SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1661

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 24, 2020

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1661.

      As reported by the committee, this bill establishes a toll-free hotline for peer-based prisoner reentry support.

      The bill specifically requires the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioners of Corrections and Health, the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, and the Chairman of the State Parole Board, to establish and maintain on a 24-hour daily basis a prisoner reentry support toll-free telephone hotline service.  The hotline service is to operate through one of the department’s existing telephone hotline services.  The hotline service is to receive and respond to calls from formerly incarcerated persons seeking support in reentry following release from custody.

     The bill further requires hotline service operators to be peer recovery specialists certified by the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey or national certified peer recovery support specialists certified by the Association for Addiction Professionals. Operators also are required to complete any additional training the Commissioner of Human Services determines to be necessary.