Bill Text: NJ A2804 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes nurse or physician employed by student health program at institution of higher education to be appointed to local or county board of health and regional health commission.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A2804 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2804-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO
District 8 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Rudder
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes nurse or physician employed by student health program at institution of higher education to be appointed to local or county board of health and regional health commission.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act authorizing certain employees of institutions of higher education to be appointed to local and county boards of health and amending various sections of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.26:3-3 is amended to read as follows:
26:3-3. The local board in every municipality, other than a township, which is subject to the provisions of subdivision C of this article, shall be composed of not less than five nor more than seven members, except that in a city of the first class the board shall consist of 10 members, and in a city having a population of over 80,000, but not of the first class, the board shall consist of not less than five nor more than 10 members. Upon the consent of the prospective appointee, the governing body of a municipality may appoint a school nurse or the municipal physician to the local board, notwithstanding that the nurse or physician is not a resident of the municipality. Upon the consent of the prospective appointee, the governing body of a municipality may appoint a nurse or physician employed by the student health services program of a institution of higher education located in the municipality to the local board, notwithstanding that the nurse or physician is not a resident of the municipality.
The local board may, by ordinance, provide for the appointment of two alternate members. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or charter heretofore adopted, the ordinance shall provide the method of appointment of the alternate members. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment by the authority appointing them as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2."
The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years, except that the terms of the alternate members first appointed shall be two years for Alternate No. 1 and one year for Alternate No. 2, so that the term of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term only.
An alternate member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he has either directly or indirectly any personal or financial interest. An alternate member may, after public hearing if he requests one, be removed by the governing body for cause.
An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
(cf: P.L.2000, c.126, s.3)
2. R.S.26:3-9 is amended to read as follows:
26:3-9. a. The local board in every township having a population of not more than 20,000 inhabitants may be composed of the members of the township committee, the township assessor or, if the township has a board of assessors, the township clerk, and one physician or school nurse, to be appointed by the township committee for a term of three years from the time of his appointment and until the successor is appointed. Upon the consent of the prospective appointee, the township committee may appoint, as the physician or school nurse appointment, a nurse or physician employed by the student health services program of a institution of higher education located in the township or the township physician or a school nurse to the local board, notwithstanding that the physician or nurse is not a resident of the township.
The township committee may by ordinance provide for the appointment of not more than two alternate members. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No 2." The term of the alternate members shall be for two years, except that of the first two alternate members appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of one year so that the term of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term only. Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.
b. Any such township may by ordinance adopt the provisions of subdivision B of this article and thereafter shall be subject to the provisions thereof and shall not be subject to the provisions of this subdivision of this article.
(cf: P.L.2000, c.126, s.4)
3. R.S.26:3-10 is amended to read as follows:
26:3-10. The local board in every township having a population of more than twenty thousand inhabitants shall be composed of not less than five nor more than seven members who shall be appointed in such manner and hold their respective offices for such terms, not exceeding four years, as the township committee or other governing body may by ordinance provide, but the terms of not more than three members shall expire in any one year, but any such township may by ordinance adopt the provisions of subdivision B of this article and thereafter shall be subject to the provisions thereof and shall not be subject to the provisions of this subdivision of this article. Upon the consent of the prospective appointee, the township committee may appoint a school nurse or the township physician to the local board, notwithstanding that the nurse or physician is not a resident of the township. Upon the consent of the prospective appointee, the governing body of a municipality may appoint a nurse or physician employed by the student health services program of an institution of higher education located in the township to the local board, notwithstanding that the nurse or physician is not a resident of the municipality.
(cf: P.L.2000, c.126, s.5)
4. Section 3 of P.L.1938, c.67 (C.26:3-85) is amended to read as follows:
3. A regional health commission shall consist of two members from each board of health participating therein except that when more than seven boards of health participate, the commission shall consist of one member, or a designated representative, from each board. When an independent local board of health is in place, the members or representatives to serve on a regional commission shall be appointed by the board of health. In municipalities having no independent local board of health, members of regional health commissions shall be appointed by the local governing body. Members shall serve on regional health commissions at the pleasure of the appointing authority. A nurse or physician from an institution of higher education's student health services program serving on a local board of health pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) may serve on a regional health commission.
(cf: P.L.1991, c.127 s.1)
5. Section 5 of P.L.1975, c.325 (C.26:3A2-5) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. A county board of health shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine members appointed by the board of chosen freeholders. No more than two members of a county board of health may be members of the board of chosen freeholders. Members other than freeholders shall be selected, with due regard to their knowledge, interest in health affairs, from participating municipalities so that each of the participating municipalities, where possible, shall have at least one member on the county board of health. Upon the consent of the prospective appointee, the board of chosen freeholders may appoint a nurse or physician from the student health services program of an institution of higher education located in the county to the county board, notwithstanding that the nurse or physician is not a resident of the county.
b. Each member of a county board of health shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; provided, however, that of those first appointed at least two shall have terms of 1 year, at least two shall have terms of 2 years and the remaining members shall have terms of 3 years; provided that where the board consists of nine members appointments shall be made so that at least three terms shall expire each year. All appointments shall designate the date of expiration of the term. The term of office of a freeholder member shall terminate with his term of office as freeholder should this date precede the termination of his appointment to the board of health and a freeholder designated as a successor in such case shall be appointed for the unexpired term.
c. The county board of health shall meet not less than bimonthly and shall exercise within its area of jurisdiction all the powers granted to a local board of health.
(cf: P.L.1975, c.329, s.5)
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This legislation would permit municipalities and counties to appoint a nurse or doctor working for the student health services program at a local college or university to the board of health. The law also emphasizes that, in their capacity as local board members, the nurse or doctor may also sit on a regional health commission. This bill would allow a municipality or county and a local institution of higher education to coordinate their public health needs.
The needs of the students enrolled at an institution of higher education may present particular community health issues, including the public health and sanitation concerns raised by dormitory living. In addition, where a university or college does not have a hospital or elaborate health services on campus, students may need to access public health resources in the immediate municipality or county. This legislation would allow consideration of an institution of higher education's particular problems to be part of a municipality's planning for public health.
This bill provides that a municipality or county may appoint a nurse or physician from the student health services program of an institution of higher education located in the municipality or county to the board of health. The bill also amends existing law to emphasize that a nurse or physician who is a member of a board of health may join a regional health commission.
