Read the full stored bill text
A3434 1R
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 3434
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman HEATHER SIMMONS
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblywoman� MELINDA KANE
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Speight
SYNOPSIS
���� Creates "New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support
Person Accommodation Act."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As amended by the General Assembly on June 11, 2026.
��
An Act
concerning patient support person in dialysis
centers and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person
Accommodation Act.�
���� 2.� a.� A dialysis center
licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall permit a patient
receiving dialysis treatment to be accompanied by a designated support person.
���� b.� The designated support
person may assist the patient with communication, mobility, and
decision-making, as necessary to facilitate the patient�s care and treatment.
����
1
c. As
used in this act, "support person" means a person who is 18 years of
age or older whom a patient selects to accompany the patient in areas of the dialysis
center where communication among dialysis center staff, professionals, and
patients would normally take place.
���� (
1) A support person may or
may not be the patient's next of kin, guardian, or legally authorized
decision-maker through an advance directive, as authorized by law.
���� (
2) A support person shall
not be authorized to make decisions on behalf of a patient, unless that person
is the patient's next of kin, guardian, legally authorized decision-maker, or
health care representative in accordance with an advance directive pursuant to
the �New Jersey Advance Directives for Health Care Act,� P.L.1991, c.201
(C.26:2H-53 et al.), or the �New Jersey Advance Directives for Mental Health
Care Act,� P.L.2005, c.233 (C.26:2H-102 et al.).
���� (
3) A dialysis center shall
disclose a patient's protected health information to a support person only
after the patient or the patient's legally authorized decision-maker or health
care representative provides written consent for the intended disclosure.
���� (
4) A patient may name more
than one support person but shall designate only one such person as the primary
support person.
1
���� 3.� a.� A dialysis center may
establish and implement reasonable health, safety, and infection control
1
[
measures
]
policies
and procedures
1
governing the presence of support persons, provided that such
1
[
measures
]
policies
and procedures
1
do not unnecessarily restrict or deny access to a support person as permitted
under section 2 of this act.
���� b.� Each dialysis center shall
develop and maintain written policies concerning support person access.�
1
[
The
]
A summary
of the
1
policies shall be:
���� (1) posted in a visible
location within the facility; and
���� (2) made available to
patients, families, and members of the public upon request.
���� c.� All pertinent dialysis
center staff shall receive training on the requirements of this act and the
facility�s policies concerning support person access.
���� 4.� a.� The Department of
Health shall oversee compliance with the provisions of this act and shall
investigate complaints alleging a violation.
���� b.� A patient who is denied
access to a designated support person may file a complaint with the Department
of Health.
���� c.� A dialysis center that
fails to comply with the provisions of this act shall be subject to penalties,
fines, or corrective action orders, as determined by the Department of Health.
���� 5.� This act shall take effect
immediately.