ASSEMBLY HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1811

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JANUARY 30, 2012

 

      The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1811.

      This bill, which is designated the “New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act,” requires the fluoridation of all public community water systems in New Jersey. 

      The bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, to adopt rules and regulations relating to the fluoridation of public community water systems.  The rules and regulations, at a minimum, are to include:

      -- the means by which fluoride is controlled;

      -- the methods of testing the fluoride content; and

      -- the records to be kept relating to fluoridation.

      The bill stipulates that the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, is to:  enforce the fluoridation rules and regulations; and, in so doing, require the fluoridation of water in all public community water systems within 12 months of the effective date of the bill.  Every local government unit and water purveyor is to control the quantities of fluoride in the water so as to maintain a fluoride content prescribed by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection as provided in the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the bill.

      The bill prohibits the Commissioner of Environmental Protection from requiring the fluoridation of water in any public community water system in which the water supply in the state of nature contains sufficient fluorides to conform with the fluoridation rules and regulation.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2012-2013 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.