Requires State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to assign paid or volunteer advocates to long-term care facilities; makes appropriation.

This bill requires New Jersey's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to assign paid or volunteer advocates to long-term care facilities. These advocates must conduct in-person visits to help residents address their financial, health, legal, and social needs. The legislation mandates that the Ombudsman appoint these advocates and includes a specific funding appropriation from the General Fund to cover the costs. The policy directly affects residents of long-term care facilities by creating a formal mechanism for personalized support. It amends existing law (P.L.1977, c.239) to add this requirement, without changing other existing provisions.