Sen. Jon Bramnick

Maddy summaryS 3420 requires juvenile delinquency cases to be prosecuted in the county where the incident occurred, rather than allowing cases to be filed in the juvenile's home county. This change applies to all juveniles charged with delinquent acts and removes the current exception that permitted venue in the juvenile's county of residence. The bill mandates that all such cases must be handled in the jurisdiction where the alleged offense took place. It directly affects juvenile court proceedings and the counties responsible for processing these cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicaid to reimburse hospice care programs at the same rate for inpatient room and board services as nursing homes receive for similar services. It directly affects licensed hospice care programs and nursing homes providing hospice services to Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey. The bill establishes reimbursement parity for patients receiving routine hospice care in an inpatient unit, including days when patients are awaiting transfer to another facility. This requirement does not apply to hospice care provided in a patient's home or to days covered under specific federal hospice medical benefit rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Treasurer to reduce operating aid to public research universities by the exact amount spent by those institutions implementing agreements made with student protestors related to the Israel-Hamas conflict (starting October 7, 2023). It specifically targets costs like accepting displaced Gazan students, creating an Arab Cultural Center, hiring staff focused on Middle East studies, establishing a Palestinian studies center, and providing amnesty for participants in anti-Semitic protests. The bill directs these deductions from state funds allocated to universities, rather than requiring new spending. It applies to all public research universities defined under New Jersey law and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryS 2535 establishes a new minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. The bill requires that these services be reimbursed at the average rate of $9.09 per 15 minutes (currently $3.65), aligning with reimbursement rates for similar services under the Division of Developmental Disabilities. This change directly affects approved brain injury service providers who deliver structured day programs to Medicaid beneficiaries. The policy applies to services provided on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring consistent reimbursement for brain injury care.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 585 allows residents to apply for special "Mental Health Awareness" license plates for $50 upfront and $10 annually. The fees fund a dedicated "Mental Health Awareness License Plate Fund," which deposits money after covering administrative costs. This fund, managed by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, directly supports mental health research and programs statewide through annual appropriations. The Motor Vehicle Commission designs the plates in consultation with mental health services, with the program requiring public promotion via the commission's website.

Maddy summaryS 3298 requires New Jersey health insurers to collect and publicly report detailed data on health insurance claims, particularly those processed by automated systems, including denial rates, appeal outcomes, and frequently denied medical specialties. Insurers must submit annual reports to the state, and if they unjustly deny 20% or more of claims, they must refund the patient's cost for those denied services. The bill also mandates that all claims be reviewed by a medical director, requires insurers to disclose claim rejection rates and automated system usage on their websites, and allows state audits of insurer systems. This affects patients (covered individuals) and insurers operating in New Jersey by increasing transparency and accountability in claim decisions.

Maddy summaryS 3299 prohibits telemarketers in New Jersey from intentionally manipulating caller identification services to display false or misleading information about the origin of a call, such as using fake phone numbers or names. The bill requires telemarketers to accurately identify themselves within the first 30 seconds of a call and bans unsolicited calls between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. local time. Violations would be classified as a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The law includes specific exceptions for federal law compliance, court orders, law enforcement activities, and certain business practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill, if passed, would require certain businesses selling alcohol by the drink in New Jersey to carry $500,000 in alcoholic beverage liability insurance. It directly affects license holders for specific types of alcohol sales, including breweries (like craft distilleries and cideries), wineries, retail stores (including seasonal and club licenses), and temporary permit holders like those at sports facilities or casinos. Businesses must provide proof of insurance within 60 days of enactment and annually with license renewals. Failure to comply could result in license suspension or revocation. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Commerce Committee (introduced January 2024, reported May 2024).

Maddy summaryS 3154 changes where juvenile cases involving specific vehicle-related crimes must be heard. It requires that for juveniles previously found delinquent for theft of a motor vehicle, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, carjacking, or burglary to steal a vehicle, the case must be tried in the county where the complaint was filed. This applies only when the juvenile has a prior adjudication for one of these offenses. The bill does not affect venue rules for other juvenile cases or offenses.

Maddy summaryS 3124 establishes a "Mass Violence Care Fund" with $10 million to help victims of mass violence events cover health care and related expenses not paid by insurance or other sources. The fund, administered by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, will use investment earnings (not the $10 million principal) to pay for eligible costs like medical bills, mental health services, funeral expenses, and lost wages for victims and their families. Payments cannot be made sooner than three years after an event, cannot replace insurance coverage, and require rules developed by a state working group within nine months. The fund will only cover costs not otherwise paid for by public or private sources, with eligibility criteria to be set by the working group before any payments are made.