2. The Legislature finds and declares that there exists in New Jersey a serious and increasing incidence of various communicable and chronic diseases, such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, sexually transmitted infection, and substance use disorder, which requires a continuing commitment of public health personnel and resources; and that there has been in recent years diminished financial support for agencies engaged in providing primary prevention programs.
The Legislature also recognizes that there exists a framework for the provision of such services at the municipal, regional and county levels but that changing socio-economic, environmental and technological conditions warrant a redirection of the ways of addressing these health problems. The Legislature finds that there should be provided funds to support certain public health priority activities.