Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program where New Jersey-based companies can receive tax credits for contributing to a student loan fund. Companies that contribute at least $10,000 qualify for a 50% tax credit upfront, plus an additional 50% over four years if graduates work for them after earning a degree. Students attending New Jersey colleges who receive loans through this program can have their debt partially forgiven if they work full-time for a participating company for up to four years. The program aims to retain college graduates in New Jersey by linking employer contributions to student loan repayment.

Maddy summaryBill S 1704 reinstates fines for underage possession or consumption of alcohol and cannabis in public places (like schools, parks, or vehicles), making it a "disorderly person offense" punishable by a minimum $500 fine for first-time violations. It directly affects individuals under the legal age for purchasing alcohol (21) or cannabis (21), who are caught possessing or consuming these substances in restricted areas. The bill establishes a tiered approach: first offenses receive written warnings (with parent notification if under 18), second offenses include community service referrals, and third or subsequent offenses trigger service referrals without fines. Crucially, refusing offered community services does not lead to further legal action.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 499) provides tax credits to employers who hire immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents) of U.S. military personnel killed in action. Employers receive a credit equal to 10% of qualified wages paid to these new hires, capped at $1,200 per family member per tax year, for full-time employment lasting at least nine consecutive months. The credits are nonrefundable but can be carried forward for up to 20 years, and employers cannot claim both this credit and other state employment tax incentives for the same wages. The bill applies to corporation business tax and gross income tax, effective for tax years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryS 1203 allows New Jersey county election boards to open inner envelopes containing mail-in ballots up to five days before an election, clarifying a current practice. It also requires that voters with ballots rejected due to signature issues receive a "cure letter" within 24 hours, explaining how to correct the problem by providing identification details (like a driver's license number or last four Social Security digits) without signing an affidavit. Voters can submit corrections up to 48 hours before election results are certified. This bill does not change the requirement that mail-in ballots must be received by the county board by the day before the election.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 174) updates New Jersey law to allow county sheriffs to appoint Class Three special law enforcement officers for school and college security. Currently, only municipalities with police departments can appoint these officers to perform full police duties on school or county college premises during normal hours. The bill expands this authority to include county sheriffs as "local units," enabling them to hire such officers for the same security purposes. It directly affects sheriffs, schools, and county colleges by broadening who can authorize these officers. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health benefit programs from requiring pre-approval or precertification for cancer treatments, tests, procedures, or prescription drugs that are already covered under a patient's plan and prescribed by a licensed doctor. It directly affects cancer patients and their healthcare providers by removing bureaucratic delays caused by insurance approval processes. Key provisions ban these requirements for all covered cancer-related care under health benefits plans, including state programs like the State Health Benefits Program. The bill aims to ensure patients receive timely treatment without insurance-related administrative hurdles. (Note: Bill introduced January 9, 2024, referred to Senate Commerce Committee.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey automobile insurers to reimburse ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) for unlisted services at 300% of the Medicare Part B payment rate for those services, provided they meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines. It specifically applies to ASCs providing services not already listed on the state’s medical fee schedule. Unlisted medical supplies used with these services must be reimbursed at invoice cost plus 20%. The policy change directly affects ASCs and insurers by establishing a new reimbursement standard for previously uncovered procedures.

Maddy summaryS 1337 establishes New Jersey's "Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program" to connect county college students with local manufacturing internships. The bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to create this program, partnering county colleges with approved manufacturers to provide paid internships that count toward academic credit. Key provisions include directing 85% of grant funds to student stipends for internship hours and 15% to program administration and career counseling. Participating colleges must submit detailed applications showing how internships align with labor-demanding manufacturing careers and how students will earn employment offers or academic credit. The program mandates annual reports tracking student participation, skills gained, job placements, and fund usage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1491) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, without requiring new legislative action each time. The key mechanism is restoring a provision that had been removed, so benefits rise automatically based on the Consumer Price Index rather than relying on annual budget decisions. This change provides predictable income stability for retirees as living costs change. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to fund mental health services for New Jersey veterans through grants awarded to eligible veterans' organizations. It requires these organizations to contract with licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists or social workers) to provide services directly to veterans. The bill appropriates $2 million from the state's General Fund to support this initiative. Eligible recipients include tax-exempt veterans' groups (501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations) and specific entities like the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group.