Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryLeah's Law (A3624) requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to create and implement safety plans for caseworkers, directly affecting staff who investigate child abuse/neglect reports and perform emergency child removals. The bill mandates specific safety measures: DCPP offices must have assigned Human Services police officers, metal detectors, panic buttons in client meeting rooms, and two-way mirrors for police monitoring. For field work, it requires a second caseworker during high-risk home visits (e.g., if clients have threatened violence or a history of aggression) and ensures police can be requested within 30 minutes (immediately in emergencies). Safety plans must detail threat-response procedures and be posted in offices for all staff to access.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey pharmacists to provide a 30-day emergency supply of chronic maintenance medications without a current prescription under specific conditions. It directly affects patients who have run out of refills or cannot reach their prescribing doctor, provided the pharmacy has a prior prescription record, the pharmacist tried but failed to contact the doctor, and the pharmacist determines the supply is medically necessary. The drug dispensed cannot be a controlled substance, must not exceed a 30-day supply (or the standard unit of dispensing), and cannot be provided to the same patient more than once in a year. Pharmacists and their employers are granted civil immunity for good-faith dispensing under these rules, unless gross negligence or intentional misconduct occurs, and this provision does not override existing 72-hour emergency dispensing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal right for individuals denied professional licenses (like for nursing, law, or contracting) by New Jersey state licensing agencies to challenge if the denial resulted from a policy or process causing a disproportionate negative effect on people of certain racial or ethnic groups. It allows such individuals to file a formal complaint with the state Civil Rights Division or court, requiring them to prove, by a preponderance of evidence, that the denial was linked to a biased policy or inconsistent application. Licensing agencies can defend themselves by showing the policy is based on legitimate, non-discriminatory factors (such as required training or exams) that are applied fairly and directly related to the profession. The bill does not change licensing standards but adds a new pathway to address potential systemic bias in credentialing.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the validity of temporary teaching permits for military spouses from 180 to 365 days (with possible 365-day extensions) and eliminates all issuance fees for both temporary permits and full instructional certificates. It requires the New Jersey Department of Education to expedite processing for military spouses who relocated with an active-duty service member and meet certification requirements in another state. The bill directly affects military spouses who hold teaching licenses in other states but must relocate to New Jersey due to a military transfer. These changes aim to reduce barriers for military spouses seeking teaching jobs in New Jersey while maintaining all required certification standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires airports operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to provide private lactation rooms for travelers who need to express milk. Airports with 1 million or more annual passengers must install these rooms in all terminals immediately, while smaller airports (10,000-1 million passengers) must add them during new construction or major renovations. All rooms must include a chair, electrical outlet, and be located outside restrooms - new or renovated rooms must also include a sink. The policy directly affects travelers using PANYNJ airports, ensuring accessible, private spaces for breastfeeding or pumping.

Maddy summaryAJR 127 designates October of each year as "Humanities Month" in New Jersey. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging cultural institutions to host activities celebrating the arts and humanities. It recognizes the role of humanities in fostering cultural understanding, supporting the economy through tourism and jobs, and honoring New Jersey's history as home to pioneering artists and performers. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or obligations but formally recognizes the value of humanities for all citizens.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3658 requires the state to reimburse school districts for transportation costs incurred when serving homeless students. Currently, the student's "district of residence" pays these costs, but this bill shifts that responsibility to the state. The bill amends existing law to specify that the state must cover transportation expenses for homeless students attending school outside their home district, including cases where students are displaced by disasters or terrorism. This directly affects school districts (reducing their costs) and homeless students (ensuring continued transportation access). The law takes effect July 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health screeners to conduct an assessment before performing routine laboratory and diagnostic testing on individuals being screened for potential involuntary mental health treatment. It applies to people believed to need involuntary commitment to treatment who are undergoing mental health screening. By requiring assessments before testing, the bill aims to avoid unnecessary testing costs when commitment isn't required and reduce emergency department wait times. This policy change affects mental health screeners, screening services, and individuals seeking mental health evaluation in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an incentive-based payment system for home health agencies and health care service firms that serve NJ FamilyCare recipients enrolled in Fully Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans. The system measures performance across nine specific metrics including hospitalizations, emergency care, patient mobility, medication management, and surgical wound care, then ranks agencies based on both absolute performance and improvement over time. Funding distribution will allocate 60% of the $10 million appropriation to agencies ranked in the top 20% for absolute performance and 40% to those ranked in the top 20% for improvement. Participating agencies must implement new protocols for care coordination, discharge follow-up, and medication reconciliation, and designate a single health care professional to coordinate each patient's care. The system will be evaluated annually with public reporting of performance metrics and payment distributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3662) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to create and implement a written nondiscrimination policy that meets federal and state anti-discrimination laws, including the Law Against Discrimination (C.10:5-1 et seq.). It mandates that NJT distribute this policy to all current employees within 60 days of the bill's effective date and to new hires within five business days of starting work. All employees must sign written acknowledgment of receiving the policy within 10 business days and can request a copy at any time. Additionally, NJT must require every employee to complete annual training on the policy each calendar year. The policy directly affects all NJT employees and aims to ensure compliance with existing anti-discrimination standards.