NJ
New Jersey Assembly Bill A3515

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A3515

Introduced
2/5/24  

Caption

Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

Impact

The implementation of this hotline is expected to improve access to mental health resources across New Jersey significantly. By facilitating direct connections between callers and the necessary support services, the bill aims to mitigate the adverse effects experienced by individuals in distress. Furthermore, the bill takes a comprehensive approach, requiring public awareness campaigns to educate communities, particularly targeting young individuals in schools about the hotline's availability, thus fostering a preventive approach towards mental health issues.

Summary

Assembly Bill 3515 seeks to establish a toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline that will operate 24/7, providing essential support for individuals experiencing non-emergency mental health issues. The bill mandates that the hotline be staffed by licensed and certified mental health professionals who are knowledgeable about available local services, ensuring callers are referred to appropriate resources quickly and effectively. It emphasizes the need for timely connection to local mental health care services, addressing various needs specific to individuals and families dealing with mental health crises.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support as a necessary step in enhancing mental health support, it may face scrutiny concerning operational funding and resource allocation. Critics might raise questions about the feasibility of maintaining a fully staffed hotline 24/7, including the necessity for hiring bilingual staff to cater to diverse populations. Furthermore, balancing the needs of various community health initiatives with this new resource may lead to concerns over potential funding conflicts within existing health departments.

Companion Bills

NJ S1088

Same As Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

NJ A805

Carry Over Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

Previously Filed As

NJ A805

Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

NJ S1088

Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

NJ HB795

Public Health, Department of; establish an Infant Wellness Resource hotline service

NJ S4050

Allows follow up communication from operators of telephone number for mental health and suicide crisis resources or 9-8-8 crisis hotline to minors at risk of committing suicide.

NJ A126

Establishes "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline.

NJ S1843

Establishes "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline.

NJ AB456

Public postsecondary education: campus mental health hotlines: report.

NJ S4207

Establishes "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program; appropriates $500,000.

NJ SB2200

AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the 988 crisis hotline program.

NJ A3675

Requires DHS to establish five-year pilot program to facilitate coordinated provision of systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment (START) services to adults who have both developmental disabilities and mental illness.

Similar Bills

NJ A805

Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

NJ S1088

Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.

NJ S2581

Establishes initiatives related to behavioral health care, including increasing reimbursement rates, providing cost-of-living adjustments, establishing grant programs for facility upkeep and provider training, and relaxing clinical supervision requirements.

NJ A5666

Establishes initiatives related to behavioral health care, including increasing reimbursement rates, providing cost-of-living adjustments, establishing grant programs for facility upkeep and provider training, and relaxing clinical supervision requirements.

NJ S3918

Establishes initiatives related to behavioral health care, including increasing reimbursement rates, providing cost-of-living adjustments, establishing grant programs for facility upkeep and provider training, and relaxing clinical supervision requirements.

NJ A4293

Establishes initiatives related to behavioral health care, including increasing reimbursement rates, providing cost-of-living adjustments, establishing grant programs for facility upkeep and provider training, and relaxing clinical supervision requirements.

NY S00607

Provides for the licensure of dietitians and nutritionists; defines the practice thereof.

CA SB775

Board of Psychology and Board of Behavioral Sciences.