Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for New Jersey county colleges to apply for approval to offer four-year nursing degree programs. County colleges must submit detailed proposals to the New Jersey Presidents' Council, including program descriptions, facility details, cost analyses, curriculum plans, and enrollment projections. The Council reviews proposals within 45 days, recommends approval or denial to the Higher Education Secretary, and colleges must also secure accreditation from the New Jersey Board of Nursing. This directly affects county colleges seeking to expand nursing education and addresses a state-level need for more nursing graduates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates New Jersey's Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act to protect active-duty military members, National Guard personnel, reservists called to duty, and their dependents. It allows courts to pause civil proceedings (like debt collection or evictions) during military service and prevents creditors from denying or changing credit terms solely because someone is serving. Dependents may also seek relief if military service harms their ability to meet lease or contract obligations. The law ensures New Jersey's protections meet or exceed federal standards for military members' civil and property rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey counties to replace electronic voting machines with paper ballot systems when updating equipment. It mandates specific standards for these systems, including voter-marked ballots, certified equipment, cast vote records, and compliance with federal guidelines. Counties must retain all paper ballots for two years and conduct risk-limiting audits for election results verification. The law directly affects all New Jersey counties implementing the new system, focusing on enhancing election security through verifiable paper trails and statistical audits. Funding for equipment costs is authorized, with counties permitted to sell decommissioned machines to recoup expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3586) requires the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) to provide detailed claims experience data to public employers (like municipalities or school districts) that participate in these programs. Public employers making a written request must receive specific data including medical claims summaries, top diagnoses, prescription drug usage and costs (with details like drug codes and payment amounts), and utilization reports within 60 days. The data must comply with HIPAA privacy rules and cannot identify individuals. This directly affects public employers seeking transparency into their health plan costs and usage patterns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county welfare agencies and other entities processing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications to provide applicants with a written receipt at the time of submission. The receipt must include the application date, a checklist of all required documents received (with dates), and a list of pending documents needed with deadlines. It applies to both in-person and electronic applications, ensuring applicants receive clear, immediate confirmation of their submission status. The bill directly affects SNAP applicants and the agencies handling their applications, improving transparency in the application process.

Maddy summaryS 3582 would establish a scholarship program for family members and legal guardians of New Jersey military personnel who died while on active duty. The program, initially funded by a $100,000 state appropriation, would provide undergraduate scholarships at New Jersey colleges and universities, with awards capped at the average tuition cost for four-year public institutions. The bill also creates two new funding sources: voluntary taxpayer contributions through state income tax returns and a $2 annual fee on personalized license plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3590) increases accidental death benefits for surviving spouses and children of Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) members, specifically targeting law enforcement officers, correction officers, firefighters, and certain emergency responders. It expands eligibility by redefining "child" to include those under 18, enrolled in secondary or higher education (under 24), or disabled with long-term impairments. The bill also adds accidental death benefits for designated beneficiaries of these members if death occurred during duty without willful misconduct. It amends existing retirement laws to clarify these provisions and ensure benefits align with current needs of public safety workers' families.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's civil service hiring preferences for veterans who qualify under federal standards but not current state definitions. It grants disabled veterans meeting federal criteria (5 U.S.C. §2108) 10 extra points on state exam scores, and other veterans meeting federal criteria 5 extra points. These benefits apply only to those passing open competitive exams after the bill's effective date (July following enactment). A constitutional amendment must first be approved by voters to allow the disabled veteran point increase.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard from 2016, which includes both hatred toward Jews and discriminatory acts against Jewish communities or institutions. It requires state agencies and institutions to use this definition when reviewing policies or laws related to discriminatory acts. The bill appropriates $100,000 to fund a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's Office, including community outreach, training on identifying bias crimes, and promoting the state's bias crime reporting hotline. The campaign aims to increase reporting of anti-Semitic incidents, particularly on campuses, while explicitly stating the definition does not infringe on free speech rights or the right to criticize Israel.

Maddy summaryS 3588 creates a New Jersey Cold War medal to honor veterans who served honorably during the Cold War (Sept. 2, 1945-Dec. 31, 1991). It directly affects New Jersey residents or former residents who completed at least 180 days of service in the military or militia during that period and were honorably discharged. The bill establishes a process for veterans or their representatives to apply through the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, requiring documentation like a DD Form 214, and creates a dedicated fund to cover the medal’s design and distribution. The medal may also be awarded posthumously to deceased veterans or those missing in action.