Bill Text: NJ S3149 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires narcotic and drug abuse treatment centers to offer Hepatitis C testing to clients.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-09-24 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S3149 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S3149-Introduced.html
SENATE, No. 3149
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires narcotic and drug abuse treatment centers to offer Hepatitis C testing to clients.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning testing for Hepatitis C by narcotic and drug abuse treatment centers and amending P.L.1970, c.334.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1970, c.334 (C.26:2G-25) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. The commissioner shall adopt, amend, promulgate, and enforce such rules, regulations, and minimum standards of treatment of patients of narcotic and drug abuse treatment centers as may be reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act. Such narcotic and drug abuse treatment centers may be classified into two or more classes with appropriate rules, regulations, and minimum standards for each such class.
b. In addition to any other rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall require that a narcotic and drug abuse treatment center offer each client entering the program Hepatitis C pre-test counseling and, subject to the client's consent, Hepatitis C testing, unless medically contraindicated.
2. The Commissioner of Human Services shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules or regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill would require that narcotic and drug abuse treatment centers offer clients Hepatitis C pre-test counseling and Hepatitis C testing.
Current regulations codified at N.J.A.C.10:161A-9.1 require that residential substance use disorders treatment facilities provide Hepatitis C testing as medically indicated. Similar regulations applicable to outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities, codified at N.J.A.C.10:161B-9.1 and N.J.A.C.10:161B-11.6, encourage facilities to offer Hepatitis C testing or make appropriate referrals, but do not specifically require that testing be offered.
