Rep. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Female Incarcerated Person's Rights Protection Act" for New Jersey's female inmates, requiring gender-responsive policies and services. Key provisions include a gender-responsive risk assessment during classification, creation of a Division of Women's Services to address specific needs like trauma treatment and parenting support, and mandatory doula services for pregnant incarcerated women. The bill also establishes a Special Victims Unit to investigate sexual assault allegations and requires annual training for correctional officers who supervise female inmates. These changes aim to improve safety, dignity, and reentry support for female incarcerated individuals in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add sickle cell anemia to the list of qualifying medical conditions for New Jersey's medical cannabis program. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by chronic anemia and periodic pain episodes. If enacted, the bill would allow patients diagnosed with sickle cell anemia to obtain medical cannabis under the state's existing medical cannabis laws. The bill amends P.L.2009, c.307 to expand the list of qualifying conditions without changing the process for obtaining medical cannabis.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DHS) and the State Board of Medical Examiners to create a faster process for reviewing applications from doctors who want to join NJ FamilyCare (the state's Medicaid and children's health insurance program). Specifically, the medical board must share a physician's license number with DHS within 5 days of issuing it (or provide denial documentation within 5 days if licensure is denied), and DHS must begin processing applications immediately if they include license details or proof of pending licensure. DHS must also notify applicants within 10 days of receiving the license number if additional documents are needed. The bill does not change existing licensing or enrollment requirements and clarifies that approval cannot be granted before DHS receives a National Provider Identifier number.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Female Incarcerated Person's Rights Protection Act" for New Jersey, requiring the Department of Corrections to implement gender-responsive policies for women in state prisons. Key provisions include creating a Division of Women's Services to address trauma, parenting needs, and child reunification; mandating annual staff training on gender-responsive practices and sexual assault prevention; and providing doula services, parenting classes, and family reunification programs for incarcerated mothers. The bill also creates a Special Victim's Unit to investigate sexual assault allegations and requires all female inmates to receive information about reporting sexual abuse and accessing support services. These changes directly affect all women incarcerated in New Jersey state facilities and the correctional staff responsible for their care.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5017) exempts insurance-support organizations from New Jersey's data privacy notification and disclosure requirements when handling personal data related to fraud detection in insurance underwriting or claims. Specifically, it adds a new exemption (section i) to existing law for organizations defined under P.L.1985, c.179 (C.17:23A-2) that collect or disclose personal data to prevent fraud, misrepresentation, or nondisclosure in insurance contexts. The exemption applies only to data used for these specific insurance fraud prevention purposes. This change aligns insurance-support organizations with existing exemptions for insurance institutions under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to develop and implement a strategy to reduce food waste by at least 50% by 2030, compared to waste levels in the year the law takes effect. Districts must adopt this strategy as an amendment to their existing solid waste management plans, subject to DEP approval. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must also publish a public list of specific methods districts can use, including food donation programs, composting facilities, source separation, and public awareness campaigns. These measures aim to divert food waste from landfills and reduce methane emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates tiered retirement benefits in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), moving all current non-retired members to the "Tier 1" benefit level previously available to members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days, and automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants - without transferring their contributions - unless they opt out within six months. Disability recipients under long-term insurance become eligible for disability retirement benefits if they apply within two years. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities in New Jersey that partner with sports gambling companies (e.g., through stadium advertising or promotional agreements) to establish gambling addiction prevention programs. Institutions must provide students with educational materials on responsible gambling and share hotline information for gambling support services. The required materials must be posted on campus websites and in high-traffic areas like dorms, libraries, and student centers. The law takes immediate effect and directly affects all public higher education institutions with such sports wagering partnerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey to join a multi-state compact enabling physician assistants (PAs) licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects PAs seeking to work across state lines and healthcare systems needing to recruit PAs more flexibly. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses ("Compact Privilege"), requirements for states to maintain criminal background checks and report disciplinary actions, and ensuring PAs practice under the jurisdiction of the state where the patient is located. The compact aims to improve access to medical services, particularly benefiting military families who relocate frequently.