Sponsored by:
Senator MICHAEL L. TESTA, JR.
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Requires coronavirus disease 2019 testing for certain persons.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning coronavirus disease 2019 testing.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Health shall require the administration of coronavirus disease 2019 tests to first responders and health care workers. The Department of Health shall require that the results of the coronavirus disease 2019 tests be expedited.
b. The Department of Health shall require that, pursuant to section 15 of P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-15), persons who test positive for coronavirus disease 2019 pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be isolated or quarantined to help reduce the transmission of infection.
c. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall be carried out to the extent that necessary personnel, resources, and coronavirus disease 2019 tests are available.
d. As used in this section:
"First Responder" means a corrections officer, law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other person who has been trained to provide emergency medical first response services in a program recognized by the Commissioner of Health.
"Health care facility" means health care facility as defined in section 2 of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-2).
"Health care worker" means an individual who is employed by a health care facility.
2. The Department of Health shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire following the end of the Governor’s declared public health emergency regarding the coronavirus disease 2019.
STATEMENT
This bill requires coronavirus disease 2019 testing for certain persons.
Under the bill, the Department of Health (DOH) is to require the administration of coronavirus disease 2019 tests to first responders and health care workers. The DOH is to require that the results of the coronavirus disease 2019 tests be expedited.
The bill provides that the DOH is to require that persons who test positive for coronavirus disease 2019 are to be isolated or quarantined to help reduce the transmission of infection. The bill’s provisions are to be carried out to the extent that necessary personnel, resources, and coronavirus disease 2019 tests are available.