Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryS 3460 requires New Jersey's Attorney General to study residential burglaries and issue regular reports to inform law enforcement and the public. The study must collect detailed data from 2018 onward, including burglary times, weapons used, injuries, property damage values, and charges filed, broken down by county. The Attorney General must submit an initial report within six months of the bill's enactment, followed by annual reports. These reports will include statistics, summaries of current prevention efforts, and recommendations for reducing residential burglaries statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program that allows eligible pretrial defendants in New Jersey to access community-based support services instead of being detained. It requires courts to consider this program when setting release conditions, offering options like substance abuse treatment, mental health services, employment support, and supervision through approved community providers. The program aims to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention while ensuring defendants appear in court and do not pose safety risks. The pilot is limited to specific cases and will be implemented under the new "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services" framework.

Maddy summaryS 3101 requires businesses in New Jersey's financial, essential infrastructure, and healthcare sectors to report cybersecurity incidents to the state's Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) as soon as they become aware of them. Specifically, businesses must report incidents compromising billing, communications, data systems, or industrial control systems that cause service disruptions or infrastructure damage. Within 30 days of receiving a report, the NJCCIC must order an independent cybersecurity audit of the business's security practices at the business's expense, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending corrective actions. The bill aims to strengthen sector security through timely reporting and proactive vulnerability management, without altering existing federal reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses in New Jersey's financial, critical infrastructure (like utilities), and healthcare sectors to create and maintain cybersecurity plans. These plans must include risk assessments, incident response procedures, and alignment with recognized industry standards such as NIST. Businesses must submit their plans to the state's cybersecurity agency (NJCCIC) and annually certify compliance, with failure to do so triggering a state-ordered audit by an independent cybersecurity firm. The law aims to strengthen protections for critical systems without mandating immediate incident reporting to the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3433) would expand the membership of New Jersey's Sports and Exposition Authority by adding six new members: two appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate President, and two by the Assembly Speaker. It directly affects the Authority's composition, increasing its total membership from 17 to 23 members. The bill does not change the Authority's duties or funding but alters how members are selected. The bill was introduced in June 2024 but withdrawn from consideration on June 13, 2024, and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2363) allows New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to accept voluntary donations, grants, or gifts from the public and private sectors to fund public service announcements focused on preventing veteran suicide. The money would go into a special state fund managed by the Treasurer and must be used exclusively for these suicide prevention PSAs. The bill takes effect immediately, streamlining how the DMVA can secure non-state funding for this specific awareness effort. It directly affects the DMVA's funding mechanisms and supports veterans by expanding resources for suicide prevention messaging.

Maddy summaryS 3188 provides an additional $500,000 in state funding from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. This group directly serves New Jersey veterans by offering financial assistance, housing support, emergency transportation, and benefits counseling. The funding is allocated as a supplemental appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to enhance the group's ability to connect veterans with essential community resources. The bill does not change eligibility or create new programs but supports existing services through targeted financial aid.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3397 provides a tax credit to employers who hire qualified workers with disabilities. Employers can claim a 15% credit on wages paid to these employees (capped at $2,000 per employee annually), provided the worker has a disability recognized under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, works at least 35 hours weekly, and earns $15+ per hour. To qualify, employers must submit an application to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for certification, which must be approved within 90 days or deemed automatic. The credit excludes independent contractors and cannot reduce tax liability below zero, with unused credits potentially carried forward for up to seven years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to launch a mobile cancer screening program using staffed vehicles deployed across all three regions of the state within 180 days. The program must be staffed by licensed healthcare professionals who perform screenings for various cancers based on their expertise and available equipment. The state appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to fund this initiative, with the Department required to submit a report on program results and recommendations to the legislature within two years. The bill directly affects residents in underserved communities by expanding access to preventive cancer screenings.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 1032 requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to study workforce conditions for service providers in mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental disability programs, as well as child welfare services. It mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for these providers based on the Consumer Price Index, effective October 1 each year. The studies must examine workforce vacancy rates, demographics, geographic distribution, care needs, and future supply-demand gaps. DHS and DCS must report findings and COLA evaluations to the Governor and Legislature annually, with public access to reports online. The bill directly affects contracted service providers delivering Medicaid-funded care in these sectors.