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A 1700

Relates to the definition of a day student for the purposes of employment

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Ramos

Mandates statewide perinatal anxiety education and screening from prenatal to postnatal care, involves families, uses PASS tools, and funds a public awareness campaign if possible.

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Bill Summary · A 1700

Summary — A-1700 (Reprint AHE 3/6/25 1R)

Title: Relates to perinatal anxiety; supplements Title 26 of the Revised Statutes
Primary sponsor: Asm. Philip Ramos
Introduced: Jan 9, 2024
Status (key steps): Referred to Assembly Health Committee (1/9/24); reported out with committee amendments (3/6/25); passed Assembly 76–2–0 (3/24/25); received in Senate and referred to Senate Health (5/12/25). Committee amendment: made public awareness campaign subject to available funding.

Main purpose

Establish statewide requirements to increase education, screening, and awareness of perinatal anxiety — an anxiety disorder occurring during pregnancy or within one year after childbirth — to improve early recognition, treatment, and family support.

Key provisions

  • State coordination: The Commissioner of Health, with the State Board of Medical Examiners and the NJ Board of Nursing, must develop policies and procedures for implementing the bill’s requirements with health care facilities and licensed providers.
  • Prenatal education and screening:
    • Physicians, nurse midwives, and other prenatal care providers must give prenatal patients and their family members complete information about perinatal anxiety (symptoms, coping methods, treatment resources).
    • Prenatal patients must be screened for perinatal anxiety at least once per trimester.
  • Birthing facility responsibilities:
    • All licensed birthing facilities must provide departing new mothers and fathers (and, as appropriate, other family members) with complete information on perinatal anxiety (symptoms, coping, treatment resources).
  • Postnatal screening:
    • Providers must screen new mothers for perinatal anxiety prior to discharge from the birthing facility and again at the first few postnatal checkups.
  • Family involvement:
    • Providers must include fathers and other family members, as appropriate, in education and treatment processes to improve family support and reduce “spillover” effects.
  • Screening tools:
    • Screening may use the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or another screening instrument approved by the Commissioner of Health.
  • Public awareness campaign:
    • The Commissioner is authorized to establish a public awareness campaign about perinatal anxiety (symptoms, causes, coping, treatment). Per the committee amendment, this campaign is subject to the availability of sufficient funding.
  • Regulations:
    • The Commissioner must adopt rules and regulations (per the Administrative Procedure Act) to implement the act.
  • Definitions:
    • “Birthing facility” is defined as any inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the Department of Health that provides birthing and newborn care services.

Who is affected

  • Health care providers: physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed prenatal/postnatal providers will have new education and screening duties.
  • Birthing facilities: new patient education/discharge obligations.
  • Pregnant and postpartum people and their families: will receive mandated screening and information; greater access to early identification and referral.
  • State agencies/boards: Department of Health and professional boards will develop policies, approve screening tools, and promulgate regulations.

Implementation and procedural notes

  • Screening instrument flexibility: PASS recommended but alternatives may be approved by the Commissioner.
  • Public campaign depends on available funding (committee amendment).
  • The bill directs rulemaking to operationalize requirements; the effective date is not shown in the provided excerpt.
  • Companion/related measures: S-4445 (companion), prior-session bills S-8655, A-7779, A-4833.

Potential impact

If enacted, A-1700 would standardize screening for perinatal anxiety across prenatal and birthing settings in New Jersey, likely increasing identification and referral for treatment, expanding family-oriented education, and raising public awareness (to the extent funding is provided). It places administrative responsibilities on the Department of Health and professional boards to issue detailed implementation guidance.

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

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