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A 4735

Enacts "Cariol's Law"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Khaleel Anderson and 8 co-sponsors

The bill requires all licensed health facilities to collect and report aggregated data on patients’ citizenship/immigration status and monthly care costs for individuals unable to

PRINT NUMBER 4735B
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Bill Summary · A 4735

Summary — A4735 (Print No. 4735B)

Title on introduced text: "Illegal Alien Healthcare Transparency Act"
(Record header also lists "Enacts 'Cariol's Law'"; the bill text provided and the statement describe the Healthcare Transparency Act.)

Purpose / Intent

The bill directs the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) to require licensed health care facilities to collect and report information on patients' citizenship or immigration status and to quantify monthly costs of care provided to individuals described in the bill as "illegal aliens." Sponsor materials state the intent is to increase transparency about the cost to the State of health care used by non‑citizens who cannot demonstrate lawful presence.

Key provisions

  • Requires DOH to mandate that each health care facility licensed under P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H‑1 et seq.) inquire into the citizenship or immigration status of every patient.
  • Requires licensed facilities to submit monthly reports to DOH containing:
    • Aggregate data on patients’ citizenship/immigration status; and
    • The facility’s monthly cost of care provided to "illegal aliens."
    • Reports must be in aggregate form and must not include individually identifying patient information.
  • DOH must publish each facility’s monthly report on its website.
  • Criminalizes knowingly making a materially false statement about one’s citizenship or immigration status in any document or electronic transmission necessary for a facility’s inquiry; such a violation is classified a fourth‑degree crime.
  • Defines "illegal alien" for the bill as an individual who resides in New Jersey and is unable to produce documentary evidence showing lawful presence.
  • Grants the Commissioner of Health authority to adopt implementing rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Effective immediately upon enactment.

Penalties

  • False statements about immigration/citizenship status in required inquiry materials would be a fourth‑degree criminal offense (the bill does not specify fines or terms; under New Jersey law, fourth‑degree offenses carry statutorily prescribed penalties).

Who would be affected

  • All health care facilities licensed under the referenced statute (hospitals, clinics and other facilities licensed under P.L.1971, c.136).
  • Current and prospective patients at those facilities (required inquiry into immigration/citizenship status).
  • DOH (responsible for collecting, publishing and regulating the reporting process).

Implementation, timeline, and procedure

  • DOH will issue rules and implement reporting requirements after the bill’s effective date (the law is effective immediately upon enactment).
  • Facilities will begin making monthly submissions once DOH issues guidance/rules.

Practical considerations and implications

  • Administrative: Facilities will incur new data collection, tracking, and reporting obligations and costs.
  • Privacy and compliance: Although reports are to be aggregated without personal identifiers, routine collection of immigration status raises potential HIPAA, state privacy, and recordkeeping considerations; facilities would need to ensure compliance with federal and state privacy laws.
  • Clinical access and public health: Requiring immigration status inquiries and public reporting may affect care‑seeking behavior among immigrant communities and could raise public‑policy and legal questions (e.g., federal preemption, anti‑discrimination concerns). The bill text does not address these legal implications.
  • Data quality: The bill defines "illegal alien" by inability to produce documentary evidence; that may affect measurement accuracy and uniformity among facilities.

Legislative status & sponsors

  • Introduced in the Assembly: September 12, 2024. Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.
  • Subsequent actions include referral to Assembly Codes Committee (2/6/2025) and amendments/printings producing A4735A and A4735B (print number 4735B recorded 6/9/2025).
  • Primary sponsor: Assemblywoman Monique Chandler‑Waterman. Cosponsors include Nikki Lucas, Chantel Jackson, Kwani O'Pharrow, Demond Meeks, Noah Burroughs, Eddie Gibbs, Khaleel Anderson, and Stefani Zinerman.

Related legislation

  • Companion: S1403 (same session). Prior‑session related bills: S8520, A7283, A6023.

This summary describes the bill text and legislative record provided and does not evaluate legal validity or policy merits.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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