[Second Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 4436
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JULY 23, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Verrelli, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman Benson, Assemblywoman Dunn, Assemblyman Chiaravalloti, Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Jasey, Assemblymen McClellan, Simonsen, Freiman, Assemblywomen McKnight, Quijano, Swain, Lopez, Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywomen Downey, Schepisi, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Timberlake, Senators A.M.Bucco, Corrado, Pou, Turner, Gopal and Gill
SYNOPSIS
Establishes “Student Mental Health Task Force.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on June 17, 2021, with amendments.
An Act establishing the “Student Mental Health Task Force.”
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established the “Student Mental Health Task Force.” The purpose of the task force shall be to 2examine issues related to the mental health of students, including depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder;2 study and survey the resources that are available to schools and parents to address student mental health needs 2; and develop recommendations to ensure that students have access to mental health care programs and services in order to allow students to meet their educational goals2.
b. The task force shall consist of 2[15] 172 members, as follows:
(1) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(2) the Commissioner of Health, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(3) the Commissioner of Children and Families, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(4) the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(5) the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(6) one public member 2[with knowledge in issues relating to the work of the task force,]2 appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly 2and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, both of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force2;
(7) one public member 2[with knowledge in issues relating to the work of the task force,]2 appointed by the Senate President 2and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, both of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues related to the work of the task force2; and
(8) eight public members appointed by the Governor, who shall include: one representative of 1[the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association] 2[an organization representing school district leaders in the State1] the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association2, one representative of 1[the New Jersey School Boards Association] 2[an organization representing local boards of education in the State1] the New Jersey School Boards Association2, one representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one representative of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, one representative of the New Jersey Association of Counties, one representative of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, 2[one representative of a mental health service provider that has entered into a partnership with one or more school districts in the State, and one representative of any State institution of higher education that has entered into a mental health-related partnership with one or more school districts in the State] one member representing school district leaders, and one school mental health professional who holds a valid educational services certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners that may include, but is not limited to, a school counselor, a school social worker, or a school psychologist2.
c. Members to the task force shall be appointed within 60 days following the date of enactment of this act. The Commissioner of Education, or his designee, shall serve as the chairperson of the task force. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a vice-chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
d. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force, subject to available funds.
e. The Department of Education shall provide such administrative and professional assistance as is necessary for the task force to carry out its work. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.
2. a. It shall be the duty of the task force to 2examine issues related to the mental health of students, including depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder;2 study and survey all resources that are currently available to the schools and parents within each county in the State, and within the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, for helping a student or child who experiences mental health issues 2; and develop recommendations to ensure that students have access to mental health care programs and services in order to allow students to meet their educational goals2.
2b.2 The task force shall, at a minimum, survey the availability of:
(1) mental health treatment services provided within each county and region of the State including, but not limited to, those services provided through a school district, professional mental health services provider, or community mental health services organization, and any other tools or resources to address the mental health needs of students;
(2) mental health care provider networks that offer mental health treatment services within each municipality, county, and region of the State;
(3) State, county, or municipal agencies within each county and region of the State that offer funding, professional mental health treatment services, or other resources to address the mental health needs of students; and
(4) partnership opportunities with institutions of higher education within each county and region of the State to address the mental health needs of students.
2[b.] c. The task force shall also study and make recommendations regarding the following:
(1) the identification of public school students who experience depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder;
(2) the evaluation and expansion of counseling programs and services available to students experiencing mental health difficulties, and other programs designed to address issues related to student mental health;
(3) the relationship of student mental health to school safety and security;
(4) the amount of funding that may be necessary for public schools to employ the appropriate staff and to establish new programs or expand existing programs necessary to address student mental health;
(5) an examination of other states that have implemented programs that have successfully addressed depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder among public school students and reduced the number of students experiencing such difficulties; and
(6) any other proposals that the task force determines would provide for increased access to high-quality mental health programs.
d. The task force shall consult with parents of general education students, parents of students who receive special education and related services, and teaching staff members when performing the duties required pursuant to the provisions of this section.
e.2 The task force shall issue a final report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report shall contain the results of the survey required 2and recommendations developed2 pursuant to 2[subsection a. of]2 this section.
The task force shall forward a copy of the report to every school district in the State.
3. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire 30 days after the task force issues its final report.