Bill > S193

Introduced Session

This bill amends section 1 of P.L.1968, c.230 (C.9:17A-4) to stipulate that a minor who reports being 16 years of age or older, believes that the minor is in need of behavioral health care services for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disorders, and places a telephone call or other communication to, or is transferred from another hotline to, an operator of the telephone number for mental health and suicide crisis resources, as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, or a 9-8-8 crisis hotline center for counseling and support is allowed to receive a follow-up call, text, or chat message from an operator of the telephone number for mental health and suicide crisis resources or a 9-8-8 crisis hotline center in response to the minor's original call or other communication without the minor's consent, or parental consent or authorization in accordance with the provisions of this bill. Presently, minors can consent to certain types of temporary, outpatient, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment services. Current law does not allow minors to receive follow-up calls, texts, or chat messages from the operators of suicide hotlines, including the telephone number for mental health and suicide crisis resources, as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, or a 9-8-8 crisis hotline center without parental consent. The bill also amends section 1 of P.L.1968, c.230 (C.9:17A-4) to mandate that a follow-up call, text, or chat message authorized pursuant to this bill would be solely for suicide prevention purposes and would not be considered behavioral health treatment, diagnosis, or clinical care.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Burzichelli (D)*,  Patrick Diegnan (D)*,  Angela Mcknight (D), 

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.238. (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document