This bill authorizes clinical laboratories in New Jersey to perform tests requested directly by patients without requiring an order from a health care practitioner, provided that such actions are in compliance with federal law. It mandates that when laboratories provide test results to patients, they must include a notice highlighting the importance of consulting a licensed health care practitioner for interpretation of the results, as there is a risk of misreading or misinterpreting the information without professional guidance.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that clinical laboratories must maintain and restrict access to patient records in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The Attorney General is granted the authority to enforce compliance and impose penalties for any violations of HIPAA. The Commissioner of Health is tasked with creating necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act, which will take effect four months after its enactment.