Bill Text: NJ S1032 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-06 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S1032 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-S1032-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1032

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Schepisi, Johnson, Zwicker, Cruz-Perez, Singer, Turner, Diegnan, McKnight and Burgess

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 6, 2024, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning certain social services programs and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  ¹[Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the terms of a contract entered into between the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services  or the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services and a program providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities on or after the effective date of this act shall include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization.  The cost of living adjustment shall be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor.

     b.    On October 1 of each year, the department shall announce the rate of the increase in the cost of living adjustment received by a program providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

     c.] The Commissioner of Human Services shall conduct a study of the current status and future needs for service providers contracted with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services or the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services.  The study shall examine any increasing costs incurred by the service providers and assess the health and sustainability of the service provider network and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (1)   vacancy rates in the service provider work force, broken down by provider, occupation, or specialty, and geographic region of the State;

     (2)   configuration of the service provider workforce by: race; ethnicity and gender; occupation or specialty; educational level of the service provider workforce; and the size of the service provider workforce in each region of the State;

     (3)   care needs addressed by the service provider workforce in each region of the State;

     (4)   a cross analysis of the data identified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection to identify common themes and differences across categories;

     (5)   an estimate of the future pipeline of service providers in the service provider workforce; and

     (6)   an identification of any gaps between projected demand and current supply, and a recommendation for addressing any identified gaps.

     b.  The commissioner shall annually evaluate the rates paid to service providers contracted with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services or the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services and assess a cost of living adjustment for each service provider, which shall be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor.

     c.     (1)  The commissioner shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature:

     (a)  within one year of the effective date of this act, a written report setting forth the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section and any recommendations for policy or legislative action; and

     (b)  within one year of the effective date of this act and annually thereafter, a written report on the rates evaluated and the cost of living adjustments assessed pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

     (2)  The commissioner shall make the reports required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection available to the public on the department's Internet website.

     d.¹   As used in this section ¹[, a program] :

     "Program¹ providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities ¹"¹ shall include State programs partially funded or fully funded by Medicaid and licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Human Services or other appropriate State licensing entities.

     ¹"Service provider" means a provider, program, or organization providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities.¹

 

     ¹2.  a.  The Commissioner of Children and Families shall conduct a study of the current status and future needs for service providers contracted with the Department of Children and Families.  The study shall examine any increasing costs incurred by the service providers and assess the health and sustainability of the service provider network and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (1)   vacancy rates in the service provider work force, broken down by provider, occupation, or specialty, and geographic region of the State;

     (2)   configuration of the service provider workforce by: race; ethnicity and gender; occupation or specialty; educational level of the service provider workforce; and the size of the service provider workforce in each region of the State;

     (3)   care needs addressed by the service provider workforce in each region of the State;

     (4)   a cross analysis of the data identified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection to identify common themes and differences across categories;

     (5)   an estimate of the future pipeline of service providers in the service provider workforce; and

     (6)   an identification of any gaps between projected demand and current supply, and a recommendation for addressing any identified gaps.

     b.  The commissioner shall annually evaluate the rates paid to service providers contracted with the Department of Children and Families and assess a cost of living adjustment for each service provider, which shall be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor.

     c.     (1)  The commissioner shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature:

     (a)  within one year of the effective date of this act, a written report setting forth the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section and any recommendations for policy or legislative action; and

     (b)  within one year of the effective date of this act and annually thereafter, a written report on the rates evaluated and the cost of living adjustments assessed pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

     (2)  The commissioner shall make the reports required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection available to the public on the department's Internet website.

     d.    As used in this section:

     "Program providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities" shall include State programs partially funded or fully funded by Medicaid and licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Human Services or other appropriate State licensing entities.

     "Service provider" means a provider, program, or organization providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities.¹

 

     ¹[2.] 3.¹     The Commissioner of Human Services ¹and the Commissioner of Children and Families¹, pursuant to the
"Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall ¹each¹ adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 

     ¹[3.] 4.¹  This act shall take effect immediately.