Establishes restrictions on designation of new trauma centers.

A2143

ASSEMBLY, No. 2143

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ELIANA PINTOR MARIN

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes restrictions on designation of new trauma
centers.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning designated trauma centers, amending
P.L.2013, c.223, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� (New section) a.�
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner of Health shall
not issue a certificate of need to any health care facility designating the
facility as a trauma center if the facility is located within 15 miles of any
other facility that is currently designated as a trauma center.

���� b.��� The commissioner shall
not issue a request for certificate of need applications for health care
facilities to seek designation as a trauma center unless the State Trauma
System Advisory Committee recommends in favor of issuing the request as
provided in subsection e. of section 4 of P.L.2013, c.223 (C.26:2KK-4).

���� 2.��� Section 4 of P.L.2013,
c.223 (C.26:2KK-4) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4.��� a.� The commissioner
shall establish a multidisciplinary State Trauma System Advisory Committee
(STSAC) to advise the commissioner and the State Trauma Medical Director on the
development of a formal Statewide trauma system plan.� In order to enable maximum
input from stakeholders, the STSAC shall include, to the extent feasible,
representatives of all aspects of trauma care. The members of the committee,
who shall be appointed by the Governor, shall include
[
, but need not
be limited to,
]

representatives of the following trauma care providers in the State:

���� (1)� the medical director of
each State-designated trauma center, provided that the trauma program managers
of each State designated trauma center may serve as alternates for the medical
director of each State-certified trauma center;

���� (2)� the medical director of a
State-certified burn treatment facility;

���� (3)� the chairperson of the
New Jersey Emergency Medical Services Council;

���� (4)� the medical director of a
rehabilitation facility in the State that treats patients with traumatic
injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and traumatic spinal cord
injuries;

���� (5)� three representatives of
pre-hospital care providers in the State, including an advanced life support
provider as recommended by the State mobile intensive care advisory council, a
volunteer basic life support provider as recommended by the New Jersey State
First Aid Council, and a paid basic life support provider;

���� (6)� The New Jersey licensed
physician chairperson of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of
Surgeons Committee on Trauma;

���� (7)� a New Jersey licensed
physician recommended by the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of
Emergency Physicians;

���� (8)� a New Jersey licensed
nurse recommended by the New Jersey Chapter of the Emergency Nurses
Association;

���� (9)� one individual with
expertise in the prevention of injury; and

���� (10) one medical director of
the emergency department of a New Jersey hospital that is not a
State-designated trauma center.

���� b.��� (1) The STSAC shall have
an executive committee appointed by the commissioner from among the members of
the STSAC, consisting of two medical directors from State-designated Level One
trauma centers; two medical directors from State designated Level Two trauma
centers; one medical director of an emergency department from a New Jersey
hospital that is not the site of a State-designated trauma center; one
representative of pre-hospital care providers in the State; and the State
Trauma Medical Director, who shall serve ex officio as chair of the executive
committee of the STSAC.

���� (2)� The executive committee
of the STSAC shall set forth the times and agenda of the meetings of the STSAC,
coordinate the policy recommendations of the STSAC, and draft the STSAC's
initial and subsequent reports.

���� c.��� (1)� Each member of the
STSAC shall serve for a term of three years and may be reappointed to one or
more subsequent terms, except that of the members first appointed, one third
shall serve for a term of three years, one third for a term of two years, and
one third for a term of one year.� Vacancies in the membership of the committee
shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.�

���� (2)� The STSAC shall organize
as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall hold
its initial meeting no later than 90 days after the effective date of this act.

���� (3)� The members of the STSAC
shall select a chairperson and vice chair.� The vice chair shall conduct the
committee meetings when the chairperson is unable to attend.

���� (4)� The members shall serve
without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties and within the limits of available funds.

���� d.��� (1)� Consistent with the
recommendations of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, and,
to the extent applicable, consistent with the processes outlined in the State
Trauma System Planning Guide issued by the National Association of State Emergency
Medical Services Officials, the STSAC shall:� analyze data related to trauma
care in the State; design a formal system of trauma care in the State with
system-wide standards of pre-hospital triage and hospital-based care and
policies; evaluate the State trauma system on an ongoing basis, and identify
strategies to ensure optimal coordination of the Statewide trauma system.� In
fulfilling these responsibilities, the STSAC shall seek input from stakeholders
representing all aspects of trauma care in the State.

���� (2)� Within one year following
the date of enactment of this act, the STSAC shall prepare and submit a report
to the commissioner and the State Trauma Medical Director, which shall include
a recommended comprehensive State trauma system plan.� The plan shall address:

���� (a)�� Best practices and
standards for all trauma care providers;

���� (b)� Development and
implementation of protocols for the stabilization and transfer of patients;

���� (c)�� Training requirements
for acute care hospital personnel with respect to identifying, stabilizing, and
arranging for the transfer of a patient whose condition is beyond the scope of
the hospital's capabilities;

���� (d)� Mandatory trauma triage
practices to be performed by emergency medical service providers;

���� (e)�� Any other issues that
the STSAC determines to be appropriate for inclusion in the plan.

���� (3)� Subsequent to the receipt
of the initial report and recommendation submitted by the STSAC pursuant to
this subsection, the commissioner shall promulgate regulations establishing and
implementing a State trauma system plan.

���� (4)� Subsequent to the
preparation and issuance of its initial report pursuant to this subsection, the
STSAC shall:� systematically review strategies to maintain and improve the
State trauma system; submit an annual report to the commissioner and the State
Trauma Medical Director on its activities; and provide any recommendations it
determines are necessary to improve the State trauma system.

����
e.��� Prior to issuing a
request for certificate of need applications for health care facilities to
apply for trauma center designation, the commissioner shall submit the proposed
request to the STSAC, which shall review the proposed request and issue a
recommendation as to whether the commissioner may issue the request.� No
request for certificate of need applications for health care facilities to
apply for trauma center designation shall be issued if the STSAC recommends
against issuing the request.

(cf: P.L.2013, c.223, s.4)

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill revises the
requirements for health care facilities to be designated as trauma centers.�
Specifically, the bill prohibits any facility from being issued a certificate
of need designating the facility as a trauma center if that facility is located
within 15 miles of another facility that is currently designated as a trauma
center.�

���� Additionally, the bill
requires that the Commissioner of Health submit any proposed request for
certificate of need applications for health care facilities to apply for trauma
center designation to the State Trauma System Advisory Committee (STSAC), which
is to review the proposed request and issue a recommendation as to whether the
commissioner may issue the request for applications.� No request for
certificate of need applications for health care facilities to apply for trauma
center designation may be issued if the STSAC recommends against issuance.