CHAPTER 29

An Act concerning the Health Care Subsidy Fund and amending and supplementing P.L.1992, c.160.

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

      1. Section 15 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.65) is amended to read as follows:

C.26:2H-18.65 Establishment of Health Access New Jersey program; regulations; administration.

      15. There is established in the Department of Health the Health Access New Jersey program. The purpose of the program is to provide subsidies for health benefits coverage, in order to provide for health care for low income, uninsured children, working people and those temporarily unemployed, based on a sliding income scale with modest copayments. The program shall include the provision of early preventive and primary care.

      The commissioner shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act, " P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) that determine eligibility for the program and the allocation of all funds in this account.

      The commissioner shall contract with health insurance carriers, health maintenance organizations and other appropriate entities in the State to administer the program.

      2. Section 16 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.66) is amended to read as follows:

C.26:2H-18.66 Allocation to Health Access New Jersey subsidy account.

      16. The Health Access New Jersey subsidy account shall be allocated $50 million in 1995, $10 million in 1996, and $25 million in 1997.

      3. The Health Access New Jersey subsidy account in the Health Care Subsidy Fund shall be funded with General Fund revenues in the following amounts: in calendar year 1996, $10 million; and in calendar year 1997, $25 million.

C.26:2H-18.58a Funding of community-based drug abuse treatment programs.

      4. The Commissioner of Health shall transfer to the Division of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Addiction Services in the Department of Health from the Health Care Subsidy Fund, $10 million in Fiscal Year 1997 and $20 million in Fiscal Year 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter, or such sums as are made available pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1996, c.29 (C.52:18A-2a), whichever amount is less, according to a schedule to be determined by the Commissioner of Health, to fund community-based drug abuse treatment programs in the following order of priority: residential, inpatient, intensive day and outpatient treatment.

C.52:18A-2a Transfer of revenues to Health Care Subsidy Fund.

      5. The State Treasurer shall transfer to the Health Care Subsidy Fund established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.58), revenues generated from third party liability recoveries by the State for the purposes provided in section 4 of P.L.1996, c.29 (C.26:2H-18.58a).

      6. This act shall take effect immediately.

      Approved May 16, 1996.