Gov. Murphy Vetoes NJ Coronavirus Testing Bill, Signs 5 Into Law

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has vetoed a coronavirus bill that would have expanded testing in New Jersey, while also signing five into law. One new law gives student-athletes more leeway with physical testing amid the crisis.

Murphy took action as he signaled on Friday that he's looking to reopen gyms and indoor dining in New Jersey. He also addressed movie theaters. Read more: Gov. Murphy Looks To Reopen Gyms, Indoor Dining In NJ

Murphy vetoed a bill that would have allowed licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests authorized and approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Under the bill (S2436), in order to administer the test, the pharmacy must ensure that personal protection equipment is distributed to all pharmacy staff and that proper social distancing protocols are observed.

“If we want to make it out of this pandemic, we need to build the infrastructure for a comprehensive contact tracing program from the ground up,” said Vin Gopal, D-Long Branch, the bill's sponsor. “That means empowering every business, organization, and institution that has the resources, expertise and ability to test our residents on a regular basis."

Murphy said he commends Gopal for the bull, saying widespread testing, and the data it yields, "is critical to maintaining New Jersey’s progress in flattening the curve and lowering
transmission rates."

As one of the most publicly accessible groups of health care professionals, pharmacists are "uniquely positioned to assist in the state’s COVID-19 response," the governor said.

But Murphy is also requesting amendments to expand the bill to include testing for COVID-19 antibodies. Testing for and collecting data related to antibodies "enables epidemiologists to characterize exposure and increases our understanding of the virus," he said.

Murphy also wants to make sure that administering a test includes "collecting or overseeing the collection of a specimen and causing the specimen to be sent to a laboratory with the capacity to perform the test."

The bill also included the following rules:

• If a person tests positive for COVID-19, the pharmacist would be required to advise the him or her on self-isolation guidance and provide the individual with any necessary resource materials.
• If a person who tests positive is at high-risk for health complications, the pharmacist would be required to advise him or her to promptly seek treatment at a hospital or contact their health care provider.
• The pharmacist would be required to comply with all other state and federal requirements pertaining to positive COVID-19 tests, including reporting and data collection requirements.

Gopal said community pharmacies are already providing thousands of New Jerseyans with the medications and health information they need to get by, and are already experienced with the provision of vaccines and other public health products.

"They are a natural fit for this critical mission, and will be essential if we want to get a statewide testing apparatus off the ground," he said.

Murphy also signed a bill into law that will allow additional time for high school and middle school athletes to pass sports physicals.

With the scholastic fall sports season rapidly approaching, the legislation sponsored by Sen. Michael Testa and Assemblyman Erik Simonsen (S-2518/A-4295) allows student athletes to participate in the fall provided they have a physical before the end of the season.

Students from 6th to 12th grade who wish to participate in school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletics were required to pass a doctor’s examination within one calendar year of the first day of official sports practice.

Testa noted that the coronavirus impacted every aspect of life for New Jersey residents and students and "the last three months of this school year were derailed, and this bill would help ease a return to normalcy when schools open.”

“This new law responsibly ensures students will not be prevented from participating in the sport they love for something they could not control,” said Testa, R-Cape May. “The uncertainty of the health crisis made it next to impossible for families to schedule appointments for sports physicals doctors’ offices coping with COVID concerns and limited patient hours.

Murphy also signed two bills into law (S362 and A2456) that he says will further strengthen NJ Transit's paratransit services for people with disabilities.

“We know that 'Access Link' serves as a critical transportation resource for New Jerseyans with disabilities, who deserve reliable, efficient transit services,” said Murphy. “These improvements will further strengthen our public transportation network to ensure New Jersey’s Access Link riders have a more equitable experience.”

S362 will require NJ Transit's Access Link services to operate during a state of emergency if it is determined it can be done can be done safely.

A2456 would require a person eligible for Access Link service to be issued an ID card for reduced fares at the same time that NJ Transit determines Access Link service eligibility.

Currently, customers who have been certified as needing to use Access Link paratransit service must apply separately if they want to use regular NJ Transit services at the discounted rate for those with disabilities.

Murphy also signed these bills into law:

• S-972/A-805 (Madden, Sweeney/Verrelli, Houghtaling, DeAngelo) – Concerns skilled and trained workforce in work by contractors in certain industries
• S-993/A-631 (Greenstein, Singleton/Caputo, Jasey, Dancer) – Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff