S 3985 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.

This bill authorizes New Jersey's Department of Health to establish partnerships in international public health, specifically seeking participation in the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. The legislation directs the department to communicate with the network, submit applications, designate contact points, and engage in technical consultations and information-sharing activities to improve outbreak preparedness. It clarifies that the state does not join the World Health Organization itself and ensures no confidential health information is disclosed beyond existing legal protections. The law also confirms that the department cannot spend funds beyond what has already been appropriated for these activities.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 19, 2026 Last action May 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The First Reprint of S3985 makes three substantive amendments following Senate committee action: it removes the mandatory directive for the Department of Health to seek participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (making it permissive rather than required), adds a funding contingency to the reporting requirement, and narrows the scope of recommendations the report may include. The bill also gains Senator Mukherji as a co-sponsor.

Scope change

The bill's core purpose remains the same (authorizing DOH to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network), but the mandatory nature of that pursuit was reduced to a permissive authorization, and the reporting obligation was made contingent on funding availability.

REQUIREMENT

Section 3(a) struck the words 'and directed,' changing the Department of Health's obligation from being both authorized and directed to seek participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network to being only authorized. This makes participation permissive rather than mandatory.

FISCAL

Section 5(a) added the phrase 'and subject to the availability of funds' to the Commissioner's reporting requirement, meaning the 18-month report to the Governor and Legislature is now contingent on funding being available.

SCOPE

Section 5(b) struck the words 'but not limited to,' narrowing the scope of recommendations the report may include regarding further legislative or administrative action. The report can still recommend participation in other international public health initiatives, but the open-ended language was removed.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

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Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor