Bill
S 3616
Requires prenatal providers to assess lead exposure risk and screen pregnant persons when indicated, to protect maternal/child health.
Status and procedural history
- Introduced: September 19, 2024 (Senate).
- Reported with committee amendments by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee: March 3, 2025 (2nd reading).
- Current referral/status: Listed as REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS (record shows prior committee actions).
- Companion/identical bill: A4848 (1R).
Purpose and intent
- Require prenatal care providers to assess pregnant persons for risk factors for lead exposure and, when indicated under current federal guidance, to perform lead screening during pregnancy. The goal is earlier identification of maternal lead exposure to protect maternal and child health and to ensure household contacts at risk (children under six) are screened.
Who must comply / who is covered
- Licensed health care professionals providing prenatal maternity care, including:
- Licensed physicians
- Licensed physician assistants
- Certified advanced practice nurses
- Certified nurse midwives
- Certified professional midwives
- Certified midwives
- Laboratories performing lead screening tests.
- New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) and local health departments (for reporting and recordkeeping).
- Pregnant persons receiving prenatal care in New Jersey and members of their households (particularly children under age six).
Key provisions
- Assessment and screening:
- Providers must assess each pregnant person for possible lead-exposure risk factors using the most recent guidance from the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
- If the assessment identifies at least one risk factor consistent with CDC/ACOG recommendations, the provider shall perform lead screening once per pregnancy (as appropriate).
- If the provider cannot perform the screening, they may refer the patient in writing to another provider who can.
- Patient rights and exemptions:
- Providers are not required to perform screening if the patient objects in writing.
- Providers are not required to repeat screening if another provider has already completed the required screening.
- Positive/elevated results:
- If a provider receives laboratory results indicating an elevated blood lead level in a pregnant person, the provider must notify the patient (in writing), explain the significance of lead poisoning in plain language, and ensure any children or other household members under six are or have been screened.
- Laboratory and reporting requirements:
- Laboratories must report lead screening results to the DOH, the local health department where the patient resides, and the submitting provider within five business days of obtaining the result.
- All lead screening records must be entered into the central DOH database established under P.L.1995, c.328.
- Confidentiality and data use:
- Information in the DOH database is confidential; DOH may publish statistical reports using de-identified data (excluding personal identifiers).
- Implementation:
- The Commissioner of Health is to adopt rules and regulations as necessary (per the Administrative Procedure Act). The introduced version set an effective date of the first day of the third month following enactment.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Public health benefit: Likely to increase detection of maternal lead exposure, enabling counseling and mitigation and prompting screening of young children in the household (who are most vulnerable).
- Provider and lab responsibilities: Adds screening assessment and reporting duties for prenatal providers and labs, and may increase referrals and follow-up activities for local health departments.
- Administrative/regulatory: DOH rulemaking will be needed to operationalize screening criteria consistent with CDC/ACOG guidance and to manage data reporting/ confidentiality. No specific funding or cost estimates are included in the bill text.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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