ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 891

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 11, 1996

      The Assembly Health Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 891.

      This bill establishes an osteoporosis prevention and education program in the Department of Health. The purpose of the program is to promote: public awareness of the causes of osteoporosis; options for prevention; the value of early detection; and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments.

      The bill also establishes an Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Advisory Council to advise the Commissioner of Health on the development and implementation of the program. The members of the council shall be appointed by the commissioner, and shall include the following: the Director of the Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health Services in the Department of Health and the Directors of the Division on Women and the Division on Aging in the Department of Community Affairs, as ex officio members, and public members who are representatives of persons with osteoporosis, women's health organizations, public health educators, experts in bone and osteoporosis research, prevention and treatment, and health care providers, including at least one radiologist, orthopedist, registered professional nurse, physical therapist and nutritionist.

      The bill requires that the Commissioner of Health report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, on the activities and accomplishments of the osteoporosis prevention and education program.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 855 of 1994 (Wright/Kramer), which the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee reported during the previous 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.