Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 36-month pilot program allowing New Jersey's Medicaid program (NJ FamilyCare) to reimburse partial hospitalization services for children aged 5-14 at non-hospital locations, rather than requiring services to be provided in a hospital setting. It directly affects children with mental health needs who currently cannot access these intensive outpatient services outside hospitals due to reimbursement rules. The program requires one selected provider to exclusively serve children 5-14, meet all other Medicaid requirements except the hospital location rule, and apply for approval through the Children's System of Care. After 36 months, the Department of Human Services must report on the program's outcomes and recommend whether to continue or expand it.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study whether small modular reactors (SMRs) - nuclear reactors under 300 megawatts - can be feasibly deployed statewide. The BPU must complete this 18-month study, using $5 million in state funds, and consult with environmental and economic agencies. The study will examine suitable locations (like retired power sites), regulatory requirements, economic costs, safety, environmental impacts, and public input through three hearings. It will also assess how SMRs could integrate with existing energy infrastructure and recommend a potential pilot program for future deployment.

Maddy summaryS 3800 amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect current military service members and veterans from discrimination. The bill broadens existing protections by adding "service in the Armed Forces of the United States" as a protected class, covering both active duty personnel and those who have been discharged. It makes it unlawful for employers to deny reemployment to employees who take leave for military service, aligning with federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The bill also updates gendered language in the law to be more inclusive and clarifies that only unlawful discrimination is prohibited under the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2373 (the "New Jersey First Responders PTSD Protection Act"), protects paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers) who are diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits public employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against these employees for taking leave related to a PTSD diagnosis verified by a licensed medical professional. Employers must reinstate employees to their prior roles after medical clearance and face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation if they retaliate. The law applies only when PTSD arises from trauma directly tied to job duties, such as witnessing incidents or experiencing vicarious trauma while performing official responsibilities.

Maddy summaryS 2961 requires contractors working on New Jersey public works projects (funded by public money) to certify that each employee meets one of three minimum qualifications: a high school diploma or GED, enrollment in an equivalent apprenticeship program, or four years of documented trade work experience verified by tax filings. Contractors must submit this certification as part of their registration with the state, alongside other required documentation like business details and insurance proof. Non-compliance could lead to denial, suspension, or revocation of the contractor’s public works registration. The bill directly affects contractors bidding on public projects and the workers they employ on those projects.

Maddy summaryBill A5538 prohibits New Jersey municipal water utilities from charging fire districts for fire protection systems when the utility is already charging water service fees to customers who are taxpayers of that fire district. This prevents double-charging for the same fire protection water service - once through utility bills and again through fire district taxes. The bill amends state law to require that water utility rate structures exclude such charges on fire districts under these specific circumstances. It directly affects municipal water authorities and fire districts across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in New Jersey public schools to refer students to private licensed mental health providers (such as psychologists or social workers) for assessments and services. It prohibits referrals to a provider if the school staff or their immediate family has a significant financial interest in that provider. Parents or guardians must consent for students who cannot legally consent themselves, and neither the school district nor the referring staff bears the cost of these private services. The bill does not restrict schools from providing mental health services directly to students. It aims to expand access to mental health care through school-based referrals while maintaining safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an expungement process for New Jersey residents convicted of certain offenses who were victims of domestic violence or serious physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, provided the abuse was a contributing factor to their conviction. It allows eligible individuals to petition the Superior Court to have their conviction, finding of guilt, or juvenile adjudication removed from public records, excluding murder and sex offenses requiring Megan's Law registration. To qualify, applicants must prove they were abuse victims and that the abuse directly influenced their criminal case, with courts considering evidence like domestic violence reports, therapy records, or victim services documentation. The application can be filed after completing sentences, probation, or incarceration, and may cover multiple prior convictions regardless of where they occurred.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new sentencing consideration for defendants who were victims of domestic violence or abuse when they committed a crime, and that abuse was a contributing factor to their offense. It allows courts to reduce sentences for qualifying defendants: up to 18 months for third-degree crimes, 3-5 years for second-degree, and 5-10 years for first-degree offenses. The bill also creates a resentencing process for defendants convicted before the law took effect who meet the criteria, requiring courts to consider evidence like domestic violence reports, social services records, and professional testimony. To qualify, defendants must have been victims of abuse that contributed to their crime, be incarcerated with no pending appeals, and not have previously sought this relief. The bill requires correctional facilities to notify eligible inmates about this resentencing opportunity and mandates judicial training on implementing the new provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4871) creates a new expungement process for people convicted of certain crimes who were victims of domestic violence or substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, provided the conviction was substantially related to that abuse. It applies to most non-violent offenses (excluding murder or sex offenses requiring Megan’s Law registration). Eligible individuals can petition the Superior Court to have convictions, findings of guilt, or juvenile adjudications erased after completing their sentence, with courts required to review evidence like court records, abuse reports, and professional testimony. The process allows applicants to include prior convictions in a single petition, regardless of where they occurred. This policy change directly helps victims of abuse who were convicted due to trauma from their situation, clearing legal barriers to employment and housing.