Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Requires local law enforcement officer or firefighter prescribed anabolic steroids or human growth hormone to report to designated physician for evaluation of fitness for duty.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone by local law enforcement officers and firefighters, and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The governing body of every county and municipality and the board of fire commissioners of every fire district shall designate a physician to whom a local law enforcement officer or firefighter shall report the receipt of a prescription for anabolic steroids or human growth hormone.
2. A local law enforcement officer or firefighter who has received a prescription for anabolic steroids or human growth hormone shall report the prescription to the physician designated in section 1 of this act within five days of receiving the prescription. Failure to comply with this section shall subject the officer or firefighter to disciplinary action.
3. The physician designated in section 1 of this act shall:
a. Make an annual medical examination of every local law enforcement officer or firefighter who reports receiving a prescription for anabolic steroids or human growth hormone;
b. Assess if, in the physician’s professional opinion based upon the results of the medical examination, the officer or firefighter is able to adequately perform the duties of employment; and
c. Report to the appropriate governing body or board of fire commissioners the findings of the examination.
4. Nothing in this act shall be construed as to limit a local law enforcement officer or firefighter’s criminal liability pursuant to the laws of this State.
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require local law enforcement officers and firefighters to report any prescription received for anabolic steroids or human growth hormone to a designated physician. Failure to report these prescriptions would result in disciplinary action.
The governing body of every county and municipality and every board of fire commissioners would be required under the bill to designate the physician to which the law enforcement officer or firefighter would report.
The physician would conduct an annual medical evaluation to assess if the officer or firefighter is able, in the physician’s professional opinion, to adequately perform the duties of employment. The physician would report the findings to the appropriate governing body or board.