Sen. Joe Pennacchio

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to expand eligibility for accidental disability benefits. It allows state employees who worked at a psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately before joining PERS to apply for benefits if they sustained a work-related injury after January 2003 - even if the injury occurred before they became a PERS member. The key change deems such injuries as happening during membership, making the employee eligible for the benefit. This adjustment specifically applies to injuries from duties at these facilities, without altering the requirement that injuries must be work-related and reported within five years (with exceptions for delayed symptoms).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires physicians in New Jersey to provide patients with specific written or electronic information before performing cosmetic breast implant surgery. The information must cover surgical risks, FDA-mandated implant warnings, a standardized checklist addressing breast implant-associated ALCL and implant illness, and details on reporting adverse events via MedWatch. It directly affects physicians who perform the surgery (requiring compliance) and patients undergoing the procedure (receiving the disclosure). Physicians who fail to provide this information face disciplinary action, including potential license suspension or revocation. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises how New Jersey law enforcement agencies calculate reimbursement costs when hiring officers who recently left another agency. It requires new agencies to pay the former agency full training costs if the officer completed training within 120 days of resignation, or half the costs if training occurred more than 120 days but less than two years prior. The law applies to county/municipal police departments, educational institution police, state law enforcement agencies, and NJ Transit Police when officers transfer within 120 days of resignation. Agencies must notify the former employer and pay within 120 days of receiving certified cost documentation.

Maddy summaryS 395 creates the New Jersey Fusion Technology Industry Commission to advance fusion energy and technology development within the state. The commission, composed of 11 members including experts in fusion science, higher education leaders, and economic development officials, will oversee funding for research at public and private colleges, business incubation facilities, and technology transfer programs. It directly affects New Jersey's public and private universities (like Rutgers and NJIT), fusion technology startups, and the state's economic development efforts. The bill establishes the framework for the commission to develop policies, allocate grants, and ensure programs receive adequate funding, though it does not include specific funding amounts or immediate program details.

Maddy summaryS 455 prohibits public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey from requiring students to wear face masks indoors or outdoors on school property or while riding school buses. The bill directly affects all students attending these schools by removing mandatory mask-wearing rules in those settings. It explicitly allows students to voluntarily wear masks if they choose. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's tax code to exclude contributions made by certain federal employees (specifically those classified as criminal investigators) to the federal Thrift Savings Fund from their New Jersey gross income. It directly affects New Jersey-resident federal criminal investigators who contribute to the TSP. The key provision removes these contributions from taxable income under New Jersey's tax system, aligning state treatment with federal tax rules for these specific contributions. The bill does not change other tax rules or apply to non-investigator federal employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey scholarship program supporting graduate students and postdoctoral researchers studying fusion science at state institutions. It provides ten annual scholarships of $12,500 each, requiring matching funds from the recipient's institution and a commitment to the field. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will administer the program, using $125,000 in annual state funding starting with the 2023-2024 academic year. Eligible applicants must submit applications with institutional commitments and demonstrate ongoing dedication to fusion science research.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Jersey's Legislature to establish slot machine gambling at horse racetracks. If approved by voters, it would permit racetracks to operate slots and wagering on horse races, with all state revenue from these activities required to fund state retirement programs, Atlantic City improvements, casino operations, and horse racing infrastructure. The amendment would override current constitutional restrictions on gambling, enabling legislative authorization without a public vote for this specific type of gambling. The bill is currently pending in the Senate committee (introduced January 9, 2024) and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 420) would add free menstrual hygiene products - such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups - to New Jersey's WIC and SNAP programs. Eligible participants in these federal programs (e.g., low-income pregnant people, infants, or families) would receive these products at no cost by presenting their WIC or SNAP card at participating vendors. Vendors would submit claims to the state for reimbursement, and the Department of Human Services would seek necessary federal waivers to implement the program. The bill is pending in the Senate Health Committee and has not yet taken effect.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 400 requires health insurers to cover medically necessary treatment for tick-borne diseases, including long-term antibiotic therapy (over four weeks) and ongoing testing. This applies to all hospital, medical, health service, and individual health insurance plans issued or renewed in the state after the law takes effect. Insurers cannot deny coverage solely because a treatment is experimental, investigational, or uses an unapproved drug, as long as it's supported by medical guidelines or peer-reviewed research. The law specifically covers Lyme disease (including chronic cases) and other CDC-recognized tick-borne illnesses like those caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted through tick bites.