Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to create and sell special Juneteenth commemorative license plates for motor vehicles. Vehicle owners who apply will pay a $50 one-time fee plus a $10 annual fee, with all fees deposited into a dedicated "Juneteenth License Plate Fund." The fund, managed by the New Jersey Historical Commission, will use these monies to support Juneteenth commemoration and celebration activities. The plates must display Juneteenth-related design elements chosen by the commission in consultation with the Historical Commission.

Maddy summaryS 2241 expands New Jersey's subsidized child care assistance program to cover families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), raising the income limit from 200% FPL ($55,500 for a family of four in 2022) to 300% FPL ($83,250 for a family of four in 2022). The bill requires the Division of Family Development to establish at least four income tiers for determining eligibility and co-payment amounts. It appropriates necessary state funds for implementation, to be determined by the Commissioner of Human Services and approved by the budget office. This change directly affects low-to-moderate-income working families who previously exceeded the income threshold for child care subsidies.

Maddy summaryS 2233 requires New Jersey colleges and universities to provide annual victim-centered training to staff and student leaders who assist students reporting sexual assault. The training covers understanding campus policies, federal laws like Title IX, and coordinating with medical, law enforcement, and community services to support victims. It mandates staff to learn sensitive communication, service referrals, and maintaining victim safety and privacy. The law applies starting with the 2022-2023 academic year.

Maddy summaryS 1948 requires New Jersey nursing homes to provide more detailed financial disclosures and ownership information. Nursing homes must now submit annual reports including balance sheets with equity details, itemized expenses for leases and contracts over $10,000, and comprehensive organizational charts showing parent companies, subsidiaries, and related parties providing services worth over $200,000 annually. For ownership transfers, applicants must submit detailed information about current and proposed owners, including organizational charts, and the Department of Health must post these applications online. The bill also requires owner-certified financial statements prepared by certified public accountants and increases penalties for noncompliance to up to $200 per day. These changes aim to increase transparency about nursing home ownership structures and financial relationships.

Maddy summaryS 2239 extends New Jersey's requirement that child care subsidy payments for licensed centers and registered family day care providers be based on the number of enrolled eligible children (not attendance) until June 30, 2025. The bill mandates that providers set staff wages and hours based on enrollment numbers, not attendance, and requires the Division of Family Development to study the cost differences between enrollment-based and attendance-based payments. This study must be reported to the Governor and Legislature within three years of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to establish a "School Meal Fund" to help students with unpaid school meal bills (arrears) and cover current meal costs. School districts must accept monetary donations from individuals or organizations, place them in a separate account, and use the funds solely to assist students with meal payments or past-due bills. Districts must create a policy ensuring equitable distribution of funds, maintain proper financial records, and inform parents and the community about the fund - except in districts already providing free meals to all students under the Community Eligibility Provision. The fund must be audited annually and carry forward any unused balance to the next fiscal year.

Maddy summaryS 1983 would eliminate the requirement for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey to practice under physician collaboration or supervision, allowing them to provide care independently. This directly affects APNs - over 75% of whom specialize in primary care - and aims to improve healthcare access in underserved communities, including areas with physician shortages and among racial/ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and those facing transportation barriers. The bill cites that 24 states and the District of Columbia already permit full practice authority for APNs, and during pandemic waivers (Executive Order 112), no adverse incidents occurred while APNs practiced without restrictions. It states removing these barriers could reduce healthcare access disparities by over 38 percent, aligning New Jersey with other states to address chronic shortages in primary care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school bus safety laws to authorize using school bus monitoring systems for enforcement. It changes penalties for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses: violations captured by these systems will result in only a $250 civil penalty (instead of potential fines or jail time), with funds directed to municipalities and school districts for safety programs. The law applies to buses transporting children or individuals with developmental disabilities when stopped to load/unload. It does not create new monitoring systems but specifies how existing systems can be used to enforce stop laws through civil penalties.