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Bill

A 1141

Establishes the "health care information management act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karines Reyes and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a mandatory, district-wide emergency operations plan for every New Jersey school, aligned with authorities, updated every five years, and includes disaster education in K–1

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 1141

Summary of Bill A 1141

Note on title vs. content: The bill is titled to establish the "health care information management act," but the introduced version provided here focuses on emergency preparedness in schools. The summary below reflects the text of the introduced version.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 1141
  • Status: Referred to Health (as of January 9, 2025)
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Primary sponsor: Jo Anne Simon (with MaryJane Shimsky and Karines Reyes as cosponsors)
  • Geographic scope: New Jersey schools (districts and nonpublic schools)

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a comprehensive framework for emergency preparedness in every school district and nonpublic school to ensure continuity of essential school functions during all emergencies (fires, active shooters, natural and environmental disasters, pandemics, etc.).
  • Align school emergency planning with State and local emergency management structures and authorities.

Key Provisions

1) Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

  • Each district board of education and each nonpublic school's chief administrator must develop and coordinate an EOP.
  • Plan elements must include:
    • Baseline preparedness for all potential emergencies
    • Coordination with State/local authorities (e.g., State Office of Emergency Management, local law enforcement, health officers, county emergency management, etc.)
    • Identification of essential functions, programs, and personnel
    • Procedures to implement the plan; delegation of authority and succession
    • Identification of alternative facilities, communications infrastructure
    • Protection of vital records and databases
    • Schedule and procedures for testing, training, and exercises
    • Consistency with the local municipal EOP
  • Submission and review timeline:
    • Plan must be adopted and submitted within six months of enactment to the Commissioner of Education, the State Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, and the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
    • Plan must be reviewed/updated and resubmitted every five years; if an emergency occurs, the plan should be reviewed as soon as practicable after the incident.
  • State agencies’ role: The reviewing offices may provide recommendations for improvement.

2) Public Access

  • Any plan prepared under this act is not considered a government record under the Open Public Records Act and is not subject to public inspection, copying, or purchase of copies.

3) Student Instruction on Emergencies

  • Boards/administrators must annually provide instruction to students related to the EOP, including expectations and responsibilities during emergencies.

4) Environmental/Natural Disaster Education

  • Each district must integrate instruction on environmental and natural disasters into K–12 curricula (Science, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, and Social Studies) consistent with New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
  • Curriculum content to include:
    • Types of disasters that have occurred or may occur in the state
    • Understanding school emergency policies and evacuation procedures
    • Disaster preparedness, including how to make preparedness kits and plans

5) Effective Date

  • Act takes effect immediately; Section 3 (curriculum integration) applies in the first full school year after enactment.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Affected: All New Jersey school districts and nonpublic schools, their boards/administrators, students, and state/local emergency management and health agencies.
  • Impacts include administrative obligations, planning processes, training/testing requirements, confidentiality of plans, and addition of disaster education in K–12 curricula.

Timing and Process

  • Immediate effect for most provisions; specific curriculum requirement begins the first full school year after enactment.
  • Ongoing five-year review cycle for the EOPs, plus incident-driven reviews.

Notes

  • Related companion and prior-session bills exist (e.g., S 8465; multiple A-series references), indicating broader interest in school emergency preparedness.

This summary captures the substantive provisions and likely impacts for stakeholders considering A 1141.

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

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