SENATE WOMEN'S ISSUES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 62

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 14, 1996

      The Senate Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 62.

       This bill ensures the confidentiality of any information provided by a public or private school pupil during a counseling session in a school-based drug and alcohol abuse counseling program that a family member is abusing alcohol or drugs. The bill is intended to expand the protection already provided under federal regulations which ensure the confidentiality of information provided by a pupil in a program of this kind regarding the pupil's own substance abuse but not with respect to substance abuse by others.

      The bill provides that any person who discloses or willfully permits the disclosure of information provided by a pupil which violates the confidentiality restrictions is subject to a fine of not more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $5,000 for a second and each subsequent offense.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996-97 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.