Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to create a grant program for mental health and behavioral health care providers working with New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) or Department of Human Services (DHS). The grants will help these providers hire, train, and retain staff by funding workforce development and job retention services. Up to 2.5% of the funds may cover administrative costs for DCF, DHS, or the managing Division of Disaster Recovery. Grants must be allocated within 45 days of receiving complete applications, and the Division of Disaster Recovery will oversee federal compliance. The program directly supports providers contracted with DCF or DHS, aiming to strengthen their workforce capacity.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to automatically provide a 10% toll discount to all senior citizens (age 65+) who have a New Jersey E-ZPass account for passenger vehicles. The discount applies immediately when an existing account holder turns 65 or when a new senior applies for E-ZPass. It ensures the reduced rate is available 24/7 without requiring separate applications or paperwork. The policy directly affects seniors using E-ZPass on NJTA/SJTA toll roads, making tolls 10% cheaper for this group.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 66) urges the Governor to safely resume in-person services at New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), which have been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. It specifically targets vulnerable groups - such as elderly, low-income, and disabled residents - who face challenges using remote services for unemployment claims and career support. The resolution cites declining COVID-19 cases and the need to restore access to One-Stop Career Centers and unemployment claim processing, noting that 54% of pandemic-related job losses remained unrecovered as of March 2021. It also calls for DOLWD to fully staff all public-facing offices. As a non-binding resolution, it requests action but does not create new law.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200 million to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development specifically for upgrading the technology infrastructure of the unemployment insurance (UI) program. The funds will be drawn first from available federal pandemic assistance, and if insufficient, from the state's "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund." The goal is to improve the system's reliability and efficiency following the massive surge in UI claims during the coronavirus pandemic. This directly affects unemployed New Jersey residents who rely on the UI program for benefits.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2446 requires pet groomers (individuals or businesses) who face three or more verified complaints about negligent grooming within a year to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs. Negligent grooming includes pet injuries requiring veterinary care, severe illness, escapes, or death. The Division investigates complaints filed by pet owners within 90 days, publishes a public registry of registered groomers with details of incidents, and enforces a $1,000 daily penalty for non-compliance. This bill directly affects pet groomers by creating a registration system tied to complaints and aims to inform consumers through public transparency.
Maddy summaryS 2454 exempts certain law enforcement officers from additional animal cruelty training if they have completed equivalent courses. Officers who finished the Basic Humane Law Enforcement Course (phases 1 and 2) before 2017, or similar training, qualify for exemption. To receive an exemption, they must provide health and fitness documentation and cannot have a criminal conviction, civil animal cruelty liability, or a seven-year separation from duty. The bill also removes authorization for officers appointed before 2017 to be designated as humane law enforcement officers.
Maddy summaryS 2442 clarifies that New Jersey election officials must print official primary and general election ballots, mail-in ballots, and related voting materials (including envelopes and instructions) in both English and Spanish for any election district where 10% or more of registered voters have Spanish as their primary language. This bill explicitly extends the existing bilingual requirement - previously applied to sample ballots - to all official ballot materials used in elections. It amends statutes (R.S.19:14-2, R.S.19:23-25, and P.L.2009, c.79) to ensure county clerks print these materials bilingually in qualifying districts. The bill does not create new requirements but clarifies that current law applies to all official election materials, not just sample ballots.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from a New Jersey law requiring most employers with 20+ employees to offer pre-tax transportation benefits to workers. It specifically removes the obligation for these non-profits - such as charities, schools, and community organizations - from providing such benefits, though they may choose to do so voluntarily. The exemption applies to entities recognized as tax-exempt under federal IRS Section 501(c)(3). The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates an "affirmative defense" for businesses and government entities (called "covered entities") that experience security breaches involving personal or restricted information. To qualify for this defense, covered entities must maintain a written cybersecurity program with administrative, technical, and physical safeguards that reasonably conforms to industry standards like NIST or PCI DSS. The program's requirements must be scaled based on factors including the entity's size, the sensitivity of information, and available resources. The Director of Consumer Affairs can determine if a cybersecurity program meets the standard, and courts will consider this determination when evaluating breach claims. The bill does not create new legal claims for individuals affected by security breaches.
Maddy summaryS 2453 requires New Jersey's state government, counties, and municipalities to install U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type IV flotation devices at lakes, ponds, and rivers in public parks, state forests, and recreational areas where swimming, boating, or ice-skating is permitted. The devices must be permanently placed near the water with clear signage, and the bill specifies that this requirement does not create legal liability for government entities. Counties and municipalities may use existing "Open Space, Recreation, and Preservation Trust Funds" to cover installation costs. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.