Sen. Joe Cryan

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council within the Department of Health to coordinate suicide prevention efforts. It mandates that public school teachers complete two hours of suicide prevention training and requires other school staff with regular student contact to finish a one-time awareness and response course. Additionally, the law creates a legal duty for school employees to report imminent threats of self-harm or violence against students, while providing immunity from liability for those who act in good faith to protect students.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for cancer research in New Jersey by directing $10 million in cigarette and tobacco tax revenues to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR), up from the current $1 million. It establishes a permanent, non-lapsing "Cancer Research Fund" in the state Treasury, ensuring these funds cannot be diverted to other state budgets. The fund must allocate at least $5 million annually to general cancer research and at least $5 million specifically to pediatric cancer research, with all spending requiring approval by the NJCCR. The State Treasurer manages the fund, and any interest earned is reinvested into the fund for ongoing research support.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for how employers and public agencies in New Jersey can use artificial intelligence and electronic tools to monitor workers or make hiring decisions. It defines specific types of automated systems and monitoring devices, such as those that analyze biometric data or track employee communications, while excluding basic security software. The legislation requires that these technologies be used fairly and accurately, ensuring they do not negatively impact essential job functions or discriminate against individuals. Additionally, the bill mandates that independent auditors conduct objective assessments of these systems to verify their impact before they are deployed.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the New Jersey Home Safety Act, requires firearm owners to store their guns in a locked safe or container when not in use to prevent accidents and unauthorized access. It directly affects individuals who possess firearms in New Jersey and establishes penalties, including community service and criminal charges, for failing to comply with these storage rules. The legislation also mandates that gun dealers provide a written warning about safe storage laws to anyone receiving a firearm and sets aside $500,000 for related enforcement and education efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers of recalled medical devices in New Jersey to provide a replacement device at no cost to consumers or pay for one from another supplier if their own replacement is unavailable. The law applies specifically when a recall instructs users to stop using or return a device, mandating that the manufacturer fulfill this obligation within 30 days of the recall being issued. To enforce compliance, violations are classified as unlawful practices under the state's consumer fraud act, which can result in monetary penalties, cease and desist orders, and additional financial damages for injured parties.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey law to clarify how the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund reimburses agencies that train volunteer EMTs. It specifically defines "volunteer" as those who do not receive an hourly wage or salary for their services, while explicitly excluding full-time hospital employees from this definition. The legislation also broadens the definition of higher education to include out-of-state universities and sets a minimum service requirement of 12 calls or 150 hours annually for the first three years of certification. Additionally, it establishes rules for recovering training funds if a volunteer stops meeting service requirements, except when they leave to attend college.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to create training materials and an online tutorial for law enforcement officers on interacting with hearing-impaired individuals. It mandates that all state, county, municipal, and campus police departments use these resources for annual training and must contract with qualified interpreters who can respond to requests within two hours. The legislation defines a hearing-impaired person as someone unable to understand oral communication and specifies that a qualified interpreter must be certified by recognized national or state registries.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires all public colleges and universities to create a policy allowing students to withdraw from their courses and receive a refund if they face specific extenuating circumstances. The law defines these circumstances to include illness, injury, hospitalization, and mental health or wellness issues that prevent a student from continuing their education. Under the new rules, students who withdraw due to these reasons would get their tuition and fees back, as well as a prorated refund for room and board charges for the time they did not use campus services. The bill also mandates that institutions establish clear criteria for evaluating these situations and notes that financial aid refunds will follow existing state and federal regulations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires ticket resellers and resale websites to provide a full refund or a credit for tickets when an event is postponed. The refund must include all fees paid by the customer, except for handling and delivery charges if those fees were explicitly excluded in the original guarantee. Resellers have 30 days after a postponement is announced to issue the refund or offer the credit. This law directly affects consumers who buy tickets through secondary market platforms and ensures they receive compensation when events are delayed.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2996, eliminates physician collaboration requirements for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey, allowing them to practice independently without supervision or joint protocols. It directly affects APNs - registered nurses with specialized training in primary and specialty care - and aims to improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved communities and for populations facing barriers like low income or transportation challenges. The key provision removes statutory restrictions that previously limited APNs' scope of practice, aligning New Jersey with 24 states that grant full practice authority. The bill cites pandemic-era waivers (Executive Order No. 112) that allowed similar independent practice without adverse incidents, and notes APNs could reduce healthcare access disparities by over 38% if restrictions are lifted.