Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHS to post copies of incident reports involving physical injuries, abuse, neglect, or exploitation in State developmental centers or community-based residential programs on its website.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning persons with disabilities and amending P.L.2017; c.238.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 13 of P.L.2017, c.238 (C.30:6D-9.7) is amended to read as follows:
13. The Department of Human Services shall post on its Internet website a copy of:
a. P.L.2017, c.238 (C.30:6D-9.1 et al.) [on its website];
b. every report of an incident of physical injury, abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a State developmental center or community-based residential program investigated by the department pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2017, c.238 (C.30:6D-9.4), promptly upon completion of an investigation, so that the public has access to the reports at all times; and
c. an annual report summarizing the information posted on the department’s Internet website pursuant to subsection b. of this section, categorized by the number and type of incidents investigated per developmental center or community-based residential program.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.238, s.13)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends section 13 of P.L.2017, c.238 (C.30:6D-9.7) to require the Department of Human Services to post on its Internet website a copy of: every report of an incident of physical injury, abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a State developmental center or community-based residential program investigated by the department pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2017, c.238 (C.30:6D-9.4), promptly upon completion of an investigation, so that the public has access to the reports at all times; and an annual report summarizing the information on incident reports posted on the department’s Internet website, categorized by the number and type of incidents investigated per developmental center or community-based residential program.
Currently, the department is required to post a copy of P.L.2017, c.238 (C.30:6D-9.1 et al.) on its website but is not required to post copies of reports of incidents of physical injury, abuse, neglect, or exploitation in State developmental centers or community-based residential programs or an annual summary of such reports, categorized by the number and type of incidents per center or program.