A5257

An Act concerning the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters and supplementing Title 53 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. a. All of the functions, powers, and duties of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters are hereby transferred from the Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Human Services to the Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police. This transfer shall be subject to the provisions of the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.). All records, equipment, and other personal property, appropriations, and any unexpended balances of funds appropriated or otherwise available to the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters shall be transferred to the Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police pursuant to the "State Agency Transfer Act."

b. Whenever any statute, rule, regulation, order, contract, tariff, document, reorganization plan, or judicial or administrative proceeding refers to the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters, the reference shall mean and refer to the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters in the Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police.

2. In addition to any other members as are selected for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters, the membership shall at all times include at least one designated representative from each of the following:

a. The Department of Human Services;

b. The Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police;

c. The Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services;

d. The Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services;

e. The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services;

f. The Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services;

g. The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the Department of Human Services;

h. The Disaster and Terrorism Branch in the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services;

i. The Department of Health;

j. The New Jersey Medical Reserve Corps;

k. The Children’s System of Care in the Department of Children and Families;

l. The Department of Education;

m. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

n. The Department of Banking and Insurance;

o. The Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

p. The Department of Community Affairs;

q. The Department of Agriculture;

r. The New Jersey State Independent Living Council in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

s. The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, if a representative is named by the council for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters;

t. Disability Rights New Jersey, if a representative is named by Disability Rights New Jersey for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters;

u. The New Jersey Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, if a representative is named by the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters;

v. The Quality Insights Renal Network, if a representative is named by the Quality Insights Renal Network for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters; and

w. The New Jersey Region of the American Red Cross, if a representative is named by the New Jersey Region of the American Red Cross for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters.

3. The Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police shall consult with the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters when formulating emergency response plans and when coordinating State and local responses to an emergency or disaster occurring in New Jersey, particularly with regard to meeting the needs of, and ensuring continuity of services provided to, people with access and functional needs during an emergency or disaster.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill transfers all functions, powers, and duties of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters (NJGAINED) from the Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Human Services to the Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police, including all records, equipment, and other personal property, appropriations, and any unexpended balances of funds appropriated or otherwise available to NJGAINED.

In addition to any other members as are selected for inclusion in the membership of NJGAINED, the membership is to include at all times at least one designated representative from each of the following:

(1) The Department of Human Services;

(2) The Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police;

(3) The Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services;

(4) The Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services;

(5) The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services;

(6) The Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services;

(7) The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the Department of Human Services;

(8) The Disaster and Terrorism Branch in the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services;

(9) The Department of Health;

(10) The New Jersey Medical Reserve Corps;

(11) The Children’s System of Care in the Department of Children and Families;

(12) The Department of Education;

(13) The Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

(14) The Department of Banking and Insurance;

(15) The Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

(16) The Department of Community Affairs;

(17) The Department of Agriculture;

(18) The New Jersey State Independent Living Council in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

(19) The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, if a representative is named by the council for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters;

(20) Disability Rights New Jersey, if a representative is named by Disability Rights New Jersey for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters;

(21) The New Jersey Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, if a representative is named by the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters;

(22) The Quality Insights Renal Network, if a representative is named by the Quality Insights Renal Network for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters; and

(23) The New Jersey Region of the American Red Cross, if a representative is named by the New Jersey Region of the American Red Cross for inclusion in the membership of the New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters.

The bill requires the Office of Emergency Management in the New Jersey State Police to consult with NJGAINED when formulating emergency response plans and when coordinating State and local responses to an emergency or disaster occurring in New Jersey, particularly with regard to meeting the needs of, and ensuring continuity of services provided to, people with access and functional needs during an emergency or disaster.

This bill implements a recommendation included in the initial report of the New Jersey COVID-19 Disability Action Committee, issued in Fall 2020.