Asm. Rosy Bagolie

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Commission on Human Trafficking’s existing duties to specifically address trafficking affecting women and children of color. It requires the commission to study racial disparities in trafficking vulnerability, identify prevention strategies for these groups, and improve support services for victims. The commission must then make legislative recommendations based on these findings. The bill does not create new programs but directs the existing commission to prioritize these issues in its annual work.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's charter school program by implementing new enrollment procedures, accountability measures, and reporting requirements. It requires charter schools to use a lottery system for student enrollment (with specific rules for district residents), mandates annual demographic reporting on student enrollment, and establishes new grounds for charter revocation including failure to meet performance standards or engage in discriminatory practices. The bill also requires charter schools to submit budgets for review, creates new requirements for collaboration between school districts and charter schools, and mandates that charter schools be evaluated under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum. These changes aim to increase transparency, accountability, and equitable enrollment practices in the charter school program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public school building in a New Jersey school district to have at least one certified school nurse. Currently, districts must employ certified school nurses but are not required to have one at each building. The bill allows districts to supplement certified nurses with non-certified nurses, provided the non-certified nurses work in the same building or school complex. It maintains existing rules for medically fragile students, requiring specialized care from approved providers chosen by parents without increasing district costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey - including hospital service, medical service, health maintenance organization (HMO), individual, group, and employer-sponsored plans - to cover genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. It directly affects individuals enrolled in these plans by ensuring coverage for this specific cancer risk testing without cost-sharing. The law mandates that positive test results for these genes qualify as "positive genetic testing" under existing law, enabling further necessary testing. This policy change applies to all policies delivered, issued, or renewed in New Jersey on or after the effective date.

Maddy summary"Madalyn's Law" requires New Jersey school districts to teach students in grades 4-12 about toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as part of health education, including causes, symptoms, and risk reduction. It also mandates that public restrooms with two or more toilets (excluding elementary schools' lower grades) display signs about TSS warning signs, causes, and dangers, placed near tampon dispensers or in prominent locations. Owners of affected facilities face $100 penalties per violation for non-compliance. The state Department of Health must create signage standards and provide public informational materials about TSS online. The law applies to all school districts and public restrooms meeting the specified criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public colleges and universities in New Jersey to include fees on student tuition bills that fund legislative advocacy groups (organizations attempting to influence legislation). Currently, such fees require a student referendum to be added as "optional" fees; this bill eliminates that requirement, making them "waivable" fees instead. Students would see these fees listed separately on their bills but could choose to have them removed without penalty. The bill requires clear disclosures explaining the fee is optional, not endorsed by the school, and how to waive it. It directly affects students at public higher education institutions and the legislative advocacy organizations receiving these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a free emergency notification system for schools. The system must allow students, staff, parents, and guardians to register mobile devices (like phones or tablets) to receive immediate alerts about active shooter situations on school grounds. It mandates that the system works with all device types, automatically contacts local law enforcement or the State Police upon activation, and must be customized by each school using the system to include registered contacts. The bill applies to all public and nonpublic schools in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's State Board of Education to create three new teaching certifications (endorsements) for educators. It allows teachers to teach students with disabilities across all grade levels (excluding blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing students), combine elementary and middle school teaching under one K-8 endorsement, and teach bilingual education with new language proficiency requirements. Currently, teachers must hold separate certifications for different grade levels or subject areas. The changes aim to simplify certification for special education, K-8 instruction, and bilingual programs while requiring language skills for bilingual educators.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to explicitly protect members of the press and media as a covered class. It adds "employment as a member of the press or media" to the list of protected characteristics, meaning targeting journalists or media workers because of their profession now qualifies as bias intimidation. The law defines "member of the press or media" to include accredited journalists, photographers, and media equipment operators. This change ensures that offenses like harassment or threats against media professionals due to their work are treated as bias crimes with enhanced penalties under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a civil lawsuit option for victims of stalking under New Jersey's existing stalking law (P.L.1992, c.209, C.2C:12-10). It allows victims - who were placed in reasonable fear for their safety or a minor child's safety - to sue stalkers in court for damages, even if no criminal charges were filed. Victims can seek compensatory damages (for actual losses), punitive damages (to punish the stalker), and reimbursement for attorney fees and court costs. The lawsuit must be filed within two years of the last stalking incident, as defined by New Jersey's personal injury statute of limitations.