Bill > S378

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, in conjunction with Rutgers, The State University/University Behavioral Health Care, to establish a 24-hour, toll-free "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. The division and university are to consult with representatives of certain fire and emergency services organizations when establishing the hotline. The hotline will be available to fire and emergency services personnel experiencing personal or job-related depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, pressure, or disorder. When necessary and appropriate, hotline operators would refer callers to further debriefing and counseling services. The division, after consultation with the university, is to establish guidelines for tracking any fire or emergency services caller exhibiting such a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition that it may result in harm to the caller or others. The division and the university are to train the hotline operators. To the greatest extent possible, these operators are to be: 1) persons familiar with post trauma disorders and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties unique to fire and emergency services personnel; or 2) trained professionals able to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions that may adversely affect the personal and professional well-being of New Jersey's fire and emergency services personnel. The bill also directs the division, after consultation with the university, to prepare a list of licensed or certified psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers; qualified counselors; and experienced former fire and emergency services personnel who are willing to accept referrals and provide debriefing and counseling services.

Committee Categories

Fred Madden (D)*,  Paul Sarlo (D)*,  Anthony Bucco (R), 

Senate Law and Public Safety Hearing (19:00 1/25/2018 *Revised 1/19/18- S-350 has been removed.) (on 01/25/2018)