Sen. Kristin Corrado

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to annually collect data from schools on the use of physical restraints and seclusion on students with disabilities. Schools must report details like the number of incidents, types of restraint/seclusion used, duration, and the student's race, gender, age, and county. The DOE must publish this anonymized data online each year, broken down by those demographic factors to ensure transparency. The bill directly affects students with disabilities by creating public accountability for restraint practices, while schools and districts must comply with the reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program" within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. It provides relocation assistance of up to $5,000 per household to veterans who move to New Jersey for employment with participating employers, who must first agree to the program. Veterans must create a profile via a contracted nonprofit, accept a job, work for 12 months, and document eligible expenses (like moving costs) for employer reimbursement. Employers are reimbursed by the state up to $5,000, and veterans may have reimbursement waived if they leave due to hardship (e.g., family emergency), not fault.

Maddy summarySCR 99 creates a 12-member joint committee of the New Jersey Legislature to study the "Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic" report by Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP. The committee will be formed with three members appointed by each chamber's leadership (Speaker and Senate President) and two co-chairs from different parties. Its sole purpose is to examine the report's findings and recommendations, including the report's conclusion that New Jersey is unprepared for future public health crises. The committee will hold hearings and report its findings to the Legislature, but this resolution does not enact any new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to offer discounted fares to five specific groups: K-12 and college students commuting to school, full-time workforce training program participants, individuals receiving Work First New Jersey benefits, and newly employed NJ residents meeting strict criteria (e.g., minimum wage, 20+ hours/week, 30+ days unemployed prior to hire). Discounts apply to all NJT services, including bus, rail, and light rail, for commuting to and from school or work. Eligibility for the "newly employed" category requires residency, age 18+, and no current public assistance. The policy change takes immediate effect without additional legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to review employment history of applicants for positions involving contact with students, removing a 20-year limit on former employers that must be reviewed. It increases civil penalties for providing false information from $500 to $10,000 and mandates creation of a centralized school employee database to track employment history, child abuse investigations, and disqualifications. The bill also establishes procedures for investigating allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct by school employees and requires school districts to conduct child abuse record checks through the Department of Children and Families. Additionally, it requires regular audits of school hiring practices by the Commissioner of Education every five years to ensure compliance with the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow online newspapers to be used for publishing required public notices and advertisements, which previously only permitted print newspapers. It maintains existing requirements such as being published in New Jersey, in English, with at least 35% news content, and having been published continuously in the municipality for two years. The bill removes the previous requirement that newspapers must be registered as second-class mail with the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, state and local governments can now choose qualified online newspapers to fulfill public notice obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for individuals charged with carjacking, theft of motor vehicles, or burglary. If a prosecutor seeks pretrial detention and the court finds probable cause that a defendant committed carjacking, or committed theft of a motor vehicle or burglary in furtherance of car theft with a prior conviction within the past 12 months or pending charges for those crimes, the court would presume detention is necessary. The bill would expire one year after enactment, requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to report on implementation, including how many individuals were detained under this provision and related outcomes. This changes current law by expanding the types of crimes triggering this presumption beyond murder or life imprisonment offenses.

Maddy summaryS 3015 requires New Jersey employers using AI to analyze video job interviews to first notify applicants about the AI use, explain how it works, and obtain written consent. Employers must delete applicant videos upon request within 30 days and may only share videos with necessary service providers. The bill mandates employers to collect and report race/ethnicity data on applicants who receive interviews or job offers to the Department of Labor, which will annually analyze for racial bias. Violations carry civil penalties of $500 for first offenses and $1,000 for repeat violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide customers with specific documents in-person on the same day as their appointment at any MVC office, provided they complete the application and pay fees. It directly affects residents seeking standard or REAL ID driver's licenses, permits, non-driver ID cards, commercial licenses, or vehicle registration certificates. The MVC must ensure each office has cameras and printers to enable same-day issuance of the 12 listed documents, including standard and REAL ID licenses, probationary licenses, and vehicle registrations. The policy change eliminates the need for customers to return for these documents after their initial visit.

Maddy summaryS 2997 requires vehicle manufacturers to stamp the vehicle identification number (VIN) on catalytic converters of all new motor vehicles sold in New Jersey. This applies to every new vehicle sold in the state and would take effect three months after enactment. The bill was introduced in response to a significant rise in catalytic converter thefts, as reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which noted theft claims more than tripled from 2019 to 2020. The policy change directly affects vehicle manufacturers and aims to improve traceability of stolen parts.