Bill > A2902

This bill establishes a "Mental Health Advocacy Pilot Program" within the Division of Mental Health Services in the Department of Human Services, aiming to offer community-based treatment for individuals with serious mental illness as an alternative to incarceration when such treatment is deemed more beneficial. The program will be administered by the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Mental Health Services and will operate in Atlantic, Union, and Essex counties, focusing on offenders over 18 years old who voluntarily participate and suffer from serious mental illness, defined as a mental disease causing substantial functional disability. The bill outlines the roles of a "community treatment liaison," a nonprofit organization responsible for evaluation, referral, and case management coordination, and defines "offender" as anyone over 18 detained, charged, arrested, or convicted by a law enforcement agency or court. The program will develop guidelines for eligibility, participation, and referrals from various sources, including attorneys representing offenders with serious mental illness, and will ensure participants can review program requirements and withdraw at any time without needing to plead guilty. Participating counties will report on program effectiveness, participant outcomes, and costs, with the Assistant Commissioner submitting a comprehensive report to the Governor and Legislature to recommend program continuation, improvement, and potential statewide expansion. The bill also allows the Assistant Commissioner to seek and accept grants for the program, which will take effect 180 days after enactment and expire two years later.