Sacco Introduces Legislation to Establish Permanent Morgues in Long-Term Care Facilities

Trenton – Legislation to establish permanent and emergency morgue space in long-term care facilities to use during public emergencies was introduced in the Senate this week. The bill is sponsored by Senator Nicholas Sacco.

“This pandemic has touched and affected every part of our society. Long-term care facilities have been overwhelmed by deaths and without the ability to properly store the deceased, families have been unable to see their loved ones cared for in a humane and dignified way,” said Senator Sacco (D-Hudson/Bergen). “These graphic reports are tragic and this bill would require long-term care facilities to have the built-in capacity to properly store the recently deceased safely and with dignity.”

Under the bill, S-2483, nursing homes would be required to designate or establish a permanent morgue for the storage of the patients or residents who have passed on, as well as who die during non-emergent times. Additionally, nursing homes would be required to designate, establish, acquire, or contract with a third-party to provide supplemental emergency morgue space in times of public emergency. Such supplemental emergency morgue space could be a refrigerated vehicle, mobile cold storage unit, or other makeshift facility or area.

Nursing homes would additionally be required to develop a long-term plan to provide for the ongoing temporary on-site storage of the deceased patients or residents who die at the nursing home during non-emergent periods and during times of public emergency. Plans would be required to be submitted to the Department of Health no later than 30 days after the effective date of the bill and the Department would be required to review and approve the plans within 30 days of receipt.

The bill would take effect immediately.