LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3522

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 31, 2019

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires New Jersey Office on Minority and Multicultural Health to study racial disparities on sexual and reproductive health of African-American women.

Type of Impact:

One-time increase in State expenditures.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Health.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill will result in an indeterminate, likely marginal, one-time increase in State expenditures due to costs incurred by the New Jersey Office of Minority and Cultural Health to: 1) study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women; and 2) report the study’s findings to the Governor and Legislature.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the New Jersey Office of Minority and Multicultural Health (office), within the Department of Health to study the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women.

      The purpose of the study would be to: identify Statewide and regional trends, patterns, and racial and ethnic disparities in adverse health outcomes, and medical, non-medical, and system-related factors that may affect the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women; review the extent to which the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women in a geographic area indicate the need to increase access to health care services among racial and ethnic populations in that area; and identify ways to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that affect the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women.

      When conducting the study, the office would be allowed to seek the advice of persons specializing in the fields of women’s health, minority health advocacy, or other related fields.

      The bill stipulates that within one year of the enactment of the bill, and annually thereafter if the office deems appropriate, the office would prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report containing the study’s findings and recommendations for legislative or other actions that could be taken to: improve the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women in this State; reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that affect the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women; and increase access to high quality health care services among African-American women in the following priority areas: childbirth; breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer screening; HIV/AIDS; hepatitis C; and other sexually transmitted diseases.

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that this bill will result in an indeterminate increase in State expenditures due to costs incurred by the New Jersey Office of Minority and Cultural Health to: 1) study the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on the sexual and reproductive health of African-American women; and 2) report the study’s findings to the Governor and Legislature.

      Under existing law, the office is required to perform similar, but not identical, tasks.  For example, it is required to annually report to the Legislature and the Governor on its activities, including any recommendations for administrative or legislative action that it deems appropriate.  Furthermore, the DOH established the "Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative" in the office in order to develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated plan to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in certain priority areas, including infant mortality; breast and cervical cancer screening; HIV/AIDS; hepatitis C; and sexually transmitted diseases.  This data is collected and published on the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data website.[1]  It is likely that the office will be able to expand upon existing requirements to fulfill the provisions of the bill, thereby minimizing costs.

 

 

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah Schmidt

Senior Research Analyst

Approved:

Frank W. Haines III

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).



[1] https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/indicator/CatDisparity.html