4. a. No later than 12 months after the effective date of this act, the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy shall establish an operational iPHD Project capable of securely receiving, maintaining, and transmitting data in accordance with this act and the HIPAA privacy and security standards applicable to this act. The Rutgers Center for State Health Policy may employ staff to assist with carrying out the functions associated with the establishment and maintenance of the iPHD Project.

b. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the iPHD Project shall seek to receive, maintain, and transmit de-identified data wherever possible, and shall only receive, maintain, and transmit individually identifiable information if permitted by this section and other applicable law and if the information is in a form and format that is secured to prevent disclosure of individually identifiable information.

c. A consortium of researchers from New Jersey academic institutions and from medical schools affiliated with New Jersey universities will be organized by the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy to facilitate actionable population health research to help improve health outcomes for New Jersey residents, as well as promote New Jersey’s research institutions as leaders in social science research.

L.2015, c.193, s.4.