Bill Text: NJ S2447 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes toll free helpline for first responders and health care workers experiencing mental health issues related to COVID-19 pandemic.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-22 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S2447 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2447-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2447

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

Senator  TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Gopal, Holzapfel, O'Scanlon and Madden

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes toll free helpline for first responders and health care workers experiencing mental health issues related to COVID-19 pandemic.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on July 22, 2020, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning ¹[post-traumatic stress disorder and] mental health issues related to¹ the coronavirus disease 2019 and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  The ¹[Department of Health] Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services¹ shall establish ¹[, in coordination with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey,]¹ a toll free helpline for first responders ¹[,] and¹ health care workers ¹[, and other frontline workers]¹ experiencing ¹[post-traumatic stress disorder] mental health issues¹ due to their work during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic ¹, which mental health issues may include, but shall not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder.  In developing the helpline, the division shall be authorized to utilize or expand existing mental health resources available through the division, and shall be further authorized to consult or contract with an appropriate third party entity¹ . 

     b.    The helpline shall be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week and shall respond to calls from first responders, health care workers, ¹[other frontline workers,]¹ and their families.  The operators of the helpline shall seek to identify first responders, health care workers, ¹[other frontline workers,]¹ and ¹members of¹ their families who should be referred to further peer support and counseling services ¹[,]¹ and provide ¹appropriate¹ referrals.

     c.     To the greatest extent possible, the operators of the help line ¹[,]¹ shall be ¹:¹ (1) familiar with ¹[post-traumatic stress disorder and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties] the mental health issues commonly experienced by first responders, health care workers, and their families, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder, as well as the aspects of those mental health issues that are¹ unique to first responders, health care workers, ¹[other frontline workers,]¹ and their families ¹;¹ or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance ¹[abuse] use disorder¹ , personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and ¹[service related] service-related¹ well-being of first responders, health care workers, ¹[other frontline workers,]¹ and their families.

     d.    The ¹[Department of Health and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey] Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services¹ shall ¹[provide for the confidentiality of] ensure¹ the names ¹and identities¹ of the persons calling, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling ¹are kept confidential¹ ; provided, however, the ¹[Department of Health and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey] division¹ may establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the first responder, health care worker, ¹[other frontline worker,]¹ or any other person.

 

     2.    The Commissioner of ¹[Health] Human Services¹ shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.