ASSEMBLY, No. 2513

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

208th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 5, 1998

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman HERBERT CONAWAY, JR.

District 7 (Burlington and Camden)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Previte, Watson Coleman, Assemblyman Barnes, Assemblywoman Friscia, Assemblyman Greenwald, Assemblywoman Gill, Assemblyman Stanley, Assemblywoman Cruz-Perez, Assemblymen Roberts and Conners

SYNOPSIS

Establishes targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative in DHSS; appropriates $750,000.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 6/29/1999)

An Act establishing a targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative in the Department of Health and Senior Services, supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes and making an appropriation.

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

1. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall establish a targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative to provide patient education, awareness and screening services for low-income and minority women. The program shall be established in accordance with accepted public health practice and recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and within the limits of available resources.

2. There is created a 15-member advisory council to advise the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services regarding development and operation of the targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative and to assist in an evaluation of the initiative.

a. The advisory council shall consist of: the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services or his designee; two members each from the Senate and the General Assembly, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, respectively, who in each case shall not be of the same political party; and 10 public members, including physicians and low-income and minority breast cancer survivors, to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

b. Legislative members shall serve during their terms of office. Public members shall serve for a term of three years from the date of their appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified; except that, of the first appointments made, two shall be for a term of one year, four for two years, and four for three years.

Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

c. The advisory council shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members and shall select a chairman from among its members and a secretary who need not be a member of the council.

3. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, pursuant to

the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

4. There is appropriated $750,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services, to be allocated for patient education, awareness and screening services for low-income and minority women under the targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative established pursuant to this act.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative in the Department of Health and Senior Services to provide patient education, awareness and screening services for low-income and minority women.

The bill creates a 15-member advisory council to advise the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services regarding development and operation of the targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative and to assist in an evaluation of the initiative. The advisory council shall consist of: the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services or his designee; two members each from the Senate and the General Assembly, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, respectively, who in each case shall not be of the same political party; and 10 public members, including physicians and low-income and minority breast cancer survivors, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $750,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services, to be allocated for patient education, awareness and screening for low-income and minority women under the targeted breast cancer education and screening initiative.