Maddy summaryS 4727 requires background checks for all employees, volunteers, and organizers of youth sports and recreational organizations (including for-profit groups) serving children under 18, such as sports teams, leagues, and activity providers. Organizations must conduct annual background checks through the state, with individuals providing consent and covering costs (capped at actual expense), while school staff with existing checks (from school or national associations) in the same year are exempt if they provide proof. Failure to request checks incurs civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense, and knowingly participating as a disqualified person or ignoring check results is a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill excludes public and nonpublic schools from direct coverage but requires them to provide proof of existing checks to affiliated youth organizations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public and nonpublic school athletic coaches in New Jersey to hold current certification in automated external defibrillator (AED) operation and first aid, in addition to the existing CPR requirement. It updates emergency action plans for sports-related injuries to include specific details like the names of staff trained in first aid, locations of emergency equipment, and clear contact information for emergency medical services. These plans must be reviewed and rehearsed annually by schools serving students in grades six through twelve. The changes apply starting with the first full school year after the bill becomes law.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and private 18-hole golf courses (excluding 9-hole, par-3, miniature, or driving range facilities) to maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED). Owners must acquire and store an AED in an accessible location within one year of the law taking effect, ensure it's regularly tested, and notify local emergency services of its location and type. They must also train at least one employee on-site during business hours in CPR and AED use, with certification from recognized organizations like the American Red Cross. Violations carry escalating fines starting at $250 for the first offense, with liability immunity provided for properly maintained AEDs.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students who meet income, asset, and residency requirements and are enrolled full-time in good academic standing at a public or private college or university. Currently, the program covers only full-time undergraduate students pursuing associate's or bachelor's degrees. The state must update its eligibility rules and seek federal funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant to cover the costs of this expansion. This change directly affects graduate and post-graduate students who are parents and rely on the program for child care support.
Maddy summaryS 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.
Maddy summaryThis bill legalizes "natural organic reduction" (also called "controlled supervised decomposition") in New Jersey, which converts human remains into soil-like material. It creates a regulatory framework requiring facilities to register with the State Board of Mortuary Science, be supervised by licensed mortuary professionals, and meet specific construction and operation standards. The bill amends existing mortuary science laws to include this new process, with the State Board authorized to develop regulations and inspect facilities. This provides a new option for final disposition of human remains, alongside traditional burial and cremation. The legislation establishes clear requirements for facilities offering this service while maintaining oversight by licensed professionals.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3974 prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices. The bill requires all advertising to include accurate, plain-language details about services, locations, and contact information (including phone numbers and addresses), and bans false claims about network status, geographic location, or affiliations with other providers without written consent. Violations carry civil penalties up to $20,000 per incident, and affected individuals may sue for triple damages plus attorney fees. This directly affects licensed treatment facilities, certified providers, and recovery residences offering substance use disorder services within the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for illegal payments related to patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities. It makes such payments a third-degree crime (up from fourth-degree) with a mandatory $50,000 fine, affecting healthcare providers, facilities, non-profits, and recovery residences. The law prohibits payments that vary based on patient volume, treatment duration, or insurance benefits, but allows flat fees not tied to these factors. It clarifies that referrals to certified treatment facilities or recovery residences (sober living homes) must not involve commission-based payments.
Maddy summaryS 4263 makes permanent a 72-hour limit on holding individuals in general hospitals or emergency departments for involuntary mental health commitment without a court order. Hospitals may extend this hold for up to 72 additional hours only if they have exhausted efforts to place the person in a less restrictive facility and two psychiatrists certify the person's danger due to mental illness. Hospitals must submit quarterly de-identified reports to the state detailing extended holds, including reasons for extension, duration beyond 72 hours, and placement outcomes, with reports made public within 60 days. This directly affects general hospitals, emergency departments, and individuals subject to involuntary mental health commitments.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools and participating nonpublic schools in the federal school meal programs to follow the USDA's stricter 2012 nutrition standards for breakfast and lunch, rather than weaker standards recently proposed by the federal government. It mandates compliance with specific USDA requirements for whole grains, sodium limits, and milk offerings as published in federal regulations from 2012 (and any future stricter standards). The law directly affects schools serving federally subsidized meals, ensuring they maintain healthier meal options for students. It takes effect immediately for the 2024-2025 school year.