Asm. Lisa Swain

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state employees who were temporarily working at New Jersey psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities before joining the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits if injured during that temporary employment. It deems injuries sustained while performing duties (e.g., as nurses, correction officers, or healthcare workers) at those facilities as occurring "during membership" for PERS benefit eligibility, even if the injury happened before PERS enrollment. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2003, and covers employees who later become PERS members without interruption in their job. This specifically affects temporary workers in state psychiatric or correctional facilities who were previously ineligible for PERS disability benefits after becoming members.

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 requires New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety to launch a public awareness campaign focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety. The campaign will educate the public about current laws, including rules for bicyclists (such as riding on the right side of the road) and motorists (such as safely passing pedestrians and cyclists), along with penalties for violations. It specifically references two existing laws: a 1951 statute on bicyclist positioning and a 2021 law on safe passing practices. The bill does not create new laws but mandates the dissemination of existing safety regulations to inform the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses bidding on New Jersey state contracts exceeding $50,000 to disclose all labor and employment law violations committed by the business within the past two years. It applies to violations of federal, state, or local laws covering wage/hour rules, workplace safety (like OSHA), workers' compensation, and the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act. State agencies must review these disclosures and may disqualify bidders with serious violations that threaten employee health/safety or show disregard for labor laws. The requirement applies to all state agencies contracting for goods, services, or public construction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program that encourages gas utilities to adopt renewable natural gas (RNG) and invest in related infrastructure. It provides gas utilities with a mechanism to recover costs for qualifying investments and RNG procurement from customers through regulated rate adjustments, subject to BPU approval. Utilities must purchase RNG at market rates, and the BPU will set customer charges based on actual costs, including RNG supply, commodity, and administrative expenses. The program aims to support greenhouse gas reduction efforts while ensuring ratepayer protections through BPU oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits businesses from using receipt paper containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical added during manufacturing to improve paper properties, for transaction records like receipts, credit/debit card transactions, or banking records. Violators face civil penalties of $250 to $500 per offense, with each day of ongoing violation treated as a separate offense. The law would take effect 18 months after enactment, giving businesses time to switch to BPA-free alternatives. It directly affects retailers, restaurants, banks, and any business issuing transaction receipts.

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 requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a statewide plan within one year to reduce public lead exposure from contaminated soil and drinking water. The DEP must use existing soil test data from cleanup sites, public water testing results, and other relevant information to identify high-risk geographic areas, prioritize public funding for soil and water remediation, and develop a public education program about lead health risks. The plan must be updated every five years and made publicly available online. It directly affects DEP operations and aims to protect residents in communities with lead contamination.

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 bill changes New Jersey's firearms regulations by requiring that firearms purchaser identification cards be valid for four years (expiring on the holder's birthday in the fourth year after issuance), rather than indefinitely as under current law. It also requires applicants to complete a firearms safety training course approved by the State Police within four years prior to application (with exemptions for law enforcement and veterans). Additionally, the bill revises inheritance procedures for firearms, requiring heirs or legatees to possess a valid firearms purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun before taking possession of inherited firearms, with specific procedures for transferring firearms to law enforcement if the heir doesn't qualify for a permit.