[Third Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4435

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JULY 23, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  ANTHONY S. VERRELLI

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblyman  LOUIS D. GREENWALD

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex)

Assemblywoman  PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Senator  JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Senator  KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Benson, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblyman Caputo, Assemblywomen Mosquera, Jasey, Assemblyman Chiaravalloti, Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen Simonsen, McClellan, Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, Quijano, McKnight, Timberlake, Downey, Swain, Assemblyman Wimberly, Senators Pou, Turner, Assemblywomen Jimenez and Lopez

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DCF to give priority to certain school districts with student mental health counseling centers in awarding grants under School Based Youth Services Program.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended on November 8, 2021 by the General Assembly pursuant to the Governor's recommendations.

  


An Act prioritizing certain 3[school districts] applicants3 under the 3[School Based Youth] School-Linked3 Services Program and supplementing chapter 5B of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      1.   a. In awarding 3[grants under the School Based Youth Services Program, the Office of School-Linked Services within the Division of Family and Community Partnerships of] contracts to provide School-Linked Services,3 the Department of Children and Families shall give priority to 2new2 3[applicant school districts 2and districts] applicants and applicants3 seeking to expand current programs2 that 3, at minimum,3 2[operate or host, or demonstrate a plan to operate or host,] include in their application2 a center or other entity that focuses on providing individual, family, and group clinical mental health counseling services to students.  The center or other entity shall 1[be]1 2offer to students services that include, but are not limited to, the following2:

     (1)   2[1be1 separate from, but integrated into, a school within the applicant school district;

     (2)   1be1 open for students to visit clinical mental health professionals during, before, and after school hours] access to mental health counseling services during, before, or after school hours2; and

     2[(3)    1[staffed by] include1] (2) access to2 clinical mental health 1[professionals] professional staff1, who 1[are] may be1 school district employees 1[and] , that1 provide mental health counseling services to students 3[either] including3 in-person or 3[remotely through the use of]3 telehealth or telemedicine services, as applicable 3and as permitted by law3.

     2The 3[Office of School-Linked Services] Department of Children and Families3 shall give priority consideration to new 3[applicant school districts and districts] applicants and applicants3 seeking to expand current programs that offer the services included in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection immediately upon the effective date of this act.2 

     b.    Of the 2new2 3[applicant school districts 2and districts] applicants and applicants3 seeking to expand current programs2 that 2[operate or host, or demonstrate a plan to operate or host,] include in their application2 a center or other entity in accordance with subsection a. of this section, the 3[Office of School-Linked

Services] Department of Children and Families3 shall consider 3[the following]3 factors 3including but not limited to the following3 in 2[determining further priority in] making a determination when2 awarding 3[grants under the School Based Youth Services Program] contracts to provide School-Linked Services3:

     (1)   whether the 3applicant is, currently operates in, or proposes to operate in a3 school district 3that3 is designated as a “high-need” school district, as determined by 2[the] metrics set by the2 Commissioner of Children and Families; 

     (2)   the existence of a partnership between the center or other  entity and community mental health providers and 3[other] existing3 community resources;

     (3)   whether the 3[school district] applicant3 has developed a plan for mental health professionals working in its center or other entity to develop curricula to train students and staff on identifying the signs of mental health conditions and addressing risk factors that may impact student mental health; and

     (4)   whether the center or other entity created by the 3[school district has] applicant can ensure access to3 clinical mental health professional staff who specialize in a variety of mental health areas, or demonstrates a plan to retain the services of clinical mental health professionals in a variety of mental health areas.

     3c. For purposes of this section, “applicant” means a school district, school, or other eligible entity seeking to be awarded a contract to provide School-Linked Services. The term shall include new applicants as well as a school district, school, or other eligible entity that is seeking to expand current programs under an existing contract to provide School-Linked Services.3

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately 3and shall expire on the first day of the 25th month next following enactment3.