ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4595

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4595.

      This bill requires each Executive Branch department, agency, and instrumentality to: 1) establish an inventory of regulations, policies, guidelines, waivers, plans, programs, directives, the subsequent executive orders declaring a state of emergency and public health emergency, and any other actions developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) assess the effectiveness of such measures and the applicability of the measures to potential future emergency scenarios; and 3) promulgate rules and regulations, or take any other actions to implement a set of measures that would effectuate a rapid and effective response to potential future emergency scenarios.

      This bill requires that one year following the bill’s effective date, and annually thereafter, each Executive Branch department, agency, and instrumentality is to provide a report to the Governor and Legislature, which: 1) identifies implemented measures; 2) provides an assessment of the effectiveness of such measures; 3) details plans for the implementation of such measures in response to potential future emergency scenarios; and 4) makes recommendations for legislation or executive actions.  Each report is to be made available to the public by posting the report on the websites of the Executive Branch department, office, agency, or instrumentality.