Bill Text: NJ A2904 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school districts to provide instruction in health literacy to ensure students can effectively communicate health concerns and comprehend medical terms and medication instructions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A2904 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2904-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RUBEN J. RAMOS, JR.
District 33 (Hudson)
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to provide instruction in health literacy to ensure students can effectively communicate health concerns and comprehend medical terms and medication instructions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health literacy education in public school districts and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, each school district shall incorporate health literacy instruction that is age appropriate into the health education curriculum as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
b. The health literacy instruction shall:
(1) provide students with information on how to effectively communicate health concerns, including the symptoms of illness or injury, to a parent or guardian and to medical professionals;
(2) ensure that students in grades 7 through 12 are able to effectively read and comprehend medical terms and medication instructions, including drug inserts and labels; and
(3) provide students in grades 9 through 12 with fundamental information concerning the health care system, including the basic principles of health insurance and how to effectively select a physician or other health care practitioner.
c. The Commissioner of Education shall provide school districts with curriculum and sample instructional materials that may be used to support the implementation of the health literacy education.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to provide health literacy instruction as part of the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The health literacy instruction will: provide students with information on how to effectively communicate their health concerns, including the symptoms of illness or injury, to their parents and to medical professionals; ensure that students in grades 7 through 12 are able to effectively read and comprehend medical terms and medication instructions, including drug inserts and labels; and provide students in grades 9 through 12 with fundamental information concerning the health care system, including the basic principles of health insurance and how to effectively select a physician or other health care practitioner.
Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education will provide school districts with curriculum and sample instructional materials that may be used to support the implementation of the health literacy education.
