Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete mental health crisis response training, with a goal of 20% of patrol officers completing specialized Crisis Intervention Team training. It allows officers to divert individuals experiencing mental health crises from criminal prosecution to mental health screening and treatment services, with discretion to delay or forgo filing criminal complaints unless the offense involves violence or poses a public safety risk. Prosecutors can approve diversion to mental health treatment at any time before case resolution, with court proceedings postponed pending treatment. The bill establishes county-level Mental Health Services Coordinating Councils to identify resources for this diversion process and specifies criteria for when diversion is appropriate or not. It includes protections for public safety by prohibiting diversion for certain violent offenses and requiring court reviews every six months for those in diversion programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a study examining whether disparities exist in the use of minority-owned and women-owned businesses when state agencies purchase goods and services. The study will assess if these businesses are utilized at rates matching their availability in the market, focusing on all state agencies, including departments, commissions, and independent authorities. After completing the study, the officer must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to promote greater opportunities for these businesses in state procurement. The officer will also submit follow-up reports every four years to evaluate progress on prior recommendations and request funding for future studies if needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for domestic violence offenders in New Jersey. It adds a new $1,500 civil penalty (payable in $500 annual installments over three years) and raises the surcharge for domestic violence convictions from $100 to $500. All funds from these new penalties and the increased surcharge will flow into the newly created "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." The fund will provide direct legal services, medical advocacy, referrals, and community education to domestic violence victims through designated organizations. The bill affects domestic violence offenders (who pay the penalties) and victims (who receive enhanced legal support services).

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers administration of all school meal programs in New Jersey from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. It covers programs including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and emergency meal distributions, which provide nutritious meals to students and children in childcare settings. The transfer includes all related functions, funding, staff, records, and existing rules (which remain in effect until replaced by the Department of Education). The change aims to align program management with the Department of Education’s mission of supporting student academic success through school-based services.

Maddy summaryThis bill would raise the minimum age to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card (required for purchasing rifles and shotguns) from 18 to 21 years old. It would not affect the existing requirement that handgun purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, people under 21 could still possess firearms for specific purposes like hunting with a valid license and safety certification, military training, or target practice under supervision. Active duty military members, reservists, and National Guard members would remain eligible for the card before age 21. Those who already had the card before the bill's effective date could continue to use it.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's bias intimidation law by adding computer criminal activity, initiating false alarms, and cyber-harassment to the list of offenses that qualify as bias intimidation. It removes an unconstitutional provision from current law that was struck down by the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Pomianek. The bill establishes additional penalties for bias intimidation convictions, ranging from $250 to $2,000 depending on the severity, with these funds going to a new "Bias Crime Prevention Fund" to support investigations, community response, and educational programs about bias crimes. It also creates a mechanism for victims to receive treble compensatory damages if they prove harm was caused by bias intimidation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires social media platforms to conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments before offering any service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by children under 18. It prohibits default profiling of children, restricts collection of unnecessary personal information, and mandates high default privacy settings for child users. The bill establishes the New Jersey Children's Data Protection Commission, consisting of nine members appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker, to make recommendations on children's data privacy practices. Social media platforms violating the bill face civil penalties of up to $7,500 per affected child, enforced by the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1883 bill prohibits social media platforms from using features or practices known to cause addiction in users under 18, such as infinite scroll or autoplay that leads to obsessive use causing harm. Platforms must conduct annual third-party audits to prove they don’t use addictive features, and if audits reveal risks, they must fix them within 30 days. Small platforms (under $100 million annual revenue) and those primarily for gaming are exempt from these requirements. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $250,000 per offense, but the bill explicitly excludes liability for user-generated content or conduct protected by federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial aid to New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years, restoring approximately $331 million in reduced aid payments that municipalities received during fiscal years 2009-2011. In fiscal year 2023, municipalities will receive 50% of the difference between their 2008 and 2012 aid distributions, with full restoration beginning in 2024. Municipalities must subtract any additional aid received from their property tax levy calculations and cannot anticipate this aid when creating annual budgets. The bill requires municipalities to amend their budgets to properly reflect the total aid amount, ensuring the aid directly reduces the amount they need to raise through property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey registrars to issue certified electronic copies of vital records - including birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership certificates - alongside paper copies upon request. It requires the Commissioner of Health to establish security standards for electronic copies, including identity verification, data encryption, and privacy protections. The change applies to authorized requesters (such as individuals, family members, or government agencies) who already qualify for paper certified copies under current law. Electronic copies must be distinguishable from non-certified informational versions and maintain the same authentication requirements as paper records.