ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 256

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 2, 2022

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 256 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill requires certain health care facilities to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke via use of a smoke evacuation system.  The Commissioner of Health is to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this bill.

      The bill defines "health care facility" to mean a health care facility licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.).  “Health care facility” does not mean a long-term care facility or a provider of adult medical day care services.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2022-2023 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      (1)  make technical changes;

      (2)  exclude “long-term care facilities,” which include assisted living programs, and “providers of adult medical day care services” from the bill, as those terms are defined in the bill;

      (3)  alter the definition of “smoke evacuation system”;

      (4)  change the effective date; and

      (5)  update the synopsis.