SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3685

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 19, 2026

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3685.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill requires the State Office of Emergency Management to establish a permanent unit in the office to serve the needs of State residents with access and functional needs. The responsibilities of the unit are to include:

      1) determining the needs of residents with access and functional needs before, during, and after disasters and emergencies;

      2) determining the Statewide availability of relevant resources and assistance;

      3) assessing and addressing the ability of residents with access and functional needs to access available resources and assistance; and

      4) coordinating with county and local offices of emergency management and relevant resource providers to determine, expand, and implement best practices to be utilized in support of residents with access and functional needs. 

      Under the bill, a “resident with access and functional needs” is defined as:

      1) a person with a disability;

       2) an older adult;

      3) a person with limited English proficiency;

      4)  a person with limited access to transportation that would enable the person to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of a disaster or emergency; or

      5) a person with limited access to financial resources that would enable the person to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of a disaster or emergency.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to remove findings and declarations that are no longer current.