S3162

An Act concerning women’s health and amending P.L.2001, c.376.

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

1. Section 2 of P.L.2001, c.376 (C.26:1A-124) is amended to read as follows:

2. There is established the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health.

The office shall:

a. Provide grants to organizations including, but not limited to, community-based organizations and small businesses to advance innovation and conduct [special] research [,] and demonstration [,] and evaluation projects [on] concerning women's health [concerns] including, but not limited to:

(1) research aimed at expanding knowledge and data collection of women’s health across their lifespans, which includes the study and analysis of conditions specific to women, conditions that disproportionately impact women, and conditions associated with women’s midlife health or that are more likely to occur after menopause, and the treatment of these conditions;

(2) research that promotes collaboration across fields and areas of expertise, addresses health disparities and inequities affecting women, and supports the translation of research advancements into improved health outcomes;

(3) projects that would develop and strengthen research and data standards concerning women’s health;

(4) projects that would use innovation funds, challenges, prizes, and other mechanisms to spur innovation in women’s health; and

(5) investments in innovation to accelerate women’s health research including, but not limited to, investments in: translational science to convert research findings and discoveries into treatments; interventions that improve women’s health outcomes and reduce health disparities; and the use of artificial intelligence to support research on women’s health;

b. Develop and implement model public and private partnerships throughout the State for health awareness campaigns and to improve the access, acceptability, and use of public health services;

c. Serve as an information and resource center for women's health information and data;

d. Function as an advocate for the adoption and implementation of effective measures to improve women's health;

e. Convene such task forces of experienced, knowledgeable persons on specific women's health issues as the director deems appropriate; and

f. Review the programs of the Departments of Health, Human Services, Children and Families, and Education and any other department of State government, as appropriate, that concern women's health and make recommendations to the departments that will enable them to better coordinate and improve the effectiveness of their efforts.

(cf: P.L.2012, c.17, s.106)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

The bill revises the duties of the Office of Women’s Health (office) in the Department of Health to provide that the office is to provide grants to organizations, including, but not limited to, community-based organizations and small businesses, to advance innovation and to conduct research and demonstration and evaluation projects concerning women's health.

At a minimum, the grants provided under the bill can be used for: (1) research aimed at expanding knowledge and data collection of women’s health across their lifespans, which includes the study and analysis of conditions specific to women, conditions that disproportionately impact women, and conditions associated with women’s midlife health or that are more likely to occur after menopause, and the treatment of these conditions; (2) research that promotes collaboration across fields and areas of expertise, addresses health disparities and inequities affecting women, and supports the translation of research advancements into improved health outcomes; (3) projects that would develop and strengthen research and data standards concerning women’s health; (4) projects that would use innovation funds, challenges, prizes, and other mechanisms to spur innovation in women’s health; and (5) investments in innovation to accelerate women’s health research including, but not limited to, investments in translational science to convert research findings and discoveries into treatments and interventions that improve women’s health outcomes and reduce health disparities.