Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2700 requires colleges and universities to review the employment history of job applicants who will have regular contact with students for any past allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Applicants must provide a list of employers from the last 20 years (including institutions of higher education and schools) and disclose if they were investigated, disciplined, or had licenses revoked due to such allegations. Institutions must then contact these employers to verify the information, and false disclosures can lead to employment denial or civil penalties. The bill also prohibits agreements that suppress such information or prevent reporting to authorities, aligning with protections previously extended to K-12 students.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A428 (A428) updates procedures for removing deceased voters from the Statewide Voter Registration System. It requires county clerks to receive monthly death records from health officers (in addition to the current commissioner of registration), and creates three new pathways for transferring voter records to the death file: (1) next of kin submitting a notarized form with a death certificate to county clerks or the commissioner; (2) veterans healthcare directors or nursing home administrators notifying the commissioner; and (3) funeral directors submitting forms with death certificates. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by streamlining how death information is shared with election officials. The bill directly affects county clerks, next of kin, veterans healthcare staff, nursing home administrators, and funeral directors.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets requirements for New Jersey long-term care facilities (including nursing homes and assisted living residences) during infectious disease outbreaks. It mandates weekly testing for staff and residents who travel outside the facility, immediate testing for anyone showing symptoms, and restricts staff from working at multiple facilities. The bill also establishes visitation rules allowing residents to designate up to two visitors for daily indoor visits with screening and testing requirements, while requiring facilities to provide isolation spaces for infected residents. These requirements remain in effect for the duration of any declared public health emergency.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 22) commemorates Greek Independence Day, observed annually on March 25th, specifically recognizing the significance of this day for New Jersey's Greek-American community. It directly affects New Jersey residents of Hellenic (Greek) ancestry, particularly those in the New York City metropolitan area and Bergen County, which the bill notes has the largest Greek population in the U.S. The resolution has no binding effect; it simply expresses the state's recognition through a formal statement and directs copies to the New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission and the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey. It does not create new laws or alter policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Service Management Fellows Program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It creates a two-year fellowship program to recruit up to 10 recent graduate-level candidates annually for roles in state government departments, focusing on public policy leadership and management. Fellows receive a stipend, must have earned a qualifying degree within two years, and are assigned to departments based on their skills and agency needs. The program is overseen by an advisory committee of Executive Branch department leaders who appoint a director and assist in fellow selection. The state must appropriate annual funds to cover stipends, with no guarantee of permanent employment after the fellowship ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public service employers in New Jersey (such as public schools, local governments, and nonprofits) to certify employees’ eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), which forgives student loans after 10 years of qualifying public service work. It specifies that educators must be credited with 3.35 hours worked per hour of classroom time for certification, without overriding better terms in collective bargaining agreements. Employers must provide completed PSLF forms to employees upon request, annually, and at separation, and must distribute standardized materials about the program. The state’s Secretary of Higher Education must create and update promotional resources (including a summary letter, fact sheet, and FAQ) to help employers share PSLF details with all staff annually and new hires within 30 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $500,000 fund to reimburse New Jersey towns for police and sanitation costs caused by crowds at Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) locations during the COVID-19 emergency. It directly affects municipalities that incurred expenses for crowd control, trash collection, and portable restrooms at MVC sites between March 9, 2020, and the end of the declared emergency. Municipalities must apply to the Division of Local Government Services for reimbursement, with funds coming from the Property Tax Relief Fund. The bill is retroactive to March 9, 2020, and expires when the state's emergency declarations end.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within New Jersey's government to protect children at risk of abuse or neglect. The Child Advocate, appointed by the Governor, will monitor how state agencies and private entities provide child welfare services, investigate complaints, and ensure children in state custody receive appropriate care. The office will have the authority to review facilities like juvenile detention centers and group homes, require agencies to develop corrective action plans for systemic issues, and maintain a 24-hour hotline for public concerns. The Child Advocate will report annually to the Governor, Attorney General, and Legislature on findings and recommendations for improving child welfare services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Education to fund school districts implementing therapy animal programs in school wellness centers or counseling offices. School districts applying for grants must submit plans for using therapy animals to support student wellness, a safety policy protecting students, staff, and animals, and other required details. The program will select two districts per region (south, central, north) to ensure urban, suburban, and rural representation, with grants covering training costs for teachers and their therapy animals. Participating schools must annually report on the program's impact on student well-being, and the Department of Education will compile these reports for the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3218) requires New Jersey's Secretary of State and county voter registration commissioners to conduct a one-time audit of the Statewide Voter Registration System within 90 days of the law taking effect. The audit must identify: (1) ineligible voters who successfully registered, (2) attempts by ineligible people to register (even if rejected), and (3) whether current procedures for removing ineligible voters are working as required by law. The officials must jointly develop uniform audit methods and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within 30 days of completing the audit, detailing findings and recommendations. The bill focuses solely on verifying the accuracy of voter registration records, not changing voting rules or eligibility standards.