SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 2743
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JUNE 27, 2022
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2743.
This bill mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for firefighters who are not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). Under current law, a firefighter enrolled in SHBP is entitled to a cancer screening examination every three years. This bill expands the access to examinations for firefighters who have a different health care plan through their public employer.
The bill specifies that there should be no out-of-pocket cost to the firefighter.
Additionally, the bill specifies that the State will reimburse public employers for the full examination up to $1,250 per three-year period for each firefighter.
The bill appropriates $2 million for the reimbursements and requires annual appropriations in the future.
The bill will take effect January 1, 2023.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amendments require public employers of firefighters, instead of the State Health Benefits Commission, to provide for the examinations through their health care benefits plans, and the State will reimburse the public employer instead of the provider.
The amendments change the recipient of the appropriation from the State Health Benefits Commission to the Department of the Treasury.
The amendments also add a requirement that a public employer maintain adequate records to facilitate the reimbursement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Services finds the bill will result in an indeterminate increase to the State to provide for cancer screening examinations. The bill appropriates $2 million for the purposes of the bill. The cost of the bill would depend on the specifics of which examinations and tests are provided during the year, the number and cost, and the number of firefighters receiving the screening examinations.