ASSEMBLY, No. 3357

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MARCH 7, 2022

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DOH to evaluate whether there is sufficient access to rapid COVID-19 tests and to provide for additional testing if necessary.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

An Act concerning coronavirus disease 2019 testing.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.  a.  As used in this section:

     “Department” means the New Jersey Department of Health.

     “Rapid coronavirus disease 2019 test” means a coronavirus disease 2019 test which yields a test result within one hour of testing.

     b.    The department shall evaluate whether there is sufficient access to rapid coronavirus disease 2019 tests in this State.  If the department determines that there is insufficient access to rapid coronavirus disease 2019 tests in a particular municipality, county, or geographic area of the State, the department shall provide the necessary resources or contract with an entity to provide the necessary resources to ensure that there is sufficient access to rapid coronavirus disease 2019 tests in the particular municipality, county, or geographic area of the State.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the end of both the state of emergency and the public health emergency declared in response to the coronavirus disease 2019.

STATEMENT

     This bill requires the Department of Health (department) to evaluate whether there is sufficient access to rapid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests in this State and to provide for additional testing if necessary. 

     Under the bill, the department is to evaluate whether there is sufficient access to rapid COVID-19 tests in this State.  If the department determines that there is insufficient access to rapid COVID-19 tests in a particular municipality, county, or geographic area of the State, the department is to provide the necessary resources or contract with an entity to provide the necessary resources to ensure that there is sufficient access to rapid COVID-19 tests in the particular municipality, county, or geographic area of the State.

     The bill defines “rapid coronavirus disease 2019 test” to mean a coronavirus disease 2019 test which yields a test result within one hour of testing.