Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1489 sets rules for video visitation services and contact visits in correctional facilities. It limits video visitation costs to 11 cents per minute, requires facilities to contract with the lowest-price vendor, and bans extra fees or commissions. The bill mandates refunds for failed visits or poor-quality service and prohibits charges for visits with attorneys, legal representatives, or clergy. Correctional facilities must allow in-person "contact visits" with approved visitors and set reasonable visiting hours, while only imposing security-related conditions. The law applies to all state, county, and private facilities and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all televisions in state-owned or leased buildings (like government offices or public service areas) to display closed captioning continuously for any programming that offers it. It applies to TVs accessible to the public or state employees, including all state agencies, departments, and commissions. The law does not apply to televisions manufactured before the bill's effective date that cannot support closed captioning. The goal is to improve accessibility for hearing-impaired individuals by making audio content visible on screens in public state spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1064) would create a faster path for paraprofessionals currently working in New Jersey school districts to become certified teachers. It requires the State Board of Education to establish an alternate certification program that counts their existing classroom experience (like tutoring) toward student teaching requirements, allows them to keep their current job while completing training, and permits GPA waivers for qualified candidates. The program must be developed with input from education stakeholders, including teacher unions and school administrators. Note: The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, but was immediately withdrawn.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1491) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, without requiring new legislative action each time. The key mechanism is restoring a provision that had been removed, so benefits rise automatically based on the Consumer Price Index rather than relying on annual budget decisions. This change provides predictable income stability for retirees as living costs change. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 283) requires municipal police chiefs to hold two annual community roundtables on police relations - one in spring and one in fall - focusing on topics like racial profiling, officer recruitment, body camera use, and use-of-force policies. It also mandates the State Police Superintendent to host one regional roundtable per year in each of New Jersey’s three regions, with similar requirements for timing, location, and topic coverage. The law aims to increase community engagement with law enforcement by standardizing these discussions, with immediate effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new fire safety standards for new residential buildings using light-frame construction (wood or metal framing) that contain more than two dwelling units. It requires automatic sprinklers throughout the building, 2-hour fire-rated barriers between units, and mandatory fire watch wardens during construction after hours (or equivalent monitoring technology). Developers must also install placards identifying the building's primary structural systems. These rules apply specifically to multi-unit residential projects classified under the International Building Code as "Residential Group R."

Maddy summarySCR 12 proposes adding a new constitutional prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude in New Jersey, including as punishment for a crime. This amendment would directly affect incarcerated individuals by prohibiting the state from forcing them to work as a penalty for criminal convictions, though it would not eliminate voluntary prison labor programs. The bill explicitly states that current prison labor - where inmates receive minimal pay - would no longer be permissible as involuntary servitude under the constitution. The change would require a statewide vote following standard constitutional amendment procedures. This amendment addresses a gap in New Jersey's 1776 and 1844 constitutions, which previously contained no language on slavery or involuntary servitude.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school students who suffer a concussion to get a medical evaluation and written clearance from a physician trained in concussion management before returning to school or school-related physical activities. It directly affects students, school districts, and healthcare providers, mandating that schools cannot allow concussed students to participate in recess, physical education, sports, or other physical activities until cleared. Schools must also implement any restrictions recommended by the physician and inform all relevant staff about these limitations. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryS 2243 establishes a five-year pilot program to create "community schools" in New Jersey, defined as public schools coordinating educational, health, family, and community services through partnerships. It directly affects one public, charter, or renaissance school per county, which will receive support from a site coordinator hired by a university or nonprofit managing the program. Key mechanisms include training for schools, a technical assistance center for sharing best practices, and a dedicated fund for program costs using state and private funds. The pilot aims to integrate services year-round but does not mandate permanent changes.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 669) extends Medicaid reimbursement rates for telehealth-based partial care behavioral health and substance use disorder services for 180 days after the federal waiver expires, while permanently eliminating prior authorization requirements for these services. It directly affects Medicaid providers and beneficiaries receiving non-residential behavioral health care, including psychiatric care, counseling, and case management. Key provisions require providers to submit progress reports on transitioning to in-person services and cover up to five hours daily (five days weekly) without prior approval. The bill ensures continued access to critical care during the pandemic recovery period while reducing administrative barriers for providers.