Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.

S3985 1R

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3985

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Mukherji

SYNOPSIS

���� Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in
international public health.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and
Senior Citizens Committee on May 11, 2026, with amendments.

��

An Act
concerning public health collaboration and
supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

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

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

���� a.� Emerging infectious
diseases and public health emergencies pose significant risks to the health,
safety, and economic stability of the residents of this State.

���� b.� On January 20, 2025,
President Trump issued Executive Order 14155, �Withdrawing the United States
from the World Health Organization,� and formally exited the organization on
January 22, 2026. �The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 with
the mission to act as a coordinating authority on international public health
issues and emergencies. �The United States has been actively engaged with WHO
throughout its history. �Withdrawal from this organization leaves a void in
world health leadership, endangering the safety and wellbeing of billions of
people.

���� c.� In 2025, the State
established its first official Public Health Institute within the Center for
Health Equity and Wellbeing to strengthen public health systems through
innovation and collaboration. �The State also joined the multi-state Governors�
Public Health Alliance and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, which
work to protect public health and facilitate communication and coordination
across state lines to address shared public health challenges.

���� d.� New Jersey�s strategic
location, combined with investments in transportation infrastructure, make the
State a vital gateway for commerce and travel, connecting nearly 60 million
consumers annually.� Therefore, rapid detection, information‑sharing, and
coordinated response are critical to preventing and mitigating outbreaks of
infectious disease.

���� e.� The WHO�s Global Outbreak
Alert and Response Network is a well‑established international technical
collaboration that links public health agencies, laboratories, academic
institutions, and response organizations to strengthen global outbreak
preparedness and response.

���� f.� Participation in the
Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network does not bind the State or the
United States to international legal obligations.

���� g.� Authorizing the New Jersey
Department of Health to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and
Response Network and other initiatives in international public health will
enhance the State�s capacity for outbreak preparedness, situational awareness,
workforce development, and coordination with domestic and international
partners.

���� 2.� As used in this act:

���� �Department� means the
Department of Health.

���� �Global Outbreak Alert and
Response Network� means the World Health Organization�s coordinated network of
institutions, including public health agencies, academic centers, laboratories,
and response organizations, that collaborate on detecting, verifying, and
responding to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies globally.

���� "Public health
emergency" means an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health
condition that is believed to be caused by bioterrorism, an epidemic or
pandemic disease, or a novel or highly infectious agent that poses a
substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of
permanent or long‑term disability.

����� 3.�
a.�
The Department of Health is authorized
1
[
and directed
]
1
to take all reasonable and appropriate steps to
seek participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network
.

����� b.�
To carry out the purposes of subsection a. of this section, the department may:

����� (1)
Communicate and coordinate with the World Health Organization and the Global
Outbreak Alert and Response Network operational support team;

����� (2)
Submit expressions of interest, applications, or other documentation required
for participation;

����� (3)
Designate one or more offices, divisions, or programs within the department to
serve as points of contact for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network
related activities;

����� (4)
Participate in technical consultations, trainings, exercises, and
information‑sharing activities consistent with the mission of the Global
Outbreak Alert and Response Network; and

����� (5)
Collaborate with federal, State, local, academic, and nonprofit partners, as
appropriate, to support outbreak preparedness and response activities.

���� 4.� a.� Nothing in this act
shall be construed to:

���� (1) establish membership of
the State in the World Health Organization;

���� (2) authorize the department
to enter into any agreement or undertaking that conflicts with federal law or
the United States Constitution;

���� (3) permit the disclosure of
confidential or personally identifiable health information except as otherwise
authorized by State or federal law; or

���� (4) require the expenditure of
funds beyond those appropriated or otherwise made available to the department.

����� 5.�
a.� The Commissioner of Health, within 18 months following the effective date
of this act
1
and subject to the availability of funds
1
, shall submit a report to the Governor and,
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

����� b.�
The report shall include a description of actions taken by the Department of
Health to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response
Network, the status of the department�s participation in, or application to,
the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, a summary of any benefits,
challenges, or resource needs identified through such participation or
application, and any recommendations for further legislative or administrative
action, including
1
,
1
but not limited to
1
,
1
participation in other international public health
initiatives, as appropriate.

����� c.�
The department shall post the report required pursuant to this section on its
Internet website.

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