Maddy summaryThis bill creates a price preference program for New Jersey state contracts, giving eligible minority and women-owned businesses a competitive advantage when bidding on publicly advertised contracts funded by state money. Under the new rules, state agencies can offer up to a 10 percent price preference to these businesses, meaning their bids are evaluated as if they were 10 percent lower than the actual quoted price. If a minority or women-owned business qualifies for the preference and becomes the lowest bidder after this adjustment, the state must award the contract to them. The legislation also ensures that if a minority or women business owner dies during a contract term or bidding process, the surviving spouse who inherits ownership retains eligibility for the preference.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the number of members required to form a quorum at meetings of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, which is the state agency responsible for funding and managing educational facilities. The change amends the governing statute to specify that a quorum consists of a majority of the current membership but no fewer than three members, rather than the previous requirement of a majority of the total authorized membership. This adjustment affects the authority's seven-member board, which includes two ex officio members and five citizen appointees, allowing the agency to conduct business with fewer attendees present. The bill does not alter the total number of board members or their appointment process, but it lowers the threshold needed to make decisions at meetings.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed physicians in New Jersey to complete implicit bias training every two years. The Department of Health, working with other state agencies, will create a list of approved training programs that teach physicians to recognize and reduce unconscious prejudices in medical practice. Each physician must complete at least two hours of this training within two years of the bill's effective date and every two years thereafter. The law defines implicit bias as unconscious prejudice toward or against specific groups and aims to improve healthcare outcomes through this mandatory education.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires long-term care facilities in New Jersey to meet with each resident at least once a year to check if their proxy directive is still accurate and current. A proxy directive is a legal document that names an adult to make decisions for the resident if they lose the capacity to do so themselves. The law defines long-term care facilities to include nursing homes, assisted living residences, and other licensed care homes, but it does not force residents to create or keep a proxy directive. Facilities must simply review any existing documents to ensure they remain valid and up to date.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the first week of May each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey to promote public understanding of mental health issues affecting children. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs. This symbolic measure aims to raise awareness about the importance of addressing mental health challenges in young people, though it does not allocate funding or mandate specific policy changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public awareness campaign for multiple sclerosis within New Jersey's Department of Health to educate citizens about the disease. The campaign will provide information on MS symptoms, causes, treatment options, available resources, and strategies for managing the condition to maintain quality of life. Materials will be made available through print and electronic media in English and Spanish, with updates posted on the Department of Health website as new information becomes available. The Department of Health will also develop rules and regulations to implement the campaign's provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires lobby security in certain senior citizen high-rise buildings located in areas with high violent crime rates. It amends existing state laws to mandate that building safety regulations include provisions for securing lobbies and interior common areas. The legislation applies specifically to multiple dwellings housing senior citizens and would require building managers to implement security measures in these designated areas. This change aims to enhance physical safety for elderly residents by addressing security concerns in high-risk locations.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates August of each year as "Black Business Month" in New Jersey to promote and support Black-owned businesses in the state. The resolution requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging educational and cultural institutions to hold activities and programs during this month. It aims to raise awareness about the importance of Black-owned businesses to New Jersey's economy and provide a focal point for community and government leaders to focus on supporting Black business owners. The bill does not create new funding or regulatory requirements but serves as a symbolic designation to highlight economic opportunities and challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program allowing family members or approved third parties to become certified home health aides and provide care to older adults enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare. Under the program, eligible individuals aged 65 or older would receive services through home care agencies, with the agency covering all certification training costs and prohibiting repayment from the caregiver. Services provided by these certified family members would be reimbursed at a rate of at least $30 per hour, with tasks limited to those a registered nurse can delegate to certified aides. The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services must establish the program within six months and develop tools to identify eligible enrollees.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's rules for identifying students with specific learning disabilities by aligning state procedures with federal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It allows school districts to use three identification methods, including response to scientific interventions and alternative research-based procedures, while prohibiting the use of a severe discrepancy between intellectual ability and achievement as the sole criterion starting in the fourth school year after enactment. The legislation also mandates that evaluations be comprehensive and include assessments of basic psychological processes, and requires the State Board of Education to create regulations implementing these changes.