Bill Text: NJ A4416 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes Behavioral Mental Health Advisory Board in Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-04 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A4416 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4416-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman CARMELO G. GARCIA
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Behavioral Mental Health Advisory Board in Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Human Services Committee on June 4, 2015, with amendments.
An Act establishing the Behavioral Mental Health Advisory Board and supplementing Chapter 9A of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is established in the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services the Behavioral Mental Health Advisory Board.
a. The purpose of the board shall be to review all aspects of behavioral mental health services in New Jersey and make recommendations for legislation or other such action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating the provision of behavioral mental health services to the citizens of this State, including, but not limited to: coordinating services among providers; facilitating access to comprehensive behavioral mental health care and treatment; maximizing the effective use of available funding; establishing new programs or revising existing programs; promoting enhanced communication and information exchanges; and any other matters the advisory board deems necessary and appropriate.
b. The board shall consist of 1[15] 171 members as follows:
(1) the Commissioners of Health 1[and],1 Human Services, 1and Children and Families,1 or their designees, who shall serve ex officio;
(2) 1[the chairperson of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee , who shall serve while chairperson of that committee;
(3) the chairperson of the Assembly Human Services Committee, who shall serve while chairperson of that committee; and
(4) 11] Four1 public members 1to be appointed by the Governor1, as follows:
1[(a) a representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(b) a representative of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(c) a representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Jersey, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(d) a representative of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(e) a representative of the New Jersey Primary Care Association, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(f) a representative of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(g) a representative of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, to be appointed by the President thereof;
(h) a psychiatrist recommended by the Medical Society of New Jersey;
(i) a health care provider who specializes in substance abuse treatment and is recommended by the New Jersey Office of the Drug Policy Alliance;
(j) a health care provider who specializes in treating children and adolescents and is recommended by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and
(k) a health care provider who specializes in treating geriatric patients and is recommended by the Health Care Association of New Jersey]
one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies; one person upon the recommendation of the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the Mental Health Assocation in New Jersey; and one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Primary Care Association;
(3) Five public members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans; one psychiatrist upon the recommendation of the Medical Society of New Jersey; one health care provider, upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Office of the Drug Policy Alliance, who specializes in substance abuse treatment; and one person upon the recommendation of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence New Jersey; and
(4) Five public members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Hospital Association; one person upon the recommendation of the Advocates for Children of New Jersey; one health care provider, upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who specializes in treating children and adolescents; one health care provider, upon the recommendation of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, who specializes in treating geriatric patients; and one person upon the recommendation of Parent to Parent New Jersey1.
c. 1[The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall jointly appoint a public member to fill any vacancy in the public membership which has not been filled within 60 days after the date of enactment of this act.
d.]1 Vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments. 1[If a vacancy in the public membership has not been filled within 60 days after the date of the public member's resignation, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall jointly appoint a public member to fill the vacancy.
e.] d.1 The board shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the board.
1[f.] e.1 The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the board.
1[g.] f.1 The board shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.
1[h.] g.1 The Department of Human Services shall provide staff support to the 1[council] board1.
2. No later than one year following the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the board shall report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), its findings and recommendations with regard to improving the provision of behavioral mental health services in New Jersey. The second report submitted pursuant to this section, and each annual report thereafter, shall include a description and analysis of any actions taken on recommendations included in the prior year's report.
3. The Commissioner of Human Services may adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
