Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $2 million in state funding to New Jersey's Department of Labor to support county prosecutors in enforcing wage payment laws. It requires each county prosecutor's office to assign a dedicated assistant prosecutor to investigate and prosecute cases where employers fail to pay wages or violate wage-hour laws. The funding covers both financial resources and training for prosecutors to handle these cases more effectively. This directly affects workers who are owed wages and county prosecutors who will now have dedicated staff and resources for wage enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program" in New Jersey, targeting male students of color in their final year of educator preparation programs at participating colleges and male teachers of color currently working in schools. The program pairs each eligible student with a mentor teacher for their final academic year and the first two years of teaching, if hired by the same school district. Mentors receive a $5,000 annual stipend, and participating schools must make a good-faith effort to hire students who receive positive performance reviews. The program requires a final report on effectiveness and is funded with $95,000 from the General Fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to pay providers the same rate for certain primary and mental health services as the federal Medicare program, starting July 1, 2023. It applies to services provided by physicians in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or OB/GYN; advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, midwives; and mental health professionals like psychologists and licensed counselors. The law prevents Medicaid reimbursement rates from decreasing below prior year levels and covers both fee-for-service and managed care systems. It also mandates a report within one year on how these rate changes affect access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries, including recommendations for underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 10-member task force to examine school discipline policies in New Jersey public schools, specifically focusing on racial disparities in how discipline is applied and the effectiveness of current practices. The task force includes the Commissioner of Education, seven members appointed by the Governor (representing school boards, teachers, administrators, and public experts), and two public members appointed by legislative leaders. It will study racial impacts on suspensions/expulsions (including preschool), evaluate safety outcomes, review federal guidance on equitable discipline, and identify best practices. The task force must issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of forming.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new law enforcement vehicles purchased by New Jersey agencies - clearly marked as police vehicles - to have tinted windows meeting the minimum federal light transmittance standard. It applies only to newly acquired vehicles (not existing ones) and takes effect four months after enactment. The law mandates that these vehicles must have window tinting that allows only the minimum light permitted under federal rules. This policy change directly affects law enforcement agencies purchasing new patrol cars or similar vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey courts to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving certain restraining orders. It specifically applies when a defendant has two or more restraining orders against them, and the defendant must pay for the assessment. The assessment, conducted by qualified professionals like psychologists or social workers, aims to determine the likelihood of future violence. The court must consider the assessment findings along with other factors when deciding whether to dissolve a restraining order. The assessment results would be kept confidential and would not be shared with the victim.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3875) requires that low-speed electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and their batteries undergo safety testing by an accredited lab before being sold, rented, leased, or distributed to consumers in New Jersey. The testing must verify compliance with established safety standards (like UL 2849 for e-bikes or UL 2272 for mobility devices), and proof of testing must be visibly displayed on the product or its packaging. Retailers and distributors who fail to comply face a $1,000 penalty per violation after an initial warning. The requirement does not apply to second-hand sales without original packaging or documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to revoke the license of for-profit colleges that fail to meet specific graduation rate targets. By the sixth year after the law takes effect, these schools must achieve a 75% graduation rate for full-time students in four-year degree programs and a 75% rate for two-year programs. If a school is not on track after five years but demonstrates sufficient progress, the Secretary may grant additional time to meet the requirements before revoking the license. The law directly affects for-profit colleges authorized to offer degree programs in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Police Training Commission to study gender disparities in police employment across state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The Commission must examine recruitment, hiring practices, and retention policies affecting women officers, focusing on why women remain significantly underrepresented (currently only 5.6% in the State Police). Within six months of the bill's enactment, the Commission must issue a report with specific recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to improve gender representation. The study aims to address systemic barriers, such as non-job-related fitness standards, identified as contributing to low female recruitment and retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's "Dry Cell Battery Management Act" to expand the types of batteries covered under the law. It defines "covered batteries" as any rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery weighing up to 25 pounds or storing up to 2000 watt-hours of energy, whether embedded in products or sold separately. Manufacturers must submit "battery management plans" to the Department of Environmental Protection within nine months of enactment, including requirements for collection sites (at least one permanent site for portable batteries within 15 miles of 95% of residents, and within 25 miles of all residents, plus one site per county for medium format batteries). The bill also prohibits curbside recycling for covered batteries and removes requirements for retailers to accept used batteries or post specific signage.