A507

An Act concerning the establishment of a one-stop website to assist persons in navigating the State’s mental health and substance use disorder service systems 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 Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, and the Department of Children and Families, shall:

(1) establish and maintain a centralized website that is designed to provide a one-stop reference guide for persons with mental health or substance use disorders and their families in order to assist such persons in navigating the State’s mental health and substance use disorder service systems; and

(2) publicize the availability of the website established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, using all available media, including print, signage, television, radio, the Internet, and social media.

b. The website established pursuant to this section shall, at a minimum, provide the following information in an easily searchable format:

(1) information about how a person or a concerned third-party may seek help for a mental health issue or substance use disorder, including, but not limited to: (a) a description of the various types of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services that are available in the State; (b) a description of, contact information for, the operating hours of, and hyperlinks to the websites of, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers in the State; (c) information about, and contact information for, the State’s mental health and substance use disorder hotlines and peer-support groups; (d) information about the State’s involuntary commitment procedures under P.L.1987, c.116 and P.L.2009, c.112 (C.30:4-27.1 et seq.); and (e) information about the State’s guardianship procedures under chapter 12 of Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes;

(2) a description of, and hyperlinks to, available educational materials and resources that address issues related to mental health or substance use or that provide tools that can be used to assess a person’s need for mental health or substance use disorder treatment;

(3) a description of, and information about: (a) the community-based housing options that are available to persons in the State who have or are recovering from a mental health or substance use disorder, including hyperlinks to the websites of supportive housing and recovery residence providers in the State; and (b) the resources, materials, and supports that are available to assist persons who are transitioning into the community following the receipt of mental health or substance use disorder treatment in a residential setting, including a description of any available housing assistance or utility voucher programs;

(4) a description of, and information about, the duties and functions of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services with respect to the licensing and oversight of mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers and the provision of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services in the State, including a hyperlink to the division’s Internet webpage;

(5) a description of, and information about the duties and functions of the Department of Community Affairs, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, and other appropriate agencies or entities with respect to the oversight and licensing of sober living homes and other substance use disorder recovery residences in the State wherein treatment is not provided to residents, including hyperlinks to the statutes and regulations that relate to the operation and oversight of substance use disorder recovery residences; and

(6) hyperlinks to any available reports, created by the division or any other public or non-profit entity, which relate to the status or quality of mental health or substance use disorder treatment or recovery services or providers in the State.

c. A hyperlink to the one-stop website established under this section shall be posted in a prominent location on the website of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services and on the websites of the Departments of Health and Children and Families.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would require the Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (division), the Department of Health, and the Department of Children and Families, to establish, maintain, and publicize the availability of, a centralized website that would provide a one-stop reference guide for persons with mental health or substance use disorders and their families in the State in order to assist such persons in navigating the State’s mental health and substance use disorder service systems.

At a minimum, the centralized website is to provide the following information in an easily searchable format:

1) information about how a person or a concerned third-party may seek help for a mental health issue or substance use disorder, including, but not limited to: a) a description of the various types of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services that are available in the State; b) a description of, contact information for, the operating hours of, and hyperlinks to the websites of, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers in the State; c) information about, and contact information for, the State’s mental health and substance use disorder hotlines and peer-support groups; d) information about the State’s involuntary commitment procedures; and e) information about the State’s guardianship procedures;

2) a description of, and hyperlinks to, available educational materials and resources that address issues related to mental health or substance use or that provide tools that can be used to assess a person’s need for mental health or substance use disorder treatment;

3) a description of, and information about: a) the community-based housing options that are available to persons in the State who have or are recovering from a mental health or substance use disorder, including hyperlinks to the websites of supportive housing and recovery residence providers in the State; and b) the resources, materials, and supports that are available to assist persons who are transitioning into the community following the receipt of mental health or substance use disorder treatment in a residential setting, including a description of any available housing assistance or utility voucher programs;

4) a description of, and information about the division’s duties and functions with respect to the licensing and oversight of mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers and the provision of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services in the State, including a hyperlink to the division’s Internet webpage;

5) a description of, and information about the duties and functions of the Department of Community Affairs, the division, and other appropriate agencies or entities with respect to the oversight and licensing of sober living homes and other substance use disorder recovery residences in the State wherein treatment is not provided to residents, including hyperlinks to the statutes and regulations that relate to the operation and oversight of substance use disorder recovery residences; and

6) hyperlinks to any available reports, created by the division or any other public or non-profit entity, which relate to the status or quality of mental health or substance use disorder treatment or recovery services or providers in the State.

A hyperlink to the one-stop website is to be posted in a prominent location on the division’s website and on the websites of the Departments of Health and Children and Families.