ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4434

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 17, 2024

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4434.

      As amended, this bill requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (division) and the Department of Health to conduct a study on the causes, prevention, and reduction of disordered eating in New Jersey.  Within 18 months following the bill’s effective date, the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Health are to prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report containing the study's findings and recommendations. 

      The study is to include: (1) determining key information about disordered eating, including risk factors and preventing factors; (2) identifying gaps in treatment for disordered eating; (3) evaluating prevention strategies, including dismantling discrimination and bias with regard to weight; and (4) making recommendations to facilitate public outreach, and increase awareness regarding disordered eating prevention, with a focus on impacted communities, such as youth, older residents, people of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.  

      The division may:  (1) contract with a third party to conduct focus groups, interview key individuals, conduct surveys, and establish a collaborative group to discuss key issues regarding disordered eating prevention; (2) partner with the Department of Education to inform teachers, administrators, school staff, students, and parents on disordered eating prevention; and (3) seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources.

      The amended bill establishes a three-year Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program within the division.  This grant program is to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to conduct research on or research related to barriers to and gaps within the treatment of disordered eating; the root causes of disordered eating; and the risk factors and protective factors for disordered eating in youth, adults, and older residents.  

      Under the bill, the division is to submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report that summarizes the following information regarding the administration of the Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program: the number of grant recipients; the amount of each grant award to each grant recipient; and a summary of each grant recipient’s written report.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      1) make technical changes involving the title, synopsis, numbering, punctuation, and usage;

      2) omit the appropriation, thereby requiring the DHS to utilize available funds;

      3) eliminate the Office of Disordered Eating Prevention;

      4) require the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Health to conduct a study and submit a report as provided in the bill;

      5) restructure certain provisions of the bill;

      6) establish a three-year pilot program as provided for in the bill;

      7) revise the effective date so that the bill will expire in three years; and

      8) revise the reporting requirements in section 5 of the bill.