S 3985 — Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.

S3985 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

TURNER District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)    Co-Sponsored  by:   SYNOPSIS      Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.

Senator Mukherji   CURRENT  VERSION  OF  TEXTSYNOPSIS      AsAuthorizes introduced.DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on May 11, 2026, with amendments.

       2.  As used in this act:

            3.  a.  The Department of Health is authorized and1[and directeddirected]1 to take all reasonable and appropriate steps to seek participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.

          b.  To carry out the purposes of subsection a.

          (1) Communicate and coordinate with the World Health Organization and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network operational support team;

          (2) Submit expressions of interest, applications, or other documentation required for participation;

          (3) Designate one or more offices, divisions, or programs within the department to serve as points of contact for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network related activities;

          (4) Participate in technical consultations, trainings, exercises, and information‑sharing activities consistent with the mission of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network;

and           (5) Collaborate with federal, State, local, academic, and nonprofit partners, as appropriate, to support outbreak preparedness and response activities.

            5.  a.  The Commissioner of Health, within 18 months following the effective date of this act,act 1and subject to the availability of funds1 , shall submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

          b.  The report shall include a description of actions taken by the Department of Health to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, the status of the department’s participation in, or application to, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, a summary of any benefits, challenges, or resource needs identified through such participation or application, and any recommendations for further legislative or administrative action, including 1,1 but not limited to 1,1 participation in other international public health initiatives, as appropriate.

          c.  The department shall post the report required pursuant to this section on its Internet website.

    STATEMENT        This bill authorizes the Department of Health to take steps to seek participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, a World Health Organization coordinated international technical network that supports the detection of and response to infectious disease outbreaks.

     The bill permits the department to engage in communications, coordination, and information sharing activities necessary to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, while expressly providing that nothing in the bill shall be construed to confer membership upon the State in the World Health Organization, authorize actions that conflict with federal law or the United States Constitution, permit the disclosure of confidential health information, or require the expenditure of funds beyond those otherwise available.

     The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to report to the Governor and the Legislature on actions taken to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and the status of the department’s participation or application.