Asm. Rosy Bagolie

Maddy summaryThis bill makes significant changes to New Jersey's school funding system. It eliminates the use of census-based funding for special education aid, replacing it with a system that calculates aid based on the actual number of special education students in each district. The bill also establishes a reimbursement program for school districts to cover actual fuel costs for student transportation services. Additionally, it creates a 2% cap on annual reductions to State school aid and provides a Stabilization Aid program for districts facing budget imbalances.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Assembly Resolution (not a law) condemning violent attacks on Jewish individuals in Amsterdam following a November 7, 2024 football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and AFC Ajax. It specifically references incidents where Israeli fans were ambushed, assaulted, and targeted with anti-Semitic violence after pre-match anti-Arab actions by some fans, drawing a parallel to the 1938 Kristallnacht attacks. The resolution calls for Dutch authorities to apprehend perpetrators and expresses solidarity with victims, with no binding legal effect beyond New Jersey's official statement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to receive regular cancer and cardiovascular screenings starting three years after beginning employment and every three years thereafter. The screenings cover 11 specific cancer types including colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers, with examinations conducted by physicians. The bill establishes a dedicated fund financed by a $10 surcharge on motor vehicle fines and appropriates $20 million from the State General Fund to cover these costs. Public employers not participating in the State Health Benefits Program will be reimbursed up to $2,500 per officer for these screenings, while those participating will receive reimbursement for cardiovascular screenings. The program will begin on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's law governing employment programs for people with disabilities, renaming the "Sheltered Workshop Act" to the "Extended Employment Act." It changes eligibility requirements by redefining disabilities from "severe" to "significant" and removes the need for participants to complete workshop programs or prove they can't compete in the regular labor market. The bill eliminates oversight by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, revises funding mechanisms to adjust annually based on inflation, and repeals outdated provisions about product labeling and sales from these programs. The changes aim to modernize the program to better serve people with disabilities who may not have qualified under previous rules. The bill directly affects nonprofit extended employment providers and people with disabilities enrolled in these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus personnel transporting students with disabilities to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies and report these calls to the Office of Special Education. It mandates that school buses carrying students with disabilities be equipped with interior video cameras, real-time GPS tracking, and two-way communication devices. The bill expands training requirements for school bus personnel to include recognizing and responding to potential life-threatening emergencies involving students with disabilities. School bus contractors and school districts that fail to comply face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, and video footage and GPS data must be retained for at least 180 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 871, now P.L.2024, c.97) grants retirement eligibility to certain county fire instructors in New Jersey. It allows eligible individuals - those who were enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) before November 1, 2008, employed by a county on the bill’s effective date, maintained continuous membership, earned over $1,500 annually, and held permanent career status - to receive service credit for their tenure and qualify for retirement benefits. It also reinstates membership for those whose PERS coverage was terminated within five years prior to the bill’s effective date, provided they repay any returned contributions. The law takes effect immediately, directly impacting qualifying county fire instructors who previously lacked full retirement eligibility under PERS.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4148, now P.L.2024, c.103) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE) to create and distribute informational materials about type 1 diabetes to parents and guardians of public school students. The materials must explain type 1 diabetes, its warning signs, screening recommendations, treatment planning, and school care protocols, as specified in the law. School districts must make these resources available to families through the DOE website. The law took effect immediately upon approval and directly affects all parents/guardians of students in New Jersey public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires developers to incorporate specific green building standards in new affordable housing construction or major renovations of existing affordable housing. Projects must meet Energy Star energy efficiency standards, use LED lighting, include solar energy systems where feasible (with a 45-day exemption process for developers), and include features like EV charging stations and sustainable landscaping. Developers must also test soil for contamination before building new affordable housing and remediate if contamination is found. These requirements apply directly to affordable housing developers in New Jersey under the bill's defined "applicable projects."

Maddy summaryThis bill allows retired school superintendents, administrators, and certified nurses in New Jersey to be rehired by school districts for contracts longer than two years, without needing approval from the Commissioner of Education. Under current law, such reemployment was limited to a total of two years unless the Commissioner approved extensions. The bill removes this two-year cap, permitting annual contract renewals for these specific roles. However, rehired staff will not gain tenure or seniority rights during this reemployment period. The change applies only to certified education professionals and does not alter retirement benefits or the $15,000 annual pay limit for coaching roles mentioned in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in New Jersey to continue providing dependent health coverage for adult children with disabilities who are 26 years of age or older. It applies to various health coverage types including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and group health plans. The coverage must continue if the adult child is incapable of self-sustaining employment due to an intellectual disability or physical handicap and is chiefly dependent on the subscriber for support and maintenance. This extends existing law that previously limited dependent coverage to age 26, adding a specific exception for certain disabled adults. The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.