SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1106

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 7, 2019

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1106.

      Senate Bill No. 1106 directs the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with representatives of health care facilities, local health agencies, and food service establishments, to develop a plan to phase out the use of latex gloves in licensed health care facilities and food service establishments.

      The bill also directs the commissioner to submit the plan to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days of the date of enactment of the bill, and propose the plan, as a Department of Health regulation, in the New Jersey Register after submitting the plan to the Governor and Legislature.

      Latex allergies are increasingly becoming a problem for health care workers, patients, food service workers, and consumers of food products handled with latex gloves; exposure to latex gloves is recognized as a serious occupational health risk by the Food and Drug Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommend that workers be provided with non-latex gloves in order to reduce the risk of causing latex sensitization and allergies.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill may result in a potential, indeterminate increase in State and local expenditures offset by a potential, indeterminate increase in State and local revenues due to the implementation and enforcement of the Department of Health’s plan, as required to be developed under the bill, to phase out the use of latex gloves in health care facilities and food establishments.  The scope and magnitude of the fiscal impact of this bill is dependent upon the provisions of this plan, such as:  the timeframe for implementation; the inspection requirements for each facility or establishment; and the establishment of any fines for noncompliance.