Sen. Declan O'Scanlon

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1355) prevents future increases in unemployment tax rates for employers by freezing the wage base used to calculate contributions at the 2022 level. It directly affects businesses paying unemployment taxes in New Jersey, as their contribution rates will not rise if the wage base is adjusted downward. The bill also allocates $100 million in federal government assistance to the state’s unemployment compensation fund. This funding aims to bolster the fund’s reserves without requiring additional state tax increases. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Labor Committee (introduced January 9, 2024).

Maddy summarySCR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit most emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by New Jersey's Governor to a 14-day period during a state of emergency. After 14 days, such measures would automatically expire unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution extending them. The amendment does not apply to orders rescinding prior emergency actions, federal compliance measures, executive branch rules, National Guard actions, or orders issued under existing laws with longer timeframes. This change would shift authority from the Governor to require legislative approval for extended emergency powers, while maintaining current flexibility for specific exceptions.

Maddy summaryS 1986 establishes a 7-member School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force to study New Jersey's current school funding system under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act. The task force, including the Commissioner of Education and six public members with education/finance expertise, will evaluate specific aspects like how school district budgets and local shares are calculated, weighting for at-risk students, special education funding methods, and geographic cost adjustments. It must hold public meetings across the state and issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. This bill creates a procedural mechanism for reviewing the existing funding formula, directly affecting how state school aid is distributed to districts.

Maddy summaryS 962 (New Jersey) bars the state health commissioner and other government entities from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to attend public K-12 schools. The bill directly affects all students enrolled in New Jersey's public primary and secondary schools by removing a potential vaccination mandate for school attendance. Key provisions state that no state entity may make SARS-CoV-2 vaccination a condition of enrollment, effective immediately upon enactment. This policy change shifts school immunization requirements away from including the COVID-19 vaccine as a standard prerequisite.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $4.32 billion from New Jersey's Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to all municipalities and counties for two key purposes: retiring existing local debt or funding capital projects (like infrastructure) without issuing new debt. It directs $3 billion to municipalities on an equal per capita basis (same amount per resident) and $1.32 billion to counties similarly. The funds, partially drawn from $1.97 billion in unallocated balances already in the fund, must be distributed within 30 days of enactment. The bill aims to provide immediate, efficient financial relief to local governments facing debt burdens.

Maddy summaryS 1667 requires New Jersey's Governor to include a detailed budget sustainability statement with the annual budget message. This statement must analyze whether projected spending for the next fiscal year can be sustained without raising taxes or reducing the State's undesignated fund balance, while tracking structural imbalances, one-time revenues, tax expiration impacts, and mandatory spending increases (like debt payments, contracts, and public assistance programs). The bill mandates that any projected spending increases must be offset by estimated future revenue or reduced appropriations. It applies to the Governor's 2025 budget message and aims to improve long-term fiscal planning by requiring two-year budget analysis.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1661) limits cash payments for unused sick leave upon retirement for public employees. It caps payments at $15,000, applies to new hires starting after 2010, and exempts those who accrued leave before 2007 under specific conditions. The bill also suspends payments if an employee is indicted for certain crimes involving their position and requires forfeiture if convicted of those crimes. These rules apply to school boards, agencies, and other public employers covered by the law. Payments are only made at retirement, based on leave balance on the retirement date.

Maddy summaryThis bill waives state and municipal renewal fees for certain alcohol licenses held by businesses affected by pandemic restrictions. It directly helps bars/restaurants (with "plenary retail" licenses), microbreweries ("limited brewery" licenses), and brew pubs ("restricted brewery" licenses") by eliminating their annual state fees ($200) and allowing local governments to waive their separate municipal fees ($250-$2,500). Businesses that paid these fees after March 9, 2020 (when the pandemic emergency began) are entitled to refunds. The waiver is retroactive to March 9, 2020, and expires when pandemic restrictions end or 13 months after enactment, whichever comes later.

Maddy summaryS 1696 increases penalties for motor vehicle theft and carjacking convictions in New Jersey. It raises fines to $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second, and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses, while extending license suspensions up to 10 years for repeat offenders. The bill also establishes a presumption of pretrial detention for defendants charged with motor vehicle theft or carjacking who commit related crimes within a short timeframe. All collected fines will fund law enforcement efforts targeting auto theft. These changes apply to individuals convicted under New Jersey's motor vehicle theft laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to provide victims of domestic violence, or their legal representatives, with copies of specific records (including photos, bodycam footage, 911 transcripts, and police reports) within 10 calendar days of a request, at no cost. If records cannot be provided within that timeframe due to ongoing investigations or safety concerns, agencies must redact the records or obtain a court-issued protective order, or provide copies within 24 hours once available. The Family Part of the Superior Court has authority to enforce these requests and issue protective orders to limit disclosure, with violations subject to criminal penalties. The law applies to records related to incidents covered under New Jersey’s Domestic Violence Act (P.L.1991, c.261).