S 1574 — Allows each county to create central registry and provide emergency supply kits to distribute to senior residents during emergencies; appropriates funds.*

S1574 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

Senators Holzapfel, Henry and McKnight         SYNOPSIS           Allows each county to create central registry and provide emergency supply kits to distribute to senior residents during emergencies.emergencies;

 appropriates CURRENTfunds. VERSION OF TEXT      Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

    AnCURRENT ActVERSION concerningOF emergencyTEXT management, supplementing chapter 9 of Appendix A, and making appropriations.         BeAs Itreported Enacted by the Senate Law and GeneralPublic AssemblySafety ofCommittee theon StateMarch of19, New2026, Jersey:with amendments.

        An 1.   Act a. concerning Asemergency usedmanagement, insupplementing thischapter act,9 “seniorof resident”Appendix meansA, aand personmaking who1[appropriations] isan 65appropriation1.  years  of     ageBe orIt olderEnacted andby athe residentSenate ofand aGeneral countyAssembly whichof has established a central registry pursuant to the provisionsState of P.L.   New ,Jersey: c.

(C.         )      (pending1.   a.  As used in this act, “senior resident” means a person who is 65 years of age or older and a resident of a county which has established a central registry pursuant to the provisions of 1[P.L.    , c. (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).bill)] this act1.

     b.    Each county in the State may establish a central registry that allows senior residents to voluntarily register to receive additional assistance during an emergency.  A central registry created pursuant to this section shall be maintained by the county office of emergency management, and shall be composed of information provided by senior residents who wish to participate in the registry.  A senior resident shall provide the1[the followingfollowing]1 information including, but not limited to, the registrant's name, address, telephone number, an emergency contact, and medical conditions.

The items within these emergency supply kits shall be determined by each county office of emergency management in1[in accordance with section 20 of P.L.1989, c.222 (C.App.A:9-43.3).(C.App.A:9-43.3)]1.

      2.         2.   There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Office of Emergency Management such sums as may be necessary for the operating expenses of 1the counties for1 preparing emergency supply kits for senior residents, who have registered pursuant to section 1 of P.L.    , c. (C.        ) (pending1[P.L.    , c. (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill),bill)] subjectthis act to thebe approvaldistributed ofto thecounties Directorthat ofprepare the Division of Budget and Accountingprovide inemergency thesupply Departmentkits ofpursuant theto Treasury.subsection e.

of section 1 of this act1, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.

  STATEMENT        This bill allows each county in the State to establish a central registry that allows senior residents, 65 years of age or older, to voluntarily register to receive additional assistance during an emergency.  A county that creates a central registry is to conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the general public of the importance of registration by senior residents so that appropriate preparations may be made to ensure that these individuals receive necessary assistance.

     Each county in the State may prepare and provide emergency supply kits for senior residents, who have registered to receive additional assistance.  The items within these emergency supply kits would be determined by each county office of emergency management in accordance with section 20 of P.L.1989, c.222 (C.App.A:9-43.3).