Bill Text: NJ A1228 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs Dept. of Agriculture to post certain information to assist distressed farmers on its Internet website.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee [A1228 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1228-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to post certain information to assist distressed farmers on its Internet website.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act requiring the posting of information on the Department of Agriculture's Internet website to assist distressed farmers, and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Department of Agriculture shall conspicuously post, on the homepage of its Internet website, and update as appropriate:
a. a text link or icon that includes the phrase "Suicide Prevention Hotline" and the phone number to the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline, written in capital and bold letters that are of a contrasting type, font, or color, to the surrounding text or background color of the homepage, that hyperlinks to the Internet webpage of the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline; and
b. an icon, in a color and font that contrasts with, and is easily distinguishable from, the background color of the homepage, that hyperlinks to an Internet webpage on which a list of all resources available to aid distressed farmers, including, but not limited to, suicide prevention hotlines, mental health resources, disaster assistance, legal assistance, and financial assistance, is posted.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Agriculture (department) to conspicuously post on the homepage of its Internet website, and update as appropriate, links to resources available to aid distressed farmers.
The department would be required to post a text link or icon on its homepage, in capital and bold letters, that includes the phrase "Suicide Prevention Hotline" and the phone number to the "New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline." Also, the department would be required to post an icon on its homepage, in an easily distinguishable color and font, that hyperlinks to an Internet webpage which would include a list of additional resources available to aid distressed farmers, including assistance for suicide prevention, mental health resources, disaster assistance, legal assistance, and financial assistance.
Mental health illnesses and disorders, such as anxiety and depression, have increased significantly in farmers and other agricultural workers since the 1980's due to factors such as profit losses caused by the shrinking price of commodities, increased debt caused by high interest rates, tariffs, and trade barriers, and isolation. The CDC found that farmers and ranchers were, on average, 3.5 times that of the general population to die from suicide.
