ASSEMBLY, No. 725
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
213th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2008 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Camden)
Assemblyman DOUGLAS H. FISHER
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
Assemblyman ERIC MUNOZ
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Angelini, Assemblymen Diegnan, Conners, Chivukula and Assemblywoman Quijano
SYNOPSIS
Requires DCF to provide information on shaken baby syndrome to parents of newborn infants.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on January 15, 2009, with amendments.
An Act concerning shaken baby syndrome and amending P.L.1998, c.136.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1998, c.136 (C.26:2H-12.6a) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall prepare a [pamphlet] resource guide 1in both English and Spanish1 which provides information on child abuse and neglect to all parents of newborn infants born in this State. The [pamphlet] resource guide shall be distributed to each parent present during the infant's birth, by the personnel at a hospital or birthing facility. A health care professional, designated by the hospital or birthing facility, shall discuss the information contained in the resource guide with the parents of a newborn infant [at the time of] prior to the mother’s discharge, as part of the hospital or birthing facility’s discharge procedures.
b. The [pamphlet] resource guide shall include information on the signs of child abuse and neglect, including shaken baby syndrome, the services provided by the State which help in preventing child abuse and neglect [and], the legal ramifications of abusing or neglecting a child and tips on child safety.
c. The department shall distribute the [pamphlet] resource guide, at no charge, to all the hospitals and birthing facilities in the State. The department shall update the [pamphlet] resource guide as necessary, and shall make additional copies of the [pamphlet] resource guide available to health care providers upon request.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.47, s.109)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.