Bill > A2976

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Behavioral Health Task Force in the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The purpose of the board will be to review all aspects of behavioral health services in New Jersey and make recommendations for legislation or other such action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating the provision of behavioral health services to the citizens of this State. Behavioral health services reviewed and analyzed by the task force shall include both services for individuals with mental health concerns and substance use disorders. The board will consist of 26 members: the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, and Children and Families, or their designees, who would serve ex officio; and 23 public members, with seven members to be appointed by the Governor, and eight members each to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly. The members are to represent the geographic diversity of New Jersey, and the DHS will be required to provide staff support to the board. The members appointed by the Governor would include: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies; one person upon the recommendation of the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Hospital Association who represents an acute care entity; one person upon the recommendation of the Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses of the New Jersey State Nurses Association; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association; and one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Primary Care Association. The members appointed by the Senate President would include: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians; one person representing a health insurance carrier and one person representing a Medicaid managed care organization, both upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans; one psychiatrist upon the recommendation of the Medical Society of New Jersey; one representative of an entity which is designated by the State to provide screening services; one representative of an organization which works with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; one representative of an organization which works with individuals who have a substance use disorder; and one representative of an entity which provides early intervention support services in the State. The members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly would include: one representative of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Hospital Association; one representative of the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers; one person upon the recommendation of the Advocates for Children of New Jersey; one representative of an outpatient treatment provider; one representative of an entity that provides community social services; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons; and one health care provider, upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who specializes in treating children and adolescents. The task force is to organize and issue a report to the Legislature and the Governor 18 months after the bill's effective date. After the submission of the report, the task force will expire. The task force is permitted to solicit and receive grants and other funds that are made available for the task force's purposes from public and private entities. The task force may contract with a third party, such as the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, to meet the objectives of the task force as they are delineated in the bill. The goals of the task force include, but are not limited to, conducting a survey of the current behavioral health care system on a county by county basis for acute, short-term, and long-term care; identifying gaps in the current behavioral health care system for the delivery of care for children, adolescents, and adults on a county by county basis for acute, short-term, and long-term care; and making recommendations to: ensure access to quality emergency behavioral health care in a timely manner; coordinate services among providers; facilitate access to comprehensive behavioral health care and treatment; maximize the effective use of available funding; establish new programs or revise existing programs; promote enhanced communication and information exchanges; and any other matters the task force deems necessary and appropriate.

AI Summary

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Tennille McCoy (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document