SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4201

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 6, 2022

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4201, with committee amendments.

      This bill mandates access to cancer screenings for full-time paid firefighters in this State enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program.  The bill includes screening examinations for colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular, and prostate cancers.  The first screening will take place within the first three years of employment and a firefighter is then entitled to a screening every three years thereafter.  The bill also provides that employment as a full-time paid employee of a fire department or unit of this State or a political subdivision of this State will be a pre-existing condition.  The effective date of the bill is January 1, 2023.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

     The committee amendments: limit the bill’s application only to firefighters enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program; provide that employment as a full-time paid employee of a fire department or unit of this State or a political subdivision of this State will be a pre-existing condition; and change the effective date from immediately to January 1, 2023.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services estimates that the bill would result in an additional cost to the State Health Benefits Program that cannot be determined at this time.