SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 877

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 27, 2020

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 877.

      This bill requires the development of a strategic plan for all correctional facilities to foster and support peer counseling programs in the institution to support the treatment of incarcerated persons with substance use disorders, which may include initiatives to provide incarcerated persons in the custody of the correctional institution with access to professional substance use disorder counseling services.

      The bill also requires the development of a strategic plan to ensure that incarcerated persons with a substance use disorder who are in the custody of a correctional facility meet with a peer health navigator to develop a plan to manage and coordinate treatment for the incarcerated person’s substance use disorder upon release.  The meeting with the peer health counselor is to take place at least six months before the incarcerated person’s scheduled date of release from the institution.