Bill > S1849

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a bipartisan task force to study the response to COVID-19 in New Jersey. The bill establishes a bipartisan task force, to be known as the "New Jersey COVID-19 Response Task Force," (task force) to consist of eight members. The President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly are to each appoint two members to the task force. The members of the task force are to be appointed and are to hold their initial organizational meeting within 45 days following the bill's effective date. It is to be the duty of the task force to study New Jersey's general response to COVID-19. In addition, the task force is to: 1) examine the effectiveness of the communication and coordination between governmental entities during the State's response to COVID-19; 2) review the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on nursing homes and nursing home residents; 3) assess the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on the education, physical and mental health, and socialization of children in the State; 4) examine the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on crime rates, physical and mental health, poverty rates, and rates of suicide; 5) analyze the financial impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on businesses, residents, and the State; 6) compare the number of positive COVID-19 cases and the number of COVID-19 deaths in this State to states which took less restrictive, comparable, and more restrictive COVID-19 response measures as compared to New Jersey's COVID-19 response measures; 7) review the healthcare system's response to COVID-19 and determine which government actions and provisions of law either aided or hindered the ability of the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19; and 8) consider other matters as the members of the task force may deem appropriate. Under the bill, the task force is to make recommendations for legislation or other action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating a response to a Statewide or national medical emergency. The bill provides that the task force is to expire after it submits its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.

Committee Categories

Parker Space (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document