Bill Text: NJ A4575 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires development of State data and technology infrastructure investment plan for public health emergencies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee [A4575 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4575-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BARBARA MCCANN STAMATO
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires development of State data and technology infrastructure investment plan for public health emergencies.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning data and technology infrastructure 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. The Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Department of Health and State Office of Emergency Management, shall prepare a data and technology infrastructure investment plan, which shall serve as the State's long-term capital investment strategy for upgrading and maintaining the State's data and technology infrastructure to promote public health emergency preparedness and the continuity of State services during a public health emergency. The office shall submit the investment plan to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature no later than 18 months after the effective date of this act and shall report annually thereafter to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature on the implementation of the plan.
b. The investment plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) strategies for establishing early warning systems in the State for public health emergencies that utilize data from State, federal, and international data sources and for coordinating the interpretation of early warning data with other States to aid multi-state emergency response efforts;
(2) strategies to ensure that the State has the capability of collecting and utilizing critical public health data, as identified by the Department of Health and any other key public health stakeholders, and that such data is stored in a centralized data repository that is accessible by State agencies as needed during a public health emergency, in accordance with applicable State and federal health privacy laws; and
(3) strategies to expand each State agency's digital services capabilities to ensure that appropriate State services can be delivered digitally in an efficient and effective manner in emergency and non-emergency situations including, but not limited to, improving the remote work capabilities of State employees.
c. During the course of preparing the investment plan, the office shall:
(1) make available to all interested persons a copy of the proposed plan or proposed revisions to the current plan at least 90 days prior to submitting it to the Governor and Legislature pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and shall provide an opportunity for the public to submit written comments, consider the comments submitted, make any revisions as the office deems necessary, and provide a written summary of responses to comments and any revisions made based on those comments;
(2) conduct at least three public meetings, which may be conducted using video teleconferencing, on the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan; and
(3) consider the comments made at public meetings and written comments, and make any revisions to the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan as the office deems necessary, and provide a written summary of responses to comments and any revisions made based on those comments.
d. As used in this section:
"Investment plan" means the data and technology infrastructure investment plan prepared pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
"Office" means the Office of Information Technology.
"Public health emergency" means a public health emergency declared pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the State to develop a State data and technology infrastructure investment plan for public health emergencies.
The bill requires the Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Department of Health and State Office of Emergency Management, to prepare a data and technology infrastructure investment plan, which will serve as the State's long-term capital investment strategy for upgrading and maintaining the State's data and technology infrastructure to promote public health emergency preparedness and the continuity of State services during a public health emergency. The office will submit the investment plan to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 18 months after the effective date of this bill and will report annually thereafter on the implementation of the plan.
The investment plan will include, but not be limited to:
(1) strategies for establishing early warning systems in the State for public health emergencies that utilize data from State, federal, and international data sources and for coordinating the interpretation of early warning data with other States to aid multi-state emergency response efforts;
(2) strategies to ensure that the State has the capability of collecting and utilizing critical public health data and that such data is stored in a centralized data repository that is accessible by State agencies as needed during a public health emergency; and
(3) strategies to expand each State agency's digital services capabilities to ensure that appropriate State services can be delivered digitally in an efficient and effective manner in emergency and non-emergency situations including, but not limited to, improving the remote work capabilities of State employees.
During the course of preparing the investment plan, the office will:
(1) make available to all interested persons a copy of the proposed plan or proposed revisions to the current plan at least 90 days prior to submitting it to the Governor and Legislature, and will provide an opportunity for the public to submit written comments, consider the comments submitted, make any revisions as the office deems necessary, and provide a written summary of responses to comments and any revisions made based on those comments;
(2) conduct at least three public meetings, which may be conducted using video teleconferencing, on the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan; and
(3) consider the comments made at public meetings and written comments, and make any revisions to the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan as the office deems necessary, and provide a written summary of responses to comments and any revisions made based on those comments.
