Sen. Declan O'Scanlon

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 78) declares that the New Jersey Division of State Lottery's rule allowing direct online sales of lottery tickets via its website and apps (effective October 2, 2023) violates the State Lottery Act. The rule conflicts with existing law (N.J.S.A. 5:9-11), which prohibits state agencies from acting as "lottery sales agents" exclusively. The Legislature requires the Division to amend or withdraw the rule within 30 days of the resolution's transmission. If not corrected, the Legislature may later pass another resolution to invalidate the rule. This is a procedural action to enforce legislative intent, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund" within the General Fund, requiring the State Treasurer to use unexpended balances in this fund before authorizing new appropriations-backed bonds. It prohibits new debt issuance unless either (1) the fund has no available money, or (2) the new debt's interest costs per $1,000 are lower than what could be saved by retiring existing high-interest debt using the fund. The Treasurer must notify the Budget Oversight Committee whenever new bonds are considered and certify compliance with these rules. This directly affects the State Treasurer's authority over bond issuances and ensures existing debt is paid off with available funds before taking on new debt.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 636) reduces the supervised counseling experience required for professional counselor licensure in New Jersey from three years (3,000 hours) to two years (2,000 hours) in a professional counseling setting. It maintains the option to substitute 30 graduate semester hours beyond a master's degree for one year of experience, while requiring at least one year (1,500 hours) of supervised counseling after earning a master's degree. The change directly affects individuals seeking to become licensed professional counselors by lowering the experience threshold. The bill preserves existing educational and examination requirements, including passing the National Counselor Examination. It was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Health Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey school districts to submit their current school safety and security plans to the Commissioner of Education within six months of the bill's effective date. The Commissioner must then review each plan against specific criteria, including emergency notification procedures, staff responsibilities, building access policies, bullying prevention, hazard analysis, active shooter protocols, and crisis communication plans. After review, the Commissioner provides each district with a written report identifying weaknesses and recommended solutions. Within three years, the Commissioner must also submit a statewide summary report to the Governor and Legislature, aggregating findings without disclosing individual district details. The bill directly affects all school districts and their boards of education.

Maddy summaryS 1687 requires all New Jersey firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to complete specialized training on managing electric vehicle (EV) fires within 36 months of the bill's effective date. The law mandates the Division of Fire Safety and the Commissioner of Health to develop training courses covering EV fire risks - such as lithium-ion battery hazards - and safe response protocols. This applies to both volunteer and paid personnel in fire suppression/rescue roles (firefighters) and EMTs certified in basic life support. The training aims to address the unique challenges of EV fires, which can burn hotter and longer than traditional vehicle fires, though such incidents remain rare. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey public schools from requiring students to receive COVID-19 or HPV vaccinations as a condition for attendance. It also bans state or local government entities from forcing schools to ask about a child's vaccination status for these specific vaccines. The law directly affects public primary and secondary school students and their families by removing these vaccination mandates for school enrollment. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryS 1708 requires New Jersey's Governor to submit an annual report by July 15th to the State Ethics Commission, detailing all expenditures from the Governor's official allowance funds used for receptions, residence operations, or similar purposes during the prior fiscal year (ending June 30). The report must include receipts for items costing above a minimal amount, listing the vendor's name, address, and a description of each purchase. This report becomes a public record and must be posted on the Ethics Commission's website. The bill directly affects the Governor's office by mandating transparency around how these unappropriated funds are spent.

Maddy summaryS 889 creates a grant program to help Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties develop shelters for homeless veterans in southern New Jersey. The program awards state funds to these counties to identify suitable locations and provide property for state-operated shelters, based on applications submitted to the Adjutant General. It directly addresses geographic barriers that isolate homeless veterans from existing resources, particularly during extreme weather. The bill requires counties to propose shelter sites and land, with grants contingent on available funding and legislative appropriations. This policy change aims to expand access to shelter services in regions where homeless veterans face limited mobility to reach existing facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to include training on behavioral threat assessment teams in staff safety and security in-service programs. It mandates that these teams - composed of school counselors, administrators, and law enforcement liaisons - identify students who may pose safety risks and prevent violence through specific assessments and resource provision. The Department of Education must develop guidelines for implementing these teams, working with law enforcement and homeland security agencies. The policy directly affects all public school employees and districts in New Jersey, aiming to strengthen school safety protocols through structured team-based risk assessment.

Maddy summaryS 1707 requires New Jersey pension boards to automatically forfeit all pension benefits for elected or appointed state or local officials convicted of crimes related to their public office, regardless of whether the pension system covered that specific position. The bill expands current law, which only required forfeiture if the pension fund covered the office involved in the crime. Officials convicted of offenses "touching office" (defined as misconduct during service that renders their public duties dishonorable) would lose all earned pension benefits. This applies to both state and locally-administered pension systems, with no discretion for partial forfeiture in these cases.