Sen. Kristin Corrado

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3549) expands an existing exemption by allowing honorably discharged veterans to avoid paying municipal parking meter fees when driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle displaying a veteran placard issued by New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). It adds honorably discharged veterans to the current list of exempt groups, which already includes disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. The exemption applies only while the vehicle is parked for 24 hours or less at a single location. The bill amends P.L.2015, c.218, clarifying that the exemption requires the veteran to be in the vehicle (as driver or passenger) and does not apply to extended parking.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 2607 requires private bus companies operating regular routes to give advance notice and hold public meetings before making significant service cuts. Specifically, operators must provide 4 months' written notice to the state Motor Vehicle Commission and NJ Transit, 3 months' notice to riders, and host a public meeting near the busiest stop within 15 days of notifying riders. The bill also mandates that companies notify local officials, including mayors and county commissioners, before holding these meetings. Private operators who fail to comply face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. This bill directly affects private bus operators and their riders in New Jersey communities experiencing service changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies parental rights for children born to unwed parents in New Jersey. It states that if a father's name appears on the birth certificate and paternity is established (e.g., through voluntary acknowledgment, court order, or genetic testing), both parents become natural guardians with equal rights and responsibilities. If paternity is not established, the mother is the sole natural guardian. The law also allows any parent listed on the birth certificate to formally request child support or a custody plan through the court. These changes apply immediately to all unwed parents and ensure birth certificate status directly affects legal parental rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum respite care service hours available to eligible families in New Jersey. It allows families caring for children with functional impairments to access up to 90 hours of respite care (temporary relief for caregivers) over a 90-day period, funded through the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Respite care can be provided by either an agency-hired worker (paid through DCF contracts) or a self-hired worker (paid directly by the family). The Commissioner of Children and Families must use existing state and federal funds to implement this change, without altering eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3248 exempts cribs, child restraint systems (like car seats meeting federal safety standards), nursing bottles/nipples/funnels, and strollers from the state's sales and use tax. This directly reduces costs for parents purchasing essential baby products. The bill defines "child restraint systems" as devices protecting infants in vehicles, "cribs" as infant beds, and "strollers" as non-motorized transport devices. The exemption takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a "Teacher Retention Program" that provides an annual retention grant to every full-time public school teacher at the end of each school year. The program is funded by redirecting state funds previously allocated for services to undocumented persons - including health care, public school education, postsecondary education, and legal services - to the Department of Education. It directly affects all full-time public school teachers across New Jersey by guaranteeing equal annual payments as an incentive to remain in their positions. The bill mandates this funding shift "notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary" and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3328) makes "fertility fraud" a crime in New Jersey. It applies to healthcare practitioners who perform assisted reproduction (like IVF) without a patient’s written consent, using either their own reproductive material or someone else’s. The crime is classified as a third-degree offense, punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, and mandatory permanent loss of their medical license. Prosecutions must occur within 20 years of the procedure or 10 years after the patient discovers the fraud.

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 summaryS 2050, "Stephanie's Law," requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly available domestic violence registry. This registry will include personal details (name, photo, vehicle info, address) for individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, subject to final restraining orders, or found in contempt of such orders. Law enforcement officers must search this registry during arrests to check for active domestic violence restraining orders. The bill also establishes procedures for removing erroneous entries and updating address information.

Maddy summaryS 3311 requires New Jersey's state education commissioner, with input from the Division of Criminal Justice, to create a sexual assault prevention training program for high school sports coaches and athletic directors. The training must cover preventing sexual assault, recognizing warning signs, and connecting victims with medical, legal, and counseling resources. All coaches and athletic directors in public and private high school sports programs must complete this training every four years, with new hires required to complete it in their first year. This bill directly affects over 10,000 high school sports staff members across New Jersey's school districts.