[Second Reprint]

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 Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on November 8, 2021, 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 ², approve, select, or designate² 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 ²[developing the anti-discrimination training program comply pursuant to] complying with the provisions of² this section, the¹ commissioner¹[,]¹ or the commissioner’s designee¹[,]¹ may consult ², contract, or enter into an agreement^{2 1}with¹ any ²[agencies, advocacy organizations, or governmental entities] entity²  as ¹[are determined] may be deemed ²[thereby¹] by the commissioner² 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] within^{1 2}[six months] one year^{2 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 ²[six

months] one year² after the program is made available or within one month after the staff member commences employment with the provider, whichever is later¹.

      d.   ²A staff member or administrator of a long-term care facility may be exempt from the requirements of subsection c. of this section, if that person has received training or is required to receive training within one year after the person’s date of hire, pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2021, c.33 (C.26:2H-12.106), and if the requirements of such training are substantially equivalent to the requirements of the training program developed by the commissioner pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

e.²    The ²[department may make the]² training program ²may be made² 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.