ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1545

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 9, 1997

      The Assembly Community Services Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1545.

      This bill requires employees at State facilities for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled to undergo criminal history record background checks at least every two years. Currently, employees at these facilities are only required to undergo the background checks prior to employment.

      This bill is one of several legislative initiatives recommended in the final report of the Senate Task Force on Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital issued in June, 1996.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 2429, which was released by this committee on this date.