Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2415) requires New Jersey's Silver Alert System to use the same broadcast alert procedures as the Amber Alert System. It directly affects media outlets participating in the Silver Alert program, which helps locate missing elderly individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments. The key provision mandates that participating media must broadcast a distinctive sound tone followed by "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert" during alerts, with the alert repeated as often as possible for the first three hours. After three hours, broadcasts continue at intervals determined by law enforcement and media, while including a description of the missing person and contact information for the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when contracts for operating official motor vehicle inspection facilities are renewed or new contracts are awarded, employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) must be offered employment first to meet staffing needs. It mandates that job offers to these employees must include compensation and benefits matching the terms of the existing CBA. Additionally, the bill ensures that any collective bargaining agreement in effect at the time remains binding on successors - such as companies acquiring assets or merging - during sales, transfers, or mergers of inspection facility operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state agencies, counties, and municipalities to automatically enroll employees in retirement savings plans called deferred compensation plans. For state employees hired after the bill's effective date, enrollment is mandatory unless they opt out or choose a different contribution percentage. Local governments (counties and municipalities) may choose whether to implement automatic enrollment. Employers must provide clear notice and a reasonable opportunity for employees to adjust or decline participation, and must set a default investment option for those who do not select one.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create and maintain a free, public online registry of tutors and organizations offering free supplemental tutoring to students. It allows certified teachers, retired teachers, college students, industry professionals, and relevant organizations to register, providing details like contact information and subject expertise. All registrants must undergo criminal background checks (except certified teachers with prior checks), and the registry explicitly states it does not endorse or verify the quality of services offered. The registry will be accessible to all New Jersey residents via the DOE website.

Maddy summaryS 3607 extends accidental death benefits to survivors of State Police Retirement System (SPRS) retirees who died from health conditions linked to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations, regardless of when the retiree died. It expands eligibility beyond retirees who previously received only accidental disability retirement to include those with ordinary disability, special, or service retirement benefits. The bill removes the requirement for a written sworn statement in applications and allows survivors to submit claims within two years of the retiree's death or two years after the bill's effective date, whichever is later. It also mandates that the State notify eligible survivors by certified mail within 60 days of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public colleges and universities to provide students with information about food assistance programs. Specifically, institutions must include details about the federal SNAP program (food stamps) and campus or community food resources - such as food pantries or meal swipe programs - in initial admission offers and via email during each semester's registration. The state will develop standardized SNAP application links and program information for schools to distribute. This applies directly to students at public higher education institutions in New Jersey, aiming to improve access to food support.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act," protects paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 9-1-1 dispatchers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against these employees for taking leave related to a qualifying PTSD diagnosis, which must be linked to a traumatic event experienced during their duties or vicarious trauma from their job. Employers must reinstate employees to their prior position after leave, and violations allow employees to sue for remedies including $5,000 fines for first violations, reinstatement, back pay, and attorney fees. The civil action must be filed within one year of the alleged violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Police to create a maternity leave policy for troopers who provide proof of pregnancy. It mandates at least eight weeks of fully paid recovery leave after childbirth, with benefits maintained and the leave not counted against sick leave balances. The policy must also prohibit residency restrictions or integrity checks during this leave period, which are typically applied to other medical leave. The State Police Superintendent must post clear details, including required forms, FAQs, and contact information, on the department's intranet. This directly affects current and future female troopers who become pregnant while serving.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4748) extends accidental death benefits to survivors of State Police Retirement System (SPRS) retirees who died from health conditions linked to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It removes the current requirement that retirees must have died before July 8, 2019, and expands eligibility to include survivors of retirees who received ordinary disability, special, or service retirement benefits - not just accidental disability retirement. Survivors no longer need to submit a written sworn statement when applying, and they may submit applications within two years of the retiree's death or the bill's effective date, whichever is later. The bill also requires the board of trustees to notify survivors of these changes via certified mail within 60 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryS 2346 creates a three-year pilot program to protect vulnerable residents during extreme heat and poor air quality events. It establishes "Code Red" alerts triggered when heat index reaches 95°F+ for two days or air quality hits index 151+, requiring counties to coordinate cooling centers, transportation, and outreach for homeless or outdoor residents. The bill appropriates $5 million total - $500,000 per participating county - to fund this effort in 10 selected counties. Counties must develop alert plans with local agencies, report to the state, and submit a final evaluation on the program’s effectiveness after the pilot ends.