ASSEMBLY, No. 3286
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 25, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Revises membership requirements for county mental health boards.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Actconcerning county mental health boards and amending P.L.1957, c.146.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1957, c.146 (C.30:9A-3) is amended to read as follows:
3. The several counties are hereby authorized to provide for community mental health services in accordance with the provisions of this act. Each county board of freeholders, in order to participate under this act, shall appoint a county mental health board of not less than [7] seven nor more than 12 residents of the county, to serve without compensation, representing local boards of health, school boards, the county welfare board, parent-teacher associations, county mental health associations, and the county medical associations, and including at least one member who has a family member who has been diagnosed as having a mental illness, and such other members as the county board of freeholders shall deem necessary. In addition, if the board reviews, revises, and makes recommendations with regard to substance use disorders, and such functions are not undertaken pursuant to subsection d. of section 4 of P.L.1983, c.531 (C.26:2B-33), at least one member of the board shall be an individual who is in recovery from a substance use disorder, or who has a family member who is in recovery from a substance use disorder. The county mental health board shall annually elect a [chairman] chairperson. The board of freeholders shall provide the mental health board with suitable quarters and such clerical assistance as may be required to carry out its functions. Such board shall meet not less than [4] four times in each year and shall review progress in the development of comprehensive community mental health services in the county and make recommendations to the local agencies, the community mental health board, and the Department of [Institutions and Agencies] Human Services.
Any county mental health board may, with the approval of the board of freeholders, create the position of mental health administrator. The administrator shall be the executive officer of the board and assist in carrying out its duties under this act.
The commissioner shall by regulation establish qualifications for the position of mental health administrator. If [he] the commissioner is satisfied that the appointee is qualified and that the board of freeholders and the county mental health board have fulfilled the requirements of the act and of regulations issued pursuant thereto, [he] the commissioner may approve reimbursement from available [Federal] federal and State funds of that portion of the salary of such administrator and of such necessary administrative expenses related to [his] the administrator's duties as shall be allowed by regulation.
(cf: P.L.1967, c.100, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect six months after the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that county mental health boards include at least one member who has a family member who has been diagnosed as having a mental illness. In addition, if the county mental health board addresses issues related to substance use disorders, and that function is not undertaken as a duty of the Local Advisory Committee on Alcohol Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder pursuant to subsection d. of section 4 of P.L.1983, c.531 (C.26:2B-33), the board is to include at least one member who is in recovery from a substance use disorder, or who has a family member who is in recovery from a substance use disorder.