By Vin Gopal
While the two months between next week’s election and the new state legislative session that starts in January are known as the “lame duck” session, we will be working hard to advance our bill to tighten healthcare laws, protect residents from bullying and exploitation, and help farmers with brewery licenses.
One of these measures requires healthcare professionals to report cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and motor neuron disease to the NJ State Health Assessment Data System. ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and causes loss of muscle control. The cause of this debilitating disease, which gets worse over time, is unknown. The legislation also requires the Commissioner of Health to develop and make educational materials available on the Department of Health website.
Improving the reporting system of ALS and motor neuron disease will make information more available to consumers and supply data to doctors and medical researchers who are working on discovering the cause and finding a cure.
We also are working to advance legislation to permit individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives stating that they do not want an opioid to be administered or prescribed. People suffering from substance abuse disorder, and others who fear becoming addicted to opioids, must have the right to choose alternative types of pain relief.
We also must protect patients who need plasma as part of their medical treatment or during surgery by ensuring that source plasma donation centers are promoting safety and best practices. Our sponsored legislation would create rules and regulations governing the donations of source plasma and give the state health commissioner the enforcement powers to enter and inspect them and their books and records to ensure patient safety.
Protecting LGBTQIA+ students from bullying in schools, and all residents from exploitation by having their private images published without their consent are two legislative priorities for the final months of the year.
We have sponsored legislation to create an Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools. These students face unique challenges at school, including bullying, discrimination, and lack of access to supportive resources. National data shows that LGBTQIA+ students face higher rates of bullying and harassment at school and are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQIA+ peers.
To be created in the Executive Branch of the State Government, the commission would review state and local educational policies and practices that impact LGBTQIA+ students, and charge it with identifying best practices for ensuring inclusive and supportive school environments.
Another of our sponsored bills would clarify that consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image. People need protections from others who would exploit them by spreading their personal images and videos all over the internet without their permission.
We also will fight hard to get our bill into law to enable farm brewery license holders to sell their products for consumption on premises. Currently, these farmers may brew malt alcoholic beverages in regulated quantities and sell them to consumers for consumption away from the farm. While these farms can offer very limited samples, this legislation would allow farmers to sell their products to consumers to enjoy while visiting the farm.
My Legislative District 11 partner, Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul, and I will continue to work hard to make the lame duck session productive, and to make our state more affordable, safer, and fairer for everyone.
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