New Jersey § 26:2h-12

§ 26:2h-12.

a. A general acute care hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c. 136 ( C.26:2H-1 et seq. ) may adopt as part of its mission the goal of addressing issues related to homelessness

or housing insecurity. A hospital that chooses to address issues related to homelessness or housing insecurity

as part of its mission pursuant to this section shall be authorized to construct,

rehabilitate, or remediate housing, or enter into a partnership or other contractual

arrangement therefor, and provide wrap-around services for individuals who are homeless

or housing insecure, or enter into a partnership or other contractual arrangement

therefor, who are treated at the hospital, which wrap-around services may include: (1) referrals to outpatient primary care and behavioral health care services; (2) appropriate follow-up care and treatment management assistance; (3) assistance identifying and procuring sources of health benefits coverage, including,

but not limited to, coverage under the State Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs pursuant

to P.L.1968, c. 413 ( C.30:4D-1 et seq. ) and P.L.2005, c. 156 ( C.30:4J-8 et al.); and (4) assistance in identifying and accessing appropriate social services, including,

but not limited to, food, transportation, housing, employment, and child care assistance. Such hospital shall notify the Department of Health as to the wrap-around services

intended to be provided pursuant to this section and if any such service is subject

to the Department of Health's healthcare facility licensing requirements the service

shall be licensed prior to it being provided. To the extent practicable, a hospital may collaborate with a regional health hub

to provide the wrap-around services described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this

subsection. b. Housing for individuals who are homeless or housing insecure constructed, rehabilitated,

or remediated by a hospital, or its partners or contractors, pursuant to subsection

a. of this section shall be: (1) deemed a permitted use in all residential and nonresidential districts of a municipality

and shall be exempt from local zoning restrictions; and (2) exempt from the Department of Health's health care facility licensing requirements,

provided that, if wrap-around services provided in connection with the housing are

provided in a health clinic or other comparable health care facility licensed pursuant

to P.L.1971, c. 136 ( C.26:2H-1 et seq. ), the clinic or facility shall comply with the department's health care facility

licensing requirements. c. Commencing one year after the date a hospital, or its partners or contractors,

first constructs, rehabilitates, or remediates housing and begins providing wrap-around

services for individuals who are homeless or housing insecure pursuant to subsection

a. of this section, and annually thereafter, the hospital shall report to the Department

of Health concerning any reductions in the number of inpatient admissions and emergency

department visits at the hospital and increased usage of preventative care related

to the construction, rehabilitation, or remediation of housing and the provision of

wrap-around services by the hospital or its partners or contractors, to individuals

who are homeless or housing insecure over the previous year. The report shall include data based on each payer type for inpatient admissions

and emergency department visits, including charity care and, to the extent practicable,

shall include input from local stakeholders, including regional health hubs, on program

design and implementation. The report may be shared with regional health hubs to assist the Department of Health

in program design, population analysis, strategic planning, and other appropriate

functions. d. The Department of Health shall annually provide to the Legislature a report aggregating

the data contained in the reports submitted to the department by a hospital pursuant

to subsection c. of this section for five years following the effective date of P.L.2021, c. 134 ( C.26:2H-12.109 ) 1 and quinquennially thereafter. e. As used in this section, “ individual who is homeless or housing insecure ” means a person or household who is homeless or experiences periods of homelessness

as either of those terms is defined pursuant to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless

Assistance Act, ( 42 U.S.C. s.11301 et seq. ), the Qualified Allocation Plan adopted by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance

Agency, or any other State or federal program specifically designed to assist such

persons or households; or a person or household eligible for and occupying very-low-income

housing, low-income housing, or moderate-income housing as those terms are defined

in section 4 of P.L.1985, c. 222 ( C.52:27D-304 ). f. This section shall not be construed to invalidate or otherwise limit the credit

or bonus credit for which a municipality may otherwise be eligible to receive in accordance

with P.L.1985, c. 222 (52:27D-301 et seq.) or any court order issued or settlement

agreement executed consistent therewith. g. This section shall not be construed to invalidate or otherwise limit the authority

or ability to facilitate or enter into such arrangements, or agreements, or projects

under existing law. 1

L.2021, c. 134, eff. June 30, 2021.