Sponsored by:
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Burgess and Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Creates Code Red alert to shelter at-risk individuals during hot weather.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning Code Red alert plans to shelter at-risk individuals and amending P.L.2017, c.68, P.L.2017, c.70, and P.L.1942, c.251.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2017, c.68 (C.App.A:9-43.19) is amended to read as follows:
2. A county governing body, through its office of emergency management or other appropriate office, agency, or department, shall establish a plan for issuing a Code Blue or Code Red alert to municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profit organizations that provide services to at-risk individuals and are located within the county's borders. The county office of emergency management, or appropriate office, agency, or department, shall coordinate with municipal emergency management coordinators in municipalities with a documented homeless population of at least 10, as noted in the most recent Annual Point In Time Count, in developing consistent Code Blue or Code Red alert plans throughout the county that provide for communication and outreach, emergency warming or cooling centers, and transportation during implementation of a Code Blue or Code Red alert plan. This plan may be carried out by designated volunteer organizations. Volunteer-organized Code Blue and Code Red efforts shall receive cooperation and logistical support from the coordinator, but shall operate autonomously, provided that they operate in response to an alert and pursuant to the Code Blue or Code Red alert plan.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.68, s.2)
2. Section 3 of P.L.2017, c.68 (C.App.A:9-43.20) is amended to read as follows:
3. [A coordinator shall declare a Code Blue alert after] After evaluating weather forecasts and advisories produced by the National Weather Service that predict the following weather conditions in the county within 24 to 48 hours, a coordinator shall declare:
a. a Code Blue alert if:
(1) temperatures will reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower; or
[b.] (2) the National Weather Service wind chill temperature will be zero degrees Fahrenheit or less for a period of two hours or more[.]; or
b. a Code Red alert if:
(1) the heat index is forecast to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit to 99 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two consecutive days; or
(2) the temperatures will reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit for any length of time.
(cf: P.L.2019, c.427, s.1)
3. Section 5 of P.L.2017, c.70 (C.App.A:9-43.21) is amended as follows:
5. The coordinator, or the coordinator's designee, shall review weather forecasts from the National Weather Service on a regular and consistent basis to determine when a Code Blue or Code Red alert is warranted.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.70, s.5)
4. Section 20 of P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-52) is amended to read as follows:
20. Neither the State nor any political subdivision of the State under any circumstances, nor the agents, officers, employees, servants or representatives of the State or any political subdivision thereof, including all volunteers, in good faith carrying out, complying with, or attempting to comply with, any order, rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act or performing any authorized service in connection therewith, shall be liable for any injury or death to persons or damage to property as the result of [any such] the activity. No person owning, possessing or managing any real property which has been designated, pursuant to the provisions of this act or of any order, rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, as a shelter from destructive operations or attacks by enemies of the United States, shall be liable in any civil action for death or injury to any person who, because [such] the real property has been designated a shelter [as aforesaid], enters upon it solely for the purpose of seeking refuge therein during such destructive operations or attacks or during civil defense tests ordered by lawful authority, except where [such] the death or injury is caused by the willful act of [such] the owner, possessor or manager, or his agents or employees. The foregoing shall not affect the right of any person to receive benefits or compensation which may be specifically provided by the provisions of this or any other State or Federal Statute, nor shall it affect the right of any person to recover under the terms of any policy of insurance. The provisions of this section shall apply but shall not be limited to establishing or developing a Code Blue or Code Red alert plan, or implementing, carrying out, or providing services under a Code Blue or Code Red alert plan, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2017, c.68 (C.App.A:9-43.18 et al.).
(cf: P.L.2017, c.68, s.4)
5. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill creates a Code Red alert modeled on the Code Blue alert under current law.
The bill provides for the coordination, by