SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 890

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 890.

      As amended by the committee, this bill requires the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to identify and take appropriate steps to secure federal sources of funding to support maternal mental health in New Jersey.  In the case of the Department of Health, the bill specifically provide that the department is to take steps to secure the federal grant that is available to establish, improve, or maintain programs for the screening, assessment, and treatment of maternal depression under section 10005 of the federal “21st Century Cures Act,” Pub. L. 114-255, 42 U.S.C. s.247b-13a. 

      Under the bill as amended, the departments will be required to report to the Legislature concerning their respective efforts to secure and utilize federal funding to support maternal mental health under the bill no later than September 1, 2021.  The bill will take effect immediately and will expire on January 1, 2024.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments update when the Departments of Health and Human Services are required to report to the Legislature concerning their respective efforts to secure and utilize federal funding to support maternal mental health from January 1, 2020 to September 1, 2021.

      The committee also amended the bill to:  make technical changes to the title of the bill; and update the expiration date of the bill from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2024.