SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2500

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 12, 2020

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2500.

     This bill establishes the “Local and County Health Department Infectious Disease Preparedness Study Commission.”

     The purpose of the commission will be to study the roles and responsibilities of local and county health departments and the response of local and county health departments to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).  The scope of commission’s analysis is to include:  (1) the general roles and responsibilities of local and county health departments in New Jersey and in other states; (2) the role of local and county health departments in the administration of immunizations; (3) the response of local and county health departments during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and in other states; (4) the communication and coordination between local and county health departments and state health departments prior to and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and in other states; (5) the communication and coordination between local and county health departments and hospitals and long-term care facilities prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and in other states; (6) policies and procedures implemented by local and county health departments to respond to an infectious disease outbreak and to curb the spread of the disease; and (7) recommendations as to how local and county health departments may better respond to an infectious disease outbreak.

     The commission will consist of 11 members as follows: the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner’s designee, the chairs of the Assembly Health Committee and the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, who are to serve as co-chairs of the commission, and eight representatives of local and county health departments from the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to be appointed as follows:  (1) two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; (2) two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; (3) two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and (4) two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

     No later than 12 months after its initial meeting, the commission is to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature presenting its analysis of the roles and responsibilities of local and county health departments and the response of local and county health departments to COVID-19.  The study commission will expire on the first day of the third month next following the submission of its written report.