Bill > A5251

Introduced Session

This bill creates the "Disability Life-Sustaining Measures Advisory Council" (council) in the Department of Health. The purpose of the council is to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are protected during public health emergencies. The advisory council is to at a minimum: (1) recommend policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation to help the State provide life-sustaining measures to people with disabilities during a public health emergency, including, but not be limited to policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation regarding emergency care, ventilators, resuscitation orders, testing, and immunizations; (2) recommend policies that protect the rights of people with disabilities in any medical setting where the life of a person with a disability is at risk; (3) analyze and review the State's emergency care standards to determine compliance with federal laws on discrimination against people with disabilities; and (4) receive public comment on the treatment of people with disabilities during public health emergencies. Under the bill, the council is to consist of 14 as provided for in the bill. Each member of the advisory council is to serve for a term of three years; however, of the members first appointed, two are to serve an initial term of one year, two are to serve an initial term of two years, and one is to serve an initial term of three years. Members will be eligible for reappointment to the advisory council upon the conclusion of their respective membership terms. Any member may also be removed by the Governor, for cause, following a public hearing. Members of the council are to be appointed within 30 days after the bill's effective date, and the council is to hold its first organizational meeting within 30 days after the appointment of a majority of its membership. Each year following the council's organization, the council will be required to submit a report of its activities to the Governor and Legislature.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Angela Mcknight (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  Daniel Benson (D),  Anthony Verrelli (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee (on 01/12/2021)