Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2480) requires municipal authorities in New Jersey to inspect, maintain, and repair fire hydrants on streets within planned real estate developments - such as subdivisions or condominiums - using the same standards applied to hydrants on public streets. It directly affects municipal authorities created under the Municipal and County Utilities Authorities Law and residents living in planned developments, ensuring uniform maintenance regardless of whether streets are dedicated to the municipality. The key provision mandates that these authorities assume responsibility for hydrant upkeep in such developments, eliminating inconsistent standards that previously left hydrants on private streets potentially unmaintained. The goal is to ensure all fire hydrants, including those on private streets in developments, are reliably functional during emergencies.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2460 (A2460) authorizes licensed adult day health facilities to provide services remotely to enrollees who cannot or will not attend in-person. It requires facilities to offer all in-person services remotely if safe and effective, including telehealth wellness checks, access to nurses/social workers, meal delivery, activity packets, and medical appointment coordination. Remote services must be billed and reimbursed at the same rate as in-person services, with proper documentation and inclusion in care plans. This directly affects older adults and individuals with disabilities enrolled in adult day health programs who face barriers like health concerns, transportation issues, or isolation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals recently released from New Jersey state correctional facilities to renew their driver's licenses using an existing photo on file with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), without requiring a new photograph. To qualify, they must present a Department of Corrections (DOC) identification card or an MVC-issued non-driver ID card (provided to inmates before release under existing law). The renewal is valid for one year at a $18 fee (excluding the standard digitized photo fee). It directly affects formerly incarcerated New Jersey residents seeking to restore driving privileges shortly after release.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a single New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council within the Department of Health, replacing two existing councils (youth and elderly-focused) to streamline suicide prevention efforts. The council will examine prevention needs, make recommendations to relevant entities, and coordinate data collection across state agencies. The bill also requires school staff to complete suicide prevention training, creates a confidential reporting system for suicide attempts and deaths (with legal protections for reporters), and mandates annual reports on suicide data to guide prevention strategies. These changes aim to improve coordination, training, and data collection for suicide prevention across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,250,000 from the General Fund to fund the Minorities in Police (MIP) Grant Program under New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety. It directly supports law enforcement agencies and training academies by providing $250 per qualified minority candidate recruited and enrolled in police training. The funds are specifically for recruiting minority candidates, with unspent balances carried forward to the next fiscal year. The bill establishes a concrete financial mechanism to incentivize recruitment, without specifying broader diversity goals or outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any 5% or greater ownership interests in the company, its subsidiaries, or parent company to the New Jersey Secretary of State before their systems can be approved for election use. Vendors must also report any future ownership changes exceeding a 5% threshold. The law aims to increase transparency around voting system ownership, following similar measures in Maryland and North Carolina to address election security concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of Class Three special law enforcement officers in New Jersey to include providing security at places of religious worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. It requires school districts that hire these officers for security in public schools to also provide their services in nonpublic schools within the district, with the school district responsible for covering the costs. The officers must already be certified under existing rules and can exercise full police powers while on duty at these locations. This change clarifies and extends their current authorization, which previously limited their security roles to schools and colleges. The bill does not mandate hiring but specifies obligations when districts choose to use these officers for public school security.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A2438 requires health insurers to cover hearing aids for policyholders. It mandates that all health insurance plans (including hospital, medical, and group plans) cover one analog or digital hearing aid per ear every 48 months, as prescribed by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid dispenser. The bill limits patient cost-sharing to no more than 15% of the hearing aid's cost, including copays or deductibles. This applies to new or renewed policies after the bill's effective date, directly affecting individuals with hearing loss who rely on insurance for this medical device.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 12-member "School Opening and School Closing Student Safety Task Force" to study student safety during school start and end times across New Jersey. The task force, including education officials, school representatives, and two parent members (one from public and one from nonpublic schools), will examine arrival/departure practices, traffic patterns near schools, and staffing needs like police presence. It will review how students are loaded/unloaded from buses or vehicles in safe areas and ensure proper accountability. The task force must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of forming, with the group dissolving 30 days after the report is submitted.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Training Clinicians to Support Adults with Autism Workforce Development Program" at Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, directly affecting adults with autism in New Jersey and future clinicians. It requires the program to recruit 8-10 students annually from diverse disciplines (e.g., psychology, social work, education) for 20-40 hours of weekly training, including hands-on clinical experience, academic coursework, research collaboration, and a capstone project. The bill appropriates $500,000 from the state’s General Fund to fund the program’s implementation. The initiative aims to expand the workforce supporting adults with autism by developing trained professionals through structured education and practical experience.