Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1188) amends New Jersey's "Extended Employment Act" to modernize support for people with significant disabilities. It revises key definitions - such as replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment" to describe nonprofit-run programs providing work opportunities for individuals with disabilities who cannot compete in the open labor market. The bill updates funding mechanisms to tie annual increases to the CPI-W index (not fixed amounts) and requires contracted providers to submit detailed annual reports on participant outcomes. It directly affects nonprofit service providers administering these programs and people with significant disabilities who qualify for extended employment services. The changes aim to better align program structure with current vocational rehabilitation standards.
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Maddy summaryThis bill requires a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees and beneficiaries in New Jersey's Teachers' Pension, Judicial Retirement, Public Employees', Police and Firemen's, and State Police retirement systems whose monthly benefits are at or below 150% of the federal poverty level for a single-person household. The adjustment equals 100% of the Consumer Price Index change (instead of the previous 60%) and applies only on January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024. The state must appropriate funds from the General Fund to cover these increases and administrative costs for those two years. Retirees or beneficiaries may voluntarily waive the adjustment with written notice.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all state agencies and political subdivisions (including counties, municipalities, school districts, and local government entities) to make a good faith effort to purchase 5% of their goods and services from the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA), which sources products from approved rehabilitation facilities. The CNA is granted the right of first refusal for these purchases, meaning state entities must consider the CNA before other vendors. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Division of Purchase and Property establish mandatory training protocols for purchasing agents, requiring new hires to complete training and renewing it every two years. The bill also requires regular reporting to track compliance with the 5% procurement goal and training requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund law to clarify eligibility for reimbursement. It directly affects volunteer EMTs seeking certification or recertification and the training agencies providing their education. Key changes include expanding the definition of "public or private institution of higher education" to include out-of-state schools, updating the definition of a "volunteer EMT" to exclude those receiving hourly/salary pay (while allowing length-of-service awards), and changing the service requirement from 12 calls per month to 12 calls per year (150 hours) during the initial three-year certification period. The bill ensures training agencies can receive reimbursement regardless of whether the volunteer's ambulance squad receives payment for services.
Maddy summaryS 2711 requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers lump-sum payments when actual usage exceeds estimated usage under equal payment plans. It also bans utilities from "underbilling" residential customers - charging them for the difference between estimated and actual usage after the fact - and prevents adding those unpaid balances to future bills. The bill mandates that any annual adjustments to equal payment plans must be based solely on a customer’s actual usage data, not estimates. This directly affects residential electricity and gas customers in New Jersey by preventing unexpected large charges tied to billing practices.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Higher Education Deferred Maintenance Fund" to help New Jersey public colleges and universities cover delayed facility repairs. It requires each public institution to submit a detailed maintenance plan within 90 days of the bill's enactment, outlining needed repairs and costs. The fund, financed by state appropriations and other eligible funds, will cover up to 50% of deferred maintenance costs at four-year institutions or 100% at two-year county colleges, with remaining costs to be covered by non-state funds. The Secretary of Higher Education must develop a funding formula in consultation with relevant authorities to distribute these resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases pension benefits for New Jersey police and firefighters (members of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System) who suffer accidental disability or death caused by a weapon while on duty. Specifically, it raises the accidental disability pension from 66% to 100% of the member’s annual compensation at the time of injury, and adjusts the death benefit calculation for weapon-related deaths. The change applies only when the injury or death results directly from a weapon (as defined in state law), not other types of accidents. This amendment modifies existing pension formulas without changing eligibility requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides $3 million in extra funding from the state General Fund to give one-time bonuses to specific frontline state workers. It directly affects employees represented by Local 195 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who worked essential roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by state agencies to eligible employees as a bonus award, based on consultation between the budget director and the union president. The legislation specifies that only workers who provided emergency frontline service during the pandemic qualify for these bonuses.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, the law permits smoking in areas of casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. The bill deletes this exception from the statute, meaning smoking would be prohibited in all indoor public areas of these facilities under the general smoke-free law. It directly affects casinos and simulcasting venues that currently operate under the smoking exemption.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts all retail sales of mobility-enhancing equipment from New Jersey's sales and use tax, removing the current requirement that such items must be sold "by prescription." It directly affects individuals purchasing devices like wheelchairs, walkers, bath aids, scooters, and transfer chairs, as well as retailers selling these products. The exemption covers any equipment primarily designed to improve movement (e.g., adjustable toilet seats, lift chairs, wheelchair ramps) that is not typically used by people without mobility challenges. This change broadens the existing tax exemption, which previously required a doctor's prescription for coverage.