BILL TO CREATE CODE BLUE PROGRAM INTRODUCED

Assembly Democrat Bob Andrzejczak has introduced legislation to provide New Jersey’s homeless and at-risk residents safe haven during severe weather occurrences such as extreme cold, heat or sustained precipitation and wind. The bill requires county emergency management coordinators to establish a Code Blue Program for at-risk individuals who require shelter during a severe weather event. The purpose of the Code Blue Program is to identify at-risk individuals prior to, or during, a severe weather event and assist those individuals in voluntarily finding appropriate shelter. Under the Code Blue Program, county emergency management coordinators are required to declare a code blue alert within 24 hours prior to the onset of a severe weather event. When a code blue alert is declared, the county emergency management coordinator is to inform each municipal law enforcement agency in that county as well as the county police department, if appropriate, of the need to identify and locate at-risk individuals who may be in need of shelter.