Bill > S423

Introduced Session

This bill amends the mental health screening law, P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4D-27.1 et seq.), concerning assessments of persons believed to be in need of involuntary commitment to treatment. The bill requires that an assessment be performed prior to the performance of routine laboratory and diagnostic testing. If, as a result of the assessment, involuntary commitment to treatment seems necessary, then the routine laboratory and diagnostic testing is to be performed. (Laboratory and diagnostic testing may currently be completed and submitted to screening services before the assessment, so this bill seeks to avoid such testing expenses if the person does not need commitment, and to reduce hospital emergency room waiting times because staff would not have to wait for test results to be reviewed before the assessment is performed.) In addition, the bill amends the definition of "mental health screener" to refer to regulations adopted by the Department of Human Services concerning "certified screeners" at N.J.A.C.10:31-3.3, and clarifies that the definition of this term includes any person who meets the criteria for certification as a mental health screener prescribed by regulation of the Commissioner of Human Services. Lastly, the bill specifies that it does not alter the requirements of section 1 of P.L.2009, c.242 (C.30:4-177.61) concerning the use of standardized admission protocols and medical clearance criteria for transfer or admission of a hospital emergency department patient to a State or county psychiatric hospital or a short-term care facility.

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Nellie Pou (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2018)