TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Department of Health is proposing new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:43A, the Manual of Standards for Licensing of Ambulatory Care Facilities and 8:43G, the Hospital Licensing Standards, and an amendment at N.J.A.C. 8:43E, the General Licensure Procedures and Standards Applicable to All Licensed Facilities, to require hospitals and birthing centers to implement an explicit and implicit bias training program for health care professionals and supportive services staff members who provide perinatal treatment and care to pregnant persons at these facilities.

The proposed amendment and new rules would:

• Identify a training tool that a hospital or birthing center is to use for its explicit and implicit bias training program,
• Define the term, “supportive services staff member,”
• Establish standards for hospitals or birthing centers to ensure that all persons whom the Act requires to undergo explicit and implicit bias training do so, and
• Identify the penalties and administrative actions that the Department might invoke in a summary proceeding against a hospital or birthing center that fails to implement an explicit and implicit bias training program, pursuant to the Act.

The Notice of Proposal appears in the May 5, 2025, issue of the New Jersey Register. Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must submit written comments either electronically by July 4, 2025, to nj.gov/health/legal/ecomments.shtml, or by regular mail postmarked by July 4, 2025, to Kimberly E. Jenkins, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.

LexisNexis® provides free online access to the New Jersey Register through the website of the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law at nj.gov/oal/rules/accessp. An unofficial copy of the Notice of Proposal is available on the Department’s website at nj.gov/health/legal/rules.

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The New Jersey Department of Health is a nationally accredited health department working to ensure that all New Jerseyans live long, healthy lives and reach their fullest potential. With more than 5,500 employees, the Department serves to protect the public’s health, promote healthy communities, and continue to improve the quality of health care in New Jersey.