Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the maximum amount that New Jersey municipalities and counties can divert from stormwater, water, and sewer utility funds to general budgets, lowering the limit from 5% to 3% of the utility's annual operating costs. It applies to funds collected by utilities (like stormwater systems) and unspent funds held by water/sewer authorities. The bill also requires local governments to provide written notice to the Division of Local Government Services whenever they transfer or appropriate these funds. This changes existing law by tightening restrictions on fund diversions while adding a notification requirement.

Maddy summaryS 2323 requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to publish a comprehensive list of all its services and support programs online and in print for public access. The list must include detailed descriptions of each program (such as the Supports Program, Community Care Waiver, and self-directed services), eligibility criteria (including Medicaid requirements and funding levels based on individual needs), and information on transitional planning and guardianship services. The DDD must update the list regularly and prominently display details about educational webinars to help individuals navigate available support. This bill directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities and their families seeking services in New Jersey by improving transparency and access to program information.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling membership from 13 to 15 members. It adds two public school vocational program representatives and two private school representatives for cosmetology programs, while reducing public members from three to two. The bill also modifies professional membership requirements, shifting from specific roles (like beauty culture teachers) to allowing any licensed cosmetology profession. These changes directly affect how the board is composed and who represents the cosmetology industry and educational institutions. The revisions aim to broaden representation within the regulatory board.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to maintain specific staffing ratios for certified school library media specialists based on student enrollment. Schools with fewer than 300 students must have at least a half-time specialist, those with 300-1,499 students must have one full-time specialist, and schools with 1,500+ students must have two full-time specialists. Additionally, schools with 500 or more students must employ at least one full-time library clerk, plus one additional clerk for every 500 students beyond 500. The bill includes limited waivers for schools unable to hire certified staff and specifies minimum daily time specialists must dedicate to library work based on school size. It applies to all public schools in New Jersey starting with the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits New Jersey county improvement authorities to establish student loan refinancing programs, directly affecting residents who hold student debt in counties with these authorities. It allows county agencies to create programs that help borrowers refinance existing student loans, potentially lowering interest rates or monthly payments without requiring new state funding. The key mechanism is an amendment to existing law that explicitly authorizes these county entities to develop and manage such programs under their current authority. The bill focuses on enabling local options for debt relief, with no provisions for direct state financial support or eligibility restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1215) allows patients in New Jersey to formally indicate in the state's prescription monitoring program that they do not wish to receive prescriptions for opiates or certain other controlled substances. It directly affects patients who want to limit their access to these medications and healthcare providers who access the monitoring system when prescribing. The key mechanism requires the state division to maintain a record of these patient preferences within the prescription monitoring database, which would be visible to authorized prescribers and pharmacists. This change ensures patient preferences regarding controlled substances are documented and considered during prescription decisions, without altering the program's existing confidentiality rules or access protocols.

Maddy summaryS 1246 prohibits sex offenders assessed as moderate or high risk of re-offense (per New Jersey's Megan's Law) from working in any job where 80% or more of duties involve contact with children. This applies to positions like teachers, coaches, or childcare workers, with a specific exemption for offenders under 18 working in rehabilitative programs for juvenile sex offenders. Violating the law would be a third-degree crime, punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. The bill aims to restrict employment access for high-risk offenders in child-contact roles, as defined by the statute.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey election officials to use a single uniform ballot for both emergency ballots (when voting machines fail) and provisional ballots (for voters who've moved but still vote at their old address). Currently, separate ballot sets are required for each purpose, but this bill permits one standardized form to replace both. All existing procedures for handling these ballots - including verification processes and counting methods - remain unchanged. The change aims to simplify ballot preparation and reduce errors during elections.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 33) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the 75th anniversary of Israel's establishment on April 25, 2023. It commends Israel's achievements in building a democratic society and reaffirms New Jersey's longstanding partnership with Israel, including existing educational collaborations (like Rutgers-Tel Aviv University) and economic ties. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it serves only to express support and acknowledge historical and current ties between New Jersey and Israel. It directly affects no individuals or policies, as it is purely commemorative.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Jersey calculates school district funding by requiring the use of a five-year average of property values instead of a single year's data. It directly affects all public school districts and county vocational school districts in the state by altering the formula that determines their "local share" contribution toward state school aid. The key provision replaces the current method (which uses the prior year's equalized property valuation) with a rolling five-year average of those valuations. This change will take effect for the 2024-2025 school year, impacting how much state aid each district receives based on local property wealth.