reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:15-2 - Coverage provided for residents 18 years of age and younger; terms defined.

26:15-2 Coverage provided for residents 18 years of age and younger; terms defined.
2. a. Beginning one year after the date of enactment of this act, all residents of this State 18 years of age and younger shall obtain and maintain health care coverage that provides hospital and medical benefits. The coverage may be provided through an employer-sponsored or individual health benefits plan, the Medicaid program, NJ FamilyCare Program, or the NJ FamilyCare Advantage buy-in program.
b. As used in this section:
"Medicaid" means the New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).
"NJ FamilyCare" means the NJ FamilyCare Program established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.).
"NJ FamilyCare Advantage" means the buy-in program established pursuant to subsection j. of section 5 of P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-12).
L.2008, c.38, s.2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-1 - Short title.

26:16-1 Short title.
1. Sections 1 through 20 of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et seq.) shall be known and may be cited as the "Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act."
L.2019, c.59, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-2 - Findings, declarations relative to medical aid in dying for the terminally ill.

26:16-2 Findings, declarations relative to medical aid in dying for the terminally ill.
2. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Recognizing New Jersey's long-standing commitment to individual dignity, informed consent, and the fundamental right of competent adults to make health care decisions about whether to have life-prolonging medical or surgical means or procedures provided, withheld, or withdrawn, this State affirms the right of a qualified terminally ill patient, protected by appropriate safeguards, to obtain medication that the patient may choose to self-administer in order to bring about the patient's humane and dignified death.
b. Statistics from other states that have enacted laws to provide compassionate medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients indicate that the great majority of patients who requested medication under the laws of those states, including more than 90 percent of patients in Oregon since 1998 and between 72 percent and 86 percent of patients in Washington in each year since 2009, were enrolled in hospice care at the time of death, suggesting that those patients had availed themselves of available treatment and comfort care options available to them at the time they requested compassionate medical aid in dying.
c. The public welfare requires a defined and safeguarded process in order to effectuate the purposes of this act, which will:
(1) guide health care providers and patient advocates who provide support to dying patients;
(2) assist capable, terminally ill patients who request compassionate medical aid in dying;
(3) protect vulnerable adults from abuse; and
(4) ensure that the process is entirely voluntary on the part of all participants, including patients and those health care providers that are providing care to dying patients.
d. This act is in the public interest and is necessary for the welfare of the State and its residents.
L.2019, c.59, s.2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-4 - Conditions for request for medication.

26:16-4 Conditions for request for medication.
4. A terminally ill patient may make a written request for medication that the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), if the patient:
a. is an adult resident of New Jersey as demonstrated pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-11);
b. is capable and has been determined by the patient's attending physician and a consulting physician to be terminally ill; and
c. has voluntarily expressed a wish to receive a prescription for medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).
L.2019, c.59, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-5 - Form for valid written request for medication.

26:16-5 Form for valid written request for medication.
5. a. A valid written request for medication under P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall be in substantially the form set forth in section 20 of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-20), signed and dated by the patient and witnessed by at least two individuals who, in the patient's presence, attest that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the patient is capable and is acting voluntarily to sign the request.
b. At least one of the witnesses shall be a person who is not:
(1) a relative of the patient by blood, marriage, or adoption;
(2) at the time the request is signed, entitled to any portion of the patient's estate upon the patient's death under any will or by operation of law; and
(3) an owner, operator, or employee of a health care facility, other than a long term care facility, where the patient is receiving medical treatment or is a resident.
c. The patient's attending physician at the time the request is signed shall not serve as a witness.
L.2019, c.59, s.5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-7 - Conditions to be considered qualified terminally ill patient.

26:16-7 Conditions to be considered qualified terminally ill patient.
7. A patient shall not be considered a qualified terminally ill patient until a consulting physician has:
a. examined that patient and the patient's relevant medical records;
b. confirmed, in writing, the attending physician's diagnosis that the patient is terminally ill; and
c. verified that the patient is capable, is acting voluntarily, and has made an informed decision to request medication that, if prescribed, the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).
L.2019, c.59, s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-8 - Determination of capability of patient.

26:16-8 Determination of capability of patient.
8. a. If, in the medical opinion of the attending physician or the consulting physician, a patient requesting medication that the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) may not be capable, the physician shall refer the patient to a mental health care professional to determine whether the patient is capable. A consulting physician who refers a patient to a mental health care professional pursuant to this subsection shall provide written notice of the referral to the attending physician.
b. If a patient has been referred to a mental health care professional pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the attending physician shall not write a prescription for medication that the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) unless the attending physician has been notified in writing by the mental health care professional of that individual's determination that the patient is capable.
L.2019, c.59, s.8.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-9 - Notification of next of kin required; exception.

26:16-9 Notification of next of kin required; exception.
9. A qualified terminally ill patient shall not receive a prescription for medication that the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) unless the attending physician has recommended that the patient notify the patient's next of kin of the patient's request for medication, except that a patient who declines or is unable to notify the patient's next of kin shall not have the request for medication denied for that reason.
L.2019, c.59, s.9.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-11 - Documentation of New Jersey residency.

26:16-11 Documentation of New Jersey residency.
11. A request for medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall not be granted unless the qualified terminally ill patient has documented that individual's New Jersey residency by furnishing to the attending physician a copy of one of the following:
a. a driver's license or non-driver identification card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission;
b. proof that the person is registered to vote in New Jersey;
c. a New Jersey resident gross income tax return filed for the most recent tax year; or
d. any other government record that the attending physician reasonably believes to demonstrate the individual's current residency in this State.
L.2019, c.59, s.11.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-12 - Disposal of medication if patients chooses not to self-administer.

26:16-12 Disposal of medication if patients chooses not to self-administer.
12. Any medication dispensed pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) that a qualified terminally ill patient chooses not to self-administer shall be disposed of by lawful means, including, but not limited to, disposing of the medication consistent with State and federal guidelines concerning disposal of prescription medications, or surrendering the medication to a prescription medication drop-off receptacle. The patient shall designate a person who shall be responsible for the lawful disposal of the medication.
L.2019, c.59, s.12.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-13 - Reporting of information, statistical report.

26:16-13 Reporting of information, statistical report.
13. a. The Commissioner of Health shall require that a health care professional report the following information to the Department of Health on a form and in a manner prescribed by regulation of the commissioner:
(1) No later than 30 days after the dispensing of medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), the physician or pharmacist who dispensed the medication shall file a copy of the dispensing record with the department, and shall otherwise facilitate the collection of such information as the director may require regarding compliance with P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).
(2) No later than 30 days after the date of the qualified terminally ill patient's death, the attending physician shall transmit to the department such documentation of the patient's death as the director shall require.
(3) In the event that anyone required to report information to the department pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) provides an inadequate or incomplete report, the department shall contact the person to request a complete report.
(4) To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the purposes of this section, the department shall seek to coordinate the process for reporting information pursuant to this subsection with the process for reporting prescription monitoring information by a pharmacy permit holder pursuant to sections 25 through 30 of P.L.2007, c.244 (C.45:1-45 through C.45:1-50).
b. Any information collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section that contains material or data that could be used to identify an individual patient or health care professional shall not be included under materials available to public inspection pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) and P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.).
c. The department shall prepare and make available to the public on its Internet website an annual statistical report of information collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
L.2019, c.59, s.13.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-14 - Provisions in certain documents would not restrict request for medication.

26:16-14 Provisions in certain documents would not restrict request for medication.
14. a. A provision in a contract, will, insurance policy, annuity, or other agreement, whether written or oral, made on or after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), shall not be valid to the extent that the provision would condition or restrict a person's decision to make or rescind a request for medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).
b. An obligation owing under a contract, will, insurance policy, annuity, or other agreement, made before the effective date of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), shall not be affected by: the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.); a person's making or rescinding a request for medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.); or any other action taken pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.). c. On or after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), procurement or issuance of a life, health, or accident insurance policy or annuity, or the premium or rate charged for the policy or annuity, shall not be conditioned upon or otherwise take into account the making or rescinding of a request for medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) by any person.
L.2019, c.59, s.14.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-15 - Construction of act.

26:16-15 Construction of act.
15. Nothing in P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall be construed to:
a. authorize a physician or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal injection, active euthanasia, or mercy killing, or any act that constitutes assisted suicide under any law of this State; or
b. lower the applicable standard of care to be provided by a health care professional who participates in P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).
L.2019, c.59, s.15.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-16 - Certain persons not authorized to take action on behalf of patient.

26:16-16 Certain persons not authorized to take action on behalf of patient.
16. A person shall not be authorized to take any action on behalf of a patient for the purposes of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) by virtue of that person's designation as a guardian pursuant to N.J.S.3B:12-1 et seq., a conservator pursuant to N.J.S.3B:13A-1 et seq., a health care representative pursuant to P.L.1991, c.201 (C.26:2H-53 et seq.), or a patient's representative pursuant to P.L.2011, c.145 (C.26:2H-129 et al.), except for communicating the patient's health care decisions to a health care provider if the patient so requests.
L.2019, c.59, s.16.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-17 - Immunity.

26:16-17 Immunity.
17. a. (1) Except as provided in sections 18 and 19 of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-18 and C.26:16-19), a person shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action, or subject to censure, discipline, suspension, or loss of any licensure, certification, privileges, or membership, for any action taken in compliance with the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), including being present when a qualified terminally ill patient self-administers medication prescribed pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), or for the refusal to take any action in furtherance of, or to otherwise participate in, a request for medication pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.). A person who substantially complies in good faith with the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall be deemed to be in compliance with its provisions.
(2) Any action taken in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall not constitute patient abuse or neglect, suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, euthanasia, or homicide under any law of this State.
(3) A patient's request for, or the provision of, medication in compliance with the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall not constitute abuse or neglect of an elderly person or provide the sole basis for the appointment of a guardian or conservator.
b. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct.
c. Any action taken by a health care professional to participate in P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall be voluntary on the part of that individual. If a health care professional is unable or unwilling to carry out a patient's request under P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), and the patient transfers the patient's care to a new health care professional or health care facility, the prior health care professional shall transfer, upon request, a copy of the patient's relevant records to the new health care professional or health care facility.
L.2019, c.59, s.17.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-18 - Violations, degree of crime.

26:16-18 Violations, degree of crime.
18. a. A person who, without authorization of the patient, and with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death, willfully alters or forges a request for medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) or conceals or destroys a rescission of that request, is guilty of a crime of the second degree.
b. A person who coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to request medication pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) or to destroy a rescission of a request is guilty of a crime of the third degree.
c. Theft of medication prescribed to a qualified terminally ill patient pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall constitute an offense involving theft of a controlled dangerous substance as set forth in N.J.S.2C:20-2.
d. Nothing in P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) shall limit liability for civil damages resulting from the negligence or intentional misconduct of any person.
e. The penalties set forth in this section shall not preclude the imposition of any other criminal penalty applicable under law for conduct that is inconsistent with the provisions of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).
L.2019, c.59, s.18.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:16-19 - Claims by governmental entity, certain circumstances.

26:16-19 Claims by governmental entity, certain circumstances.
19. Any governmental entity that incurs costs resulting from a qualified terminally ill patient choosing to self-administer medication prescribed pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) in a public place has a claim against the estate of the patient to recover those costs and reasonable attorneys' fees related to enforcing the claim.
L.2019, c.59, s.19.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:17-1 - Findings and declarations.

26:17-1 Findings and declarations.
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The New Jersey Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services information and referral;
b. New Jersey's current Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system is out of date with regards to information relating to current available modes of public transit, that mainly directs people with disabilities to use private transit services that are expensive and not feasible for routine travel;
c. New Jersey's Statewide 2-1-1 system should include all pertinent transportation information, especially information pertaining to Access Link, county paratransit, voluntary drivers, or agencies that cater to the transportation needs of persons with disabilities; and
d. The Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system needs to be updated to include all current modes of public transit available in New Jersey, as well as updated to provide information on how to access and use the various services.
L.2021, c.361, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:17-2 - Department and corporation responsibilities.

26:17-2 Department and corporation responsibilities.
2. The New Jersey Transit Corporation and the Department of Human Services shall partner with the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system and shall be responsible for providing the appropriate information to the system so that all relevant public transit providers and information are included and available. The Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system, in conjunction with the corporation and the department, shall review, revise, and maintain information concerning the current modes of available public transit, information on accessing various modes of public transit, and information on how to use the services. Information shall be collected on all transportation services, including fixed route transportation services, and transportation network company and taxi services, with particular attention to be paid to information concerning available paratransit services and private and volunteer services.
L.2021, c.361, s.2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:17-3 - Information collection and maintenance.

26:17-3 Information collection and maintenance.
3. The information collected and maintained by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Department of Human Services, and the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system shall include: a listing of all current modes of public transit available in New Jersey; a detailed description of any and all prequalification or eligibility requirements necessary before use of the public transit mode may commence; information on how each New Jersey citizen may access all current and available modes of public transit; and information on how to use the services along with each public transit provider's contact information.
L.2021, c.361, s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:17-4 - Dissemination of information.

26:17-4 Dissemination of information.
4. The information described in section 3 of P.L.2021, c.361 (C.26:17-3) shall be:
a. prominently displayed on the websites of both the New Jersey Transit Corporation and the Department of Human Services;
b. made available to the public through the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system; and
c. made available using any other means that the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation or the Commissioner of Human Services deems appropriate.
In addition, to the extent practicable, the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system, the corporation, and the department shall disseminate information concerning public transit availability and resources using social media and any other means deemed appropriate to reach as many individuals and population groups in the State as possible.
L.2021, c.361, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-2 - Definitions relative to maternal mortality and morbidity.

26:18-2 Definitions relative to maternal mortality and morbidity.
2. As used in P.L.2019, c.75 (C.26:18-1 et al.):
"Authority" means the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-20).
"Board" means the board of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-21).
"Committee" means the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2019, c.75 (C.26:18-4), which is responsible for annually reviewing and reporting on maternal death rates and the causes of maternal death in the State, and which is further responsible for providing recommendations to improve maternal care and reduce adverse maternal outcomes.
"Department" means the Department of Health.
"Maternal death" means a pregnancy-associated death.
"Maternal Mortality Case Review Team" means the interdisciplinary team of experts that is operating in the Department of Health as of the effective date of this act, and which is being replaced by the committee established pursuant to this act.
"NJMCQC" means the New Jersey Maternal Care Quality Collaborative, established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2019, c.75 (C.26:18-3).
"Pregnancy-associated death" means the death of a woman, which occurs while the woman is pregnant, or during the one-year period following the date of the end of the pregnancy, irrespective of the cause of death.
"Pregnancy-related death" means the death of a woman, which occurs while the woman is pregnant, or during the one-year period following the date of the end of the pregnancy, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy, and which results from any cause related to, or aggravated by, the pregnancy or its management, but excluding any accidental or incidental cause.
"Regional Health Hub" means an entity designated as a Regional Health Hub as provided in P.L.2019, c.517 (C.30:4D-8.16 et seq.).
"Report of maternal death" means a report of a suspected maternal death, which is filed with the department, pursuant to the processes established under subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.2019, c.75 (C.26:18-7), and which is to be forwarded to the committee for the purposes of investigation, as provided by subsection b. of that section.
"Severe maternal morbidity" means the physical and psychological conditions that result from, or are aggravated by, pregnancy, and which have an adverse effect on the health of a woman.
"State registrar" means the State registrar of vital statistics, who is responsible for supervising the registration of, and maintaining, death records in the State, in accordance with the provisions of R.S.26:8-1 et seq.
L.2019, c.75, s.2; amended 2023, c.109, s.12.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-5 - Committee; organization, meetings, support staff.

26:18-5 Committee; organization, meetings, support staff.
5. a. The committee shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of a majority of its members, and shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members. The chairperson may appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the committee.
b. The committee shall meet pursuant to a schedule to be established at its first meeting, and it shall additionally meet at the call of its chairperson or the Commissioner of Health; however, in no case shall the committee meet less than four times a year.
c. A majority of the total number of members appointed to the committee shall constitute a quorum for the conducting of official committee business. A vacancy in the membership of the committee shall not impair the right of the committee to exercise its powers and duties, provided that a majority of the currently appointed members are available to conduct business. Any recommendations of the committee shall be approved by a majority of the members present.
d. The members of the committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes.
e. The Department of Health shall employ, at a minimum, the following support staff for the committee: a program manager, a clinical nurse case abstractor; two maternal child health epidemiologists, a case abstraction manager, and any other staff the Commissioner of Health shall deem necessary. The Department of Health shall also provide such administrative staff support to the committee as shall be necessary for the committee to carry out its duties.
L.2019, c.75, s.5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-7 - Duties of committee upon organization relative to reporting, recordkeeping of maternal deaths.

26:18-7 Duties of committee upon organization relative to reporting, recordkeeping of maternal deaths.
7. a. Within 90 days after the committee's organizational meeting, the committee shall:
(1) develop a mandatory maternal death reporting process, pursuant to which health care practitioners, medical examiners, hospitals, birthing centers, and other relevant professional actors and health care facilities will be required to confidentially report to the Department of Health on individual cases of maternal death. In developing a mandatory maternal death reporting process pursuant to this paragraph, the committee may, as deemed to be appropriate, review and incorporate elements of the maternal death reporting process that is used by the Maternal Mortality Case Review Team as of the effective date of this act; and
(2) develop a voluntary maternal death reporting process, pursuant to which the family members of a deceased woman, and any other interested members of the public, will be permitted, but not required, to confidentially report to the Department of Health on individual cases of perceived maternal death. At a minimum, the process developed pursuant to this paragraph shall require the department to: (a) post on its Internet website a hyperlink, a toll-free telephone number, and an email address, which may each be used for the voluntary submission of public reports of maternal death; and (b) publicize the availability of these resources to professional organizations, community organizations, social service agencies, and members of the public.
b. The department shall keep a record of all reports of maternal death that are submitted thereto through the reporting processes that are established by the committee pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection a. of this section. The department shall also ensure that a copy of each such report of maternal death is promptly forwarded to the committee, so that the committee may properly execute its investigatory functions and other duties and responsibilities under this act.
L.2019, c.75, s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-9 - Reports.

26:18-9 Reports.
9. a. Within one year after its organization, and annually thereafter, the committee shall prepare, and submit to the Department of Health, to the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report containing the committee's findings on the rates and causes of maternal deaths occurring in the State during the preceding year, and providing recommendations for legislative or other action that can be undertaken to: (a) improve the quality of maternal care and reduce adverse maternal outcomes in the State; (b) increase the availability of, and improve access to, social and health care services for pregnant women; and (c) reduce or eliminate racial and other disparities in maternal care and treatment, both during, and in the year after, pregnancy. Each annual report, with the exception of the first report prepared under this section, shall additionally identify the extent to which the committee's prior recommendations have been successfully implemented in practice, and the apparent impact that the implementation of such recommended changes has had on maternal care in the preceding year.
b. The report that is annually prepared pursuant to this section shall be based on:
(1) the case summaries that were prepared by the committee over the preceding year, pursuant to subsection b. of section 8 of this act;
(2) the statistical data that was forwarded to the committee, during the preceding year, by the Maternal Data Center, pursuant to section 14 of this act; and
(3) any other relevant information, including information from the committee's prior annual reports, or information on any collaborative maternal health arrangements that have been established by health care providers, professional organizations, local government units, or other relevant actors or entities in the preceding year, in response to the committee outreach authorized by subsection c. of section 8 of this act, or by paragraph (9) of subsection a. of section 6, of this act.
c. Upon receipt of the committee's annual report pursuant to this section, the department shall post a copy of the report at a publicly accessible location on its Internet website, and shall take appropriate steps to otherwise broadly publicize the committee's findings and recommendations. The Commissioner of Health shall also adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the recommendations contained in the report, to the extent that such recommendations can be implemented through administrative rule-making action.
L.2019, c.75, s.9.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-11 - Confidentiality.

26:18-11 Confidentiality.
11. a. (1) Except as otherwise provided by subsection b. of this section, all proceedings and activities of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee; all opinions of the members of the committee, which are formed as a result of the committee's proceedings and activities; and all records obtained, created, or maintained by the committee, including written reports and records of interviews or oral statements, shall be confidential, and shall not be subject to public inspection, discovery, subpoena, or introduction into evidence in any civil, criminal, legislative, or other proceeding.
(2) In no case shall the committee disclose any personally identifiable information to the public, or include any personally identifiable information in a case summary that is prepared pursuant to subsection b. of section 8 of this act, or in an annual report that is prepared pursuant to section 9 of this act.
(3) Members of the committee shall not be questioned in any civil, criminal, legislative, or other proceeding regarding information that has been presented in, or opinions that have been formed as a result of, a meeting or communication of the committee; however, nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a committee member from being questioned, or from testifying, in relation to publicly available information or information that was obtained independent of the member's participation on the committee.
b. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the committee from publishing, or from otherwise making available for public inspection, statistical compilations or reports that are based on confidential information, provided that those compilations and reports do not contain personally identifying information or other information that could be used to ultimately identify the individuals concerned.
L.2019, c.75, s.11.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-12 - Annual compilation, statistics.

26:18-12 Annual compilation, statistics.
12. a. (1) On an annual basis, and using the death records that have been filed during the preceding year, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee shall work collaboratively with the Maternal Data Center in the Healthcare Quality and Informatics Unit and the Department of Health's Maternal Health epidemiologists and other staff to identify: (a) the total number of maternal deaths that have occurred in the State during the year, and during each quarter of the year; (b) the average Statewide rate of maternal death occurring during the year; (c) the number and percentage of maternal deaths that occurred during the year in each of the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of the State; (d) the number and percentage of maternal deaths, on a Statewide and regional basis, that constituted pregnancy-associated deaths, and the number and percentage of maternal deaths, on a Statewide and regional basis, that constituted pregnancy-related deaths; (e) the areas of the State where the rates of maternal death are significantly higher than the Statewide average; and (f) the rate of racial disparities in maternal deaths occurring on a Statewide and regional basis.
(2) The results of the annual analysis that is conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be posted at a publicly accessible location on the Internet website of the Department of Health, and shall also be promptly forwarded to the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority and the NJMCQC.
b. In order to accomplish its duties under this section, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee shall:
(1) for the purposes of determining the total number of pregnancy-associated deaths, review each woman's death record, and match the death record with a certificate of live birth, or with a fetal or infant death record, for the woman's child, in order to confirm whether the woman died during pregnancy, or within one year after the end of pregnancy; and
(2) for the purposes of determining the total number of pregnancy-related deaths, review each woman's death record, and identify each such death record in which the death is reported to have resulted from an underlying or contributing cause related to pregnancy, regardless of the amount of time that has passed between the end of the pregnancy and the death.
The Maternal Mortality Review Committee may also use any other appropriate means or methods to identify maternal deaths. Such means or methods may include, but need not be limited to, use of the case ascertainment system devised by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
L.2019, c.75, s.12; amended 2023, c.109, s.14.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-13 - Maternal Data Center.

26:18-13 Maternal Data Center.
14. a. The Department of Health shall establish a Maternal Data Center in the Healthcare Quality and Informatics Unit that shall develop protocols and requirements for the submission of maternal mortality, morbidity and racial and ethnic disparity data indicators; collect this information from relevant health care facilities in the State; conduct rapid-cycle data analytics; develop reports and a public facing dashboard; and disseminate the information collected to the NJMCQC, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, participating health care facilities, and other stakeholders as identified by the Department of Health. Each participating facility shall have full access to data reported to the Maternal Data Center, provided that any data accessible to participating facilities shall be de-identified, and further provided that nothing in this subsection shall authorize the disclosure of any confidential or personal identifying information for any patient.
b. The Maternal Data Center shall employ a director, three research scientists, a technical assistant, and other staff as necessary to implement the requirements set forth in subsection a. of this section.
L.2019, c.75, s.14; amended 2023, c.109, s.15.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-14 - Establishment, collection of fees.

26:18-14 Establishment, collection of fees.
15. The Commissioner of Health shall establish and collect maternal data center membership fees from health care facilities, as defined by the Commissioner of Health, that are licensed to provide maternal care services in the State and that enter into a written agreement with the Department of Health to participate in the Maternal Data Center pursuant to section 14 of this act. The membership fee shall be required of each licensed facility participating in the Maternal Data Center, and in no case shall the amount of the fee exceed $10,000 per facility per year. Each participating facility shall pay its annual membership fee on a date as shall be required by the commissioner. The revenue from these fees shall be used to fund the Maternal Data Center to implement the requirements pursuant to section 14 of this act. The commissioner shall be authorized to seek out and accept such other sources of funding as may be available from appropriate public and private sources for the purposes of the Maternal Data Center.
L.2019, c.75, s.15.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-15 - "Maternal Data Center Fund."

26:18-15 "Maternal Data Center Fund."
16. a. There is established the "Maternal Data Center Fund" as a nonlapsing, revolving fund in the Department of Health. The fund shall be comprised of membership fees collected from facilities licensed to provide maternal care services that enter into a written agreement with the Department of Health to participate in the Maternal Data Center pursuant to section 15 of this act as well as any other funds collected by the department pursuant to section 15 of this act.
b. The Commissioner of Health shall deposit all membership fees and other funds collected pursuant to section 15 of this act into the fund. Monies credited to the fund may be invested in the same manner as assets of the General Fund, and any investment earnings on the fund shall accrue to the fund and shall be available subject to the same terms and conditions as other monies in the fund.
c. Commencing July 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, monies in the fund shall be appropriated by the Legislature to the Department of Health for the purposes of operating and maintaining the Maternal Data Center pursuant to section 14 of this act.
L.2019, c.75, s.16.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-16 - Rules, regulations.

26:18-16 Rules, regulations.
17. The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purposes of this act.
L.2019, c.75, s.17.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-19 - Definitions.

26:18-19 Definitions.
3. As used in this act:
"Authority" means the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-20).
"Board" means the board of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-21).
"Center" means the premises located in the City of Trenton used by the authority pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-17 et al.).
"Community advisory committee" means the community advisory committee established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-24).
"New Jersey Maternal Care Quality Collaborative" or "NJMCQC" means the New Jersey Maternal Care Quality Collaborative, established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2019, c.75 (C.26:18-3).
L.2023, c.109, s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-20 - New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, established.

26:18-20 New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, established.
4. a. The New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority is created and established in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury.
b. The authority shall:
(1) establish and oversee the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center, which shall serve as a central hub to coordinate among national, State, and local agencies, as well as private organizations, to:
(a) provide perinatal, infant care, related health services, and other services as outlined in P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-17 et al.) to the residents of the City of Trenton and others who are in need of such services;
(b) promote equitable maternal and infant health care services;
(c) implement strategies related to health care and social service delivery, perinatal workforce development, community engagement, data collection, research, and analysis; and
(d) serve as an incubator of new enterprises, therapeutics, and technological innovations leading to better health outcomes and reduced mortality and morbidity rates for women and children; and
(2) be responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of programs and services to improve the State's maternal and infant health outcomes, address racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates, ensure infant and perinatal care is provided on an equitable basis, and eliminate disparities in access to care, including, but not limited to, health care and social service delivery, research and innovation, perinatal workforce development, education and public awareness, and other initiatives as may be undertaken by the authority.
c. The authority shall become the agency primarily responsible for coordinating efforts and strategies to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity, and racial and ethnic disparities in the State at such time as the members of the board are appointed pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-21) and the board first organizes. At that time, and except as otherwise provided by this act, all powers, duties, and responsibilities authorized pursuant to P.L.2019, c.75 (C.26:18-1 et al.) shall be transferred from the NJMCQC to the authority. Thereafter, the NJMCQC shall be reorganized within the authority and shall operate under the supervision and oversight of the board as provided in section 5 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C.26:18-21). The provisions of this subsection shall be carried out in accordance with the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.), and the transfer of oversight over the NJMCQC shall include transfer of all files, books, papers, records, equipment, and other property or resources held by the NJMCQC, including, but not limited to, any State funds that have been appropriated to the Department of Health for the exclusive use of the NJMCQC, which shall be deposited in accounts as may be permitted or required by law.
L.2023, c.109, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics › Section 26:18-22 - President, chief executive officer, responsibilities, recruitment, women, minorities, authority staff.

26:18-22 President, chief executive officer, responsibilities, recruitment, women, minorities, authority staff.
6 a. The authority shall employ a president and chief executive officer, who shall be responsible for the selection of properly qualified staff of the authority, without regard to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes. In selecting staff for the authority, the president and chief executive officer shall seek to recruit women and minorities to serve as the authority's staff. Staff members shall receive compensation and be appointed and employed as provided by the president and chief executive officer, without regard to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes. The president and chief executive officer and all staff members of the center and of the authority shall be deemed confidential employees for the purposes of the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act," P.L.1941, c.100 (C.34:13A-1 et seq.).
b. The president and chief executive officer of the authority shall be an individual selected by a majority vote of the members of the board; except that the Governor shall select the initial president and chief executive officer of the authority. The president and chief executive officer shall receive an annual salary as provided by the board. The board shall have the authority to consider, investigate, and evaluate any and all matters or issues relevant to the performance of the president and chief executive officer.
L.2023, c.109, s.6.