Legislative and Advocacy Round-up for March 2022

Legislative and Advocacy Round-up

March 2022

Upcoming Events

4/2/22: Virtual Meeting
5/7/22: Virtual Meeting
6/4/22: Virtual Meeting

Brain Injury Resource Center

Whether you have a brain injury or concussion, are a caregiver or a professional, BIANJ has resources available for you. If you’re in need of further assistance, please contact the Helpline at 1-800-669-4323, or info@bianj.org.

Visit the Resource Library

Brain Injury Support Groups

Brain injury support groups allow people with brain injuries and their family members to meet others in similar situations. They gain valuable emotional support, form friendships, obtain information, and discuss a variety of brain injury topics.

Find a Support Group

CARES Program

The BIANJ CARES (Care, Assistance, Resources, Education and Support) Program supports individuals and families impacted by brain injury through care management. This program focuses on assessing current needs and developing a plan to help individuals achieve greatest potential and improve quality of life.

More about CARES

You're Invited to Join BIANJ's Advocacy Committee

The Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community (formerly known as the Council for the Head Injury Community) champions and publicizes the advocacy, rights, and needs of people who have sustained a brain injury, and their families.

Make your voice heard

Elected Officials Attend Virtual Brain Injury Awareness Day

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey held its 3^rd annual Virtual Brain Injury Awareness Day on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. The Alliance raised awareness of brain injury, explained how it serves residents of the State, and facilitated dialogue between elected officials and/or staff with people impacted by, or with an interest in, brain injury.

Legislators who attended included Senator Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz. Staff representing the following members of the State Legislature attended including Senator Patrick Diegnan and Assembly members Beth Sawyer, John McKeon, John DiMaio, Mila Jasey, Marilyn Piperno, Kim Eulner, DeAnne DeFuccio, and Shanique Speight.

New Jersey Governor Phillip Murphy contributed a proclamation recognizing March as Brain Injury Awareness Month which can be accessed HERE.

"We are very pleased to see such attendance from both chambers of the State Legislature and from both major political parties," said Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs. "

Members of the State Legislature represent people with brain injury in State government. They can be instrumental in helping you address problems you may have with government bureaucracy, develop legislation that can benefit the brain injury community, and provide you with perspective on a public policy issue. Google “New Jersey State Legislature” to learn who represents you in it. Or, you may contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs at tgrady@bianj.org to do so.

Updates from the Executive Branch of New Jersey Government

Executive Order 290 Updates Timelines of COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Staff in High Risk Congregate Settings for People with I/DD and TBI

On March 2, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 290, which updates and clarifies timeframes for requiring covered workers at health care facilities and high-risk congregate settings to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including having received a booster shot. This impacts many settings, including but not limited to: licensed community residences for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) (e.g., group homes and supervised apartments); certified day programs for individuals with I/DD and TBI; and Support Coordination Agencies. You may read Executive Order No. 290 HERE.

Residential and Day Program Screening Policy

In response to the easing of COVID-19 related requirements, the Division of Developmental Disabilities has updated its Residential and Day Program Screening Policy. This policy eases masking and social distancing requirements in certain circumstances and can be used by Residential and Day Providers serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injury. This updated policy supersedes and replaces the previous stand-alone documents entitled Guidance for Residential Providers on Visits with Family and Friends and Congregate Day Program COVID-19 Operating Requirements. You may read the full policy HERE.

Congressman Chris Smith Joins the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force

New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith joined the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. The Task Force works to increase awareness of brain injury in the United States, supports research initiatives for rehabilitation and potential cures, and strives to address the effects such injuries have on families, children, education, and the workforce.

Congressman Smith was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and represents the Fourth Congressional District in New Jersey. He has been a leader on issues related to human trafficking, child abduction prevention and return, autism, Veterans, and many other human rights, health and humanitarian initiatives. He is the former chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and has authored more than a dozen laws for our Nation’s veterans—including comprehensive legislation to combat homelessness among veterans and to improve educational, healthcare and other benefits and services for them and their surviving family members.

He has co-founded and long co-chaired a number of bipartisan congressional caucuses, including the Autism, Alzheimer’s, Lyme Disease, and Spina Bifida. The brain injury community welcomes Congressman Smith to the brain injury cause.

Legislation that Advanced

Legislation listed below has advanced in the New Jersey State Legislature. Please contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs if you would like more information about these bills at tgrady@bianj.org and/or whether you would like to contact your elected representatives to express your views on these bills.

S-131: Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property

taxes paid to veteran.

S-146: Requires certain transportation research to consider needs of individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

S-380: Establishes Disparity in Treatment of Persons with Disabilities in Underrepresented Communities Commission in DCA.

S-2049: Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services.

Thank You!

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey supports a broad range of legislation that relates to brain injury. We appreciate those members of the State Legislature who support bills by registering as a cosponsor of or introducing legislation. We would like to publicly thank the following member(s) for sponsoring the following bills:

S-1543: Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses employing certain persons with developmental disabilities.

* Senator Kristin Corrado

S-1547: Facilitates identification of municipal liens on residential property of certain seniors and disabled persons.

* Senator Nia Gill

S-2049 / A-3110: Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services.

* Senators Richard Codey, Holly Schepisi, Edward Durr, Robert Singer, Fred Madden; Assemblymembers Mia Jasey, Daniel Benson, Marilyn Piperno, Kim Eulner

Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey www.bianj.org