[Third Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1662

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Assemblywoman  PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Assemblyman  ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Burgess, Corrado, Durr, Gopal, Greenstein, Pou, Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblyman Caputo, Assemblywoman Dunn, Assemblyman Atkins, Assemblywomen Park, Jasey, Assemblymen Freiman, Conaway, Assemblywomen Swain, Mosquera, Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblyman McKeon and Assemblywoman Pintor Marin

SYNOPSIS

     Requires NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended by the General Assembly on December 7, 2023.

An Act requiring New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare a report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools.

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

1.  a.  The New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2003, c.214 (C.30:9A-25), shall prepare a report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools. ¹In preparing the report, the council may:

(1) consult with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the Department of Children and Families, as necessary; and

(2) request administrative and technical support from the Department of Children and Families.¹

      b.   The report shall include, but not be limited to:

      (1)   identifying the suicide prevention instruction currently provided to public school teaching staff members and students pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of P.L.2005, c.310, s.2 (C.18A:6-112 and C.18A:6-113);

      (2)   reviewing the effectiveness and sufficiency of instruction in suicide prevention currently provided to public school teaching staff members and students;

      (3)   identifying any methods public schools may use to identify students who may be at risk for suicide or self-injury;

      (4)   identifying evidence-based and best practice programs in public schools for the prevention of youth suicide and self-injury, including a survey of programs being implemented in surrounding states;

      (5)   identifying opportunities to enhance access to mental health treatment in public schools; and

      (6)   findings and recommendations, including legislative and regulatory proposals.

      c.     ²[The]In preparing the report, the² council shall ²[request data and information from the Department of Education, provided that any data and information forwarded shall be aggregated and shall not contain any student-identifying or confidential information.  In the event that the department does not have the requested data and information, the department shall be required to request data and information from any school district that may have access to the information] ³[conduct] develop³ a survey to collect data from local education agencies, approved private schools for students with disabilities, and charter and renaissance school projects in the 2023-24 school year to be delivered by the Department of Education².  The department shall aggregate the data and ensure any student-identifying or confidential information has been removed prior to transmitting to the council for use in the report.

d.¹ 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 act. ²[¹If the report has not been transmitted to the Governor and to the Legislature, within 12 months after the effective date of this act, the chair of the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, or a designee, shall appear before the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee or the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee, or their successor reference committees, or other reference committee, at the direction of the presiding officer, to explain why the report has not been transmitted and to describe actions taken by the chair to transmit the report as soon as possible.¹]²

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.