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A964 TR
ASSEMBLY, No. 964
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman� ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes "Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness
Study Commission."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As reported by the Assembly Health Committee with
technical review.
��
An Act
concerning nursing home emergency preparedness.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.�� There is
established a study commission to be known as the �Nursing Home Emergency
Preparedness Study Commission.�� The purpose of the study commission shall be to
analyze the ability of nursing homes to respond to public health emergencies.�
Specifically, the commission shall analyze whether nursing homes generally
maintain traditional nursing home environments or whether nursing homes
generally maintain assisted living environments; examine policies and
procedures established by nursing homes in the event of a declared state of
emergency or a public health emergency; analyze whether nursing homes have a
sufficient number of staff to meet residents� needs during a declared state of
emergency or a public health emergency; examine whether nursing homes are sufficiently
funded to meet residents� needs during a declared state of emergency or a
public health emergency; and make recommendations as to how nursing homes may
better meet residents� needs in the event of a declared state of emergency or a
public health emergency.
���� b.��� The Nursing Home
Emergency Preparedness Study Commission shall consist of 15 members as follows:
���� (1)�� the Commissioner of
Human Services, or the commissioner�s designee;
���� (2)�� the Commissioner of
Health, or the commissioner�s designee;
���� (3)�� a representative from
the New Jersey Hospital Association;
���� (4)�� eight members of the
public with significant operational, financial, or managerial expertise in the
nursing home industry, five of whom shall be representatives of entities
currently operating one or more nursing homes in the State, to be appointed as
follows: two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;
two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two members to be
appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and two members to be
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and
���� (5)�� and four members of the
public to be appointed by the Governor, who have a family member residing in a
nursing home, and with at least one member from the northern, central, and
southern regions of the State.
���� c.���� The study commission
shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members.�
Upon its organization, the study commission shall select a chairperson from
among its members.� The study commission may meet and holding meetings at the
times and places it may designate.� A majority of the authorized members shall
constitute a quorum.� Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointments were made.� The members shall serve without remuneration,
but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties on the commission, within the
limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the study
commission for its purposes.
���� d.��� The study commission is
entitled to receive assistance and services from any State, county, or
municipal department, board, commission, or agency, as may be available to it
for its purposes.�
���� e.���� Not later than 12
months after the initial meeting of the study commission, it shall prepare and
submit a written report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to
section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), presenting its analysis of
the current state of nursing homes in the State.� The study commission shall
expire on the first day of the third month next following submission of its
written report to the Governor and the Legislature, as required by this
subsection.
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission of the report as
required pursuant to subsection e. of section 1.