ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 350
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 1996
The Assembly Health Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 350 with committee amendments.
As amended by the committee, this bill requires that semen banks test potential donors for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the probable causative agent of AIDS, and freeze all donated semen for a waiting period of at least six months, according to standards adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The bill also provides that the HIV test shall be performed only after the donor has provided written informed consent according to standards adopted by the Commissioner of Health, and that a donor who refuses to provide written informed consent to an HIV test or tests positive for HIV shall not be permitted to donate semen. The bill also stipulates that the cost of the HIV test is to be borne by the recipient of the donation. Finally, the bill requires that any semen bank that violates the provisions of this act be found guilty of a disorderly persons offense and be liable to a penalty of not more than $1,000 for each offense.
The committee amendment is technical in nature and clarifies the reference to the Commissioner of Health in regard to the adoption of standards for providing written informed consent for the HIV test.
As reported by the committee, this bill is similar to Assembly Bill No. 2327 (Quigley/Felice) from the 1994-95 session.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996-97 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.