a. New Jersey is among the nationwide leaders in tick-borne diseases and was one of the 17 states that reported 95 percent of the confirmed Lyme disease cases in 2019.

b. If not diagnosed and treated early, symptoms of Lyme disease may become more severe and life-altering. Later stages of Lyme disease can result in arthritis, severe joint pain and swelling, nervous system problems, impaired memory and other cognitive defects, and heart problems that include heart palpitations and chest pain.

c. It is altogether fitting and proper that New Jersey schools provide students with a more expansive education on ticks, tick-borne disease, and best methods for preventing exposure and identifying symptoms of tick-borne diseases.

L.2023, c.60, s.1.