Asm. Pam Lampitt

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1618 requires all public school districts to submit annual reports to the Department of Education (DOE) by April 30 each year on computer science courses offered. The reports must detail course availability (including AP courses), subject matter, teacher demographics (gender, credentials), and student enrollment disaggregated by gender, race, special education status, and socioeconomic factors. The DOE will compile this data and publish it online by October 1 annually. This bill directly affects all New Jersey public school districts and aims to track participation gaps in computer science education to address underrepresentation of women and minorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2152) expands New Jersey’s existing pilot program to authorize grants for qualified nonprofit veterans’ organizations to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes specifically for homeless veterans. It requires veterans to be low-income or have a disability (or both), and grants up to $400,000 per organization annually must include a 50% matching contribution. The program allocates $1 million yearly for five years, prioritizing organizations serving high-need communities and requiring energy-efficient upgrades where cost savings exceed 10%. It directly affects homeless veterans (defined as living in shelters, motels, or unsafe conditions) and qualified 501(c)(3)/501(c)(19) veterans’ nonprofits statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and strengthens ethics rules for school officials in New Jersey. It requires school officials to annually disclose if relatives (including extended family members and domestic partners) work for or contract with their school district. The bill also clarifies that the School Ethics Commission, which oversees these ethics rules, operates within but independently of the Department of Education. The Commission is authorized to appoint qualified staff, including an executive director, to carry out its duties. The bill directly affects school officials, school districts, and the School Ethics Commission by strengthening transparency requirements and clarifying the Commission's structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1634) creates a five-member task force to study leasing nonpublic school facilities to public school districts for programs they cannot accommodate due to space shortages. The task force includes the Commissioner of Education and four appointed members representing school boards, administrators, realtors, and the Catholic Conference. It will examine factors like availability of unused space in nonpublic schools, potential joint programs across districts, and how the Department of Education could coordinate such arrangements - focusing on programs such as preschool and kindergarten. The task force must issue a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within six months.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's eligibility rules for Work First New Jersey General Public Assistance (WFNJ/GA) benefits. It allows young adults aged 18 to 26 to receive these benefits even if they are claimed as tax dependents on a parent's or relative's federal income tax return (Form 1040). Currently, this tax dependency status makes them ineligible, regardless of other qualifications. The bill directly affects young adults in this age group who live with relatives but cannot access aid due to existing tax rules. It removes this specific barrier without altering benefit amounts or other eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-year pilot program in New Jersey public schools to address bullying, harassment, and intimidation. It requires the state Department of Education to select six school districts (two per regional area) to administer two anonymous, voluntary student surveys about school climate issues. The surveys allow students to report incidents and identify perpetrators without fear of retaliation, and school officials must review results, investigate patterns, and meet with students identified in the surveys - without requiring parental consent. At the program’s conclusion, the commissioner must report to the Governor and Legislature on whether the program should be expanded statewide. The pilot applies only to middle and high school students in participating districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1620) revises the legal definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" under New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. It changes the phrasing from "any actual or perceived characteristic" to "any actual or perceived action, behavior, or characteristic" of the student being targeted. The revised definition applies to any gesture, written/verbal/physical act, or electronic communication - whether a single incident or repeated - that causes harm, insults, or creates a hostile school environment. The change directly affects students, schools, and staff in New Jersey public schools who must identify and address bullying incidents under this law. The bill takes effect in the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Innovation Schools Act (A1654) establishes a process for New Jersey public schools to become "innovation schools" with increased autonomy to improve student achievement. These schools, which can be new or converted from existing schools, gain flexibility in curriculum, budget, scheduling, staffing policies, and professional development through a formal innovation plan. The plan requires input from teachers, parents, and school leaders, must be approved by the school board after public hearings, and operates under a 5-year authorization with annual evaluations. The bill directly affects school districts, educators, students, and families by creating a structured pathway for school innovation while maintaining accountability through measurable student outcome goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1612) requires New Jersey school districts with grades 9-12 to biannually share a list of students who left school before graduating (without intending to continue elsewhere) with their local Workforce Investment Board. The list must include each student's name, last known address, and phone number, and must be provided by February 15 and July 15 each school year. It directly affects school districts serving high school students and Workforce Investment Boards, aiming to connect early-leavers with workforce services. The requirement mirrors an existing 2000 Department of Education directive but formalizes it into law.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1632 (A1632) upgrades penalties for possessing most firearms on school, college, or university grounds without written authorization from the institution's governing officer. Currently a third-degree crime (3-5 years prison), this violation would become a second-degree crime (5-10 years prison) under the bill for all firearms except specific small-caliber weapons like BB guns, air guns, or spring guns that eject projectiles under 3/8 inch. These excluded weapons would remain a third-degree offense, with lower fines ($15,000 max vs. $150,000) and a presumption of non-incarceration. The bill aims to align penalties for this offense with those for other firearm violations on school property.