Establishes Task Force on Development and Implementation of Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.

A5140

ASSEMBLY, No. 5140

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblywoman� VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Task Force on Development and
Implementation of Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

establishing the Task Force on the Development
and Implementation of a Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.

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

���� 1.� The Legislature finds and
declares:

���� a.� New Jersey has made
significant strides to ensure that older adults age with dignity and
independence by enrolling in the AARP network of age-friendly states and
supporting the growth of age-friendly communities and projects.

���� b.� Currently, there are more
than two million individuals over the age of 60 years old living in New Jersey,
and an estimated 25 percent of the State�s population will turn 60 years or
older by 2034.� Consequently, the aging of the population impacts every aspect
of New Jersey�s government and economy.

���� c.� Older New Jerseyans across
the State contribute to the health and vibrancy of their communities, and the
implementation of coordinated actions and policies across both the public and
private sectors in New Jersey can help to meet the evolving needs of older New
Jerseyans as the State�s population ages.

���� d.� Therefore, it is in the
best interest of the State to provide older New Jerseyans with access to a
broad range of public and private programs, resources, and informal supports by
implementing a multi-sector plan with clear and measurable objectives to promote
healthy, and �purposeful aging and improve the quality of life for older adults.

���� 2.� a.� There is established
the Task Force on the Development and Implementation of a Multi-Sector Plan for
Aging in the Department of Human Services.� The task force shall consist of 27
members as follows:

���� (1) the Attorney General, the
Commissioners of Agriculture, Banking and Insurance, Community Affairs, Health,
Human Services, Labor and Workforce Development, Transportation, Veteran�s
Affairs, the Director of the Office of Aging Services, and New Jersey Long-Term
Ombudsman, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio;

���� (2) two members of the public,
one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the
President of the Senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate which public members shall be any of the following: a gerontologist,
or a physician licensed to practice in this State with expertise in providing
care to elderly patients, or a person with experience in providing services to
meet the physical or social needs of older persons;

���� (3) two members of the public,
one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the
Speaker of the General Assembly, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
Minority Leader of the General Assembly which public members shall be any of
the following: a gerontologist, or a physician licensed to practice in this
State with expertise in providing care to elderly patients, or a person with
experience in providing services to meet the physical or social needs of older adults;
and

���� (4) 12 members of the public to
be appointed by the Governor, ten of whom shall have a demonstrated interest in
issues relating to aging; one of whom shall be a person who has participated in
programs and received services directed at older adults; and one of whom shall
be a caregiver or care partner for an older adult.

���� (5) To the extent practicable
and consistent with State and federal law, the membership of the task force
shall reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the State.

���� b.� Public members of the task
force shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial
appointments, five public members shall serve for one year, five public members
shall serve for two years, and six public members shall serve for three years.�

���� Vacancies in the membership of
the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments
were made.� The public members of the task force shall serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for traveling and other miscellaneous expenses
necessary to perform their duties within the limits of funds made available to
the task for its purposes.

���� c.� The task force shall
organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its
public members, and the Governor shall select a chairperson and
vice-chairperson from among its members.� The chairperson shall appoint a
secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

���� d.� The task force shall meet
a minimum of three times a year but may meet more often at the call of its
chair.� The task force may hold hearings at times and in places it deems
appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.� The task force shall be entitled
to call to its assistance, and avail itself of the services of the employees
of, any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or
agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

���� e.� The Department of Human
Services shall maintain oversight of the task force and shall delegate the New
Jersey Policy Center on Aging at Rutgers, The State University established
pursuant to P.L. 1988, c. 139 (C.52:27D-29.23 et seq.) to provide research and
academic support services to the task force as required to carry out its
responsibilities.

���� 3.� The purpose of the task
force shall be to:

���� a.� act as an advisory body on
aging to the Legislature and State departments, agencies, commissions,
authorities, and private agencies, including, but not limited to, coordinating
research on, identifying resources for, and developing laws, budgets, and
administrative rules and regulations relating to, the provision of services to
meet the physical or social needs of older persons and to support health aging;

���� b.� develop and implement a ten
year, multi-sector plan with clear and measurable data-driven objectives and
goals to transform the infrastructure of, and the coordination of service
between, State and local departments and agencies to improve the provision of
services to older adults and their caregivers in the State of New Jersey, based
on national and State best practices, research, and policies, procedures, or
initiatives implemented by other states.� The multi-sector plan shall make
recommendations to:

���� (1) address age-related
demographic changes and their impact on:

���� (a) the State�s economy,
workforce, transportation network, and infrastructure;

���� (b) county, municipal, and
local budgets and fiscal policies;

���� (c) State Medicaid, Medicare,
and other federal and State programs specifically designed and operated to
assist older adults; and

���� (d) other State and federal
programs unrelated to those providing services to older adults;

���� (2) study the potential
effects of reductions in funding for federal entitlement programs on existing State
services and programs for older adults;

���� (3) strengthen existing
services and programs to more adequately support and meet the needs of older adults
and their caregivers and, where desirable, encourage new programs to meet these
needs;

���� (4) improve the quality,
accessibility, and availability of long-term care services and supports to
enable older people to remain in their homes and communities;

���� (5) protect the financial
security, and prevent fraud and the financial exploitation, of older adults;

���� (6) expand the accessibility, availability,
and affordability of digital technology for older adults; and

���� (7) address the root causes of
health disparities and inequities in the State to advance health equity as it
relates to aging and the provision of services to older adults; and

���� c.� identify, with assistance
from the public, research topics on healthy aging and other issues that impact
older adults in the State, to inform studies the task force may conduct.

���� d.� As used in this act:

���� �Multi-sector plan� means a
comprehensive strategic plan incorporating a blueprint designed to create a
coordinated system of high quality services and support to meet the evolving
needs of older adults and address the impact demographic aging will have on the
entire population of the State of New Jersey.

���� �Older adult� means a person
who is 60 years of age or older.

���� 4.� a.� The task force shall submit
the multi-sector plan developed pursuant to section 2 of this act, and a report
of any other of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the
Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later
than one year after the task force organizes.

���� b.� The task force shall
expire 30 days after the issuance of the multi-sector plan and its report.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the 27-member
Task Force on the Development and Implementation of a Multi-Sector Plan for
Aging in the Department of Human Services.

���� The purpose of the task force
is to:� (1) act as an advisory body on aging to the Legislature and State
departments, agencies, commissions, authorities, and private agencies that
provide services to meet the physical or social needs of older adults; (2) develop
and implement a multi-sector plan with clear and measurable objectives and
goals to improve the provision of services to older adults; and (3) identify research
topics on healthy aging and other issues that impact older adults in the State
of New Jersey, to inform studies the council may conduct.

���� As used in the bill,
�multi-sector plan� means a comprehensive plan incorporating a blueprint
designed to create a coordinated system of high-quality care and support to
meet the evolving needs of older adults and address the impact demographic
aging will have on the entire population of the State of New Jersey, and �older
adult� means a person who is 60 years of age or older.

���� The bill requires the task
force to submit the multi-sector plan and a report on any other of its findings
and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature no later than one
year after the task force organizes.� The task force is to expire 30 days after
the submission of the plan and report.