Bill > A1135

Introduced Session

This bill would establish the "Planning for an Aging Population Task Force." The purpose of the task force would be to study and identify concerns related to the growth of the State's aging population, and develop and recommend a plan of action that is designed to prepare and enable the State to appropriately respond to the ongoing growth in this population and ensure that senior citizens in New Jersey continue to have sufficient access to necessary programs, services, and supports in both the near and long-term future. The Planning for an Aging Population Task Force will consist of 23 members, including 16 ex officio members or their designees, and seven public members, each of whom will have experience and expertise in issues related to aging. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the times and places it may designate, but will be required to hold at least one hearing in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The Planning for an Aging Population Task Force will have the duty to: 1) Analyze population data, demographic data, and other appropriate data points for New Jersey to: identify the current number, percentage, location, and density of senior citizens residing in the State, and estimate the extent to which the senior citizen population in New Jersey will grow or otherwise change in the near to long-term future; 2) Identify, and compile an inventory of, existing State, local, and non-profit resources, programs, and services that are available to senior citizens in the State; 3) Analyze the nature and severity of illnesses or conditions commonly suffered by senior citizens in the State, and evaluate the State's capacity to timely and humanely provide physical and mental health care, including home health care, and other necessary services to a growing population of senior citizens suffering from such ailments; 4) Consult with, and solicit and review information and data maintained by, the Department of Labor and the Department of Community Affairs, as may be necessary to identify the potential impacts on the State's labor and housing markets that may result from the ongoing growth of the State's aging population. The Departments of Labor and Community Affairs shall provide the task force with any information or data requested thereby for the purposes of this paragraph; 5) Solicit and receive testimony from senior citizens and the caregivers of senior citizens, from health care professionals and other service providers, and from representatives of relevant organizations, associations, and executive departments, on topics related to aging; and 6) Develop and propose a Statewide plan of action that will enable the State to proactively address the problems and concerns identified by the task force and be better prepared to effectively, efficiently, and humanely serve the growing aging population in New Jersey in both the near and long-term future. Not later than 18 months after the task force is organized, it will be required to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) a written report of its findings and recommendations relating to the growth of the aging population in the State and the problems that may result from this growing population; and 2) a copy of the Statewide plan of action that has been proposed by the task force. The task force will dissolve on the 30th day following the submission of the written report and proposed plan of action.

Committee Categories

Carol Murphy (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document