Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryS 2137 requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to add test questions to entry-level law enforcement exams that identify implicit racial bias in candidates. This applies to all applicants for municipal and county police, correctional officers (adult and juvenile), and sheriff's positions. The bill mandates the Commission, working with testing experts, to include these questions starting four months after enactment. The goal is to assess unconscious biases that could affect officer behavior, as defined in the bill's statement. The change directly affects all new law enforcement hires across New Jersey's public safety agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a pilot program through New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide state-backed loan guarantees for eligible non-profit organizations. It directly affects non-profits that are federally tax-exempt (501(c)(3)), have operated for at least 10 years, received prior state assistance, and plan to create 10+ full-time jobs through new physical space construction. The program would fund guarantees up to $15 million per organization (max 20 years) using a dedicated revolving fund, with repayment requiring the project to generate sufficient income to cover loan costs. The bill is pending in the Senate Budget Committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1485, the "Safe Playing Fields Act," prohibits the use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and schools serving kindergarten through eighth grade, except for emergency health threats. The bill requires that children be kept off treated areas for at least seven hours after pesticide application and directs environmental and health officials to create rules for pesticide use, recordkeeping, and parent notifications at these facilities. It defines "lawn care pesticide" broadly but excludes "low impact pesticides" (as defined in existing law). The law directly affects child care centers and K-8 schools by restricting chemical applications on their grounds, including playgrounds and athletic fields.

Maddy summaryS 1523 (New Jersey Senate Bill) upgrades penalties for certain privacy violations by reclassifying offenses and removing the presumption against prison sentences. It makes secretly observing or recording someone's intimate areas without consent a higher-level crime (second degree instead of third or fourth), and prohibits sharing such recordings without permission. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in non-consensual recording in private settings like dressing rooms, while allowing exceptions for retail stores that post clear notices. Key provisions include eliminating the automatic assumption that offenders won't receive prison time and adding specific definitions for "intimate parts" and "disclosure." This legislation aims to strengthen protections against invasion of privacy through clearer criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Commissioner of Education from approving teacher certification tests that require candidates to wait more than 14 days before retaking them. It directly affects teacher certification candidates who must pass basic skills (reading, writing, math) and subject matter knowledge assessments. The key provision limits retake waiting periods to 14 days for all approved tests, specifically targeting the current 28-day wait for the Praxis Core test. It does not apply to alternative assessments like the SAT, ACT, or GRE, which maintain their existing retake policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1497) allows individuals in Drug Court or similar court-approved rehabilitation programs to earn credit toward court-imposed financial obligations, such as fines. Specifically, if a person successfully completes a court-ordered drug or alcohol treatment program they paid for, the court can reduce their penalty by that amount and apply the credit to other financial obligations like fines or restitution. It applies directly to people convicted of crimes who are participating in approved treatment programs under the court's supervision. The credit mechanism replaces a previous provision that only allowed credit for treatment costs toward the specific penalty, now extending it to all court financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for corporations violating housing codes in New Jersey. It allows courts to impose fines up to three times the standard maximum for housing code violations and gives judges authority to request the Attorney General dissolve corporations or revoke their charters for repeated or serious violations. Corporate officers (referred to as "high managerial agents") can also face personal liability for violations committed while managing the company. Property owners facing fines over $1,250 must be given a 30-day period to fix issues and a hearing opportunity before penalties are finalized. The bill directly affects corporations operating in housing and their senior management, with the goal of strengthening enforcement of housing safety standards.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1515 increases the threshold for motor vehicle surcharges from six to ten accumulated traffic violation points within a 36-month period. This change directly affects drivers whose records reach 10 or more points, triggering a $150 initial surcharge plus $25 for each additional point. The bill amends existing law to adjust the point count required before surcharges apply, without altering the types of violations that count toward points. The policy change aims to reduce surcharge assessments for drivers with fewer violations, shifting the financial impact to those with more severe driving records.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1557 increases the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefit from 40% to 60% of the federal EITC amount for eligible taxpayers. The bill affects low- and moderate-income workers and families who qualify for the federal EITC, including those without qualifying children. It amends existing law to update the state credit percentage to 60% for tax years beginning January 1, 2022, and forward. The credit remains refundable and is calculated based on the federal credit amount, without changing eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets specific spending rules for state funds allocated to New Jersey's emergency food organizations (food banks receiving annual state funding for Food and Hunger Programs). It requires 10% of each organization's funding to support New Jersey agricultural products (including farm investments), up to 30% for administrative costs and infrastructure (like technology or storage), and at least 60% to support local food distribution partners through food purchases, cash, or reimbursements. Organizations must develop data-informed plans for equitable support, submit monthly reports on fund usage to the Office of the Food Security Advocate, and meet these requirements to receive funding. The bill directly affects food banks and their local community distribution partners.