A852

An Act the “Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems” pilot program, supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.

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

1. a. There is established a three year “Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems” grant pilot program in the New Jersey Department of Health. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to provide a framework and funding for the establishment and expansion of community organizations to serve as an alternative to law enforcement in response to emergencies by preventing violence, deescalating volatile situations, protecting property and the environment, reducing law enforcement use of force, ensuring the health and safety of communities, and decreasing costs to the State by reducing calls for service and the sole reliance upon law enforcement first responders for emergency situations.

b. The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, shall establish rules and regulations for the awarding of grants to community organizations operating where vulnerable populations reside. The rules and regulations shall be modified, as appropriate, to incorporate the recommendations of the advisory committee established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

c. Preference shall be given to grant applications for projects in locations with a demonstrated need, as evidenced by metrics such as a large number of incidents of police use of force, a large number of of civilian complaints, and racial profiling.

d. A community organization receiving assistance under the pilot program shall use the grant to stimulate and support involvement in emergency response activities that do not require a law enforcement officer including, but not limited to:

(1) project planning and community engagement;

(2) project implementation;

(3) staffing;

(4) facility use, subject to the requirement that the facility is to be utilized by the grantee, which may extend beyond the term of the program;

(5) operational costs, including, but not limited to, startup or expansion, marketing, language translation, and transportation costs;

(6) consulting services; and

(7) training.

e. The Commissioner of Health shall:

(1) assemble staff, resources, and, if necessary, engage consultants with technical expertise to provide the advisory committee with staffing and facilitation support including, but not limited to, outreach and engagement, cooperatively creating meeting agendas, providing recordkeeping and facilitation support, reimbursements for travel and participation in advisory committee meetings and activities, and detailed information on rules, regulations, and relevant deadlines;

(2) provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, solicit and review all grant proposals, and support the advisory committee’s review and evaluation of proposals, as well as preparing proposals for final approval by the advisory committee;

(3) consult with local emergency services personnel and community-based or organizations for input and potential approaches on issues related to emergency response; and

(4) assist the advisory committee in carrying out its work.

f. The commissioner shall issue a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to be made available on the official Internet website of the Department of Health six months following the end of the program, on the programmatic and fiscal savings associated with the program, key conclusions, populations served and the benefits conferred or realized, and resulting policy recommendations to provide guidance to the Legislature and Governor in implementing a permanent program.

As used in this act:

“Community organization” means an organization dedicated to creating and strengthening community-based alternatives to law enforcement in response to crisis situations which do not require the response of a fire department or emergency medical services.

“Vulnerable population” means persons of color, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, persons who are gender nonconforming, formerly incarcerated persons, persons experiencing homelessness, persons with immigration status issues, persons facing mental health crises, persons involved in intimate partner violence, vulnerable youth, persons likely to be engaged in community violence, persons challenged by substance abuse, and persons living in areas that are subject to public health emergencies.

2. a. The is established a 13-member Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems Advisory Committee. The advisory committee shall consist of:

(1) the Commissioner of Health, ex officio or a designee;

(2) the Commissioner of Human Services, ex officio or a designee;

(3) Five public members appointed by the Governor, three of whom shall be a representatives of a private nonprofit organization that provides direct services to vulnerable populations in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State; one of whom shall be a representative of a public or private nonprofit provider of services for people with developmental disabilities; and one of whom shall be licensed clinical social worker who specializes in providing services to vulnerable populations in the State;

(4) three public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a public health professional; one of whom shall be an emergency medical services professional; and one of whom shall be a person or family member of a person who is a survivor of an emergency or crisis; and

(5) three public members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a public health professional; one of whom shall be an emergency medical services professional; and one of whom shall be a person or family member of a person who is a survivor of an emergency or crisis.

b. The advisory committee shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its public members, who shall each serve a one-year term but may be selected to serve successive terms. The advisory committee shall meet upon the call of the chairperson or a majority of its voting members, but not less than once per quarter. A majority of the voting members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum, and no action of the advisory committee shall be taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the entire advisory committee.

c. The members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purposes.

d. It shall be the duty of the advisory committee to:

(1) establish grant application criteria and parameters for eligible community organizations;

(2) review and decide upon grant proposals;

(3) ensure grants are adhering to standards; and

(4) monitor the progress, conclusions, and challenges associated with the program.

e. The advisory committee shall make recommendations to the commissioner on an ongoing basis concerning program development, implementation, and oversight.

3. There is appropriated $2,000,000 to the Department of Health to implement the provisions of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the “Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems” grant pilot program in the New Jersey Department of Health.

The Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems, or C.R.I.S.E.S., program is a three-year pilot program for providing a framework and funding for the establishment and expansion of community organizations to serve as an alternative to law enforcement in response. The goal of the program is preventing violence, deescalating volatile situations, protecting property and the environment, reducing law enforcement use of force, ensuring the health and safety of communities, and decreasing costs to the State by reducing calls for service and the sole reliance upon law enforcement first responders for emergency situations.

The provisions of the bill require the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services,

The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, shall establish rules and regulations for the awarding of grants to community organizations operating where vulnerable populations reside. Preference is to be given to grant applications for projects in locations with a demonstrated need, as evidenced by metrics such as a large number of police use of force incidents, a large number of civilian complaints, and racial profiling incidents.

A community organization receiving assistance under the program is required to use the grant to stimulate and support involvement in emergency response activities that do not require a law enforcement officer including, but not limited to: project planning and community engagement; project implementation; staffing; facility use, subject to the requirement that the facility is to be utilized by the grantee, which may extend beyond the term of the program; operational costs, including, but not limited to, startup or expansion, marketing, language translation, and transportation costs; consulting services; and training.

The bill further establishes a 13-member Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems Advisory Committee, to consist of: the Commissioner of Health, or a designee; the Commissioner of Human Services, or a designee; five public members appointed by the Governor, three of whom shall be a representatives of a private nonprofit organization that provides direct services to vulnerable populations in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, one of whom shall be a representative of a public or private nonprofit provider of services for people with developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be licensed clinical social worker who specializes in providing services to vulnerable populations in the State; three public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a public health professional, one of whom shall be an emergency medical services professional, and one of whom shall be a person or family member of a person who is a survivor of an emergency or crisis; and three public members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a public health professional, one of whom shall be an emergency medical services professional, and one of whom shall be a person or family member of a person who is a survivor of an emergency or crisis.

The duties of the advisory committee are to: establish grant application criteria and parameters for eligible community organizations; review and decide upon grant proposals; ensure grants are adhering to standards; and monitor the progress, conclusions, and challenges associated with the program. The advisory committee also is required to make recommendations to the commissioner on an ongoing basis concerning program development, implementation, and oversight.

The Commissioner of Health is required under the bill to provide staffing, technical and other support to the advisory committee; provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, solicit and review all grant proposals, and support the advisory committee’s review and evaluation of proposals, as well as preparing proposals for final approval by the advisory committee; consult with local emergency services personnel and community-based or organizations for input and potential approaches on issues related to emergency response; and assist the advisory committee in carrying out its work.

The commissioner is required to issue a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, to be made available on the official Internet website of the Department of Health six months following the end of the program, on the programmatic and fiscal savings associated with the program, key conclusions, populations served and the benefits conferred or realized, and resulting policy recommendations to provide guidance to the Legislature and Governor in implementing a permanent program.

Finally, the bill appropriates $2,000,000 to the Department of Health to implement the provisions of the bill.