Bill Text: NJ S56 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires declaration of Code Blue alert when National Weather Service predicts temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S56 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S56-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 56

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Senator  THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.

District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators O'Scanlon and Gopal

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires declaration of Code Blue alert when National Weather Service predicts temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning Code Blue alert declarations and amending P.L.2017, c.68.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 3 of P.L.2017, c.68 (C.App.A:9-43.20) is amended to read as follows:

     [App.A:9-43.20  Declaration of Code Blue alert.]

     3.    A coordinator shall declare a Code Blue alert after evaluating weather forecasts and advisories produced by the National Weather Service that predict the following weather conditions in the county within 24 to 48 hours: 

     a.     temperatures will reach [25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower without precipitation or] 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower [with precipitation]; or

     b.    the National Weather Service [windchill] wind chill temperature will be zero degrees Fahrenheit or less for a period of two hours or more.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.68, s.3)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires a Code Blue alert be declared when the National Weather Service predicts temperatures will reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. 

     Under current law, each county, through its office of emergency management, is responsible for establishing a plan for issuing Code Blue alerts to municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profit organizations that provide services to at-risk persons located in the county.  The plans are to require emergency warming centers be available during a Code Blue alert.   

     Currently, a Code Blue alert is to be declared when National Weather Service forecasts and advisories predict within 24 to 48 hours that: (1) the temperature will reach 25 degrees Fahrenheit or less without precipitation or 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less with precipitation; or (2) the wind chill temperature will be zero degrees Fahrenheit or less for a period of two hours or more. 

     This bill requires a Code Blue alert to be issued when: (1) temperatures are predicted to reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less, regardless of precipitation; or (2) the wind chill temperature will be zero degrees Fahrenheit or less for a period of two hours or more.