Regulates use of social care information.
The act prohibits participating organizations from selling or licensing social care information stored in or transmitted through a CLRS. It emphasizes that such information can only be used for the purposes for which it was collected, thus enforcing a stricter privacy standard. A violation of these provisions may result in civil penalties of $1,000 for each infraction, aiming to deter misuse of sensitive data and ensure accountability among participating entities.
Assembly Bill A4482 aims to regulate the use of social care information in the state of New Jersey. Specifically, it defines a 'Closed-Loop Referral System' (CLRS) as any system that stores and shares individual social care information among participating organizations. These organizations can be healthcare providers, public agencies, and nonprofit groups, among others. The bill seeks to protect sensitive social care information related to a person's needs for food stability, housing, transportation, and other social services.
While the bill is framed as a necessary protection for individuals' social care information, it could raise concerns among entities operating within the healthcare and social service sectors regarding the implications of stringent regulations. Opponents might argue that such restrictions could complicate the provision of social services, as sharing information is often essential for effective care coordination. The balance between protecting individual privacy and enabling efficient care delivery presents a potential point of contention as the bill progresses through the legislative process.