This bill establishes comprehensive legal protections for individuals involved in providing, receiving, or allowing children to access gender-affirming health care in New Jersey. It amends existing laws regarding child custody jurisdiction, asserting that a child's presence in the state for the purpose of receiving such care grants New Jersey courts jurisdiction over custody matters. The bill also allows for temporary emergency jurisdiction if a child cannot receive gender-affirming health care in their home state and clarifies that New Jersey courts are the appropriate venue for custody cases when other states impose restrictions on access to this type of care.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that prevent the enforcement of out-of-state laws penalizing individuals for facilitating access to gender-affirming health care permitted under New Jersey law. It prohibits cooperation from attorneys and law enforcement with other states in investigations related to this care and ensures that actions taken to secure gender-affirming health care for a child cannot be used negatively in custody determinations. The bill also restricts extradition for individuals charged in other states for actions legal in New Jersey and protects health care facilities from sharing medical records in response to interstate investigations unless specific conditions are met. Overall, the legislation aims to safeguard the rights of families seeking gender-affirming health care for children in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:34-65, 2A:34-71, 2A:34-72