Bill Text: NJ S4248 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes grant program in DCA for installation of suicide deterrents on certain infrastructure; appropriates $10 million.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-05-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S4248 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4248-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes grant program in DCA for installation of suicide deterrents on certain infrastructure; appropriates $10 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a grant program for the installation of suicide deterrents on certain infrastructure, supplementing chapter 27D of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Covered location" means a bridge; building; parking garage; a highway-rail grade crossing; a rail station; and any other structure determined by the Department of Community Affairs to be the types of structures that attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide.
"Eligible entity" shall mean an entity that seeks to facilitate the installation of: (1) a suicide prevention net; (2) a suicide prevention barrier; or (3) any other evidence-based suicide deterrent that is determined by the commissioner to be appropriate; on or at a covered location.
"Evidence-based suicide deterrent" means a suicide deterrent that demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such deterrent is likely to reduce or prevent suicide, and includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such deterrent.
"Program" means a grant program, established pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), facilitating the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents.
2. a. There is established in the Department of Community Affairs a grant program to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents, including but not limited to suicide prevention nets and barriers, on or at a covered location.
b. To be approved for a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner.
c. An application shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) the specific grant amount that the entity is applying for, including the estimated cost of installing the suicide deterrent; (2) the street address of the covered location; and (3) any history of completed and attempted suicides in that location.
d. The commissioner may award a grant under the program only to an eligible entity for a project that facilitates the installation on or at a covered location of: (1) a suicide prevention net; (2) a suicide prevention barrier; or (3) any other evidence-based suicide deterrent that is determined by the commissioner to be appropriate. The commissioner shall also consider the feasibility of adding a suicide deterrent to a project, including an assessment of the structural impact of constructing a suicide deterrent on each.
e. The commissioner shall give priority to a project located in an area with a high rate of suicide, taking into consideration the number of suicides and rate of suicides per capita in an area, or other priority characteristics, as determined by the commissioner.
f. The approved applicant shall use the grant award to install evidence-based suicide deterrents on or at a covered location. If it is infeasible to build an evidence-based suicide deterrent on or at a covered location, the qualifying applicant shall use the grant award to install secondary suicide prevention methods, including, but not limited to: surveillance systems, emergency phones connected to crisis hotlines, increased patrols, and informational signs to direct individuals to support services.
g. The approved applicant shall provide the department with the data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the installed evidence-based suicide deterrents.
3. a. Within one year of the enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Department of Community Affairs shall conduct and complete a study to identify:
(1) the types of structures that attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping;
(2) the characteristics that distinguish structures identified under paragraph (1) of this subsection from similar structures that do not attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping;
(3) the types of nets or barriers, including manufactured and natural barriers, that are effective at reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to the structures identified under paragraph (1) of this subsection;
(4) methods of reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to the structures identified under paragraph (1) of this subsection other than nets and barriers;
(5) quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the nets and barriers identified under paragraph (3) of this subsection;
(6) quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the additional methods identified under paragraph (4) of this subsection;
(7) the entities that typically install the nets and barriers identified under paragraph (3) of this subsection; and
(8) the costs of the nets and barriers identified under paragraph (3) of this subsection.
b. Upon completion of the study conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a report summarizing the findings of the study shall be made publicly available on the department's Internet website.
4. In accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Commissioner of Community Affairs shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
5. There is appropriated to the Department of Community Affairs from the General Fund a sum of $10,000,000 to effectuate the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents, including but not limited to suicide prevention nets and barriers, on or at a covered location, as defined in the bill. The bill describes the application process and eligibility for the grant program. The bill requires an approved applicant to provide DCA with the data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the installed evidence-based suicide deterrents. The bill requires the DCA to conduct and complete a study within one year of the enactment, and make available a summary of the study on the DCA's Internet website.
The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill.
Appropriates $10,000,000 to the DCA to effectuate the provisions of the bill.
