Sen. Carmen Amato

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse volunteer firefighters for cancer screenings not covered by their insurance. It applies to all volunteer firefighters who have served at least five years, mandating screenings every three years for 11 specific cancers (including colon, lung, prostate, and skin). The state covers up to $1,250 per three-year period (adjusted for inflation), with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Volunteer firefighting is treated as a pre-existing condition for coverage purposes, and annual state funding must be appropriated to cover these reimbursements. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryS 1983 would eliminate the requirement for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey to practice under physician collaboration or supervision, allowing them to provide care independently. This directly affects APNs - over 75% of whom specialize in primary care - and aims to improve healthcare access in underserved communities, including areas with physician shortages and among racial/ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and those facing transportation barriers. The bill cites that 24 states and the District of Columbia already permit full practice authority for APNs, and during pandemic waivers (Executive Order 112), no adverse incidents occurred while APNs practiced without restrictions. It states removing these barriers could reduce healthcare access disparities by over 38 percent, aligning New Jersey with other states to address chronic shortages in primary care services.

Maddy summaryS 910 amends New Jersey's 9-1-1 trust fund law to explicitly permit using its funds for costs incurred by counties and municipalities in providing and maintaining 9-1-1 emergency services. This includes expenses like emergency response training, operating costs, and capital equipment for local 9-1-1 systems. The bill requires funds to be prioritized for distribution to county, regionalized, or large centralized 9-1-1 answering points first, with remaining funds then going to other local systems. It expands the fund's existing uses, which previously covered state-level 9-1-1 operations and federal compliance costs, to directly support local government 9-1-1 service providers.

Maddy summarySCR 50 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would permanently dedicate funds from New Jersey's "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" exclusively to 9-1-1 and emergency response operations. Currently, 90 cents from phone bills funds this account, but the state has historically diverted these funds to balance the general budget. The amendment would legally prohibit using any money from this specific account for purposes other than: maintaining 9-1-1 systems, funding emergency response equipment/facilities, covering emergency training, operating related state offices (like the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services), and implementing federal 9-1-1 requirements. This change would require a statewide vote after legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school bus safety laws to authorize using school bus monitoring systems for enforcement. It changes penalties for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses: violations captured by these systems will result in only a $250 civil penalty (instead of potential fines or jail time), with funds directed to municipalities and school districts for safety programs. The law applies to buses transporting children or individuals with developmental disabilities when stopped to load/unload. It does not create new monitoring systems but specifies how existing systems can be used to enforce stop laws through civil penalties.