S785

An Act establishing a three-year Crisis Response Support Pilot Program and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. As used in sections 2 through 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

“Pilot county” means a county in which a municipality has been selected by the Attorney General to participate in the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

“Pilot municipality” means a municipality selected by the Attorney General to participate in the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and that agrees to participate in the pilot program.

“Pilot program” means the Crisis Response Support Pilot Program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

2. a. There is established a three-year Crisis Response Support Pilot Program. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to provide ongoing services and support to individuals who are the subject of a request for emergency services that involves a person who is in crisis and is suicidal or suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder.

b. The Attorney General shall select for participation in the pilot program two municipalities in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, as follows:

(1) a northern regional pilot municipality shall be located in Essex County in a municipality having a population of more than 30,000 and a population density of more than 10,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census;

(2) a central regional pilot municipality shall be located in Middlesex County in a municipality having a population of more than 35,000 and a population density of more than 7,500 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census;

(3) a southern regional pilot municipality shall be located in Burlington County in a municipality having a population of more than 7,000 and a population density of more than 4,750 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.

c. Upon receipt of a resolution by the governing body of a pilot municipality agreeing to participate in the pilot program, the Attorney General shall collaborate with each pilot municipality to establish procedures for the development and administration of the pilot program.

d. The chief administrative officer or governing body of a pilot municipality shall appoint a crisis response coordinator who shall be responsible for providing ongoing support and services to individuals who are the subject of a request for emergency services that involves a person who is in crisis and is suicidal or suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder.

e. In accordance with directives established by the Attorney General, a crisis response coordinator may collaborate and enter into memorandums of understanding with a county college located in the county in which the pilot municipality is located to provide for students enrolled in courses related to emergency services, mental health, and other relevant subjects to participate in the pilot program.

f. The State shall reimburse a pilot municipality for the costs associated with establishing and administering the program.

3. In accordance with procedures established by the Attorney General, a law enforcement officer in a pilot municipality shall immediately notify the crisis response coordinator if the officer responds to a request for emergency services that involves a person who is in crisis and is suicidal or suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder. The officer also shall provide the crisis response coordinator with information concerning the circumstances related to the request for emergency services and a description of any assistance provided to the person who is the subject of the request for emergency services.

4. a. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall promulgate standards for the provision of support and services to individuals in a pilot municipality who are the subject of a request for emergency services that involves a person who is in crisis and is suicidal or suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder. The guidelines at a minimum shall:

(1) prescribe the qualifications and training requirements for the position of a crisis response coordinator to be appointed in a pilot municipality pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

(2) establish protocols for a crisis response coordinator to contact the subject of a request for emergency services to provide ongoing support and services.

b. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall promulgate guidelines for students of a county college located in a county in which a pilot municipality is located to participate in the pilot program.

5. The Legislature shall appropriate such funds as necessary to fund the Crisis Response Support Pilot Program.

6. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, except the Attorney General may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a three-year Crisis Response Support Pilot Program to provide ongoing services and support to certain individuals who are the subject of a request for emergency services.

Under the bill, the Attorney General is to select for participation in the pilot program two municipalities in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The northern regional pilot municipalities are to be located in Essex County in municipalities having a population of more than 30,000 and a population density of more than 10,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census; the central regional pilot municipalities are to be located in Middlesex County in municipalities having a population of more than 35,000 and a population density of more than 7,500 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census; and the southern regional pilot municipalities are to be located in Burlington County in municipalities having a population of more than 7,000 and a population density of more than 4,750 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.

The chief administrative officer or governing body of a pilot municipality is required to appoint a crisis response coordinator who is responsible for providing ongoing support and services to individuals who are the subject of a request for emergency services that involves a person who is in crisis and is suicidal or suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder.

A crisis response coordinator is authorized under the bill to collaborate with a county college located in a county in which a pilot municipality is located to provide for students enrolled in courses related to emergency services, mental health, and other relevant subjects to participate in the pilot program. The State is required to reimburse a pilot municipality for the costs associated with establishing and administering the program.

The provisions of the bill require a law enforcement officer in a pilot municipality to immediately notify the crisis response coordinator if the officer responds to a request for emergency services that involves a person who is in crisis and is suicidal or suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder. The officer also is required to provide the crisis response coordinator with information concerning the circumstances related

to the request for emergency services and a description of any assistance provided to the person who is the subject of the request for emergency services.