Requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lou Greenwald and 5 co-sponsors

Requires NJ state and county correctional facilities to offer voluntary hepatitis B and C blood testing to inmates at the start of confinement, with rulemaking to implement.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee

#corrections #disease

Quick overview

Bill number: A 2827

Title: Requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing

Purpose: Require correctional facilities to offer blood testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to inmates at the start of confinement, while making participation voluntary.

Status: Introduced in the Assembly on January 9, 2024; referred to the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.

Subject: Corrections, disease

What the bill would do

State facilities: The Commissioner of Corrections must offer blood testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to every inmate at the commencement of confinement in a State correctional facility. Participation is voluntary; inmates cannot be compelled to submit to testing.

County facilities: The chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of every county correctional facility must offer the same testing to each person incarcerated at the start of confinement. Participation remains voluntary.

Implementation rules: The Commissioner of Corrections would adopt rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to effectuate these provisions.

Effective date: The act would take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.

Who is affected

Inmates: Anyone sentenced to a term of incarceration in a New Jersey State correctional facility or in a county correctional facility would be offered hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing at the start of confinement.

Correctional administration: The Department of Corrections (state) and county correctional facilities’ leadership would be responsible for offering testing and implementing required rules.

Key provisions and specifics

Testing type: Blood testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Voluntariness: Inmates are not required to undergo testing.

Scope: Applies to all state and county facilities under the respective corrections systems.

Regulatory framework: The bill directs the creation of rules under the Administrative Procedure Act to carry out the testing program.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: January 9, 2024

Committee action: Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (status indicates ongoing committee consideration).

Effective timeline: If enacted, the law would take effect six months after enactment; the rulemaking process would occur concurrently to implement the provisions.

Potential impact (neutral assessment)

Public health: Increases opportunities for early detection of hepatitis B and C among the incarcerated population, which can inform treatment and reduce transmission.

Inmate rights: Maintains voluntariness of testing, respecting individual medical decision-making.

Operational considerations: May entail costs for testing, counseling, and potential linkage to care; requires administrative rulemaking to standardize procedures across state and county facilities.

Data and privacy: Testing data would be collected and managed within correctional health systems, with implications for inmate privacy and health records, subject to applicable laws and agency policies.

Bill