Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Connors and Cruz-Perez
SYNOPSIS
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA send weekly reports to Commissioner of DOH on status of veterans’ homes in State during public health emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning reports on the status of the veterans’ homes in this State during a public health emergency, and supplementing Title 38A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs shall transmit a weekly report on the status of the State veterans’ homes to the Commissioner of the Department of Health whenever a Public Health Emergency, pursuant to the "Emergency Health Powers Act," P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), has been declared by the Governor and is in effect. The weekly report shall include:
(1) the number of residents and staff in each veterans’ home, including comparisons to previous reports;
(2) any significant health risks posed to the residents and staff in each veterans’ home due to the public health emergency;
(3) any changes in operating procedures in each veterans’ home due to the public health emergency; and
(4) the amount of personal protective equipment available to residents and staff at each veterans’ home.
b. As used in this section:
(1) “veterans’ home” means the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home - Menlo Park, the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home - Vineland, and the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home - Paramus.
(2) “personal protective equipment” means any items commonly used to protect an individual from bacterial or viral infections, including, but not limited to, disinfecting wipes, disposable gloves, disposable gowns, face shields, N95 face masks, surgical masks, or parts thereof.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMVA) to send weekly reports to the Commissioner of the Department of Health (DOH) on the status of the State’s veterans’ homes during a public health emergency.
The weekly reports would include: (1) the number of residents and staff in each veterans’ home, including comparisons to previous reports; (2) any significant health risks posed to the residents and staff in each veterans’ home due to the public health emergency; (3) any changes in operating procedures in each veterans’ home due to the public health emergency; and (4) the amount of personal protective equipment available to residents and staff at each veterans’ home.