ASSEMBLY, No. 2864

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 1, 1997

By Assemblywoman ALLEN and Assemblyman DeSOPO

An Act concerning community residences for mentally ill adults and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. A community residence for the mentally ill which is licensed by the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.1977, c.448 (C.30:11B-1 et seq.) and which serves adults with serious and persistent mental illness shall ensure that there is at least one staff person on duty at the residence 24-hours a day. For the purposes of this act, "an adult with a serious and persistent mental illness" means an adult who experiences symptoms of schizophrenia, a major affective disorder, or a borderline personality disorder for longer than six months; the adult has experienced two or more hospitalizations or crisis service interventions; and the adult's functioning is impaired as a result of the illness. The Commissioner of Human Services shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) which shall ensure provision of adequate staffing for these residences.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires a community residence for the mentally ill which serves adults with serious and persistent mental illness and which is licensed by the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.1977, c.448 (C.30:11B-1 et seq.) to ensure that there is at least one staff person on duty at the residence 24-hours a day.

    The bill defines "an adult with a serious and persistent mental illness" to mean an adult who experiences symptoms of schizophrenia, a major affective disorder, or a borderline personality disorder for longer than six months; the adult has experienced two or more hospitalizations or crisis service interventions; and the adult's functioning is impaired as a result of the illness.

Establishes 24-hour a day staffing requirement at community residences for the mentally ill.