Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for time spent in military service academies (such as West Point or the Naval Academy), in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or as a class two special law enforcement officer before joining the police force. It amends existing law to permit purchasing credit for these specific service periods by paying into the retirement system's annuity savings fund, with options for installment payments over up to 10 years. The bill specifies that credit purchased for military academy enrollment, police academy training, or special law enforcement officer employment will be treated the same as actual police service for retirement benefit calculations. This applies to current and future SPRS members who want to count these pre-service periods toward their retirement eligibility and benefits.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.
Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurance carriers (including Medicaid and state health benefit plans) to base step therapy protocols - where patients must try lower-cost drugs first - on independent, evidence-based clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards. It mandates clear processes for patients to request exceptions when protocols risk harm or ineffectiveness (e.g., if a drug causes adverse reactions or previous treatments failed), with insurers required to approve or deny requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies). Insurers must also report exception data to the state, including denial reasons and medical conditions involved. The law aims to balance cost management with patient safety by prioritizing clinical evidence and physician discretion.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time teachers can return to service under New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) after leaving their positions. Specifically, it increases the window from 10 to 15 years for teachers who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service when they voluntarily terminated. The change applies to those who haven't withdrawn their retirement contributions and wish to resume membership. This adjustment allows eligible teachers more time to return to teaching roles without losing pension eligibility. The policy directly affects public school teachers in New Jersey who leave employment under these specific circumstances.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new offense for "inciting a public brawl" when someone purposefully organizes four or more people to engage in disorderly conduct (like fighting or violent behavior) at a public event or gathering. It upgrades penalties for disrupting public gatherings: causing such a disturbance becomes a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine) instead of a lesser disorderly conduct charge. The bill also adds a separate offense for concealing one's identity during disorderly conduct to avoid arrest. These changes directly affect individuals who organize or incite group disturbances in public spaces like events, parks, or venues.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for specific prior service. It permits purchasing credit for time enrolled in military service academies (like West Point or Annapolis), time in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or employment as a "class two special law enforcement officer" before joining the police force. Members can pay for this credit through installments (at least half the normal contribution) over up to 10 years, with the credit counting equally toward retirement benefits as actual police service. The bill specifically requires that the break between such prior service and joining SPRS must be less than 365 days for the credit purchase to be eligible.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 223 requires electric utilities to give customers full ownership and control over their energy usage data collected through smart meters. The bill mandates that utilities obtain explicit customer consent before sharing data with third parties and sets new privacy standards through the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Utilities must provide real-time access to customer energy data within 24 hours, implement security measures to prevent breaches, and notify customers if data is compromised. This directly affects electricity customers and utilities by establishing clear rules for data privacy, access, and third-party sharing.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2952 amends the state's rooming and boarding house regulations to specifically address cooperative sober living residences, which are facilities for people recovering from alcohol or drug addiction. The bill increases civil penalties for licensing violations to $25,000, requires two unannounced annual inspections of these facilities (compared to one for regular rooming houses), and establishes new reporting requirements for serious incidents like overdoses, fires, or communicable disease outbreaks. It mandates that these residences employ staff who live on-site and are qualified to assist with addiction recovery, prohibit alcohol and drug use within the facilities, conduct random testing of residents, and provide individual counseling and group recovery meetings. The bill appropriates $100,000 for implementation and requires the Department of Community Affairs to maintain a public list of licensed cooperative sober living residences with their locations and contact information.
Maddy summaryS 3098 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of medical conditions when supported by medical evidence. The bill defines biomarker testing as analysis of tissue, blood, or other biospecimens for biomarkers, and specifies coverage must be provided when tests align with FDA approvals, drug indications, CMS determinations, or nationally-recognized clinical guidelines. Insurers must process prior authorization requests within 72 hours for non-urgent cases and 24 hours for urgent cases, while minimizing disruptions like multiple biopsies. This requirement applies to all health insurance plans, including Medicaid, which must provide coverage with no cost-sharing for beneficiaries.