Asm. Reginald Atkins

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1977) requires courts to provide limited English proficient (LEP) individuals who use court translators with assistance from a licensed social worker who speaks their language. The social worker would help LEP parties understand court procedures and navigate the system. The Commissioner of Human Services must create a list of available social workers for the Administrative Director of Courts, who will develop a registry of approved workers and establish implementation guidelines. The law takes effect seven months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Law Enforcement Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services, appropriating $3 million from the General Fund. It provides grants to mental health providers to offer confidential mental health services to law enforcement officers or their immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents living together) experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. The program requires the Commissioner of Human Services to develop application criteria prioritizing providers within one hour of travel distance to maximize accessibility, publish approved providers online, and manage grant distribution. The bill directly affects New Jersey law enforcement officers, their families, and qualifying mental health service providers across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study and implement methods that would allow more rooftop solar, small wind, and other distributed energy systems to connect to the electrical grid. Specifically, the BPU must examine four key technical solutions: enabling electricity flow between grid segments, requiring solar inverters to manage electricity flow more efficiently, making energy storage systems adjust to demand, and allowing solar panels to automatically adjust output based on weather. Within one year, the BPU must submit a report with recommendations, followed by a pilot program testing these solutions in a small area before potential statewide adoption. This directly affects renewable energy developers, utility companies, and homeowners with distributed energy systems by potentially easing grid connection barriers.

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 New Jersey bill establishes two key mechanisms to address youth disconnection (young adults aged 16-24 not in school or employment): 1) A Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson, appointed by the Governor and reporting to the Education Commissioner, to develop statewide strategies for preventing disconnection and reconnecting affected youth. 2) A 25-member School Disconnection Prevention Task Force, including school leaders, youth advocates, and agency representatives, to analyze causes of disconnection, research solutions, and recommend best practices to school districts. The Ombudsperson must annually report progress to the Governor and Legislature, while the Task Force must issue a final report within nine months of forming, with follow-up accountability for implementation. This directly affects over 100,000 disconnected youth identified in New Jersey, focusing on systemic prevention and reconnection through cross-agency collaboration.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts (S.A.F.E.) within New Jersey's State Office of Emergency Management. The office would analyze risks and impacts of a widespread technology failure (like a major outage affecting communication, medical services, or transportation), develop response plans for essential services, and provide quarterly reports to the Governor and Legislature. It would also research technological dependencies, hold public hearings, and create public guides on preparing for such events. The bill directly affects state emergency management operations and planning, not individual citizens or private entities.

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 (A2871) increases the annual property tax deduction for senior citizens (65+), persons with disabilities, and veterans in New Jersey from $250 to $500. It directly affects eligible homeowners in these categories by reducing their taxable property tax burden by an additional $250 per year. The change would take effect starting in 2024, but the bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before implementation. The deduction amount remains capped at the actual tax bill amount if it falls below $500.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education to study the academic impact on high school students who serve as primary caregivers at home. The study must examine specific issues these students face, their absenteeism rates, and their high school graduation and college enrollment outcomes. Within one year, the Department must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature with findings and any recommendations for potential support programs. The bill does not create new programs but mandates this research to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Department of Education (DOE) to create policies for detecting, investigating, and preventing child abuse and neglect during public health emergencies that require social distancing (like the COVID-19 pandemic). Key provisions include enabling remote reporting and investigations via phone/video, developing public awareness campaigns about child safety during emergencies, and requiring schools to provide remote access to abuse prevention resources and behavioral health assessments for at-risk students. DCF must also collect and analyze child abuse report data from the pandemic, then submit a comparative report to the Governor and Legislature within one year, including recommendations for future emergencies. The bill mandates free online training for school staff on identifying abuse remotely and requires school districts to implement these protocols during emergencies.