Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover the cost of diapers when a pediatrician or doctor determines they are medically necessary, such as for individuals with genetic or chronic conditions requiring diapers beyond infancy. It applies to hospital service contracts, medical service plans, individual and group health insurance, and health maintenance organizations. Insurers must provide this coverage without prior authorization or additional utilization management requirements. The policy directly affects insured individuals with medical conditions requiring diapers and insurers offering covered health plans in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryBill A3614 establishes a Chief Executive Nurse position within New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH). The Commissioner of Health must appoint a nurse with a master's degree in nursing or higher and significant clinical experience to this full-time role. The Chief Executive Nurse will assist the Commissioner on nursing matters, collect data on nursing practices, consult with nurses and healthcare facilities about regulations affecting care, and evaluate nursing trends. This position aims to improve the DOH's understanding of nursing challenges and support better healthcare delivery. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3662) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to create and implement a written nondiscrimination policy that meets federal and state anti-discrimination laws, including the Law Against Discrimination (C.10:5-1 et seq.). It mandates that NJT distribute this policy to all current employees within 60 days of the bill's effective date and to new hires within five business days of starting work. All employees must sign written acknowledgment of receiving the policy within 10 business days and can request a copy at any time. Additionally, NJT must require every employee to complete annual training on the policy each calendar year. The policy directly affects all NJT employees and aims to ensure compliance with existing anti-discrimination standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers to allow working parents or legal guardians of school-aged children (kindergarten through 12th grade) to work remotely during public health emergencies or state emergencies that cause school closures, unless the employer proves remote work would create an undue hardship for business operations. It establishes a rebuttable presumption that remote work is feasible if an employee has already worked remotely for two consecutive weeks. Employers violating this law face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per subsequent violation, collected by the Commissioner of Labor. The bill explicitly prohibits penalizing employees for requesting or working remotely under these conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows cosmetology and hairstyling students who have completed at least 60 hours of course instruction to obtain a student permit specifically for shampooing and rinsing hair. Currently, students need 600 hours to qualify for any student permit, but this bill creates a new junior student permit for the limited service of hair washing. To qualify, students must prove they have 60+ hours of training and do not have contagious diseases that could spread during these services. The permit remains valid only while the student is enrolled in a licensed cosmetology program and expires after 90 days of absence.

Maddy summaryACR 111 is a New Jersey Assembly resolution urging Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which expired in 2019. VAWA is a federal law that provides funding and resources to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, supporting victims through improved law enforcement responses, court protections, and victim services. The resolution references current reauthorization efforts (like H.R. 1620) that include expanded firearm restrictions for abusers, enhanced protections for Native American women, and increased legal assistance for victims. As a symbolic request - not a binding law - it directs copies to Congress, the Department of Justice, and New Jersey’s congressional delegation to encourage federal action.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3671 (sponsored by Assemblywoman Carol Murphy) allows cemeteries to permit the interment of cremated pet remains alongside human remains under specific conditions. The bill requires that pet remains be interred simultaneously with human remains and that the cemetery company provides written authorization to the lot owner. Cemeteries must list fees for this service, with payments deposited into the cemetery's Maintenance and Preservation Fund. The bill explicitly prohibits interment in columbariums or public mausoleums and does not require cemeteries to allow this practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires doctors, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses to get documented electronic or written consent from patients (or their legal guardians) before prescribing certain psychotropic medications with FDA "black box warnings" - the strongest safety alerts for serious risks, like some ADHD treatments. Prescribers must first explain potential side effects and obtain consent acknowledging this information. If written consent isn't possible, oral consent must be recorded in the patient's file. Violations could lead to disciplinary action by medical or nursing licensing boards.

Maddy summaryAJR 136 designates December 3rd of each year as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through activities that promote disability inclusion, awareness of rights, and community participation. This is a symbolic resolution with no regulatory changes, focusing on public recognition rather than new policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and state developmental/psychiatric facilities in New Jersey. It requires specific ratios (such as 1 nurse for every 4 medical/surgical patients, 1 nurse for every 2 critical care patients, and 1 unlicensed personnel for every 7 daytime patients) while mandating hospitals to implement an acuity-based staffing system to ensure adequate staffing levels. Hospitals found in violation may face civil penalties that increase with repeat offenses, with penalty revenue funding a dedicated "Patient Protection and Staffing Fund" to support nursing recruitment, retention, education, and inspector staffing. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Human Services to review staffing standards in developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals to align with these new requirements.