Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1355) requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete trauma-informed training every three years on handling sexual assault cases, covering topics like trauma impact, victim communication, and evidence collection. It mandates that healthcare facilities and police inform all sexual assault victims about county sexual violence program services - including rape care advocates - before medical exams or statements are taken. The bill also codifies that victims can request advocates to accompany them during medical exams, law enforcement interviews, and court proceedings, and specifies advocates must provide confidential support, counseling, and resource referrals. These changes directly affect law enforcement agencies, sexual assault victims, and county sexual violence programs by standardizing victim support and officer training.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3352) requires courts to provide counseling services for children in domestic violence cases and establishes that custody must generally be awarded to the domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. It mandates courts to advise victims and children about counseling services, allows emergency protective orders including firearm restrictions, and ensures temporary orders can be issued quickly without the victim's physical presence. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims, their children, and courts handling family cases, focusing on immediate safety and long-term support. It amends existing law to prioritize victim safety and child welfare in custody determinations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools, developed with input from organizations like the American Red Cross. The fact sheet must include practical tips for preventing drowning, the importance of swim lessons, and locations offering free or low-cost water safety courses in each county. Public school districts must distribute the fact sheet to parents/guardians during initial student enrollment, while nonpublic schools may choose to distribute it but are not required to. The bill directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in public schools and provides accessible resources for water safety education across the state. It takes effect after a four-month implementation period following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority to fund advertising and marketing costs for eligible science and technology businesses. It directly affects small tech companies in New Jersey with fewer than 225 employees (75% based in the state) operating in specified sectors like biotechnology, renewable energy, or information technology. Grants must cover only advertising/marketing expenses, require annual financial reports to verify proper use, and convert to loans if misused. The program aims to stimulate economic development by supporting these emerging businesses' market outreach.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1411 requires firearm retailers to provide customers with a written disclosure at the point of sale. This disclosure informs buyers they must report lost or stolen firearms within 36 hours to local law enforcement or state police, and warns that purchasing firearms with intent to resell to ineligible buyers is illegal. Retailers must have customers sign and keep copies of this disclosure for 15 years, and post the same notice visibly at all sales counters. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat violations, with collected fines funding gun violence prevention efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how motor vehicle fine money is distributed when violations are issued by the State Police. Specifically, it directs that one-third of the total fines collected from State Police-issued tickets must go to the municipality where the violation occurred, while two-thirds go to the State Treasurer for designated state funds. The municipality can use this one-third share to help cover costs like operating its municipal court. This applies only to violations where the State Police were the issuing agency, not to tickets from other law enforcement. The change aims to provide direct local funding for municipal court operations from these specific fines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create an electronic system for salvage processors to handle salvage certificates of title. It directly affects insurers, salvage processors, and vehicle owners when a car is totaled and the owner fails to transfer the title within 30 days of an insurance payout. Key provisions include mandating electronic applications, requiring insurers to send 30-day written notice to owners and lienholders before applying, and specifying proof needed (like payment records and proof of notice) for the MVC to issue a salvage title in the insurer's name. The change streamlines the process for insurers to legally transfer totaled vehicles without physical title documents.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific entities and data types from New Jersey's personal data notification and disclosure requirements under P.L.2023, c.266. It applies to healthcare providers (covered by HIPAA), financial institutions (under Gramm-Leach-Bliley), insurance entities, state agencies, consumer reporting agencies (under FCRA), research organizations (using federal human subjects protections), and other federally regulated entities. The key mechanism removes the need for these entities to comply with NJ's data disclosure rules when handling information already governed by federal laws. The bill was withdrawn in 2026 after becoming redundant due to another enacted law (P.L.2025, c.367).

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A-1363) requires the Department of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign explaining existing privacy laws that prevent health care enrollment information (from Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare) from being shared with immigration authorities. It directly affects immigrant populations in New Jersey who may avoid health care due to unfounded fears of deportation. The campaign must use linguistically and culturally sensitive materials in English and Spanish, distributed through health facilities, community centers, libraries, and other local organizations, and coordinate with existing Medicaid outreach efforts. The department must also create a dedicated, Spanish-accessible webpage on its website summarizing these privacy protections and linking to relevant federal resources.