Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to conduct study to identify composition of current health care workforce, estimate future gaps, and recommend solutions to address gaps.

A2465

ASSEMBLY, No. 2465

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman TENNILLE R. MCCOY

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to conduct study to
identify composition of current health care workforce, estimate future gaps,
and recommend solutions to address gaps.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act

concerning a study of the current status and
future needs for the health care workforce in New Jersey.

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

���� 1.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Departments of Health
and Human Services, shall conduct a study of the current status and future needs
for the health care workforce in New Jersey. �The study shall include, but need
not be limited to, the following:

���� (1)�� vacancy rates in the
health care work force, broken down by provider, occupation, or specialty, and
geographic region of the State;

���� (2)�� configuration of the
health care workforce by: race; ethnicity and gender; occupation or specialty;
educational level of the health care workforce; and the size of the health care
workforce in each region of the State;

���� (3)�� patient care needs
addressed by the health care workforce in each region of the State;

���� (4)�� a cross analysis of the
data identified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection to identify
common themes and differences across categories;

���� (5)�� an estimate of the
future pipeline of allied health care professionals in the health care
workforce; and

���� (6)�� an identification of any
gaps between projected demand and current supply, and a recommendation for
addressing any identified gaps.

���� b.��� The commissioner shall
submit a written report, within one year of the effective date of this act, to
the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to
the Legislature, setting forth the findings of the study and any
recommendations for policy or legislative action.

���� c.���� As used in this section:

���� �Health care workforce� means any
individual employed by a health care facility who is involved in direct patient
care activities or clinical services, including but not limited to, a
physician, nurse, respiratory specialist, diagnostic medical sonographer,
dietician, medical technologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist,
radiographer, speech language pathologist, other clinical support professional,
licensed culinary professional, and any other licensed or certified
professional that is identified by the commissioner for inclusion in the study.

���� "Health care
facility" means any institution, building or agency, or portion thereof,
whether public or private, for profit or nonprofit, that is used, operated, or
designed to provide health services, medical, or dental treatment or nursing,
rehabilitative, or preventive care to any person.� Health care facility
includes, but is not limited to: an ambulatory surgical facility, home health
agency, hospice, hospital, infirmary, intermediate care facility, dialysis
center, long-term care facility, medical assistance facility, mental health
center, paid and volunteer emergency medical services, outpatient facility,
public health center, rehabilitation facility, residential treatment facility,
skilled nursing facility, Veterans Affairs facility, and adult day care
center.� Health care facility also includes, but is not limited to, the
following related property when used for or in connection with the foregoing: a
laboratory, research facility, pharmacy, laundry facility, health personnel
training and lodging facility, patient, guest and health personnel food service
facility, and the portion of an office or office building used by persons
engaged in health care professions or services.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire upon submission of the commissioner�s
report required pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the
Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the
Departments of Health and Human Services, to conduct a study of the current and
future needs for the health care workforce in New Jersey. �The study would
consist of research on (1) vacancy rates; (2) configuration of the workforce by
race, ethnicity and gender, occupation or specialty, educational level, and
size of the health care workforce in each region of the State; (3) patient care
needs addressed by the health care workforce in each region of the State; (4) a
cross analysis of the identified data to identify common themes and differences
across categories; (5) an estimate of the future pipeline of the health care
workforce; and (6) identification of any gaps between supply and demand, with
recommendations on addressing the gaps. �The commissioner would be required to
submit a report to the Legislature setting forth the results of the study
within one year of the effective date of the bill.