26:2KK-6 Violence prevention in certain trauma centers; rules, regulations.

1. a. (1) A hospital in the State, which provides services in a municipality that has a disproportionately high rate of firearm violence or homicide, and is designated as a Level One or Level Two trauma center, under the provisions of P.L.2013, c.233 (C.26:2KK-1 et seq.) and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, upon the availability of monies which are necessary to fully fund a hospital-based or hospital-linked violence intervention program, shall operate or contract with a hospital-based or hospital-linked violence intervention program that provides appropriate counseling, case management, and social services to patients who have been injured as a result of violence.

(2) For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of this subsection, the commissioner shall establish criteria to be used in identifying municipalities that have disproportionately high rates of firearm violence or homicide, and shall develop a list of such municipalities, based on the application of identified criteria, in coordination with the Department of Law and Public Safety. The list shall be published on the department's Internet website, and shall be revised and updated as necessary, on at least an annual basis.

b. The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Such rules and regulations shall identify, at a minimum, the criteria that the department will use, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section, to determine which of the State's municipalities have a disproportionately high rate of firearm violence or homicide.

c. As used in this section:

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health.

"Department" means the Department of Health.

"Hospital-based or hospital-linked violence intervention program" means a program that is operated by a hospital, or by a person or entity who is contracted by the hospital, and which works to end cycles of violence through the provision of intensive counseling, case management, and social services to patients in the hospital who are recovering from gunshot wounds and other injuries resulting from violence.

L.2019, c.209.