Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, the law permits smoking in areas of casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. The bill deletes this exception from the statute, meaning smoking would be prohibited in all indoor public areas of these facilities under the general smoke-free law. It directly affects casinos and simulcasting venues that currently operate under the smoking exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to create local ordinances restricting where certain sex offenders can live. Specifically, it prohibits offenders convicted of crimes against minors from residing within 500 feet of schools, playgrounds, or child care centers, and bans new child care centers within 500 feet of high-risk offenders' homes. It also requires school boards to avoid placing bus stops within 250 feet of high-risk offenders' residences, unless relocation would create greater danger. Exceptions include existing residents, those living near correctional facilities, and cases where courts or parole boards grant housing exceptions. The law does not apply to offenders deemed low-risk or affect current housing arrangements.

Maddy summaryS 562 requires that home addresses of elected officials and candidates for public office be redacted from public records and not disclosed to the public. The bill amends New Jersey's Open Public Records Act to classify home addresses as confidential information, meaning they must be removed from any government documents or records. This directly affects all elected officials (such as state legislators and local government leaders) and candidates running for office. The policy change aims to protect privacy and safety by preventing home addresses from being publicly accessible.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey to help 12th-grade students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Participating school districts must provide students with instruction on FAFSA requirements, including necessary documentation, key terms (like "dependent" or "household size"), eligibility rules, and deadlines - delivered through classroom sessions, counselors, or family workshops. Schools must also share FAFSA information with parents/guardians via written or electronic means and provide paper FAFSA forms upon request. The program selects 12 school districts (four per geographic region) to test the approach, with a final report due to the Governor and Legislature assessing whether to expand it statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey public employees who retired from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to return to elected local office (like mayor or city council member) with their former employer without losing retirement benefits. To qualify, retirees must have retired after reaching service retirement age, the new position must pay under $12,000 annually, and they must begin the role after receiving their first retirement payment. It applies only to retirees who left service for reasons other than disability. The bill removes a prior barrier preventing such retirees from serving locally while keeping their retirement income.

Maddy summaryS 2610 allows registered nurses with a multistate nursing license (under the Enhanced Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact) to qualify for school nurse certification in New Jersey. The bill amends existing law to recognize these licenses as meeting the registered nurse requirement for school nurse endorsements, replacing the previous requirement for a New Jersey-specific license. This change directly affects nurses holding a multistate license who seek to work as school nurses in New Jersey public schools. It removes a barrier that previously prevented such nurses from obtaining certification without obtaining an additional New Jersey nursing license.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission to coordinate New Jersey's state agencies and improve support services for veterans. The commission, composed of 11 members including veterans, mental health experts, and agency representatives, will assess existing programs and develop strategies to prevent veteran suicides. It requires the commission to coordinate efforts across state departments, track service progress, and increase public awareness of available resources. The bill directly affects veterans, service members, and their families by aiming to strengthen mental health support systems through better agency collaboration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a free emergency notification system for all public and nonpublic schools. The system would let schools alert students, parents/guardians, teachers, and staff during active shooter incidents on school grounds by sending alerts to registered mobile devices (like phones or tablets). Key requirements include compatibility with all device types, automatic alerts to local law enforcement or state police upon activation, and schools customizing the system with registered contact information. It directly affects every school in New Jersey that chooses to adopt the system, aiming to improve rapid communication during critical safety events.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 590) allows licensed home health care agencies in New Jersey to employ certified nurse aides as homemaker-home health aides, which is currently prohibited under state law. It directly affects home health care agencies (which can only hire certified homemaker-home health aides today) and certified nurse aides (who are currently restricted from these roles in home care settings). The key provision removes the existing legal barrier, enabling these agencies to hire nurse aides for homemaker-home health aide duties. The bill requires the New Jersey Board of Nursing to create implementing rules and takes effect 90 days after enactment. This changes current practice, where only homemaker-home health aides may be employed by home health agencies, while long-term care facilities can hire both.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey state grant program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to connect veterans with service-connected disabilities to trained service dogs. Nonprofit organizations applying for grants must meet specific requirements, including accreditation by recognized groups, detailed training plans for veterans and dogs, marketing strategies targeting veterans, and proof of humane animal care standards. The program prohibits nonprofits from charging veterans for service dogs and mandates that DMVA provide ongoing veterinary insurance for the dogs, regardless of the grant's future status. Nonprofits must report on fund usage, and DMVA will annually assess the program's effectiveness in linking veterans with service dogs.