[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1982

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 1996

 

 

By Assemblywomen VANDERVALK and MURPHY

 

 

An Act 1[to eliminate the requirement for a blood test] concerning testing1 for syphilis 1[prior to marriage], amending P.L.1938, c.411 and repealing P.L.1938, c.126.

 

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

 

    11. Section 1 of P.L.1938, c.41 (C.26:4-49.1) is amended to read as follows:

    1. Every physician attending pregnant women in the State for conditions relating to their pregnancy during the period of gestation and/or at delivery shall, in the case of every woman so attended, take or cause to be taken a sample of blood of such woman at the time of first examination and take or cause to be taken a sample of blood of the woman or from the umbilical cord of the infant at the time of delivery of a live infant, and shall submit such sample to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis. Every other person permitted by law to attend pregnant women in the State, but not permitted by law to take blood samples, shall cause a sample of blood of such pregnant women or postpartum woman or infant, as the case may be, to be taken by a physician duly licensed to practice medicine and surgery and have such sample submitted to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis.1

(P.L.1938, c.41, s.1).

 

    12. Section 3 of P.L.1938, c.41 (C.26:4-49.3) is amended to read as follows:

    3. In reporting every birth and stillbirth, physicians and others required to make such reports shall state on the certificate whether a blood test for syphilis has been made upon a specimen of blood taken from the woman who bore the child or from the umbilical cord of the infant for which a birth or stillbirth certificate is filed and the [approximate] date when the specimen was taken.1

(P.L.1938, c. 41, s. 3).

 

    1[1.] 3.1 The following is repealed:

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

 

    1[2.] 4.1 This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

                             

Requires test for syphilis upon birth of child and repeals law requiring test for syphilis prior to obtaining marriage license.