Bill Text: NJ S2719 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to private professional counselors.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-22 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S2719 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2719-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to private professional counselors.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning mental health services for public school students and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A student assistance coordinator or a school psychologist or other mental health professional working in a school district may refer, or help facilitate the referral of, a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, for mental health assessments and services. After consultation with a student assistance coordinator or a school psychologist or other mental health professional working in the school district, a principal or a school counselor also may refer or help facilitate the referral of a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, for mental health assessments and services. If a student is not legally permitted to consent on his own to the mental health assessments and services, the student's parent or guardian shall be notified of, and consent to, the referral or the facilitation of a referral prior to the provision of any assessment or service by the licensed private individual.
In the case of a referral or a facilitation of a referral pursuant to this section, neither the school district nor the individual referring or facilitating the referral shall bear the cost of the assessments or services provided to the student.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would permit a student assistance coordinator or a school psychologist or other mental health professional working in a school district to refer, or help facilitate the referral of, a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, for mental health assessments and services. An individual licensed to provide professional counseling would include, but not be limited to, a psychiatrist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or licensed psychologist. A principal or a school counselor will also be permitted to refer or help facilitate the referral of a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, after first consulting with the student assistance coordinator or a school psychologist or other mental health professional working in the school district.
In the case of a student who is not legally permitted to consent on his own to the assessments and services, the student's parent or guardian will be notified of the referral or the facilitation of the referral, and the parent or guardian will be required to consent prior to the provision of any assessment or service by the licensed private individual.
In the case of a referral or the facilitation of a referral of a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, the bill provides that neither the school district nor the individual making the referral or facilitating the referral will be required to bear the cost of the assessments and services provided to the student.
