New Jersey Department of Health Proposes New Rule at N.J.A.C. 8:43E-15.1 Establishing Lactation Room Standards at Licensed Health Care Facilities

The New Jersey Department of Health (Department), with the approval of the Health Care Administration Board, is proposing, within N.J.A.C. 8:43E, the General Licensure Procedures and Standards Applicable to All Licensed Facilities, a new rule at N.J.A.C. 8:43E-15.1, to establish standards concerning lactation rooms for breastfeeding persons using on-site services at licensed health care facilities.

The proposed new rule would establish standards for the placement and accessibility of a lactation room in a health care facility; identify requirements for facilities to post signage regarding the availability of the lactation room and share information about breastfeeding in waiting rooms and required lactation rooms; and establish staff training standards regarding the lactation room.

The notice of proposal appears in the August 5, 2024, issue of the New Jersey Register. Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must submit written comments either (1) electronically by October 4, 2024, ‎to http://www.nj.gov/health/legal/ecomments.shtml; or (2) by regular mail postmarked by October 4, 2024, to Kimberly E. Jenkins, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.

LexisNexis provides free online access to the New Jersey Register at www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/njoal. An unofficial copy of the Notice of Proposal is available on the Department's website at https://www.nj.gov/health/legal/rules.