ASSEMBLY, No. 1058
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, McKnight, Assemblyman Danielsen, Assemblywoman Jimenez, Assemblyman Mejia, Assemblywomen Lopez, Timberlake and Assemblyman McKeon
SYNOPSIS
Requires discrimination prevention training for certain providers of services to senior citizens.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee on December 7, 2020, with amendments.
An Act concerning discrimination prevention training and services for seniors and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. No later than nine months after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Commissioner of Human Services or the commissioner’s designee1[,]1 shall develop a training program 1that is1 designed to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in the delivery of 1[certain]1 services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex senior citizens in the State. The training program shall also be designed to increase awareness among, and provide cultural competency to, service providers 1[about] and their staff regarding1 the issues 1that are1 encountered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex seniors in order to 1both1 ensure equal access to services1[,]1 and improve the delivery of those services to senior citizens and their caregivers.
b. 1[The] In developing the anti-discrimination training program pursuant to this section, the1 commissioner1[,]1 or the commissioner’s designee1[,]1 may consult 1with1 any agencies, advocacy organizations, or governmental entities as 1[are determined] may be deemed thereby1 to be appropriate 1[in developing the training program]1.
c. 1[The commissioner shall ensure that a] (1) Each licensed or certified1 provider of services or supports to senior citizens 1[that] in the State, who1 contracts with, provides services through programs administered by, or receives funding from, the Department of Human Services, any 1[of its divisions] division of the department1, or any area agency on aging 1[completes], shall complete1 the 1anti-discrimination1 training program 1[no later than] within1 six months 1[following the availability of the program. Thereafter, each new service provider shall complete the training within] after it is made available pursuant to this section or within1 one month 1[of] after1 commencing the delivery of services or supports 1to senior citizens in the State, whichever is later.
(2) Each service provider who is required to undergo training pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also ensure that each staff member employed thereby completes the anti-discrimination training program developed pursuant to this section, either within six months after the program is made available or within one month after the staff member commences employment with the provider, whichever is later1.
d. The department may make the training program available online, by webinar, or by other means. The department shall establish a protocol to ensure 1[compliance by] that service1 providers 1[of services] comply1 with the requirements of 1subsection c. of1 this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.