SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 1950
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MARCH 3, 2025
The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1950.
This bill expands the scope of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (ombudsman) to provide that the office of the ombudsman will oversee all long-term care facility residents, not just the elderly. The bill updates certain statutory references to reflect this change, and additionally removes references to “patients” and “clients” of a facility.
Current law provides that, upon completing an investigation, the ombudsman’s findings and recommended action are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Health or the Commissioner of Human Services, as appropriate, as well as to any other governmental agency that regulates or operates the facility. The bill revises this requirement to provide that the report be furnished to these entities upon request, and upon substantiation of the report or complaint. The bill further provides that the report may also be provided to the complainant, if the resident or the resident’s legal representative consents to the complainant receiving a copy of the report. The bill provides that, in addition to obtaining the name and address of a person on a consent form, the ombudsman is to make reasonable efforts to obtain the person’s phone number and email address.
The bill removes a requirement for the ombudsman to provide notice before inspecting the premises, books, files, medical records, or other records of a facility or government agency during the course of an investigation.
The bill revises a requirement for the Legislature to review the development, administration, and operation of the office through certain standing reference committees to instead make the Legislature directly responsible for the review.
The bill makes various technical and stylistic changes to the current statutory law involving grammar and citation.
This bill was prefiled 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.