A 3434 — Creates "New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act."

A3434 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblywoman HEATHER SIMMONS District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)  Assemblywoman   MELINDA  KANE  District SYNOPSIS6     (Burlington Createsand "NewCamden) Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act."   CURRENTCo-Sponsored VERSIONby: OF TEXT      Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

Assemblywoman Speight         SYNOPSIS      Creates "New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act."   CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As amended by the General Assembly on June 11, 2026.

       3. 1c. a.  A dialysis center may establish and implement reasonable health, safety, and infection control measures governing the presence of support persons, provided that such measures do not unnecessarily restrict or deny access to a support person as permitted under section 2 of this act.

    As b. used Eachin this act, "support person" means a person who is 18 years of age or older whom a patient selects to accompany the patient in areas of the dialysis center shallwhere developcommunication andamong maintaindialysis writtencenter policiesstaff, concerningprofessionals, supportand personpatients access. would Thenormally policiestake shallplace. be:

     (1) A support person may or may not be the patient's next of kin, guardian, or legally authorized decision-maker through an advance directive, as authorized by law.

     (2) A support person shall not be authorized to make decisions on behalf of a patient, unless that person is the patient's next of kin, guardian, legally authorized decision-maker, or health care representative in accordance with an advance directive pursuant to the “New Jersey Advance Directives for Health Care Act,” P.L.1991, c.201 (C.26:2H-53 et al.), or the “New Jersey Advance Directives for Mental Health Care Act,” P.L.2005, c.233 (C.26:2H-102 et al.).

     (3) A dialysis center shall disclose a patient's protected health information to a support person only after the patient or the patient's legally authorized decision-maker or health care representative provides written consent for the intended disclosure.

     (4) A patient may name more than one support person but shall designate only one such person as the primary support person.1        3.  a.  A dialysis center may establish and implement reasonable health, safety, and infection control 1[measures] policies and procedures1 governing the presence of support persons, provided that such 1[measures] policies and procedures1 do not unnecessarily restrict or deny access to a support person as permitted under section 2 of this act.

     b.  Each dialysis center shall develop and maintain written policies concerning support person access.  1[The] A summary of the1 policies shall be:

    STATEMENT        This bill establishes the “New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act.”      The “New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act” requires dialysis centers in the State to reasonably accommodate patients by permitting a designated support person to be present during dialysis treatment.  The support person accommodation is to be made for patients receiving dialysis treatment.  Dialysis center may establish and implement reasonable health, safety, and infection control measures governing the presence of support persons, provided that such measures do not unnecessarily restrict or deny access to a support person.

     Each dialysis center must develop and maintain written policies concerning support person access.  The policies must be:

(1) posted in a visible location within the facility;

and (2) made available to patients, families, and members of the public upon request.

     All dialysis center staff must receive training on the requirements of this act and the facility’s policies concerning support person access.  The Department of Health is to oversee compliance with the provisions of this act and must investigate complaints alleging a violation.  A dialysis center that fails to comply with the provisions of this act will be subject to penalties, fines, or corrective action orders, as determined by the Department of Health.