Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public water systems to notify customers about boil water notices within 24 hours of an emergency. Starting 90 days after enactment, water systems must send these alerts using customers' preferred contact methods (like text, email, or phone) if provided, or attempt phone contact if no preference is recorded. Water systems must also include a contact preference request on water bills within 60 days and provide specific details in notices, including affected areas and corrective actions. The bill applies to all public water systems except transient noncommunity systems and mandates similar notification for lifting boil water notices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NJNSGP) to increase funding limits and adjust grant administration. It raises the maximum annual grant for security personnel from $10,000 to $25,000 per application (with a $75,000 yearly cap per organization) and for security equipment from $50,000 to $100,000. The bill eliminates restrictions preventing organizations from receiving both personnel and equipment grants in the same year, and increases the required annual funding request from $2 million to $14 million. It also establishes specific funding allocations: 55% for personnel grants, 36% for equipment, 4% for outreach, and 5% for administrative costs. The program directly supports nonprofit organizations at high risk of violence, enabling them to hire security staff or purchase protective equipment within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger, expanding coverage from the previous requirement that only applied to children under six. It mandates that physicians, nurses, and health care facilities serving children must perform lead screenings on patients 16 or younger unless a parent or guardian objects in writing, and requires providers to notify parents of elevated lead levels while arranging for household member screenings. The Department of Health will establish detailed regulations for screening intervals, methods, and follow-up actions based on CDC guidelines, with biennial updates to align with federal recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that active-duty military members and reservists can be excused from jury duty when deployed or on active duty. It repeals an existing law (N.J.S.38A:4-6) that previously allowed this exemption without requiring proof of military status. Instead, the bill amends jury service rules to require military members to submit a certification to the court confirming their unavailability due to deployment or duty assignment. This directly affects service members summoned for jury duty during active military service.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear standards for determining unlawful harassment under New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination, requiring all employers to adopt written policies that define prohibited conduct and outline complaint procedures. It mandates interactive training for all employees and supervisors on preventing harassment, with specific data reporting requirements for employers with 50 or more employees. The bill extends protections to domestic workers who perform services in private residences, requiring employers to provide specialized policies and training for this workforce. It clarifies that harassment claims should consider the cumulative effect of incidents and the victim's perspective, rather than requiring physical contact or loss of job benefits to prove a hostile work environment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2478) allows New Jersey inmates participating in full-time substance abuse treatment programs to earn extra time credits toward early parole. Specifically, it directs prison officials to award inmates 1.5 times the standard commutation credits (known as "good time" credits) they would normally receive while enrolled in such a program. This directly affects inmates in state prisons who complete the required substance abuse treatment. The policy change reduces their parole eligibility date faster than current law would allow, applying during the period of active treatment participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that individuals charged with domestic violence involving strangulation must be detained before trial. If a court finds probable cause that a defendant committed aggravated assault by strangling a domestic violence victim, they would typically remain in custody pending trial. The defendant can challenge this presumption by demonstrating with a preponderance of evidence that release conditions would reasonably ensure their appearance in court and protect others. This specifically applies to cases where strangulation was used as a method of domestic violence assault, which is already classified as a third-degree crime under New Jersey law. The presumption can be overcome with sufficient evidence presented at a hearing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires inmates in New Jersey state prisons or county correctional facilities to attend a Medicaid enrollment session at least 60 days before their release. During the session, trained county welfare workers or facility staff must help inmates complete and submit Medicaid applications, either in person or by phone. Inmates who choose not to participate must do so in writing, and staff must explain Medicaid benefits and how to apply later if they change their mind. The policy aims to improve post-release healthcare access by streamlining Medicaid enrollment for returning residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Vaisakhi (typically falling on April 13-14) and Bandi Chhor Divas (typically in autumn) as official public holidays in New Jersey. It amends state law to add these days to the list of paid holidays for state government employees and to the calendar of public holidays affecting business operations and financial transactions. The bill directly affects state government operations, requiring offices to close on these days, and ensures financial instruments like checks are treated as payable on the next business day if issued on these holidays. It does not change existing holiday provisions or create new obligations beyond the designated holidays.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health to establish a Parkinson's disease public awareness and education program using available funds. The program will develop public outreach campaigns covering disease causes, symptoms, treatment options, and safety concerns; create accessible educational materials for patients and providers; and train healthcare workers, law enforcement, emergency responders, and judicial staff to recognize symptoms and respond appropriately. It mandates the Department of Health to maintain a list of specialized treatment providers with disclaimers about current research limitations, and to publish plain-language information in English and Spanish on its website after consulting with the American Parkinson Disease Association and Rutgers medical experts. The initiative directly affects Parkinson's patients, their caregivers, and public safety and healthcare professionals across New Jersey.