This bill mandates the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) to create a Regional Hospital System Program for Emergency Preparedness, which will involve regional coalitions of hospitals and local health departments. These coalitions are tasked with developing coordinated plans and strategies to ensure the resilience of the state's hospital system during public emergencies. The DOH will assign each licensed hospital and local health department to a regional coalition, appoint a regional coordinator, and establish criteria to assess the emergency preparedness plans submitted by these coalitions. The plans must address critical areas such as response coordination, medical readiness, and continuity of healthcare services.

Additionally, the bill requires the DOH to conduct annual surveys of the hospital system's preparedness and resiliency in collaboration with regional coalitions and relevant stakeholders. This survey will review existing emergency response plans and preparedness plans submitted by the coalitions. To support hospitals identified as deficient in emergency preparedness, the DOH will establish a grant program offering funding and technical assistance. The bill defines a "public emergency" as any environmental, public health, or public safety emergency officially recognized by the Governor or the President.