Asm. Mike Venezia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school teachers to complete two hours of cultural competence training every two years as part of their existing professional development requirements. The training must cover topics like personal awareness, classroom microaggressions, and implicit bias to help teachers better support students from different cultural backgrounds. It directly affects all licensed teachers in New Jersey public schools. The requirement integrates into current professional development rules without creating new funding or programs. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all correctional police officers in New Jersey state correctional facilities to wear body-worn cameras that record audio and video during most duties, with specific exceptions for restroom use, medical appointments, and certain meetings. It also mandates the Department of Corrections to install comprehensive security camera systems throughout facilities, including blind spots and common areas, with requirements for continuous monitoring by officers and systematic review of footage. The legislation sets minimum retention periods for recordings (180 days), extending to three years for recordings involving complaints, disciplinary actions, or criminal investigations, while establishing procedures for inmate access to footage. These requirements apply directly to correctional officers, inmates, and the Department of Corrections, with disciplinary actions outlined for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all teacher certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete an anti-racism training course beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. It also mandates that candidates entering teaching through alternate certification routes complete the training within one year of employment. The training must cover diversity in teaching, developing racial literacy, examining personal biases, and understanding how race affects classroom decisions like grading and discipline. Educator preparation programs must update their curricula to include this requirement and share syllabi and required texts online, though the state does not approve course content. The bill directly affects all new teacher certification applicants in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail firearm dealers from operating within 1,000 feet of specific locations, including schools (elementary, secondary, preschool), childcare centers, healthcare facilities, places of worship, alcohol-serving establishments, parks, and other firearm dealers. It directly affects firearm retailers seeking to open or maintain locations near these facilities. The restriction applies to all retail firearm dealers and their business premises, requiring them to comply with the new buffer zone requirements. The law amends New Jersey's existing firearm licensing statute to establish this spatial limitation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and nonpublic school districts to provide counseling services to student-athletes (or their parents/guardians) who file complaints against coaches or officials during school sports events. Specifically, schools must make school counselors, social workers, or psychologists available to assess emotional impacts from alleged incidents, and refer students to appropriate services if needed. Schools must also notify the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association about such complaints. The law applies to all student-athletes participating in statewide interscholastic sports programs during games, meets, or official competitions. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member "Police Body Camera Implementation Task Force" to study and make recommendations about body camera use by law enforcement in New Jersey. The task force includes diverse stakeholders like law enforcement leaders, public defenders, civil rights advocates, and municipal representatives, with the Attorney General serving as chair. It will examine implementation requirements, best practices for camera use, and rules for accessing body camera recordings. The task force must submit its final report to the Governor and Legislature by December 30, 2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new first-degree crime called "home invasion" for entering a residence with intent to commit certain serious crimes (like robbery, sexual assault, or kidnapping) while another person is present and using force, threats, or being armed. It mandates a 10-30 year prison sentence with 85% served without parole under the No Early Release Act. Additionally, it upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime if anyone other than the offender is present in the home (regardless of the offender’s knowledge), increasing the maximum sentence from 5 years to 10 years. These changes directly affect individuals committing such offenses in residential settings.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A613 requires publicly traded corporations with their principal office in the state to appoint women to their boards of directors. By December 31, 2023, all such corporations must have at least one female director; by December 31, 2025, requirements increase based on board size (e.g., three women for boards of six or more directors). Corporations must annually report director demographics to the Secretary of State and face fines of $100,000 for first violations and $300,000 for repeat failures to meet quotas. The bill aims to increase gender diversity in corporate leadership through mandatory representation standards.

Maddy summaryThe Smarter Lunchroom Act requires New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to adopt evidence-based strategies from the Cornell Center's Smarter Lunchroom Movement to improve student nutrition. It directs the Commissioner of Education to support schools in implementing specific, low-cost changes like placing fruits near cash registers, using creative names for vegetables, positioning milk at the front of drink coolers, and featuring nutrient-rich foods first in serving lines. The bill mandates that the Department of Education provide accessible, plain-language information about these strategies on its website, including a self-assessment tool. This affects over 1.37 million students in New Jersey schools who rely on cafeteria meals for breakfast and lunch.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A576) requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to create the "New Jersey Pandemic Entertainment Grant Program" to provide financial assistance to entertainment businesses significantly impacted by pandemic-related closures and capacity restrictions. It directly affects qualified businesses - such as family entertainment centers (NAICS codes 713110/713120) that operated 50%+ indoor revenue in 2019 and demonstrated a 50%+ revenue decline during April 2020-March 2021 due to the pandemic - excluding those who received prior pandemic grants. Grants equal 15% of the revenue loss during that period, with maximum amounts ranging from $25,000 to $750,000 based on business size and ride count. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to establish the grant program fund, mandating the EDA to administer applications, disburse funds, and set reporting requirements.