. It directly affects minors targeted by such behavior and juveniles charged with the offense. Key provisions mandate that juveniles charged with this offense must be diverted to remedial education or counseling programs (instead of court prosecution), designed to teach about legal consequences, long-term impacts, and connections to cyberbullying. Fines of up to $100 for a first offense and $250 for repeat offenses apply to both adults and juveniles.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A593 requires every public school to employ at least two full-time certified mental health professionals (licensed school counselors or psychologists) on staff. For schools with over 500 students, districts must add additional staff proportional to enrollment. This applies to all public school districts statewide, beginning with the first full school year after the law takes effect. The bill directly affects school boards and administrators by mandating specific staffing levels for student mental health support.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A592) requires every public school in New Jersey to have at least one full-time school social worker employed by the local school board. Schools with over 500 students must add additional social workers proportionally based on enrollment. It applies to all New Jersey public school districts and takes effect for the first full school year after enactment. The law defines a "school social worker" as a certified professional holding a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with the required endorsement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the history and contributions of Indigenous people in Social Studies classes for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade. School boards must adopt policies for selecting instructional materials that accurately represent the cultural diversity of Indigenous communities. The New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs will provide guidance and support to school districts in implementing these requirements. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to reimburse emergency shelter operators for costs incurred when evicting guests who refuse to leave after the time limit specified in state law (P.L.2013, c.204). It allows shelters to apply for reimbursement within 30 days of a court-ordered eviction, covering lost revenue and expenses during the legal process. Shelters must submit a form with basic details (shelter name, dates, amount) and proof of the guest's refusal to vacate. The state must annually appropriate funds from the General Fund to cover these reimbursements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A912 prohibits the publication of voter registration data from the state's official voter database on the Internet. The bill directly affects all registered voters in New Jersey by preventing their personal information - such as names, addresses, and other details stored in the statewide system - from being publicly posted online. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly ban internet publication of this data, while maintaining current access for authorized entities like election officials, county clerks, and political parties upon request. The bill does not restrict the use of voter lists for official election purposes or for voters to obtain physical copies by paying a fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and nonpublic schools with lunch programs in New Jersey to gradually expand free lunch eligibility over a five-year period, eventually providing free lunch to all students regardless of income or federal eligibility. Starting with the 2023-2024 school year, schools must provide free lunch to students from families with incomes between 186-199% of the federal poverty level, with the income threshold increasing each year until all students qualify by the 2028-2029 school year. The state would provide funding to school districts to cover the costs of serving free lunch to students who are federally ineligible but meet the income criteria. The bill also includes reporting requirements for schools to track eligibility and income levels of students receiving free lunch, and mandates that schools take steps to minimize program costs while maintaining nutritional standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed professionals (such as those regulated under Title 45 or Chapter 11C of New Jersey law) to work remotely from their home or another chosen location, provided they meet specific conditions. Key requirements include ensuring no in-person client interactions occur at the remote site, maintaining secure data practices with tools like encrypted networks, and keeping all client records accessible for regulatory review. The bill prohibits storing client information at remote locations and mandates confidentiality training for remote work. It directly affects licensed professionals whose services can be delivered remotely without compromising safety or regulatory standards. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.