Maddy summaryThis bill requires funeral directors to notify the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) when they possess unclaimed cremains of veterans one year after cremation, after making diligent efforts to locate relatives. It mandates the DMVA to create and maintain a central online registry of unclaimed veteran cremains to help veterans' organizations locate these remains. Qualified veterans' organizations can then receive these unclaimed cremains and dispose of them by scattering at sea or interring them at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery if eligible. The bill aims to address the issue of veteran cremains being unclaimed for decades (up to 66 years in some cases), reducing the burden on funeral directors and helping organizations locate remains more efficiently.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to lift conservation restrictions imposed on land as a condition of a Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permit. These restrictions can only be lifted if the land is needed for expanding an existing school for special needs children. The DEP must also require a new conservation restriction of at least double the size to be placed on another parcel within 20 miles of the original property before lifting the restriction.
Maddy summaryThis bill renames the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to the Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program and makes several key changes to expand eligibility and improve program administration. It increases the maximum loan redemption amount from $120,000 to $200,000, allows psychiatrists and other health professionals designated by the Commissioner of Health to participate, and expands the definition of "State designated underserved area" to include municipalities where over 50% of households are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The program provides partial loan repayment for health care professionals who commit to working in underserved areas, with repayment amounts based on years of service at approved sites. The bill also establishes new criteria for sites to be automatically designated as approved sites and requires annual reporting on the program's impact to the Governor and Legislature.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurance carriers offering managed care plans to ensure patients have reasonable and timely access to specific physician specialists at in-network hospitals. It mandates new regulations for the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to establish standards covering access to anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, emergency medicine physicians, and their supervised services. These rules will apply directly to insurance companies and aim to improve patient access to critical specialist care within existing network plans.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows for-profit companies that provide debt adjustment services to become licensed in New Jersey for the first time. Previously, only nonprofit organizations could obtain licenses to offer debt adjustment (helping people negotiate with creditors). The bill creates a new licensing category for "for-profit debt adjusters" who do not handle consumer funds and comply with federal regulations. It removes bonding and annual audit requirements that previously applied only to nonprofit licensees, while maintaining other licensing rules like fee disclosure and annual reporting.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4338 requires all source plasma donation centers to obtain an annual license from the Department of Health to operate in the state. Centers must pay an initial $25 fee (for existing centers) or higher renewal fees, with income from fees funding the Department's oversight. The law mandates centers follow federal safety standards for donor screening and plasmapheresis procedures, and grants the Health Commissioner authority to inspect facilities, enforce rules, and suspend licenses for violations. This directly affects plasma donation centers (which must comply with licensing), donors (ensuring safer facilities), and the state (through regulatory oversight and fee revenue).
Maddy summaryThis bill allows families or guardians of individuals up to age 21 with developmental disabilities to save unused after-school care hours provided by their contracted service agency for use during holidays or weekends. It directly affects families receiving family support services through agencies contracted with New Jersey's Division of Children's System of Care. The key provision requires the Division to permit setting aside unused "agency-after school care" hours - defined as social/recreational activities provided by community agencies during non-school hours outside the home - for holiday and weekend use. The bill does not create new services but changes how existing unused hours may be utilized. It takes immediate effect upon passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends a three-year pilot program for another three years, allowing barbers who previously worked in a country or state without barbering licenses to obtain a temporary permit to practice in New Jersey for up to 120 days (with possible extensions) while applying for a full license. It also streamlines licensing for barbers from other states or countries with similar standards, eliminating the need for an exam, and requires three years of practical experience for those from jurisdictions with less stringent rules. The temporary permit mandates supervision by a licensed New Jersey barber and ensures compliance with state law during the application process. The program applies to specific cities in New Jersey and will be evaluated for effectiveness after completion.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state program to permanently restrict development on qualifying privately-owned woodlands through easement acquisitions. Landowners with woodlands meeting specific criteria (minimum 20 acres, used for agriculture/forest products, or managed under approved stewardship plans) can participate. The State Agriculture Development Committee will administer the program using existing farmland preservation funds and seek federal programs like the Forest Legacy Program, with easements recorded similarly to property deeds. The goal is to preserve forested lands for agricultural, silvicultural, and conservation purposes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all source plasma donation centers operating in New Jersey to obtain an annual license from the Department of Health. Existing centers pay a $25 initial fee, while new centers pay higher renewal fees, with all income funding the Department's oversight. Centers must follow safety rules based on federal standards for donor screening and plasma collection, and the Department can inspect facilities, suspend licenses for safety violations, or impose fines up to $5,000 for repeated offenses. The law directly affects plasma donation centers and their operations, ensuring standardized safety practices for donors and the community.