Bill Text: NJ S671 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires DHS and DMVA to conduct or contract for follow-up studies of former residents transitioning to community from their facilities.*

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-07 - Substituted by A1098 (1R) [S671 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-S671-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 671

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Senator  PAUL A. SARLO

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Senator  LORETTA WEINBERG

District 37 (Bergen)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Codey and Gordon

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DHS and DMVA to conduct or contract for follow-up studies of former residents transitioning to community from their facilities.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 16, 2014, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning ¹[individuals with developmental disabilities] residents of certain State facilities¹ and supplementing ¹[chapter 6D of]¹ Title 30 of the Revised Statutes ¹and Title 38A of the New Jersey Statutes¹.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  The Commissioner of Human Services shall conduct, or contract with another entity to conduct, a series of follow-up studies to assess the well-being of:

     (1)   all former residents of North Jersey Developmental Center and Woodbridge Developmental Center who have made a transition into the community after August 1, 2012, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure of both developmental centers;

     (2)   all former residents of other State developmental centers who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of the implementation of the plan developed pursuant to P.L.2006, c.61; ¹[and]¹

     (3)   all former residents of other State developmental centers who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close another State developmental center, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure of another developmental center; ¹and

     (4)   all former residents of State psychiatric hospitals who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close a State psychiatric hospital, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure.¹

     The studies shall evaluate former residents based on data collected after residents have been in the community for at least six months.  For former residents who were scheduled to make a transition into the community as a result of a closure ¹[of a developmental center under] pursuant to¹ paragraphs (1) ¹[or] ,¹ (3) ¹or (4)¹ of this subsection, the study shall also evaluate these former residents based on data collected at least six months prior to transition into the community.

     b.    Data for the studies shall be collected from all former residents, their family members or guardians, as appropriate, and staff providing supports and services to the former residents, as applicable; except that data collected from staff shall be limited to objective and quantitative data.

     c.    The studies shall:

     (1)   contrast the data collected on former residents with a comparison group of individuals ¹[with developmental disabilities]¹ still residing in a developmental center ¹or State psychiatric hospital¹, as applicable; and

     (2)   compare the data collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section for each former resident who was scheduled to make a transition into the community as a result of a closure ¹[of a developmental center]¹, prior to and after the resident has been in the community.

     d.    The studies shall examine, at a minimum, data concerning:

     (1)   the types of residential settings, day activities, if any, and transportation services available for day activities, as applicable, of former residents;

     (2) the number of transfers to other State developmental centers ¹or State psychiatric hospitals¹ , as applicable;

     (3)   the number of moves to different placements, if any, experienced by former residents;

     (4)   for former residents who are residing in the community, their preference for residing in a State developmental center ¹or State psychiatric hospital, as applicable,¹ or the community based on a comparison of former residents' experience in a State developmental center ¹or State psychiatric hospital, as applicable,¹ and the community;

     (5)   the ability of former residents to maintain the same level of services and supports provided prior to a transition into the community;

     (6)   former residents' involvement with law enforcement personnel, if any;

     (7)   mortality rates of former residents;

     (8)   former residents' competency in the areas of cognition, self-care, and mobility;

     (9)   former residents' contact with family members or guardians, as appropriate, and peers;

     (10) behavioral, medical, or excessive weight changes in former residents;

     (11) utilization and accessibility of health services by former residents;

     (12) the staff to resident ratio of former residents residing in community placements; and

     (13) the attitude of former residents and their family members or guardians, as appropriate, about the former residents' current quality of life, including, but not limited to, economic well-being, productivity, and personal safety and health.

     e.    In the case of former residents ¹in developmental centers¹ receiving guardianship services, the studies shall indicate whether they are receiving these services from the Bureau of Guardianship Services in the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services or from family members or other interested persons appointed as guardians.

 

     2.    a.  The Commissioner of Human Services shall compile the results of the follow-up studies conducted pursuant to section 1 of this act and shall include this information in a series of reports that the commissioner shall submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), as follows:

     (1)   The report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of North Jersey Developmental Center and Woodbridge Developmental Center, who have made a transition into the community after August 1, 2012, shall be submitted one year after the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, until both developmental centers have closed.  In addition, for each of the five years after the closure of both developmental centers, a report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of these centers shall be submitted;

     (2)   The report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of other State developmental centers, who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of the plan developed pursuant to P.L.2006, c.61, shall be submitted annually, commencing one year after the effective date of this act, until the plan has been fully implemented; ¹[and]¹

     (3)   The report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of other State developmental centers, who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close a State developmental center, shall be submitted one year after the beginning of implementation of the plan, and annually thereafter, until the developmental center has closed.  In addition, for each of the five years after the closure of a developmental center, a report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of the center shall be submitted ¹; and

     (4)   The report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of State psychiatric hospitals, who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close a State psychiatric hospital, shall be submitted one year after the beginning of implementation of the plan, and annually thereafter, until the psychiatric hospital has closed.  In addition, for each of the five years after the closure of a hospital, a report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of the hospital shall be submitted¹ .

     b.    Reports submitted pursuant to this section shall be made available on the website of the Department of Human Services.

 

     ¹3.   The Adjutant General shall conduct, or contract with another entity to conduct, a series of follow-up studies to assess the well-being of all former residents of State veterans' memoral homes who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close a State veterans' memorial home, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure.¹

 

     ¹4.   a.    The Adjutant General shall compile the results of the follow-up studies conducted pursuant to section 3 of this act and shall include this information in a series of reports that the Adjutant General shall submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

     b.    The reort of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of State veterans' memorial homes, who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close a State veterans' memorial home, shall be submitted one year after the beginning of implementation of the plan, and annually thereafter, until the veterans' memorial home has closed.  In addition, for each of the five years after the closure of a home, a report of a follow-up study of the well-being of all former residents of the home shall be submitted.

     c.    Reports submitted pursuant to this section shall be made available on the website of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.¹

 

     ¹[3.] 5.¹  This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services ¹and the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, as appropriate,¹ may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.