Sen. Carmen Amato

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $3 million in supplemental funding to the New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit. The funds will directly support the unit's mission by covering costs for personnel training, equipment, vehicle purchases, software licenses, and staff mental health initiatives. The allocation is intended to help the ICAC Unit address rising online child exploitation, particularly as federal funding is currently unavailable due to a government shutdown. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, and applies solely to the State Police ICAC Unit's operations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5217, the "Ensuring Fairness in Cost-Sharing Amounts Act of 2024," requires health insurance carriers and pharmacy benefits managers to count third-party discounts and payments toward patients' out-of-pocket costs like copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. This means discounts from drug manufacturers, patient assistance programs, or other third parties must reduce what patients actually pay for covered health services, rather than being ignored by insurers. The bill prohibits insurers from using "accumulators" that would prevent these discounts from counting toward a patient's deductible. It applies to all health benefits plans in New Jersey and requires annual compliance certification from insurers and pharmacy benefits managers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide Parkinson's disease registry in New Jersey to track cases and gather health data. Healthcare providers must report diagnosed cases (including past diagnoses) to the Department of Health, with patients able to opt out at any time. Data collected includes diagnosis, treatment, and optional demographic details like age or race, but all information is kept confidential using coded identifiers. The registry aims to support research and public health efforts by sharing de-identified data with approved researchers, other states, or health agencies, while strictly protecting patient privacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey counties to create a voluntary registry for seniors aged 65 or older to receive extra assistance during emergencies. Counties would collect basic personal and medical information from participating seniors (like name, address, and emergency contacts), which would be kept confidential and used only by emergency management offices for preparedness. Each county must also run public awareness campaigns about the registry and may provide emergency supply kits to registered seniors, with kit contents determined by local emergency management offices. The bill requires counties to maintain strict confidentiality of registry data and prohibits public access to this information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1927) extends New Jersey's $6,000 gross income tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans to their surviving spouses. Currently, the exemption applies only to the year a veteran dies (if filing jointly), but the bill would allow the spouse to continue claiming it in all subsequent years until they remarry. It directly affects spouses of deceased veterans who were eligible for the exemption during the veteran's lifetime. The change modifies the existing tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to add this ongoing benefit, with no other policy changes described in the bill text.

Maddy summaryS 4758 increases penalties for reckless vehicular homicide when the driver was intoxicated and the incident occurred in a highway construction zone or a designated safe corridor. Currently, such crimes are typically a second-degree offense (with possible downgrade), but this bill adds construction zones and safe corridors to the list of locations that elevate the charge to first degree - previously, only school zones triggered this upgrade. A first-degree conviction carries 10-20 years in prison, a fine up to $200,000, or both, plus a driver’s license suspension of 5 years to life. The bill specifically targets incidents involving drivers violating New Jersey’s DUI laws (R.S. 39:4-50) in these high-risk areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts stipends paid to volunteer first responders (like firefighters or EMTs) from being counted as taxable income under New Jersey's income and payroll tax laws. It specifically excludes payments for volunteer emergency services from gross income calculations, meaning these stipends won't be subject to state income tax or payroll taxes. The bill amends existing unemployment compensation law (R.S.43:21-19) to clarify that such stipends aren't considered "wages" for tax purposes. This directly affects volunteer emergency personnel who receive small payments for their service, reducing their tax burden on those stipends. The policy change is purely administrative, adjusting how existing tax laws apply to volunteer compensation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the U.S. Congress to change federal disability benefit rules. Currently, individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) lose their benefits if they marry under existing federal law. The New Jersey Senate resolution (SR 144) formally requests Congress enact legislation allowing disabled individuals to retain these benefits after marriage, referencing a documentary highlighting real couples affected by the current policy. As a symbolic measure, this resolution has no legal effect but seeks to prompt federal legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution designates February 12th of each year as "Carly Day" in New Jersey to honor Bayville resident Carly Fetzer, who lived with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (a congenital heart defect), and to raise awareness about congenital heart defects. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation recognizing this day, aligning with Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7-14). The resolution commemorates Carly's life and her family's foundation, which supports families and research for congenital heart defects. (Note: This is a ceremonial resolution, not a substantive law.)