Shocking Stories Spark Crackdown on Group Homes as Clifton & Sauickie Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Protect Disabled Adults
Emotional testimonies from families and advocates fuel a bipartisan push for tougher oversight, better funding, and stronger protections for vulnerable residents in New Jersey group homes.
Manalapan – District 12 Assemblymen Alex Sauickie and Rob Clifton hosted a statewide roundtable discussion in Manalapan yesterday, convening self-advocates, parents, family members, guardians, caregivers, advocacy organizations, providers, and professionals from across New Jersey. Attendees traveled from as far as Camden and Hunterdon Counties to share personal experiences, discuss priorities, and focus on three key pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening protections, safety, and quality of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in group homes and residential settings.
The event also marked the official launch of the Bipartisan Legislative Disability Advocacy Coalition, a new unified initiative. Earlier this year, the Assemblymen and their staff, in partnership with a small group of advocate family members, developed the concept for this collaborative effort to unite families, advocates, nonprofits, and lawmakers from both parties. The Coalition seeks to build broad bipartisan support among legislators and policymakers to advance reforms that enhance care, safety, and quality of life for some of New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents.
Central to the roundtable were in-depth discussions on the following legislation:
A4008: the Justice for Vulnerable Residents Act: Establishes the Justice Center for the Protection of Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. This independent center would investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in residential settings, providing stronger oversight and accountability.
A4009: the Fair Funding for Vulnerable Residents Act: Requires certain providers of services to adults or children with intellectual or developmental disabilities to meet a direct care ratio, mandating that at least 70% of state and federal revenue be spent on frontline caregiving to improve staffing levels and care quality.
A2705: Requires certain group homes to install electronic monitoring devices in common areas upon request and with uniform resident consent. Sponsored by Assemblymen DePhillips, Sauickie, and Freiman, and co-sponsored by Clifton, the bill promotes transparency, deters abuse, and respects privacy.
Additional co-sponsored bills supporting the broader initiative include A4479 (school bus emergencies for students with disabilities), A2259 (allowing family members to stay with special needs patients in the hospital), and A2231 (mortality/abuse prevention advisory board).
“Today’s event was incredibly meaningful,” said Assemblyman Alex Sauickie.
“Seeing self-advocates, families, providers, and professionals come together from every corner of the state to launch the Bipartisan Legislative Disability Advocacy Coalition demonstrates the urgency and unity behind these reforms. For too long, families have shared heartbreaking stories. These bills, developed in partnership with advocates and former Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn, represent real, practical steps to protect our loved ones and restore trust in the system,” Sauickie said.
Assemblyman Rob Clifton added, “[the] strong turnout today—from Camden to Hunterdon—shows that New Jersey must prioritize the safety, dignity, and quality of life for individuals with special needs. Through the Coalition, we are building broad bipartisan support to advance these bills. We have made promising progress, but we need continued advocacy from families, guardians, nonprofits, and legislators to turn these vital reforms into law.”
The Coalition encourages everyone to get involved:
Join the effort: Families, guardians, advocates, nonprofits, and legislators are all welcome.
Speak out: Contact leaders in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, committee chairs, and your legislators to request support and a vote on these bills.
Contact the Governor: Urge her support for these critical reforms.
Share widely: Spread the word through your networks, the press, and social media to build momentum.
Assemblymen Sauickie and Clifton, along with their staff, expressed deep gratitude to Manalapan Township for providing the Community Center for the event and to all participants for their passion and commitment. The Coalition represents a historic, collaborative push to deliver better outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families across New Jersey.
At the conclusion of the program, it was announced that the Bipartisan Legislative Disability Advocacy Coalition will host an Advocacy Day at the New Jersey State House in Trenton on Monday, May 4, beginning at 9:00 a.m. More details will be released in the coming days.
“This event will bring together advocates to push for bipartisan support and passage of this critical legislation. We look forward to seeing strong bipartisan participation in support of New Jersey’s disability community,” said Sauickie and Clifton.
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