A2735 TR

An Act concerning disordered eating and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statues.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Eating Disorders are increasingly recognized as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with 10,200 deaths per year attributed to an eating disorder in the United States;

b. According to the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders, in New Jersey, nine percent of residents, or more than three-quarters of a million people, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime;

c. People of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals; youth; and older residents are more likely to suffer from an eating disorder, but less likely to receive eating disorder treatment, creating a disproportionate gap in eating disorder prevention and care;

d. There is limited State-specific research on disordered eating and its impact on the residents of New Jersey; and

e. It is fitting and proper for the State to focus on developing research and resources to educate residents on the severity of disordered eating, to prevent disordered eating in New Jersey, and to support residents who develop disordered eating – with a recognition that disordered eating disproportionately harms and increases the mortality rates of people of color; lesbian gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals; youth; and older residents.

2. As used in this act:

“Disordered eating” means a range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not warrant diagnosis of a specific eating disorder.

“Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program” or “grant program” means the Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program established pursuant to section 4 of this act.

“Division” means the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services.

“Eligible applicant” means an individual, nonprofit organization, or for-profit organization, that conducts research on disordered eating and prevention in youth, adults, and older residents or that serves youth, adults, and older residents who have disordered eating traits.

“Grant recipient” means an eligible applicant that the division selects to receive money through the grant program.

3. a. The division and the Department of Health shall conduct a study on the causes, prevention, and reduction of disordered eating in New Jersey.

b. Within 18 months following the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Health shall 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.

c. The study shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(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;

d. 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 disorder eating prevention; and

(3) seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purpose of this act.

4. a. There is hereby established a three-year Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program within the division. This grant program shall 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.

b. The division shall administer the grant program and shall adopt guidelines for the grant program, which guidelines shall include:

(1) application procedures by which eligible applicants may apply for a grant;

(2) criteria to use in selecting eligible applicants to receive grant money and to determine the amount of grant money to be awarded to each grant recipient, according to the availability of resources for the grant program;

(3) procedures for administering the grant program, including establishment of the dates the division will announce the grant program, begin accepting applications, allow eligible applicants to submit applications, and begin distributing money to the grantees; and

(4) reporting procedures for grant recipients.

c. Each grant recipient shall submit a written report to the division, which report shall include a summary of the research made possible with the grant award.

5. Commencing one year after the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the division shall 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:

a. the number of grant recipients;

b. the amount of each grant award to each grant recipient; and

c. a summary of each grant recipient’s written report, as required to be submitted to the division pursuant to subsection c. of section 4 of this act.

6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire three years thereafter.