Requires Office of Information Technology to establish centralized, one-stop website resource guide to assist persons in navigating the State's mental health and substance use disorder service systems.

A1361

ASSEMBLY, No. 1361

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK

District 37 (Bergen)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Flynn and Assemblyman Rodriguez

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires Office of Information Technology to
establish centralized, one-stop website resource guide to assist persons in
navigating the State's mental health and substance use disorder service
systems.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning the establishment of a one-stop website to
assist persons in navigating the State�s mental health and substance use
disorder service systems 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.� The Office of
Information Technology, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and
Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, the Department of
Health, and the Department of Children and Families, shall:�

���� (1)�� establish and maintain a
centralized website that is designed to provide a one-stop reference guide for
persons with mental health or substance use disorders and their families in
order to assist such persons in navigating the State�s mental health and substance
use disorder service systems; and

���� (2)�� publicize the
availability of the website established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
subsection, using all available media, including print, signage, television,
radio, the Internet, and social media.�

���� b.��� The website established
pursuant to this section shall, at a minimum, provide the following information
in an easily searchable format:

���� (1)�� information about how a
person or a concerned third-party may seek help for a mental health issue or
substance use disorder, including, but not limited to:� (a) a description of
the various types of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services
that are available in the State; (b) a description of, contact information for,
the operating hours of, and hyperlinks to the websites of, mental health and
substance use disorder treatment providers in the State; (c) information about,
and contact information for, the State�s mental health and substance use
disorder hotlines and peer-support groups; (d) information about the State�s
involuntary commitment procedures under P.L.1987, c.116 and P.L.2009, c.112
(C.30:4-27.1 et seq.); and (e) information about the State�s guardianship
procedures under chapter 12 of Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes;

���� (2)�� a description of, and
hyperlinks to, available educational materials and resources that address
issues related to mental health or substance use or that provide tools that can
be used to assess a person�s need for mental health or substance use disorder treatment;

���� (3)�� a description of, and
information about:� (a) the community-based housing options that are available
to persons in the State who have or are recovering from a mental health or
substance use disorder, including hyperlinks to the websites of supportive housing
and recovery residence providers in the State; and (b) the resources,
materials, and supports that are available to assist persons who are
transitioning into the community following the receipt of mental health or
substance use disorder treatment in a residential setting, including a
description of any available housing assistance or utility voucher programs;

���� (4)�� a description of, and
information about, the duties and functions of the Division of Mental Health
and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services with respect to the
licensing and oversight of mental health and substance use disorder treatment
providers and the provision of mental health and substance use disorder
treatment services in the State, including a hyperlink to the division�s
Internet webpage;

���� (5)�� a description of, and
information about the duties and functions of the Department of Community
Affairs, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department
of Human Services, and other appropriate agencies or entities with respect to the
oversight and licensing of sober living homes and other substance use disorder
recovery residences in the State wherein treatment is not provided to
residents, including hyperlinks to the statutes and regulations that relate to
the operation and oversight of substance use disorder recovery residences; and

���� (6)�� hyperlinks to any
available reports, created by the division or any other public or non-profit
entity, which relate to the status or quality of mental health or substance use
disorder treatment or recovery services or providers in the State.

���� c.���� A hyperlink to the
one-stop website established under this section shall be posted in a prominent
location on the website of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
in the Department of Human Services and on the websites of the Departments of
Health and Children and Families.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require the
Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Division of Mental
Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (division),
the Department of Health, and the Department of Children and Families, to
establish, maintain, and publicize the availability of, a centralized website
that would provide a one-stop reference guide for persons with mental health or
substance use disorders and their families in the State in order to assist such
persons in navigating the State�s mental health and substance use disorder
service systems.

���� At a minimum, the centralized
website is to provide the following information in an easily searchable format:

���� 1)��� information about how a
person or a concerned third-party may seek help for a mental health issue or
substance use disorder, including, but not limited to:� a) a description of the
various types of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services
that are available in the State; b) a description of, contact information for,
the operating hours of, and hyperlinks to the websites of, mental health and
substance use disorder treatment providers in the State; c) information about,
and contact information for, the State�s mental health and substance use
disorder hotlines and peer-support groups; d) information about the State�s
involuntary commitment procedures; and e) information about the State�s
guardianship procedures;

���� 2)��� a description of, and
hyperlinks to, available educational materials and resources that address
issues related to mental health or substance use or that provide tools that can
be used to assess a person�s need for mental health or substance use disorder treatment;

���� 3)��� a description of, and
information about:� a) the community-based housing options that are available
to persons in the State who have or are recovering from a mental health or
substance use disorder, including hyperlinks to the websites of supportive housing
and recovery residence providers in the State; and b) the resources, materials,
and supports that are available to assist persons who are transitioning into
the community following the receipt of mental health or substance use disorder
treatment in a residential setting, including a description of any available
housing assistance or utility voucher programs;

���� 4)��� a description of, and
information about the division�s duties and functions with respect to the
licensing and oversight of mental health and substance use disorder treatment
providers and the provision of mental health and substance use disorder
treatment services in the State, including a hyperlink to the division�s
Internet webpage;

���� 5)��� a description of, and
information about the duties and functions of the Department of Community
Affairs, the division, and other appropriate agencies or entities with respect
to the oversight and licensing of sober living homes and other substance use disorder
recovery residences in the State wherein treatment is not provided to
residents, including hyperlinks to the statutes and regulations that relate to
the operation and oversight of substance use disorder recovery residences; and

���� 6)��� hyperlinks to any
available reports, created by the division or any other public or non-profit
entity, which relate to the status or quality of mental health or substance use
disorder treatment or recovery services or providers in the State.

���� A hyperlink to the one-stop
website is to be posted in a prominent location on the division�s website and
on the websites of the Departments of Health and Children and Families.