Establishes Task Force on Aging in New Jersey in DOH.

S3900

SENATE, No. 3900

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Task Force on Aging in New Jersey in DOH.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

establishing the Task Force on Aging in New
Jersey and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.� a.� There is established
in the Department of Health the Task Force on Aging in New Jersey.� The purpose
of the task shall be to study the State resources available for older residents
of the State and to identify, prioritize, make recommendation on ways to
improve the services needed to support an aging population so that individuals
may grow old with dignity and independence.

���� b.� The task force shall
consist of 17 members, including:

���� (1)� the Commissioner of
Health, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Public Guardian, and the New
Jersey Long Term Care Ombudsman, or their designees, who shall serve
ex-officio;

���� (2)� two public members
appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the President of the
Senate, including one member who represents an organization that advocates for
the aging community and one member who represents an organization or agency
that provides programs or services to senior citizens;

���� (3)� two public members to be
appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the
General Assembly, including one member who represents an organization that
advocates for the aging community and one member who represents an organization
or agency that provides programs or services to senior citizens; and

���� (4)� nine public members
appointed by the Governor who shall include: a representative of� the New
Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging; a representative of the New
Jersey Advocates for Aging Well; a representative of the AARP; a representative
of the New Jersey Elder Rights Coalition; a representative of the Center for
Health Aging at Rutgers University; a physician who has been specially trained
in caring for elderly persons and has a certificate of added qualifications in
geriatrics; an individual who is 65 years of age or older who lives in a long-term
care facility; an individual who is 65 years of age or older living at home;
and a caregiver of an individual who is 65 years of age or older

���� c.� The public members of the
task force shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial
appointments, four public members shall serve for one year, five public members
shall serve for two years, and five 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.� Members are eligible for
reappointment to the task force.

���� d.� The Commissioner of
Health, or a designee, shall serve as chairperson of the task force.� The task
force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.� The task force shall appoint
a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.� The task force, in its
discretion, may divide its membership into subcommittees in the course of
carrying out its duties.

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

���� f.� The Department of Health
shall provide such stenographic, clerical, other administrative assistants, and
such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work.�

���� g.� 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 for its purposes.

���� 2.� a.� The duties of the task
force shall be to:

���� (1)� review all policies,
procedures, programs, and practices relating to the provision of services to
the older residents of New Jersey by State, county, and municipal agencies and
for community-based organizations;

���� (2)� study, analyze, and
monitor information and data collected by State agencies and community-based
organization relating to the aging processes and the needs of the older
residents of New Jersey

(3)� examine State
activities, processes, and strategies that support family caregivers of older
adults;

(4)� evaluate
State policies and procedures that support quality of care in long-term care
facilities;

(5)� establish an
educational program to inform senior citizens about consumer rights, social
isolation and loneliness, elder abuse, elder theft and scams, the availability
of affordable, quality housing options, transportation services, and other
issues that affect the quality of life of older New Jerseyans; and

(6)� ensure all State
policies relating to aging are inclusive of race, gender, ethnicity, culture,
sexual orientation, and other characteristics that reflect the State�s
population.

���� b.� The task force shall issue
a report of its 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 18
months after the organization of the task force.� The task force shall issue reports
of any new or updated recommendations on a biennial basis.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the
17-member Task Force on Aging in New Jersey in the Department of Health.� The
task force is study the State resources available for older residents of the
State and to identify, prioritize, make recommendation on ways to improve the
services needed to support an aging population so that individuals may grow old
with dignity and independence.

���� The task force is to consist
of the following members: the Commissioners of Health and Human Services, the
Public Guardian, and the New Jersey Long Term Care Ombudsman, or their
designees, who are to serve ex-officio; four public members appointed by the
Governor, two to be appointed on recommendation of the Senate President and two
to be appointed on recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, who
represent organizations that advocate for the aging community or provide
programs or services to senior citizens; and nine public members, including,
representatives of various organizations that advocate for older adults, a
health care provider specializing in geriatric services, a family caregiver, an
individual 65 years of age or older who lives in a long-term care facility, and
an individual who is 65 years of age or older living at home.

���� The duties of the task force
are to:� (1) review all policies, procedures, programs, and practices relating
to the provision of services to the older residents of New Jersey by State,
county, and municipal agencies and for community-based organizations; (2)
study, analyze, and monitor information and data collected by State agencies
and community-based organization relating to the aging processes and the needs
of the older residents of New Jersey; (3) examine State activities, processes,
and strategies that support family caregivers of older adults; (4) evaluate
State policies and procedures that support quality of care in long-term care
facilities; (5) establish an educational program to inform senior citizens
about consumer rights, social isolation and loneliness, elder abuse, elder
theft and scams, the availability of affordable, quality housing options,
transportation services, and other issues that affect the quality of life of
older New Jerseyans; and (6) ensure all State policies relating to aging are
inclusive of race, gender, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and other
characteristics that reflect the State�s population.

���� Under the bill�s provisions,
the task force is also to issue a report of its recommendations to the Governor
and Legislature no later than 18 months after the organization of the task
force and biannually, with any new or updated recommendations.