ASSEMBLY, No. 1982

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 1996

By Assemblywomen VANDERVALK and MURPHY

An Act to eliminate the requirement for a blood test for syphilis prior to marriage and repealing P.L.1938, c.126.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The following is repealed:

    P.L.1938, c.126 (C.37:1-20 to C.37:1-26).

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would repeal N.J.S.A.37:1-20 through N.J.S.A.37:1-26 which requires a blood test for syphilis before a couple can obtain a marriage license. The reasons which support the repeal of these sections include the fact that syphilis has a three month incubation period during which time a test can give a false reading. In addition, the need for the test may be obsolete in that the original purpose was to protect an unborn child, and current law requires a syphilis test on every pregnant mother.

Repeals statutes requiring blood test for syphilis prior to obtaining a marriage license.