Bill > A1961

Introduced Session

This bill requires each school district, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, to incorporate instruction on toxic shock syndrome in grades 4 through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. This bill would also require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of toxic shock syndrome. This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets. The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill would require the toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department. Failure to comply with the provisions of this bill would result in liability for a penalty of not more than $100 for each violation. Under the bill, "group A or M occupancy" means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in chapter 3 of the 2015 New Jersey International Building Code. Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade 5 are excluded from the "group A or M occupancy" definition. This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly. Anyone can contract toxic shock syndrome, but women using tampons and similar devices have a higher risk. Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches. As toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion. Toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of toxic shock syndrome. This bill is named in honor of Madalyn "Maddy" Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017 just days after contracting Toxic Shock Syndrome. Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Serena DiMaso (R)*,  Britnee Timberlake (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  Carol Murphy (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/14/2020)

Official Document