Establishes New Jersey Pancreatic Cancer Commission.

AJR161

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 161

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes New Jersey Pancreatic Cancer Commission.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
establishing the New Jersey
Pancreatic Cancer Commission.

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

���� 1.� a.� There is established
the New Jersey Pancreatic Cancer Commission.� The commission shall be
responsible for examining pancreatic cancer in the State, including prevention,
early detection, treatment, patient outcomes, and access to care.� The
commission�s examination shall include, but shall not be limited to:

���� (1) �the incidence, mortality
rates, and stage at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in the State;

���� (2) �existing screening,
diagnostic, and treatment practices for pancreatic cancer, including access to
specialized and multidisciplinary care;

���� (3) �barriers to early
detection, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment, including insurance
coverage, geographic disparities, and health equity considerations;

���� (4) �the availability and
utilization of biomarker testing, genetic testing, and precision medicine
approaches for pancreatic cancer patients;

���� (5) �current research efforts,
clinical trials, and funding opportunities related to pancreatic cancer in the
State;

���� (6) �methods of educating
health care providers, patients, and the public regarding pancreatic cancer
risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options;

���� (7) �supportive care needs of
pancreatic cancer patients and their families, including nutrition, palliative
care, and survivorship resources; and

���� (8) recommendations for
legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions to improve pancreatic cancer
outcomes in the short-term and long-term.

���� b.� The commission shall
consist of 13 members, to be appointed by the Governor as follows:

���� (1) �nine members to be
appointed by the Governor including:� a representative of the Department of
Health; a physician licensed to practice medicine in this State with expertise
in the diagnosis or treatment of pancreatic cancer; a physician licensed to
practice medicine in this State with expertise in oncology or gastrointestinal
diseases; a representative of Rutgers Medical School, who is a physician
engaged in cancer research or clinical practice; a representative of a New
Jersey cancer research institution or academic research center with expertise
in pancreatic cancer or related fields; a representative of a hospital or
health care system in this State that provides multidisciplinary pancreatic
cancer care; a health care professional with expertise in genetic or biomarker
testing related to pancreatic cancer; a representative with expertise in health
insurance coverage, reimbursement, or access to care issues affecting cancer
patients; a representative of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs;
and a member, who is a pancreatic cancer survivor, caregiver, or immediate
family member of a pancreatic cancer patient;

���� (2)� one member to be
appointed by the President of the Senate, which member shall be a
representative of a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated focus on
pancreatic cancer patient advocacy or support services;

���� (3)� two members to be
appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, as follows:� a representative
of the New Jersey Hospital Association; and a representative of the Medical
Society of New Jersey; and

���� (4)� the Minority Leader of
the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly shall each recommend
one appointment for the commission to the Governor.

���� c.� Vacancies in the
membership of the commission shall be filled as provided for the original
appointments.

���� d.� The commission shall
organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and
shall select a chairperson from among the members.� The chairperson shall
appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

���� e.� Members of the commission
shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the
commission within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available
to the commission for its purposes.

���� f.� The commission 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.

���� g.� The Department of Health
shall provide staff support to the commission.

���� h.� No later than 12 months
after organization, the commission shall submit to the Governor, and to the
Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report
of its findings and recommendations for legislative, executive, or any other
action as may be appropriate.� The commission shall expire upon submission of
its report.

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

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
establishes the New Jersey Pancreatic Cancer Commission (commission).� Under
the resolution, the commission is to be responsible for examining pancreatic
cancer in the State, including prevention, early detection, treatment, patient
outcomes, and access to care.� Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that begins
as a growth of cells in the pancreas, an organ that is responsible for making
enzymes that help digest food and hormones that help manage blood sugar.� The
commission�s examination is to include, but is not limited to: (1) the
incidence, mortality rates, and stage at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in the
State; (2) existing screening, diagnostic, and treatment practices for
pancreatic cancer, including access to specialized and multidisciplinary care;
(3) barriers to early detection, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment,
including insurance coverage, geographic disparities, and health equity
considerations; (4) the availability and utilization of biomarker testing,
genetic testing, and precision medicine approaches for pancreatic cancer
patients; (5) current research efforts, clinical trials, and funding
opportunities related to pancreatic cancer in the State; (6) methods of
educating health care providers, patients, and the public regarding pancreatic
cancer risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options; (7) supportive care needs
of pancreatic cancer patients and their families, including nutrition,
palliative care, and survivorship resources; and (8) recommendations for
legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions to improve pancreatic cancer
outcomes in the short term and long term.

���� The commission will consist of
13 members, appointed as follows: the Governor will appoint: a representative
of the Department of Health; a physician licensed to practice medicine in this
State with expertise in the diagnosis or treatment of pancreatic cancer; a
physician licensed to practice medicine in this State with expertise in
oncology or gastrointestinal diseases; a representative of Rutgers Medical
School, who is a physician engaged in cancer research or clinical practice; a
representative of a New Jersey cancer research institution or academic research
center with expertise in pancreatic cancer or related fields; a representative
of a hospital or health care system in this State that provides
multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer care; a health care professional with
expertise in genetic or biomarker testing related to pancreatic cancer; a
representative with expertise in health insurance coverage, reimbursement, or
access to care issues affecting cancer patients; a representative of the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; and a member, who is a pancreatic
cancer survivor, caregiver, or immediate family member of a pancreatic cancer
patient; the President of the Senate will appoint a representative of a
nonprofit organization with a demonstrated focus on pancreatic cancer patient
advocacy or support services; the Speaker of the General Assembly will appoint
a representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association and a representative of
the Medical Society of New Jersey; and the Minority Leader of the Senate and
the Minority Leader of the General Assembly will each recommend one appointment
for the commission to the Governor.

���� The resolution provides that,
no later than 12 months after organization, the commission issue a report of
its findings to the Governor and the Legislature, including recommendations for
legislative, executive, or any other actions, as may be appropriate.� The
commission will expire upon submission of the report.