Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires director of State Office of Emergency Management to designate emergency response liaison for people with special needs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the State Office of Emergency Management emergency response for people with special needs and amending P.L.1989, c.222.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 18 of P.L.1989, c.222 (C.App.A:9:43-1) is amended to read as follows:
18. The State Office of Emergency Management shall adopt a State Emergency Operations Plan, including rules, regulations, and guidelines, that shall be reviewed and updated at least every two years.
a. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, provisions which shall be developed in consultation with:
(1) the Department of Agriculture, to support the needs of animals and individuals with an animal under their care, including domestic livestock, a domesticated animal, or a service animal, in a major disaster or emergency; and
(2) the Department of Health, to provide for a coordinated Statewide evacuation strategy for all hospitals and other health care facilities in the State, alternative sources of care for evacuated patients, and proposed sites of temporary shelter in the event of an emergency. The Statewide evacuation strategy shall be based on evacuation plans prepared pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1989, c.222 (C.App.A:9-43.2) and submitted to the State Office of Emergency Management by each county and municipality in the State pursuant to section 21 of P.L.1989, c.222 (C.App.A:9-43.4).
b. The plan shall:
(1) include provisions that specifically address the need for the safe and timely evacuation of the families and dependents of the emergency responders rendering major disaster or emergency services; and
(2) incorporate the results of the risk assessment conducted in accordance with the county storm preparedness funding program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2017, c.63 (C.App.A:9-43.17).
c. In addition, the State Office of Emergency Management and each county and municipal emergency management agency shall take appropriate steps to educate the public regarding the resources available in the event of an emergency and the importance of emergency preparedness planning.
d. The director of the State Office of Emergency Management shall designate a current employee of the State Office of Emergency Management as a “Special Needs Liaison” who shall have the function, power, and duty to coordinate and work in conjunction with local officials and oversee emergency responses for people with special needs, as defined by P.L.2011, c.187, s.1. (C.App.A:9-43.8). The liaison shall ensure that all emergency plans take into account the dissemination of pertinent information, necessary awareness efforts, safety measures, evacuation measures if necessary, and the survival of people with special needs.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.63, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the director of the State Office of Emergency Management to designate an emergency response liaison for people with special needs who will coordinate and oversee emergency responses for people with special needs.