SJR94

A Joint Resolution establishing a temporary Commission on Opioid Antidote Administration and Aftercare.

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is hereby established a Commission on Opioid Antidote Administration and Aftercare.

b. The purpose of the commission shall be to: (1) study and evaluate the various procedures that are used by hospitals in this and other states when a patient is released from hospital-based care following the administration of naloxone, or other opioid antidote, thereto; and (2) determine and recommend appropriate procedures and protocols to be uniformly applied by hospitals in the State upon the release of a patient under such circumstances. Such procedures and protocols shall be designed to promote the health and facilitate the recovery of the patient, to the maximum extent practicable.

c. The commission shall consist of 15 members, as follows:

(1) the Commissioner of Human Services; the Commissioner of Health; the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services; the Director of the Division of Children’s System of Care in the Department of Children and Families; the Superintendent of State Police; the President of the New Jersey Hospital Association; the President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM); and the President of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, or the designees of such persons; and

(2) seven public members, to be appointed as follows:

(a) two members to be appointed by the Senate President;

(b) one member to be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(d) one member to be appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; and

(e) one member to be appointed by the Governor.

The public members of the commission shall include persons who have expertise or extensive experience in hospital-based care, emergency medical services, or substance abuse treatment, or persons who have successfully completed a substance abuse treatment program, or who are the parents of persons who suffer from substance abuse.

d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to employ stenographic and clerical assistance, and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purposes.

e. Members of the commission shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this resolution, and the commission shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The commission shall select a chairperson from among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the commission. A majority of all the authorized members shall constitute a quorum. The commission may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote on recommendations when a quorum is present. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance, and avail itself of the services of, the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or agency as it may require, and as may be available to it for its purposes.

f. The commission shall meet at the call of the chair, at the times, and in the places, deemed appropriate to fulfill its duties. The commission may also conduct public hearings, at the times and places it designates, if deemed appropriate to fulfill its duties.

g. Within one year following the commission’s organization, as provided by subsection e. of this section, the commission shall prepare and submit to the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report of its findings and recommendations on the matters described in subsection b. of this section. The commission shall expire on the 31st day following the date on which its report is issued under this subsection.

2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately, and shall expire on the 31st day following the date of issuance of the commission’s report to the Governor and the Legislature, as provided by section 1 of this resolution.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution would establish a Commission on Opioid Antidote Administration and Aftercare. The commission would be required to: (1) study and evaluate the various procedures that are used by hospitals in this and other states when a patient is released from hospital-based care following the administration of naloxone, or other opioid antidote, thereto; and (2) determine and recommend appropriate procedures and protocols to be uniformly applied by hospitals in the State upon the release of a patient under such circumstances. The bill would require such procedures and protocols to promote the health and facilitate the recovery of the patients involved, to the maximum extent practicable.

The commission would consist of 15 members, including the Commissioner of Human Services; the Commissioner of Health; the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services; the Director of the Division of Children’s System of Care in the Department of Children and Families; the Superintendent of State Police; the President of the New Jersey Hospital Association; the President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM); and the President of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, or the designees of these persons; and seven public members, to be appointed as follows:

--two members appointed by the Senate President;

--one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

--two members appointed by the Assembly Speaker;

--one member appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; and

--one member appointed by the Governor.

The bill would require the commission’s public members to include persons who have expertise or extensive experience in hospital-based care, emergency medical services, or substance abuse treatment, or persons who have successfully completed a substance abuse treatment program, or who are the parents of persons who suffer from substance abuse.

The commission members would be appointed within 60 days after the enactment of the resolution, and would be required to issue a report of their findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year after the commission’s organization.

The resolution and the commission would expire on the 31st day following the submission of the commission’s report.