Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $140 for low-income residents in nursing homes, state/county psychiatric hospitals, and state developmental centers. It directly affects eligible residents who receive medical assistance under New Jersey’s Medicaid program but are not eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The allowance is intended for personal discretionary spending on items like phone calls, meals out, clothing, or hobbies. The amount will automatically increase annually starting January 1 after enactment, adjusted by the same percentage as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Family Development to maintain a waiting list for income-eligible applicants whose child care assistance applications cannot be processed immediately due to limited funding. It mandates the division to create procedures for adding applicants to the list, notify them when funding becomes available (including via website), and publish an annual report tracking key metrics like applications received, approvals, and those placed on the waiting list. The law directly affects low-income families seeking state child care assistance who face funding delays. The report must be published online and submitted to the Governor and Legislature annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to New Jersey Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. It requires that these rates match the average reimbursement for Day Habilitation Services Tiers D and E (currently $9.89 per 15 minutes) as used for developmental disability services. The policy directly affects approved brain injury service providers who deliver these programs to Medicaid beneficiaries. This amendment expands existing law, which previously only set minimum rates for community residential services, to now include structured day program services.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill would exempt veterans, active military personnel, National Guard members, and volunteer emergency workers from paying fees for mobile sportfishing vehicle permits. Under the law, the Department of Environmental Protection cannot charge these residents for permits that allow vehicles to operate on state park beaches for fishing, provided the vehicle is registered in the veteran's name. While these individuals would receive free permits, they are still limited to holding only one at a time and must follow all existing safety rules and regulations. The state agency must also create new rules to define the required proof of eligibility for these fee waivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to pay child care subsidies to eligible families for preschool-aged children at a rate equal to the per-pupil preschool education aid given to public schools. The policy specifically applies to three- and four-year-olds enrolled in licensed or registered child care programs that participate in the state's assistance program. To receive this higher reimbursement, child care providers must be rated as high quality under the Grow NJ Kids rating system and apply annually for the subsidy. The Department of Human Services will adjust these rates each year based on current school funding levels and must report annually on how many families and providers benefit from the change.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates how medication is given to individuals with developmental disabilities in New Jersey group homes and supervised apartments. It mandates that only a nurse or a certified medication aide working directly under a nurse's supervision can administer these medications. The law also requires parents or legal guardians to provide specific medical instructions and dosage details before admission and whenever a medication regimen changes. These rules apply to licensed community-based residential programs and day programs that offer habilitation services.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions made to nonprofit organizations that receive state funds or economic development subsidies. The deduction is limited to $10,000 for married couples filing jointly and heads of household, and $5,000 for single filers and others. Eligible nonprofits are defined as organizations that do not operate for private profit and are not part of any government, while the term "economic development subsidy" includes various forms of financial assistance like grants and loans provided to businesses. The law applies to contributions made in taxable years beginning on or after the date the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts in New Jersey that have chosen to adopt social and emotional learning standards to submit detailed reports to the Commissioner of Education within 180 days. These reports must describe how the districts implemented the standards and analyze their effects on student behavior, school climate, and academic outcomes. The Commissioner of Education will then compile a summary report for the Governor and Legislature, which may include recommendations for improving how these programs are managed across the state. The legislation is designed to gather data on the voluntary adoption of these competencies and will automatically expire once the Commissioner's final report is submitted.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act, provides additional state funding to specific school districts located in municipalities within New Jersey's Highlands or Pinelands preservation areas. To qualify, a school district must have a resident enrollment of over 500 students, be entirely located in a municipality where at least 25 percent of the land is in these protected areas, and have experienced a net loss in state school aid since the 2017-2018 school year. The funding amount is calculated by multiplying $250 by the number of acres in the municipality that fall within the preservation areas, with maximum annual caps of $2.5 million for districts with fewer than 1,000 students and $5 million for larger districts. The legislation takes effect immediately and applies to the first full school year following its enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 947) requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign and develop policies for recognizing and treating perinatal anxiety - a condition affecting approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all pregnant and postpartum patients for perinatal anxiety during prenatal visits (at least once per trimester), before discharge after birth, and at early postnatal check-ups, using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. Providers must also give patients and their families clear information about symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources. The bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women, their healthcare providers, and birthing facilities across New Jersey.