All Roll Calls
Yes: 91 • No: 19
New JerseyS2188220th Legislature (2024-2025)SenateWALLET
Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of certain public community water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings or facilities to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires' disease.*
Sponsored By: Linda R. Greenstein (Democratic), Robert J. Karabinchak (Democratic), M. Teresa Ruiz (Democratic), Shanique Speight (Democratic), Anthony S. Verrelli (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
High-risk buildings need water safety programs
Owners and operators of covered buildings must create programs to limit Legionella bacteria, which cause Legionnaires' disease. Covered sites include inpatient hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, personal care homes, residential health care, and dementia care homes. Coverage also includes facilities with water-mist devices and correctional facilities with centralized hot water. Residential buildings with six or more floors and centralized water heating are covered. Centralized water heaters shared by at least 25 units trigger coverage for hotels and motels. That same threshold covers subsidized housing for seniors or people with disabilities, and designated senior housing. Health officials can also require programs in buildings linked to outbreaks, with timing set by those officials. Residential properties with four or fewer units are excluded. Programs must meet ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 or a comparable nationally recognized standard. Owners must develop programs within 24 months after September 12, 2024, and implement them within 27 months. New or repurposed covered buildings must confirm exposure controls before opening for use. Specified hospitals and care facilities must sample periodically when linked to an outbreak or when CDC recommends periodic sampling. Owners must follow applicable testing, positive-result reporting, and interpretation rules, post notice of their programs, and keep records onsite for at least five years. Records must be available to the Department of Health on request. The department must issue program guidance within 12 months after the effective date. These protections add compliance costs, with penalties up to $2,000 for a first violation and $5,000 for later violations. A violation causing serious injury or death carries a penalty up to $10,000; enforcement also includes administrative penalties with notice and hearing rights, and court orders.
Water systems face stronger safety rules
Covered New Jersey water systems must maintain minimum disinfectant levels throughout all active parts of their systems, at all times. Chlorine systems must keep at least 0.3 milligrams per liter of free chlorine; chloramine systems need 1.0 milligrams per liter of monochloramine. Coverage includes systems with more than 100 service connections meeting the law's surface-water criteria, plus systems DEP designates. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must publish maintenance guidance within 12 months after September 12, 2024. It must address aging pipes, flushing, storage tanks, stagnant water, monitoring, and related risks. DEP must issue rules within 24 months, including customer notices during elevated exposure risks and enforcement requirements. Systems must develop and implement maintenance plans within six months after those rules, certify compliance annually, and provide plans on request. DEP must create a reporting system and public, searchable disruption dashboard within 24 months after the effective date. Once the reporting system is available, covered systems must report disruptions within 72 hours. These safeguards add maintenance, monitoring, and reporting costs for water systems.
Residents get Legionnaires' data and prevention tips
The Department of Health must create a public dashboard covering all reported Legionnaires' disease cases. It must provide near-real-time community rates while combining data and removing details that could identify patients. The department must also work with DEP on public education and targeted outreach to vulnerable people. Education must explain exposure sources, notice requirements, home prevention, and risks from hot water and devices that release water mist. Both agencies must report to the Governor and Legislature within one year after September 12, 2024, and annually afterward. Reports must cover the past decade's case counts, water-system sampling showing Legionella, violations, penalties, disinfectant targets, and recommended legislation.
Health officials must investigate Legionnaires' cases
The Department of Health must investigate every reported Legionnaires' disease diagnosis in New Jersey. It can delegate work to local health officers based on their available resources. Investigations must address water-system disruptions, sampling, and relevant home or other exposures during the 14 days before infection, when appropriate. During confirmed-case investigations, officials can order suspected source buildings to test, control Legionella, report results, and notify exposed people. These orders create duties and costs for building owners and operators. Testing and notice requirements exclude residential properties with four or fewer units. Notices must be in English and another language when at least 10% of the municipality's residents primarily speak that language.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Linda R. Greenstein
Democratic • Senate
Robert J. Karabinchak
Democratic • House
M. Teresa Ruiz
Democratic • Senate
Shanique Speight
Democratic • House
Anthony S. Verrelli
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Renee C. Burgess
Democratic • Senate
Shama A. Haider
Democratic • House
Hall, Garnet R.
Affiliation unavailable
McCann Stamato, Barbara
Affiliation unavailable
Angela V. McKnight
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/28/2024
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 64 • No: 7 • Other: 2
Senate vote • 6/28/2024
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 27 • No: 12
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor — P.L.2024, c.66.
9/12/2024GovernorPassed Assembly, PBH — (64-7-2)
6/28/2024HouseSubstituted for A1970 (ACS)
6/28/2024HouseReceived in Assembly, Without Reference, 2nd Reading in Assembly
6/28/2024HousePassed Senate — (27-12)
6/28/2024SenateREP/SCA, 2nd Reading in Senate
6/24/2024SenateReferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
5/9/2024SenateREP/SCS, 2nd Reading in Senate
5/9/2024SenateIntroduced, 1st Reading in Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
1/9/2024Senate
Bill Text
Corrected Copy
11/7/2024
Version AL2024
9/30/2024
Senate Budget and Appropriations (6/24/24 1R SCS)
7/1/2024
6/28/24; SCS 1R
6/28/2024
Senate Budget and Appropriations Substitute (6/24/24 SCS)
6/25/2024
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens (5/9/24 SCS)
5/14/2024
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Substitute (5/9/24)
5/10/2024
As Introduced
1/5/2024
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