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Bill > A2335


NJ A2335

NJ A2335
Requires nursing homes to permit use of electronic monitoring devices at request of resident.


summary

Introduced
02/07/2022
In Committee
02/07/2022
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2024

Introduced Session

2022-2023 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires a nursing home to permit a resident to be monitored or the resident's legal representative to monitor the resident in the resident's room, through the use of an electronic monitoring device. "Electronic monitoring device" is defined as a video surveillance camera, audio device, video telephone, or Internet video surveillance device. The bill provides that: a nursing home will inform a resident and the resident's legal representative of the resident's right to electronic monitoring; the nursing home may require the resident or the resident's legal representative who seeks to install the electronic monitoring device to make the request in writing to the facility; the nursing home will not refuse to admit an individual to the facility or remove a resident from the facility because of a request for electronic monitoring; the electronic monitoring will be funded by the resident or the resident's legal representative; and the resident or the resident's legal representative who engages in electronic monitoring will permit the nursing home to post a notice on the door of the resident's room that states that the room is being monitored by an electronic monitoring device. The monitoring will: be noncompulsory and at the election of the resident or the resident's legal representative; at the request of the nursing home, be conducted within plain view; and protect the privacy rights of other residents and visitors to the nursing home, to the extent reasonably possible; and in the case of a resident who shares a room with another resident, be subject to the written consent of the other resident or that resident's legal representative to the use of the electronic monitoring device in the room. The nursing home will make reasonable physical accommodations for electronic monitoring by providing a reasonably secure place to mount the electronic monitoring device and access to power sources. Finally, the bill provides that a person who willfully, and without the consent of a resident or the resident's legal representative, hampers, obstructs, tampers with, or destroys an electronic monitoring device or tape will be guilty of a crime of the third degree (punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not exceeding $15,000, or both).

AI Summary

This bill requires nursing homes to permit residents or their legal representatives to use electronic monitoring devices, such as video cameras or audio devices, to monitor the resident in their room. The bill provides that the nursing home must inform residents of this right, allow the use of such devices, and make reasonable accommodations for their installation. It also prohibits nursing homes from refusing to admit or removing a resident due to a request for electronic monitoring. The bill specifies that the monitoring must be voluntary, protect the privacy of other residents, and require written consent if the resident shares a room. Importantly, it also makes it a criminal offense to interfere with the electronic monitoring device without the resident's or their representative's consent.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee (on 02/07/2022)

Bill Topics

Health
  • ‐ Long-term Care and Elderly Issues
  • ‐ Regulation of Doctors and Health Facilities

bill text


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