Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey municipalities and counties to establish civilian review boards to examine police operations and conduct. These boards would consist of at least seven appointed members with experience in community relations, civil rights, or law enforcement, who must complete training within six months. The boards could only investigate police conduct following civilian complaints about excessive force, abuse of authority, or offensive language. The bill appropriates $600,000 from the General Fund to the Attorney General to fund this required training. All records related to investigations would remain confidential while cases are pending.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's state pension and annuity funds must stop investing in the 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies, defined by carbon content in their oil, gas, and coal reserves. Funds must divest from these companies within one year (two years for coal companies), though they may temporarily pause divestment if fund values drop below 99.5% of their hypothetical value without divestment. Annual reports on progress and investments sold will be required, with transparency mandated to the Governor, Legislature, and Attorney General. The bill directly affects New Jersey's public employee retirement funds and their investment management.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes "gun-free" and "weapon-free" zones around schools, colleges, universities, day care centers, public buildings (like libraries and museums), public housing facilities, and public parks. It prohibits firearms within 1,000 feet of school buildings or on school buses (crime of third degree), and weapons within that same zone (crime of fourth degree). For other designated public areas, it prohibits firearms within 500 feet (third-degree crime) and weapons within 500 feet (fourth-degree crime). These restrictions apply regardless of whether students are present or the facility is in session. The bill aims to increase safety around these locations by restricting firearm and weapon possession in designated zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Pretrial Services program to recommend pretrial detention for defendants charged with specific firearm-related offenses. It expands the list of crimes triggering this recommendation to include all Graves Act firearm offenses (such as unlawful possession of handguns, "community gun" transfers, and possession while committing drug or bias crimes) and new "ghost gun" offenses (like manufacturing firearms without serial numbers using 3D printers). Currently, Pretrial Services only recommended detention for some Graves Act offenses; this bill mandates it for all listed firearm crimes. The recommendation serves as evidence supporting court decisions on detention, though the final determination remains with the judge.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to maintain naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray (a medication to reverse opioid overdoses) in secure, accessible campus locations and develop policies for its emergency use. Institutions must designate licensed medical staff to oversee the program, train designated personnel (including resident assistants and campus security), and ensure overdose victims are transported to hospitals even if symptoms improve. The policy also mandates that trained staff may administer naloxone in good faith when they reasonably believe someone is experiencing an opioid overdose. The bill provides liability protection for good-faith actions under these provisions and directs the state to create training guidelines for institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all police officers in New Jersey to complete cultural diversity and implicit bias training as part of their mandatory basic training program. It directly affects new police officers during their initial certification process, mandating that the Police Training Commission include existing training materials developed by the Department of Law and Public Safety. The key provision requires instructors at police training academies to have specialized training in cultural diversity and implicit bias, defined as unconscious attitudes or stereotypes toward people. The bill does not change current in-service training requirements but makes this specific training mandatory for all new officers during their foundational training.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member "Task Force for Community Based Juvenile Rehabilitation" to review juvenile justice practices in New Jersey. The task force must recommend changes to minimum and maximum ages for juvenile court prosecution based on developmental science, and address racial disparities in juvenile prosecution and sentencing. It will hold three regional public hearings and submit a report with findings to the Governor and Legislature within one year. The task force will include officials from key agencies, advocacy groups, and community representatives, but the bill itself does not change current laws - only creates a process for future recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's implied consent law to require blood testing for drugs, not just alcohol, when police suspect a driver is impaired. It establishes a "per se" standard for marijuana and certain controlled substances, meaning drivers with 3 nanograms or more of THC per milliliter of blood are automatically considered under the influence. For other drugs, any detectable amount of Schedule I, II, or III controlled substances (not medically prescribed) would also constitute a violation. The bill directly affects drivers in New Jersey who may operate vehicles while impaired by marijuana or certain controlled substances, changing how law enforcement can test for drug impairment.

Maddy summaryS 2797 would allow small private theaters with fewer than 400 seats that regularly host paid live musical or theatrical performances to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages on-site. Currently, similar licenses are limited to nonprofit theaters with 1,000+ seats and include restrictions on serving times. The bill permits municipalities, with approval from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to issue this license to qualifying private theaters (including corporations), and it would not count toward a municipality's standard license limits. This change specifically expands eligibility to smaller venues that meet the bill's criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey courts to issue restraining orders preventing defendants from entering specific locations when they're released on bail before trial. The orders would bar defendants from places like residences, businesses, or locations connected to a crime or witnesses (excluding public transportation), with a 500-foot buffer zone around the specified area. Courts can make exceptions if defendants prove they lawfully live or work there, or if the order would cause undue hardship to innocent people. Violating these orders could result in contempt charges but wouldn't forfeit the defendant's bail bond. The bill applies to both adult and juvenile defendants and remains in effect until case resolution or for a minimum of two years.