Bill Text: NJ S573 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DCF to provide information on home visitation resources and shaken baby syndrome to parents of newborn infants. **
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-21 - Substituted by A1654 (1R) [S573 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S573-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Camden)
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DCF to provide information on shaken baby syndrome to parents of newborn infants.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning shaken baby syndrome and amending P.L.1998, c.136.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1998, c.136 (C.26:2H-12.6a) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall prepare a [pamphlet] resource guide in both English and Spanish which provides information on child abuse and neglect to all parents of newborn infants born in this State. The [pamphlet] resource guide shall be distributed to each parent present during the infant's birth, by the personnel at a hospital or birthing facility. A health care professional, designated by the hospital or birthing facility, shall discuss the information contained in the resource guide with the parents of a newborn infant [at the time of] prior to the mother's discharge, as part of the hospital or birthing facility's discharge procedures.
b. The [pamphlet] resource guide shall include information on the signs of child abuse and neglect, including shaken baby syndrome, the services provided by the State which help in preventing child abuse and neglect [and], the legal ramifications of abusing or neglecting a child and tips on child safety.
c. The department shall distribute the [pamphlet] resource guide, at no charge, to all the hospitals and birthing facilities in the State. The department shall update the [pamphlet] resource guide as necessary, and shall make additional copies of the [pamphlet] resource guide available to health care providers upon request.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.47, s.109)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the
Department of Human Services (DHS) to include information about shaken baby
syndrome in the resource guide in both English and Spanish concerning child
abuse that is currently provided to parents of newborns pursuant to pursuant to
section 1 of P.L.1998, c.136 (C.26:2H-12.6a). The bill also requires a health
care professional, designated by the hospital or birthing facility, to discuss
the information contained in the
resource guide with the parents of a newborn, as part of the hospital or
birthing facility's discharge procedures.
In addition to requiring DHS to include information about shaken baby syndrome, the bill amends the statute to replace references to "pamphlet" with "resource guide," to reflect language now used by DHS.
