Asm. Will Sampson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health and the New Jersey Board of Nursing to provide homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification exams in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Tagalog. It directly affects individuals seeking these certifications, particularly non-English speakers who may face language barriers during testing. The law mandates that both written and oral exams be available in these languages to ensure accessibility. The agencies can adopt additional rules under existing administrative procedures to implement this requirement, which takes effect six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryAJR 112 designates the calendar week beginning Sunday that includes September 10th each year as "Suicide Prevention Week" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or services but encourages statewide awareness and community activities around suicide prevention. It requests the Governor annually issue a proclamation to recognize the week and promote existing resources like the NJ Suicide Hopeline. The bill directly affects all New Jersey residents by fostering community engagement with the state's ongoing suicide prevention efforts. It is procedural, focusing on recognition rather than policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health (DOH) to create and update annual guidelines for school districts and colleges on implementing student vaping awareness campaigns. The guidelines must include research-backed materials about vaping's health effects (lung damage, mental health, pregnancy risks), peer pressure strategies, and age-appropriate anti-vaping resources like pamphlets. Schools and colleges would use these guidelines to develop multi-level campaigns targeting adolescents and young adults, focusing on healthy decision-making. The DOE and DOH must post the guidelines online and link to additional anti-vaping resources for schools and families.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (AR 164) recognizing Bruce Springsteen's 75th birthday. It formally celebrates his New Jersey roots, career achievements (including over 120 million albums sold and 20 Grammys), and philanthropy, with no policy changes or direct impact on constituents. The resolution directs the Assembly Clerk to send copies to Springsteen and his family. As a commemorative measure, it does not enact new law or affect any legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's legal terminology by replacing "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" (CSAEM) throughout state statutes. The change affects multiple sections of law including those related to crimes, sex offender registration, employment disqualifications, and educational programs. The purpose is to use more accurate language that reflects the reality of these crimes and avoids implying consent from victims. The sponsor states this terminology update is not intended to change the substance of the law, but to make the language more consistent with current understanding and international standards. The bill corrects technical inconsistencies in existing statutes while maintaining the same legal protections and penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3887) requires healthcare providers during prenatal care to help pregnant women develop personalized postpartum care plans, including designating a medical home for follow-up care. It mandates hospitals and birthing facilities to provide standardized postpartum information before discharge, covering warning signs of complications like excessive bleeding, high blood pressure, infection, and depression. The law directly affects pregnant women receiving maternity care in New Jersey, healthcare professionals, and maternity care facilities. Key provisions include mandatory plan development during prenatal visits and uniform educational materials for facilities to ensure consistent patient education about postpartum health risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers with 10+ employees to publicly announce promotion opportunities to all current employees in the relevant department before making a promotion decision, unless based solely on experience or performance. It also mandates that employers include salary ranges and details of benefits/compensation for the first 12 months in all job postings for new positions, transfers, or promotions. Employers violating these requirements face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Temporary staffing firms are exempt from posting pay details for general job listings but must provide this information at the time of interview or hire for specific roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new burglary offenses in New Jersey: "home invasion burglary" (a second-degree crime) and "residential burglary" (a third-degree crime). Home invasion burglary occurs when someone enters a residence without permission and either inflicts bodily injury, threatens injury, or is armed with a weapon or explosives, while residential burglary simply involves entering or remaining in a residence without permission. Offenders convicted of home invasion burglary would face mandatory 85% sentence terms without parole (subject to the No Early Release Act), while residential burglary carries a lesser penalty of 3-5 years imprisonment. The bill also allows juveniles to be waived to adult court for burglary offenses involving firearms and clarifies definitions related to residential dwellings and burglary. These changes would directly affect individuals committing burglaries in residential properties and the criminal justice system's handling of such cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. If bodily injury occurs, assaulting a law enforcement officer would become a second-degree crime (5-10 years in prison) rather than third-degree under current law. The bill also requires offenders to submit to testing for communicable diseases when assaulting these professionals, with positive results shared with the victim. It expands the list of protected professionals to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel under the assault with bodily fluids provision. These changes would apply to offenses occurring after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-managed stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other emergency supplies to improve access during public health emergencies. The State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will maintain the stockpile, ensuring it meets state needs, and provide free PPE to public schools, state hospitals, and nursing homes during emergencies. Remaining supplies will be sold at market price to other entities, while an online portal will allow donations of emergency supplies like test kits and linens. The bill also requires OEM to streamline procurement processes by centralizing ordering, reducing administrative burdens, and developing a pre-established emergency contract repository.