New Jersey-2018-S587-Introduced

An Act concerning domestic violence and supplementing Title 30 of New Jersey Statutes.

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

1. a. The Department of Children and Families shall establish and maintain a Statewide program for the children and families of domestic violence victims to be known as "Peace: A Learned Solution Program (PALS)," hereinafter referred to as the "PALS program."

b. The department shall provide grants to domestic violence organizations which shall be responsible for developing and implementing therapeutic treatment, counseling and supportive services to those children and their family members who have been exposed to domestic violence. The organization shall provide these individuals with a safe environment to reduce the impact of domestic violence and improve family functioning. The organization shall be responsible for developing and coordinating community-based supportive services for these children and their families.

c. The department shall assign staff to develop strategies for assisting domestic violence organizations in implementing this program throughout the State. The department shall monitor the implementation of the program by requiring participating organizations to maintain accurate records concerning the levels of service, referral activity, and overall program management.

2. The department shall collect and maintain data on the "PALS program" and provide an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), including information on the number of counties or municipalities that have implemented the program and the number of participants in the program. The report shall also include information on the effectiveness of the program.

3. The Department of Children and Families shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.

4. There shall be appropriated from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to implement the provisions and to effectuate the purposes of this act as shall be included in any general or supplemental appropriation act.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would require the Department of Children and Families to establish and maintain a Statewide therapeutic treatment program for the children and families of domestic violence victims to be known as "Peace: A Learned Solution Program (PALS)," hereinafter referred to as the "PALS program."

Currently, the department provides grants to organizations that provide "PALS" program services to this community. According to the department, the "PALS" program is available in 11 counties. This bill codifies this existing program.

Under the bill, the department would provide grants to domestic violence organizations which would be responsible for developing and implementing therapeutic treatment, counseling and supportive services to those children and their family members who have been exposed to domestic violence. The organization would provide these individuals with a safe environment to reduce the impact of domestic violence and improve family functioning. The organization would be responsible for developing and coordinating community-based supportive services for these children and their families.

The bill requires the department to assign staff to develop strategies for assisting the participating organizations in implementing this program throughout the State. The department would also monitor the implementation of the program by requiring these organizations to maintain accurate records concerning the levels of service, referral activity, and overall program management.

In addition, the bill requires the department to collect and maintain data on the program and provide an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature, including information on the number of counties or municipalities that have implemented the program and the number of participants in the program. The report would also include information on the effectiveness of the program.

There shall be appropriated from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to implement the provisions and to effectuate the purposes of this act.

This bill embodies recommendation 8 of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence issued June 2016.