Bill Text: NJ S2492 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes public awareness campaign concerning programs and services for first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families experiencing mental health issues related to COVID-19 pandemic.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-22 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S2492 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2492-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2492

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 28, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Madden

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes public awareness campaign concerning programs and services for first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families 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 establishing a public awareness campaign concerning first responders, healthcare workers, ¹[and]¹ other frontline workers [suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder] and their families experiencing mental health issues related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic¹ and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

      1.  a.  The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to the general public concerning the programs and services available for first responders, healthcare workers, ¹[and]¹ other frontline workers ¹[suffering from] , and their families experiencing mental health issues related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including, but not limited to,¹ post-traumatic stress disorder ¹[due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic] , anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder¹ .

     b.    The commissioner, in establishing the public awareness campaign, shall develop outreach efforts and provide information to the general public on:

     (1)   the link between ¹mental health issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to,¹ post-traumatic stress disorder¹ [and the COVID-19 pandemic] , anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder¹ ;

     (2)   resources for first responders, healthcare workers, ¹[and]¹ other frontline workers ¹[suffering from] , and their families experiencing mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to,¹ post-traumatic stress disorder ¹, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder¹, including the programs and provided by the Department of Human Services and other federal, State, and local social services and mental health agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic;

     (3)   any telephone helpline established by the Department of Human Services for first responders ¹[,] and¹ healthcare workers¹[, and other frontline workers suffering from] experiencing mental health issues due to their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to,¹ post-traumatic stress disorder ¹, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder¹; and

     (4)   anxiety reducing strategies and other methods to manage stress, depression, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

     c.     The public awareness campaign shall target the general public and first responders, healthcare workers, ¹[and]¹ other frontline workers ¹[with] , and their families experiencing mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to,¹ post-traumatic stress disorder ¹, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder,¹ through a variety of media, including television, radio, print, and on the Department of Human Service's Internet website.

     d.    The commissioner shall provide for the development of advertisements, by signs, billboards, placards, posters and displays placed on New Jersey Transit bus, rail, and light rail system, in English and Spanish, on the public awareness campaign established pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.