Bill
A 4678
Hospitals must ask adults about substance use disorder and, within 180 days of a protocol, provide or refer to treatment, with public access to protocols.
Note on bill identification
- The metadata provided lists Assembly Bill A4678 with the title “Prohibits recording of the entrance of a school ground.” However, the text of the bill included in the packet is unrelated to that title. The actual text of A4678 (Introduced Version / Print 4678A) concerns hospitals and patients with substance use disorder (SUD). This summary addresses the bill text as provided (hospital SUD provisions). If you intended the school-recording bill, please supply the correct text.
Purpose
- Require general acute care hospitals to identify adult patients (age 18+) who have a substance use disorder or are in recovery, and to establish protocols to provide treatment or referral to treatment.
Key provisions
- Patient inquiry: When providing health care services to individuals 18 years or older, a licensed general acute care hospital (per P.L.1971, c.136; C.26:2H-1 et seq.) must ask whether the individual has a substance use disorder or is in recovery from one.
- Protocols for treatment/referral: Each such hospital must, within 180 days of the bill’s effective date, adopt an official facility-wide protocol — or unit-specific protocols — for providing treatment or referral for patients who disclose a SUD or recovery status.
- Public access to protocols: Protocols must be available to the public upon request.
- Regulatory authority: The Commissioner of Health is authorized to adopt rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act as necessary to implement the law.
- Effective date: The act takes effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment. The Commissioner may take anticipatory administrative actions before the effective date. Hospitals have 180 days after the effective date to establish protocols.
Who is affected
- General acute care hospitals licensed in New Jersey (providers responsible for compliance).
- Adult patients (18+) receiving care at those hospitals (who will be asked about SUD status and may be offered treatment/referral).
- The Department of Health (rulemaking and oversight responsibilities).
Procedural status (from provided legislative actions)
- Introduced in the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Health Committee (June 28, 2024).
- Later referred to the Codes Committee (Feb. 4, 2025).
- Printed as 4678A and amended and recommitted to Codes (April 30, 2025).
Sponsors and related legislation
- Primary sponsor: Assemblyman Charles Lavine
- Cosponsor: Micah Lasher
- Related/companion bills: S1212, S1694; A9390 is a prior-session related measure.
Potential impacts and considerations
- May increase identification of SUD among hospitalized adults and facilitate linkage to treatment or recovery supports.
- Hospitals will need to develop protocols, train staff, and possibly allocate resources for screening, brief intervention, referral, and documentation — creating administrative and potential cost implications.
- Implementation should take into account patient privacy protections (HIPAA and state law) and ensure culturally competent, evidence-based referral pathways and treatment options are available.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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