Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide tele-psychiatry program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide real-time mental health and substance abuse care via video or audio consultations for patients in crisis at hospitals. It appropriates $4 million from the General Fund to fund the program, requiring DHS to contract with a partner organization to administer it statewide within three years of enactment. The program mandates ongoing DHS oversight, including annual site visits, quarterly financial reviews, and annual reports tracking participation, psychiatric assessments, and outcomes like involuntary commitments. It specifically aims to improve access for rural and critical access hospitals while ensuring licensed providers can deliver care remotely during emergencies.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4852) prohibits employers from firing, punishing, or denying benefits to employees who cannot work due to a state of emergency (e.g., evacuations or travel bans). It specifically prevents employers from requiring employees to use sick or personal leave for such absences. The law applies to most workers but excludes healthcare personnel, public safety staff, and contractors for emergency services. Employees must notify employers of their absence and return to work as soon as safe after the emergency ends, with employers facing penalties of up to $10,000 for violations.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts local library cooperatives from New Jersey's "Local Public Contracts Law" requirements. It amends the law to remove "local library cooperative" from the definition of "contracting unit" and exempts goods and services provided by these cooperatives from public bidding procedures. The exemption applies to library cooperatives organized as nonprofit corporations that provide cooperative or reciprocal services across academic, public, school, and special libraries. This means local governments can contract directly with these cooperatives without following standard public procurement processes. The change streamlines procurement for library-related goods and services while maintaining compliance with existing legal definitions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey courts to make expunged criminal records accessible to noncitizens who need them for immigration or naturalization applications. Specifically, it mandates that if a person with an expungement order requests their records for such purposes, the court must provide them to the person or their representative. The bill addresses a gap where expungement typically removes records from state files, potentially preventing noncitizens from proving their clean record to federal immigration authorities. It ensures that expunged records remain available for immigration matters without altering the state's standard expungement process. The change applies to all expungement orders granted under New Jersey law.
Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Earned Wage Access Services Act (S 4854) creates a regulatory framework for businesses that provide workers with early access to earned but unpaid wages before their regular payday. It requires these providers to obtain a license from the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, maintain $100,000 in net worth and liquid assets, and follow strict consumer protection rules. The law prohibits providers from charging late fees, using credit scores for eligibility, sharing fees with employers, or misleading consumers about the voluntary nature of tips, while requiring clear fee disclosure and allowing consumers to cancel services without fees. It sets a maximum fee of $5 per transaction and explicitly defines these services as not being loans, credit, or money transmission under state law. The law exempts depository institutions and employers who directly provide early wage access to their employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits using recycled lithium-ion battery cells (from previously used batteries) in powered mobility devices like wheelchairs, scooters, and electric bikes. It also bans charging or storing these devices in specific locations, including basements, attics, or commercial building exits. The law requires fire inspections to check compliance and establishes a complaint process for violations. Penalties include a $2,000 civil fine for repeat offenses after an initial warning.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) to monitor and evaluate insurance companies' compliance with mental health parity laws. It mandates that insurance carriers submit annual reports by March 1st detailing how they apply non-quantitative treatment limitations (like step therapy or network restrictions) to mental health/substance use disorder coverage compared to medical/surgical care. DOBI must then analyze this data, maintain a public complaint log (with carrier names redacted), and issue an annual report to the legislature by May 1st detailing its oversight findings, enforcement actions, and compliance analysis. The law applies directly to all insurance companies offering health plans in New Jersey and ensures parity monitoring beyond federal requirements.
Maddy summaryS 4850 creates a new criminal offense called "victimization" for crimes committed against seniors (60+) or people with disabilities, with penalties one level higher than the original offense. It makes perpetrators strictly liable - meaning they cannot claim they didn’t know the victim was vulnerable, even if they reasonably believed otherwise. The bill defines "person with a disability" as someone with a pre-existing impairment preventing normal resistance (including Social Security recipients) and mandates separate sentences for both the underlying crime and the victimization charge. This applies to offenses listed in Chapters 11-18 of New Jersey’s criminal code, such as assault, burglary, or harassment.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 279 would make landlord-tenant court records confidential for 60 days after filing. Records would remain confidential permanently if the tenant wins the case, the case is dismissed, or the tenant prevails in a settlement. Only records resulting in a judgment for the landlord (e.g., eviction) would become public after 75 days, unless appealed. This directly affects tenants in housing disputes and limits how landlords or screening agencies can use court filings to deny rentals based solely on a case being filed. The bill aims to prevent "blacklisting" of tenants who used valid legal defenses, such as withholding rent for unsafe housing.
Maddy summarySJR 169 is a symbolic resolution designating November 13 of each year as "Day of Civility" in New Jersey. It requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through educational programs and activities promoting courteous conduct. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or obligations; it solely serves as a ceremonial observance. It aligns with "World Kindness Day" and references studies on public perceptions of incivility, but the measure itself has no enforceable provisions.