New Jersey A 289: "The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.

Bill Text

A289 

ASSEMBLY, No. 289 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires health care practitioners prescribing opioid 
medications to limit amount of prescribed medication to seven-day supply, 
except in certain circumstances.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning prescriptions for opioid medications, 
amending P.L.1997, c.249, and supplementing Title 24 of the Revised Statutes.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1. Section 11 of P.L.2017, 
c.28 (C.24:21-15.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 11. a. A practitioner shall 
not issue [an 
initial] 
a prescription for an opioid drug which is a prescription drug as 
defined in section 2 of P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-41) in a quantity exceeding a [five-day] seven-day 
supply for treatment of acute pain.� Any prescription for acute pain pursuant 
to this subsection shall be for the lowest effective dose of immediate-release 
opioid drug.� 

���� b.��� Prior to issuing an 
initial prescription of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance or any 
other opioid drug which is a prescription drug as defined in section 2 of 
P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-41) in a course of treatment for acute or chronic 
pain, a practitioner shall:

���� (1)�� take and document the 
results of a thorough medical history, including the patient's experience with 
non-opioid medication and non-pharmacological pain management approaches and 
substance abuse history;

���� (2)�� conduct, as appropriate, 
and document the results of a physical examination;

���� (3)�� develop a treatment 
plan, with particular attention focused on determining the cause of the 
patient's pain;

���� (4)�� access relevant 
prescription monitoring information under the Prescription Monitoring Program 
pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2015, c.74 (C. 45:1-46.1); and

���� (5)�� limit the supply of any 
opioid drug prescribed for acute pain to a duration of no more than [five] seven 
days as determined by the directed dosage and frequency of dosage.

���� c.���� No less than [four] six 
days after issuing [the 
initial] 
a prescription pursuant to subsection a. of this subsection, the 
practitioner, after consultation with the patient, may issue a subsequent 
prescription for the drug to the patient [in 
any quantity that complies with applicable State and federal laws] in a 
quantity not exceeding a seven-day supply, provided that:

���� (1)�� [the subsequent 
prescription would not be deemed an initial prescription under this section]���� (Deleted 
by amendment, P.L.�� , c.��� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)[;]

���� (2)�� the practitioner 
determines the prescription is necessary and appropriate to the patient's 
treatment needs and documents the rationale for the issuance of the subsequent 
prescription; and

���� (3)�� the practitioner 
determines that issuance of the subsequent prescription does not present an 
undue risk of abuse, addiction, or diversion and documents that determination.

���� d.��� Prior to issuing [the initial] a 
prescription of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance or any other 
opioid drug which is a prescription drug as defined in section 2 of P.L.2003, 
c.280 (C.45:14-41) in a course of treatment for acute pain and prior to issuing 
a prescription at the outset of a course of treatment for chronic pain, a 
practitioner shall discuss with the patient, or the patient's parent or 
guardian if the patient is under 18 years of age and is not an emancipated 
minor, the risks associated with the drugs being prescribed, including but not 
limited to: 

���� (1)�� the risks of addiction 
and overdose associated with opioid drugs and the dangers of taking opioid 
drugs with alcohol, benzodiazepines and other central nervous system 
depressants;

���� (2)�� the reasons why the 
prescription is necessary; 

���� (3)�� alternative treatments 
that may be available; and

���� (4)�� risks associated with 
the use of the drugs being prescribed, specifically that opioids are highly 
addictive, even when taken as prescribed, that there is a risk of developing a 
physical or psychological dependence on the controlled dangerous substance, and 
that the risks of taking more opioids than prescribed, or mixing sedatives, 
benzodiazepines or alcohol with opioids, can result in fatal respiratory 
depression. 

���� The practitioner shall include 
a note in the patient's medical record that the patient or the patient's parent 
or guardian, as applicable, has discussed with the practitioner the risks of 
developing a physical or psychological dependence on the controlled dangerous 
substance and alternative treatments that may be available.� The Divisio