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A 4753

Relates to establishing Bella's Law, which correlates animal abuse with domestic violence

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anil Beephan and 14 co-sponsors

Requires DOH to create and provide an informational water safety video for new parents, shown before discharge from hospitals/birthing facilities.

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
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Bill Summary · A 4753

Summary: Assembly Bill No. A-4753 (Water Safety Information for New Parents)

Note: The bill text provided centers on water safety education for new parents. Although the bill’s short title in the summary mentions “Bella’s Law” in relation to animal abuse and domestic violence, the introduced and committee materials describe a different focus: an informational video on water safety for newborns and new parents.

Purpose and intent

  • To improve child water safety by requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to prepare and disseminate an informational video on water safety for children.
  • To ensure new parents—along with any other adult family members present at the infant’s birth—receive this information as part of hospital or birthing facility discharge procedures.

Key provisions

  • Information video requirements

    • The Commissioner of Health must prepare and make available to every hospital and birthing facility in New Jersey an informational video on child water safety.
    • Video topics include:
    • Risks of drowning in bathtubs, pools, and other water bodies
    • Importance of basic swimming, water safety, water rescue, and CPR skills
    • Use of life jackets and other age-appropriate flotation devices
    • Anti-entrapment drain covers, safety release systems, and pool fences

  • Display and accessibility

    • The video must be shown to a new parent and any other adult family member present at the infant’s birth.
    • The video should be shown prior to the infant’s birth or the new parent’s discharge from the hospital/birthing facility.
    • The DOH may make the video available by posting it on the DOH website or via other electronic means.

  • Hospital discharge procedures

    • The DOH must require each hospital and birthing facility to have new parents watch the informational video as part of the discharge process.

  • Definitions

    • “Birthing facility” means an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the DOH that provides birthing and newborn care services.

  • Regulatory implementation

    • The Commissioner must adopt rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to effectuate the act.
    • Effective date: immediate.

Affected parties and impact

  • Hospitals and birthing facilities across New Jersey
  • New parents and other adult family members present at an infant’s birth
  • DOH as the implementing agency

Potential impacts include:
- Administrative changes in discharge procedures to incorporate video-watching compliance.
- Administrative costs and staff time associated with ensuring video viewing.
- A standardized source of aquatic-safety information for families entering parenthood.

Timeline and legislative history

  • Introduced: September 19, 2024 (A-4753)
  • Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee: 2024-09-19
  • Committee action: March 10, 2025 — Assembly Committee reported favorably
  • Referred/Actions in 2025:
    • February 6, 2025 — Referred to Children and Families
    • March 10, 2025 — Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
    • May 22, 2025 — Passed Assembly (71-2-1)
    • May 29, 2025 — Received in Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

Sponsors and related bills

  • Primary sponsor: Eric Brown
  • Additional sponsors: Chris Tague, David DiPietro, and others
  • Cosponsors include: Jake Ryan Blumencranz, Alec Brook-Krasny, Karl Brabenec, and several others
  • Related/companion bills: S 3757 (companion), S 1753 (companion), A 9948, A 10013, A 1276 (prior-session)

Notes

  • The bill text provided does not address animal abuse or domestic violence, despite the initial description referring to “Bella’s Law.” The substantive provisions focus exclusively on a DOH-developed water-safety video and hospital discharge requirements.

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

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