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A4654
ASSEMBLY, No. 4654
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Fantasia and Assemblyman DePhillips
SYNOPSIS
���� Regulates medication administration in certain
licensed, residential facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning medication administration in certain
residential facilities, and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1. As used in this act:
���� �Certified medication aide�
means an individual who is credentialed as a certified medication aide by the
Department of Health.
���� "Community-based
residential program" means a group home or supervised apartment, which is
licensed and regulated by the Department of Human Services.
���� "Day program" means
a program that is certified to provide day habilitation services or sheltered
workshops for individuals with developmental disabilities.
���� "Developmental
disability" means the same as that term is defined in section 3 of
P.L.1977, c.82 (C.30:6D-3).
���� "Group home" means a
living arrangement that is operated in a residence or residences leased or
owned by a licensee; which provides the opportunity for individuals with
developmental disabilities to live together in a home, sharing in chores and
the overall management of the residence; and in which staff provides
supervision, training, or assistance in a variety of forms and intensity as
required to assist the individuals as they move toward independence.
���� "Licensee" means an
individual, partnership, or corporation that is licensed by the Department of
Human Services, and is responsible for providing services associated with the
operation of a community-based residential program.
���� "Nurse" means a
registered professional nurse.
���� "Supervised
apartment" means an apartment that is occupied by individuals with
developmental disabilities; is leased or owned by a licensee; and in which
staff provides supervision, guidance, and training, as needed, to assist
individual occupants in the activities of daily living, in accordance with each
individual's needs and targeted future goals.
���� 2.� a. No medication shall be
administered through a day program or a community-based residential program
unless the medication is administered by a nurse or by a certified medication
aide who works under the supervision of a nurse.
���� b. In the case of an
individual, who is under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian and who
requires his or her medication to be administered and managed by a nurse or by
a certified medication aide who works under the supervision of a nurse, the
individual shall not be admitted to the day program or community-based
residential program, unless the individual�s parent or legal guardian provides
the program�s chief nurse medical documentation containing comprehensive and
specific medication instructions and dosages pertaining to the individual.
���� c. In the case of an
individual who has been admitted to a day program or community-based
residential program, who is under the supervision of a parent or legal
guardian, and who requires his or her medication to be administered and managed
by a nurse or by a certified medication aide who works under the supervision of
a nurse, as a condition of the individual�s permission to continue to
participate in the day program or community-based residential program, the
individual�s parent or legal guardian shall provide the program�s chief nurse
medical documentation containing comprehensive and specific medication
instructions and dosages pertaining to the individual, whenever the
individual�s medication or dosage is changed by a health care professional.
���� 3. The Department of Human
Services may adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the
�Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as are
necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
���� 4. This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill regulates medication
administration in certain licensed, residential facilities.
���� Under the bill, no medication
is to be administered through a day program or a community-based residential
program unless the medication is administered by a nurse or by a certified
medication aide who works under the supervision of a nurse.
���� The bill defines
"community-based residential program" to mean a group home or
supervised apartment, which is licensed and regulated by the Department of
Human Services.� "Day program" means a program that is certified to
provide day habilitation services or sheltered workshops for individuals with
developmental disabilities.
���� The bill provides that, in the
case of an individual, who is under the supervision of a parent or legal
guardian and who requires his or her medication to be administered and managed
by a nurse or by a certified medication aide who works under the supervision of
a nurse, the individual is not to be admitted to the day program or
community-based residential program, unless the individual�s parent or legal
guardian provides the program�s chief nurse medical documentation containing
comprehensive and specific medication instructions and dosages pertaining to
the individual.
���� Further, in the case of an
individual who has been admitted to a day program or community-based
residential program, who is under the supervision of a parent or legal
guardian, and who requires his or her medication to be administered and managed
by a nurse or by a certified medication aide who works under the supervision of
a nurse, as a condition of the individual�s permission to continue to
participate in the day program or community-based residential program, the
individual�s parent or legal guardian shall provide the program�s chief nurse
medical documentation containing comprehensive and specific medication
instructions and dosages pertaining to the individual, whenever the
individual�s medication or dosage is changed by a health care professional.