LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 1659

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MARCH 5, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome and requires installation of signage in certain women's rooms to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.

Type of Impact:

Annual increase in State and local expenditures.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Health, Department of Education, the Judiciary, local school districts, certain State and local government entities, New Jersey Transit Corporation, public institutions of higher education. 

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual 

 

State Cost Increase

Indeterminate

 

Local Cost Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the Department of Health may incur indeterminate, albeit marginal, annual expenditures to: 1) establish certain regulatory requirements regarding the installation and maintenance of bathroom signage on menstrual toxic shock syndrome by certain entities; and 2) prepare and make available certain information on the department’s website regarding menstrual toxic shock syndrome. 

·         The OLS also concludes that certain government entities that function as owners of facilities applicable to the bill’s provisions, including local governments, the New Jersey Transit Corporation, public institutions of higher education, and State and local courts, may incur some indeterminate annual costs to install and maintain bathroom signage, as required under the bill. 

·         The OLS notes that school districts may incur marginal one-time costs to integrate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome into their health and physical education curriculums to the extent that this instruction is not already provided.  The Department of Education is to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement, which could potentially result in one-time marginal State cost increases that can likely be absorbed by current staff using existing resources.  

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill would require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.  This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets.  

      Under the bill, group A occupancy includes, but is not limited to, a building used for civic, social or religious functions; recreation, food or drink consumption or awaiting transportation, while group M occupancy includes, but is not limited to, a building used for the display and sale of merchandise.  Locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade five are excluded from this provision.  The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate these signage requirements. 

      Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.

      This bill also requires each school district to incorporate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome in grades four through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education and directs the Department of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the Department of Health may incur indeterminate, albeit marginal, annual expenditures to: 1) establish certain regulatory requirements regarding the installation and maintenance of bathroom signage on menstrual toxic shock syndrome by certain entities; and 2) prepare and make available certain information on the department’s website regarding menstrual toxic shock syndrome.  It is likely that the department will require marginal to no resources to comply with these provisions as such activities fall within the department’s scope of responsibilities.  Currently, the department provides information on toxic shock syndrome on the communicable disease service website:  https://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tss.shtml.  

      The OLS also concludes that certain government entities that function as owners of facilities applicable to the bill’s provisions may experience indeterminate annual costs to install and maintain bathroom signage, as required under the bill.  Such costs will likely be limited to materials and printing, and may be able to be absorbed into the entity’s operating budget.  Examples of effected facilities include municipal buildings, schools that include grades above grade five, courthouses, certain New Jersey Transit Corporation transportation terminals that contain waiting areas, and institutions of higher education having facilities covered by the bill.

      The OLS notes that school districts may incur marginal one-time costs to integrate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome into their health and physical education curriculums to the extent that this instruction is not already provided.  The Department of Education is to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement, which could potentially result in one-time marginal State cost increases that can likely be absorbed by current staff using existing resources.  

 

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah Schmidt

Principal Research Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).