Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 772: Establishes certification card for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

New Jersey's S 772 creates a certification card for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by a licensed medical professional. The card, issued by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, helps law enforcement and emergency responders understand communication needs and potential stress reactions (like difficulty following directions or agitation from touch). It includes the diagnosis, key behavioral information, and emergency contact details for verification. To obtain the card, applicants must provide documentation of the diagnosis, and the state may charge a fee covering only the card's issuance cost. The card is optional and intended to improve safety and communication during emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates certification card for autism spectrum disorder to improve emergency response, enhancing patient safety and access to appropriate care during health crises.85% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2598: Establishes requirements for removal of students from public school pending mental health clearance.

This New Jersey bill (S 2598) requires public school districts, charter schools, and special education programs to establish clear policies for removing students from school pending a mental health assessment. It mandates that such removals only occur in emergencies where a student poses immediate danger to themselves or others, with written documentation, parent notification within 48 hours, and free mental health assessments for families. Schools must also update individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans after a student returns, and cannot charge families for the assessment unless they choose a clinician outside the school’s approved list. The bill applies to all public and specialized school settings in New Jersey and aims to standardize emergency removal procedures while protecting student rights.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates emergency-only student removals with mental health assessments, protecting student access to education and ensuring proper support systems for mental health needs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free mental health assessments for families during school removals for mental health emergencies, improving access to mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education Student Health Mental Health

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2202: Establishes Office of Women's Services in DOC.

S 2202 creates a new Office of Women’s Services within New Jersey’s Department of Corrections to address the specific needs of female inmates. The office must develop policies and programs covering medical care (including prenatal care), mental health treatment for trauma, substance abuse services, parenting support, and child reunification for all female inmates, with special attention to pregnant or postpartum individuals. The office will be led by a governor-appointed director (subject to Senate approval), who can hire staff under civil service rules. This bill directly affects all women incarcerated in New Jersey state facilities by mandating tailored support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Office of Women's Services in DOC to improve medical, mental health, and family support for female inmates, advancing rehabilitation and reform within corrections system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates medical care (including prenatal), mental health treatment, and substance abuse services for female inmates, directly expanding healthcare access within corrections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse Women's Health

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1065: Establishes maternity care standards for general hospitals providing maternity care.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create safety standards for maternity care in general hospitals licensed to provide such services. Hospitals must follow these standards to maintain their licensure, with the standards focusing on patient safety throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. The standards must incorporate national best practices to reduce adverse outcomes and racial disparities in maternal care, and the Department must update them regularly based on national data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates safety standards to reduce maternal disparities and improve care access, directly advancing patient safety in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Women's Health

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2573: Increases hourly limit of reimbursable personal care assistant services under NJ WorkAbility Program.

This bill increases the maximum weekly limit for reimbursable personal care assistant (PCA) services under New Jersey's WorkAbility Program from 40 to 112 hours per calendar week. It directly affects employed, permanently-disabled individuals who qualify for the program - specifically those working while meeting income thresholds (under 250% of federal poverty level for earned income) and paying a $25 monthly premium. The key mechanism removes the current 40-hour cap on PCA services, requiring the Commissioner of Human Services to seek federal Medicaid waivers and update regulations to implement the change. This adjustment allows greater flexibility for participants to access necessary personal care support while working.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases PCA service hours from 40 to 112 weekly, expanding access to essential healthcare support for disabled workers under NJ's WorkAbility Program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases PCA service hours for disabled workers, enabling sustained employment and expanding access to critical support services under WorkAbility Program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 351: Establishes presumption for accidental disability retirement in PERS and PFRS that emergency medical technician, firefighter, and police officer has Parkinson's disease as result of employment.

S 351 establishes a presumption that Parkinson's disease in emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and police officers is caused by their job duties, allowing them to qualify for accidental disability retirement under New Jersey's Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). This means affected first responders no longer need to prove a specific traumatic event caused their condition to access retirement benefits. The bill amends existing retirement law to explicitly include Parkinson's disease as a qualifying condition for this presumption. It directly affects current and future PERS/PFRS members who develop Parkinson's disease during their service as first responders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes presumption for Parkinson's in first responders to access disability benefits without proving trauma, strengthening healthcare access for work-related conditions.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPresumes job-related cause for Parkinson's, simplifying access to disability retirement benefits for first responders without requiring proof of specific trauma.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 2316: Regulates data brokers, data collectors, and collection and dissemination of certain sensitive information.**

This bill requires data brokers operating in New Jersey to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs annually ($100 fee) and submit detailed information about their data collection, privacy policies, opt-out options, and data breach history. It directly affects businesses that collect and sell personal identifying information without a direct relationship to the individual, such as those selling health data. The key provision bans data brokers from selling, sharing, or transmitting physical health records (covering treatments for physical conditions) or behavioral health records (covering mental health, substance use, or emotional disorder care). The law establishes a public registry of registered brokers to increase transparency about how sensitive health data is handled.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill bans data brokers from selling health records, protecting patient privacy rights. Directly advances healthcare data security and patient rights as defined in the topic.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires data broker registration and bans sale of health data, strengthening consumer privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Consumer Data Protection Cybersecurity Data Privacy

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2201: Permits female inmate in correctional facility to request certain medication to prevent pregnancy.

This bill requires New Jersey correctional facilities to provide female inmates with a single dose of Levonorgestrel (Plan B) upon request to prevent pregnancy. It allows inmates to consult with medical professionals about the medication and mandates generic substitutions when possible. The policy directly affects female inmates in state correctional facilities, ensuring access to emergency contraception without requiring a prescription. The bill takes effect three months after enactment, aligning with the medication's standard 72-hour window for effectiveness after potential exposure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides emergency contraception access to female inmates in correctional facilities, advancing humane treatment and reproductive rights within criminal justice system reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides emergency contraception access for inmates, advancing healthcare access for a specific population within correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1175: Requires counties to establish crisis intervention services programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers.

New Jersey's S 1175 requires counties to establish independent crisis intervention programs providing mental health support for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers after traumatic incidents. The programs must offer debriefing and counseling for issues like depression or stress stemming from critical events - such as shootings, hostage situations, or witnessing deaths - and cannot be housed at police or fire stations. Counties receive state reimbursement for program costs, and employers must allow officers to attend sessions without using paid leave. The law mandates participation in these services after critical incidents (defined as events involving weapons, injuries, or traumatic responses) before returning to duty, with pay protection for up to 30 days if deemed unfit for duty.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health crisis programs for first responders, expanding access to mental health support services for trauma-related issues.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates mental health support for first responders after traumatic work incidents, directly strengthening workplace safety and well-being for covered workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Paid Leave

Track

died · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3008: Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for screening, prevention, and treatment services of behavioral health issues affecting children.

This bill requires health insurance companies and Medicaid programs in New Jersey to cover screening, prevention, and treatment services for children's behavioral health issues without needing a formal mental health diagnosis. It allows providers to use "at-risk diagnosis" billing codes (like Social Determinants of Health Z-codes) for services such as early screenings and therapy for children under 18. The coverage must be provided at the same level as other medical services, including for children showing potential issues before a diagnosis is made. This applies to all private health plans, state employee health benefits, school employee health plans, and NJ FamilyCare Medicaid programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance/Medicaid coverage for children's behavioral health without diagnosis requirement, requires parity with medical services, directly expanding mental health access and coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

Track