SENATE, No. 133

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Senators KYRILLOS and INVERSO

 

 

An Act establishing a toll-free "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline, supplementing chapter 1 of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes and amending N.J.S.2C:64-6.

 

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

 

    1. (New section) a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish and maintain, on a 24-hour daily basis, a toll-free information "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. The hotline shall receive and respond to calls from law enforcement officers who have been involved in any event or incident which has produced personal or job-related depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder for the officer. The operators of the hotline shall seek to identify those officers who should be referred to further debriefing and counseling services, and to provide such referrals.

    b. The operators of the hotline shall be trained by the commissioner and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be persons, who by experience or education, are: (1) familiar with post trauma disorders and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties unique to law enforcement officers; or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and professional well-being of a law enforcement officer.

    c. To ensure the integrity of the telephone hotline and to encourage law enforcement officers to utilize it, the commissioner shall provide for the confidentiality of the names of the officers calling, the information discussed by that officer and the operator, and any referrals for further debriefing or counseling; provided, however, the commissioner may, by rule and regulation, establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any officer who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the officer or others.

 

    2. (New section) The commissioner shall prepare a list of appropriately licensed or certified psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers; other appropriately trained and qualified counselors; and experienced former law enforcement officers who are willing to accept referrals and to participate in the debriefing and counseling offered law enforcement officers under the provisions of this act.

 

    3. (New section) In establishing the hotline authorized under the provisions of section 1 of this act, the commissioner shall consult with a representative from the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police; a State representative from the New Jersey State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Fraternal Order of Police, and any other exclusive bargaining representative for a law enforcement agency; and such others as he may deem appropriate.

 

    4. N.J.S.2C:64-6 is amended to read as follows:

    2C:64-6. Disposal of Forfeited Property. a. Property which has been forfeited shall be destroyed if it can serve no lawful purpose or it presents a danger to the public health, safety or welfare. All other forfeited property or any proceeds resulting from the forfeiture and all money seized pursuant to this chapter shall become the property of the entity funding the prosecuting agency involved and shall be disposed of, distributed, appropriated and used in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

    The prosecutor or the Attorney General, whichever is prosecuting the case, shall divide the forfeited property, any proceeds resulting from the forfeiture or any money seized pursuant to this chapter with any other entity where the other entity's law enforcement agency participated in the surveillance, investigation, arrest or prosecution resulting in the forfeiture, in proportion to the other entity's contribution to the surveillance, investigation, arrest or prosecution resulting in the forfeiture, as determined in the discretion of the prosecutor or the Attorney General, whichever is prosecuting the case. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such forfeited property and proceeds shall be used solely for law enforcement purposes, and shall be designated for the exclusive use of the law enforcement agency which contributed to the surveillance, investigation, arrest or prosecution resulting in the forfeiture.

    The Attorney General is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this act.

    b. For a period of two years from the date of enactment of P.L.1993, c.227 (C.26:4-100.13 et al.), 10% of the proceeds obtained by the Attorney General under the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall be deposited into the Hepatitis Inoculation Fund established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.227 (C.26:4-100.13).

    c. Beginning two years from the date of enactment of P.L.1993, c.227 (C.26:4-100.13 et al.) and in subsequent years, 5% of the proceeds obtained by the Attorney General under the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall be deposited into the Hepatitis Inoculation Fund established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.227 (C.26:4-100.13).

    d. From the proceeds obtained by the Attorney General under the provisions of subsection a. of this section, such amounts as shall be necessary shall be appropriated to fund the establishment and operation of the "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline authorized under the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. )(now pending before the Legislature as this bill).

(cf: P.L.1993, c.227, s.1)

 

    5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to establish a 24-hour "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. The hotline would receive and respond to calls from law enforcement officers who have been involved in any event or incident which has produced personal or job-related depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, pressure, or disorder for the officer. The hotline operators are to seek to identify those officers who should be referred to further debriefing and counseling services, and to provide such referrals.

    Law enforcement is an extremely difficult and stressful occupation. Officers are constantly involved in events and incidents that can cause great emotional and psychological pressures which, in turn, can have an adverse effect on their personal and professional lives. As an occupational group, law enforcement officers have an uncommonly high incidence of suicide, marital and family problems, alcohol and substance abuse, and other stress related disorders.

    The bill provides for the hotline to be established by the Commissioner of Human Services, to ensure the law enforcement community of the confidential nature and the integrity of the program. Having the Commissioner of Human Services rather than a law enforcement agency in charge will ensure that the names of the callers and the information exchanged will not be revealed to an officer's superiors or employer. The bill does provide, however, for the commissioner to establish guidelines to provide for the tracking of an officer who exhibits such a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition that the operator taking the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the officer or to others.

    In establishing the hotline, the commissioner is to consult with representatives from the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, the New Jersey State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and other parties who can contribute to the development and operation of an effective program.

    The bill also directs the commissioner to prepare a list of licensed or certified psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers; qualified counselors; and experienced former law enforcement officers who are willing to participate in the program and provide debriefing and counseling services.

    Funding for the hotline is to come from the proceeds the Attorney General receives from the disposal of property forfeited by criminals.

 

 

 

Establishes "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline.