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Bill

A 5127

Provides cancer and cardiovascular screenings to law enforcement officers; establishes fund; appropriates $20 million.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rosy Bagolie and 2 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill creates $20 million fund to provide free cancer and cardiovascular screenings for law enforcement officers, recognizing occupational health risks.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
#health #police
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Bill Summary · A 5127

Legislative bill overview

Assembly Bill A 5127 establishes a state-funded program to provide comprehensive cancer and cardiovascular disease screenings to New Jersey law enforcement officers at no cost. The bill creates a dedicated fund and appropriates $20 million to support these preventive health screenings, recognizing that law enforcement work involves occupational exposures and stress factors that may increase disease risk.

Why is this important

Law enforcement officers face elevated occupational health risks from environmental exposures, irregular schedules, and job-related stress, which correlate with higher rates of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Early screening can detect diseases at more treatable stages, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving officer health outcomes and workplace longevity.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding allocation and fiscal impact: Whether $20 million is sufficient to meaningfully screen the state's approximately 33,000 law enforcement officers, and whether this represents appropriate prioritization of limited state health resources compared to other public health needs
  • Scope and equity concerns: Questions about whether similar occupational health screening should be extended to other high-risk professions (firefighters, corrections officers) or if this creates inequitable treatment across public employees
  • Program administration and sustainability: Unclear whether funding covers ongoing screenings or is one-time, who administers the program, and whether $20 million provides permanent infrastructure or requires future appropriations

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

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