Sponsored by:
Senator SEAN T. KEAN
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators A.R.Bucco, Addiego, Madden, Allen and Beck
SYNOPSIS
Requires DCF to develop and adopt Statewide youth suicide prevention plan.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on September 19, 2011, with amendments.
An Act concerning youth suicide prevention 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. The Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, and the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2003, c.214 (C.30:9A-25), shall develop and adopt a Statewide youth suicide prevention plan no later than 180 days after the effective date of this act.
b. The plan shall address, but not be limited to, the:
(1) identification of existing State and local sources of data concerning youth suicide deaths, youth suicide attempts, and self-inflicted injuries by youth;
(2) coordination and sharing of such data among identified State and local sources;
(3) promotion of greater public awareness about youth suicide prevention services and resources;
(4) identification of barriers to accessing mental health and substance abuse services, and opportunities to enhance access; and
(5) promotion of evidenced-based and best practice programs, listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practices Registry, for the prevention and treatment of youth suicide and self-injury.
2. The 1[commissioner] Commissioners of Human Services and Children and Families, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services,1 shall 1[review] prepare a report reviewing1 the effectiveness 1and sufficiency1 of services provided by the 1[three New Jersey-based crisis centers that participate in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network and implement measures to ensure that:
a. staffing levels are adequate to meet the volume of New Jersey telephone calls routed to the three crisis centers;
b. telephone calls to the three crisis centers are answered in a timely manner; and
c. crisis center personnel are knowledgeable about State and local services and resources that may be available to State residents who contact the centers] New Jersey-based suicide prevention hotlines. The report prepared pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 12 months after the effective date of this act1.
3. a. The 1[commissioner] Commissioner of Children and Families1 shall review the Department of Children and Families grant application procedures to ensure that grant applications submitted by the department for youth suicide prevention initiatives are completed accurately and in a timely manner.
b. The commissioner shall 1give thorough consideration to and, where appropriate,1 apply for 1[, and accept,]1 any grants from the federal government, and contributions and donations from other public or private sources as may be used for the purposes of this act.
4. The commissioner, within 18 months after the effective date of this act, shall report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation of the provisions of this act, and shall include the youth suicide prevention plan developed pursuant to this act, and the commissioner’s findings and actions taken to implement the provisions of 1[sections 2 and] section1 3 of this act.
5. The commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
6. This act shall take effect immediately.