Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill allows up to five state employees per agency to take leave to work as census enumerators during the federal decennial census. Employees may receive up to 10 paid workdays and an additional 10 unpaid workdays during the census year to assist with data collection. It applies to all state agencies, including departments, boards, and independent authorities, and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The unit must include assistant or deputy attorneys general (with one designated as Coordinator) and will handle criminal prosecutions, assist counties in investigations, connect victims to support services, and collaborate with state agencies like Health, Labor, and the State Police. It also mandates ongoing training for law enforcement on trafficking cases and requires an annual public awareness campaign to educate about trafficking signs, consequences, and victim support. The Coordinator must report yearly to the Governor and Legislature on the unit's work and suggest improvements. This directly affects victims, law enforcement, county prosecutors, and state agencies working on trafficking cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires doctors and nurses specializing in family medicine, obstetrics, or gynecology to ask female patients with flu-like or stomach flu symptoms specific questions about their menstrual cycle, recent tampon use, and potential toxic shock syndrome (TSS) symptoms. Providers must inquire about active menstrual cycles, last period dates, tampon usage timing, and whether symptoms appeared while using tampons. They must also inform patients about TSS warning signs and offer TSS testing if symptoms align with tampon use during an active or recent menstrual cycle. The law applies only to patients presenting with influenza or viral gastroenteritis symptoms during visits to designated providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 19-member Task Force on Institutional Discrimination in Health Care within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force will study why health outcomes differ for patients of different races and socioeconomic backgrounds, reviewing existing research and identifying specific policies to reduce these disparities - including hospital analyses and anti-racism training for medical professionals. It requires the task force to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within six months, after which the task force will expire. The bill directly affects New Jersey's health care system by mandating a formal review of systemic inequities, without creating new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Business Action Center to create a two-year "Entrepreneur Learner's Permit Pilot Program" that reimburses first-time entrepreneurs for state filing, permitting, or licensing fees when starting businesses in designated industries like biotechnology, financial services, and environmental technology. The program prioritizes women-owned and minority-owned businesses and limits total reimbursements to $500,000 annually. It mandates the Business Action Center to establish eligibility criteria, administer the program, and submit a report evaluating its effectiveness - including business formation rates, economic impact, and participant feedback - by the second fiscal year. The pilot program is designed to lower startup costs for new business owners in targeted sectors without altering existing state regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades penalties for repeat offenses of buying sex (prostitution as a patron) in New Jersey. A first offense remains a disorderly persons offense, but a second or third offense becomes a fourth-degree crime, and a fourth or subsequent offense becomes a third-degree crime. The bill also requires that fines collected from these offenses be directed to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" to support survivors of human trafficking. It applies specifically to individuals who repeatedly engage in purchasing sexual services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal recreation departments and nonprofit youth organizations (like Little Leagues, soccer clubs, and police athletic leagues) to have a defibrillator available at all youth athletic events and practices held on public fields. Starting September 1, 2020, these groups must ensure a defibrillator is on-site during events or have a certified emergency responder with a defibrillator present. The law also grants immunity from civil liability to organizations and their staff (including coaches and trainers) for acquiring or using defibrillators. It applies specifically to events on municipal, county, school, or publicly-owned fields.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax incentive program for small New Jersey manufacturers (employing ≤50 people) to invest in equipment and workforce training. It allows businesses to deduct up to $100,000 annually from their income tax for contributions to a special "manufacturing reinvestment account" held at a New Jersey financial institution. Funds in the account can be used for qualifying expenses like machinery/equipment purchases or New Jersey-based worker training, with unused funds earning tax-advantaged treatment until distributed. The program applies for five consecutive tax years, after which remaining balances are taxed normally.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey would join the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA), allowing EMTs, paramedics, and other licensed emergency medical personnel to work across state lines more easily. The bill directly affects EMS professionals seeking to practice in multiple states by enabling mutual recognition of licenses between participating states. Key provisions require member states to immediately recognize licenses from other compact states and share information about disciplinary actions against license holders. This streamlines cross-state emergency response while maintaining oversight through shared accountability measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects working parents and legal guardians of school-aged children (Kindergarten through 12th grade) during school closures caused by state or public health emergencies. It prohibits employers from requiring these employees to work in person if their job can be done remotely, unless the employer proves remote work would cause an undue hardship to business operations. The law includes a rebuttable presumption that remote work is feasible if an employee has already worked remotely for two consecutive pay periods, and employers cannot penalize staff for requesting or using remote work. Violations carry escalating fines: $1,000 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.