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Bill > A5135


NJ A5135

NJ A5135
Establishes central registry for, and provides for informational outreach to, senior citizens living in New Jersey.


summary

Introduced
12/16/2024
In Committee
02/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires the Division of Aging Services (division) in the Department of Human Services to establish and maintain a voluntary central registry of senior citizens residing in this State. The information in the central registry will be used for the purposes of compiling statistical information on the number of senior citizens living in the State and providing wellness check calls during emergencies and information on services and programs for senior citizens. The division will be authorized to receive death record notifications from the New Jersey Electronic Death Registration System concerning the death any of individual registered with the division pursuant to this bill for the purposes of updating the central registry. A person who is 65 years or older may apply to the division for inclusion in the registry and will provide the division with the following information: the person's name, date of birth, address, income level, and contact information. A person who registers pursuant to this bill may subsequently request through the registry to have the person's information removed from the registry. The Commissioner of Human Services will not remove the information until 21 days following the person's request. The commissioner will subsequently destroy all records associated with that person's registration and remove that person's name from the registry. Information on senior citizens compiled pursuant to this bill may be used by the division and agencies designated by the commissioner for the purposes of carrying out this bill, but otherwise the information will be confidential and not divulged or made public so as to disclose the identity of any person to whom it relates, except as provided by law. Information regarding a person's inclusion in the registry will not be deemed a public record. The division will conduct a Statewide multi-media public awareness campaign in English and Spanish to raise awareness among individuals, who are age 64 years or older, regarding the central registry established pursuant to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a voluntary central registry for senior citizens in New Jersey, managed by the Division of Aging Services within the Department of Human Services. Seniors aged 65 and older can voluntarily register by providing personal information including name, date of birth, address, income level, and contact details. The registry's primary purposes are to compile statistical information about senior populations, provide wellness check calls during emergencies, and offer information about services and programs for seniors, such as NJ SAVE and local Area Agencies on Aging. The division can receive death record notifications to keep the registry updated, and registrants can request removal of their information, which will be processed within 21 days. The collected information will be kept confidential and not considered a public record, with access limited to designated agencies for implementing the bill's objectives. To raise awareness about the registry, the division will conduct a statewide multimedia public awareness campaign in both English and Spanish, targeting individuals aged 64 and older. The bill will take effect 90 days after enactment, with the Commissioner of Human Services authorized to take preparatory administrative actions in advance.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee (on 02/13/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5135
Fiscal Note - Fiscal Estimate 8/26/25; as introduced https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A5500/5135_E1.PDF
Analysis - Statement AHU 2/13/25 https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A5500/5135_S1.PDF
BillText https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A5500/5135_I1.HTM
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