ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1884

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1884.

      As amended, this bill establishes the act of disseminating misinformation or disinformation by a health care professional as an act of professional misconduct subject to disciplinary action. 

      The bill, as amended, defines “disseminate” to mean the conveyance of information, in the form of treatment or advice, from a health care professional to a patient under the health care professional’s care.  “Misinformation” means any health-related claim of fact that is false. “Disinformation” means misinformation that is deliberately disseminated with malicious intent or an intent to mislead.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments modify the definition of “misinformation” to mean any health-related claim of fact that is false. As introduced, “misinformation” was defined to mean any health-related claim of fact that is false and contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care.