SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 560

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 20, 1996

      The Senate Health Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 560 with committee amendments.

      As amended by committee, this bill authorizes county boards of chosen freeholders to designate mosquito commissions or other agencies to provide surveillance, education, training and recommendations on integrated pest management for the management of Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease vectors. The bill also provides that in the event of a public health necessity, the designated commission or agency may conduct other tick management activities in accordance with tick management protocols established by the Department of Health.

      The bill also amends section 4 of P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.4) to exempt from the local government cap law, amounts in a separate line item in the county budget that are expended on tick-borne disease vector management activities undertaken pursuant to this bill.

      The committee amended the bill to delete all references to the Lyme Disease Vector Management Board, which was originally created in the bill. Other amendments expand the scope of the bill to include the management of other tick-borne disease vectors, in addition to Lyme disease.