NJPRA’s Policy Corner

NJPRA White Paper: Psychiatric Rehabilitation: A Cornerstone of Behavioral & Integrated Health Care at a Breaking Point

For comments or questions, please email Kimberley Higgs, our Executive Director, at: Khiggs@njpra.org.

Bills Introduced:

• S785 Singleton, T: Crisis Response Support Pilot Program, 3-year.
  • Reintroduced from prior session.
• S835 Corrado, K: Functional Services for developmental disabled persons served by DDD to reopen programs, same as schools.
  • Of interest, although this bill does not apply directly to BH services. 
• S838 Corrado, K: Long-term Care Facilities-require to submit reports regarding residents w/disabilities.
  • Discuss whether to support or not. 
• S846 Corrado, K: Telemedicine and Telehealth
  • Evises requirements for health insurers to cover Note page 7 lines 6-12 includes reference to PESS. 
• SCR35 Bramnick, J: Provide that only Legislature may determine Affordable Housing Obligations.
  • This resolution would be put to the Voters. If passed, Court determination of affordable housing targets ends.

Bills Signed:

• A-3950wGR/S-3180 (Verrelli, Benson, Zwicker/Greenstein, Turner): Prohibits employer use of tracking device in vehicle operated by employee under certain circumstances. An employee must be informed that such a device is in the vehicle they are operating (for business purposes) 
• A-3007/S-3127 (Lampitt, Dunn, Benson/Lagana, Gopal): Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services. This includes access the State-wide and National hotlines. 
• SCS for S-4102/A-6230 (Sweeney, Ruiz/Benson, Mejia, Zwicker): Establishes Direct Support Professional Career Development Program; appropriates $1,000,000. The PsyR/BH workforce would greatly benefit from an initiative like this.
• S-4211/A-6228 (Sweeney, Corrado/Benson, Speight, Zwicker): Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities; makes annual appropriation of $4.5 million Are there comparable funds and access for students living with MH needs.