Establishes one New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council in DOH.

A1938

ASSEMBLY, No. 1938

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Murphy, Dunn and Flynn

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes one New Jersey Suicide Prevention
Advisory Council in DOH.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act
establishing the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory
Council, revising various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing Title
26 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� Section 2 of P.L.2005,
c.310 (C.18A:6-112) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� The State Board of
Education, in consultation with the New Jersey
[
Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory
Council established in the Department of Children and Families pursuant to
P.L.2003, c.214 (C.30:9A-22 et seq.)
]

Suicide Prevention Advisory Council established in the Department of Health
pursuant to section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill)
, shall, as part of the professional development
requirement established by the State board for public school teaching staff
members, require each public school teaching staff member to complete at least
two hours of instruction in suicide prevention, to be provided by a licensed
health care professional with training and experience in mental health issues,
in each professional development period.� The instruction in suicide prevention
shall include information on the relationship between the risk of suicide and
incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying and information on reducing
the risk of suicide in students who are members of communities identified as
having members at high risk of suicide.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.122, s.4)

����� 2.�
(New section)� As used in P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill):

����� "Alcohol
and drug counselor" means a person who is a certified alcohol and drug
counselor or a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor pursuant to
P.L.1997, c.331 (C.45:2D-1 et seq.).

����� �Attempted
suicide" or �suicide attempt� means destructive behavior intended by the
actor to result in the actor's harm or death.

����� "Certified
Domestic Violence Specialist" means a person who has fulfilled the
requirements for certification as a Domestic Violence Specialist, which have
been established by the New Jersey Association of Domestic Violence
Professionals.

����� Death
by suicide means a death that is known or reasonably suspected to have resulted
from an intentional act of the deceased, as determined by a medical examiner.

����� "Council"
means the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council established pursuant
to section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill).

����� "Department"
means the Department of Health.

����� "Teaching
staff member" means a member of the professional staff of any school
district, regional board of education, or the board of trustees of a charter
school, or any board of education of a county vocational school, who holds an
office, position, or employment of such character that the qualifications for
the office, position, or employment require the member to hold a valid and
effective standard, provisional, or emergency certificate, appropriate to the
member's office, position, or employment, issued by the State Board of
Examiners.� Teaching staff member includes a school nurse and a school athletic
trainer.

���� "Youth"
means a person 24 years of age or younger.

����� 3.�
(New section)� a.� Any teaching staff member, who, as a result of information
obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable cause to
suspect or believe that a student has attempted or death by suicide, shall
promptly report such information to the department in a form and manner
prescribed by the department.

����� b.�
A nonpublic school is encouraged to require any member of its professional
staff, who, as a result of information obtained in the course of the person's
employment, has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a student has
attempted or died by suicide, to promptly report such information to the
department in a form and manner prescribed by the department.

����� As
used in this subsection, "nonpublic school" means an elementary or
secondary school within the State, other than a public school, offering
education in grades K-12 or any combination thereof, at which a child may
legally fulfill compulsory school attendance requirements.

����� c.�
Any licensed psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist,
professional counselor, physician, physician assistant, alcohol and drug
counselor, or registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed in this
State pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, who, as a result of
information obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable
cause to suspect or believe that a youth has attempted or died by suicide,
shall promptly report such information to the department in a form and manner
prescribed by the department.

����� d.�
Any public health official, probation officer, employee of the Superior Court,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Certified Domestic Violence Specialist, or
member of a professional group identified by the New Jersey Suicide Prevention
Advisory Council established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.��� , c.���
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) as having a
likelihood to know about suicide attempts and deaths, who, as a result of
information obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable
cause to suspect or believe that a person has attempted or died by suicide, is
encouraged to promptly report such information to the department in a form and
manner prescribed by the department.

����� e.�
The reporting form established by the department shall not require the reporter
to identify the person who attempted or died by suicide by name or other unique
identifier, but may require the reporter to supply non-identifying demographic
information about the person, as well as information about other suicide
attempts made by the person, and the response or referral that was used to deal
with the incident that is the subject of the report.

����� f.�
The reporting form shall be submitted to a designated employee of the
department with responsibility for compiling data from the reports. Information
contained in the reports shall not be considered a public record, but the
department may aggregate the data for the purpose of preparing an annual report
pursuant to section 5 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).

����� g.�
The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Education, in
consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Human
Services, shall offer to provide
persons who are
required or encouraged to report an attempted suicide or death by suicide with
current information about public and private assistance available to survivors
and families of attempted and death by suicide and professionals who deal with
suicide.

����� h.�
The reporting of an attempted or death by suicide pursuant to this section
shall not replace or alter any other requirement of law or professional
standard or obligation that requires a person to evaluate a death or report an
attempted or death by suicide.

����� i.�
Any person who reports an attempted or death by suicide pursuant to this act
shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability on account of that
report, unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.

���� j.�
No provision of this act shall be deemed to require the disclosure of, or
penalize the failure to disclose, any information which would be privileged
pursuant to the provisions of sections 18 through 23, inclusive, of P.L.1960,
c.52 (C.2A:84A-18 through 2A:84A-23).� No provision of this act shall be deemed
to require the disclosure of any information in violation of federal or State
privacy laws.

����� 4.�
(New section)� The Commissioner of Health, in conjunction with the
Commissioners of Human Services and Children and Families, shall develop and
publicize, in consultation with the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory
Council established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), a public awareness campaign on
suicide prevention and intervention, the goals of which shall be to:

����� a.�
increase voluntary reporting of suicides and attempts at suicide by
professionals who are likely to know of suicides and attempts in the course of
their employment;

����� b.�
increase referrals by these professionals to therapeutic services available to
persons who contemplate or attempt suicide;

����� c.�
increase public awareness of the incidence and causes of suicide attempts and
decrease the stigma currently associated with depression and suicide; and

���� d.�
encourage the use by families of short-term and long-term public and private
mental health services, as well as other services, to reduce the incidence of
attempted suicide and death by suicide by youths.

����� 5.�
(New section)� a.� The department shall compile data about reported attempted suicides
and deaths by suicide by persons in the State, without identifying any
individuals involved.

����� b.�
The Commissioner of Health shall annually issue a report to the New Jersey
Suicide Prevention Advisory Council established pursuant to section 7 of
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to
the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to
the Legislature containing a summary of the data compiled by the department
that includes aggregate demographic information about persons who attempt or
complete suicide.� The report shall include any recommendations for legislation
or regulatory changes that would aid in the collection of more accurate data or
the provision of more effective suicide prevention and intervention.

���� c.�
The commissioner shall provide specific findings about deaths by suicide and
attempted suicides to the council, as soon as possible, to assist the council
in fulfilling its responsibility under P.L.��� , c. (C. ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) to make recommendations about suicide
prevention and intervention.

���� 6.��� (New section)� a.� The
Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of
Human Services, and the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council
established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.�� �����) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill), shall develop and adopt a Statewide youth
suicide prevention plan no later than 180 days after the effective date of this
act.

���� b.��� The plan shall address,
but not be limited to, the:

���� (1)� identification of
existing State and local sources of data concerning youth suicide deaths, youth
suicide attempts, and self-inflicted injuries by youth;

���� (2)� coordination and sharing
of such data among identified State and local sources;

���� (3)� promotion of greater
public awareness about youth suicide prevention services and resources;

���� (4)� identification of
barriers to accessing mental health and substance abuse services, and
opportunities to enhance access; and

���� (5)� promotion of
evidenced-based and best practice programs, listed on the Suicide Prevention
Resource Center's Best Practices Registry, for the prevention and treatment of
youth suicide and self-injury.

����� 7.�
(New section)� There is established in the Department of Human Services the New
Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council.

����� a.�
The purpose of the council shall be to:

����� (1)�
examine existing needs and services provided by the State and make
recommendations to all suicide prevention entities operating under statutory
authority for reporting, prevention, and intervention of suicide; advise
suicide prevention entities on the content of informational materials to be
made available to persons who report an attempted or death by suicide; and
advise the entities in the adoption of any regulations the Commissioner of
Health deems necessary to carry out the provisions of P.L.��� , c.���
(C.�������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

����� (2)�
aggregate data from its members' respective suicide prevention entities, if
applicable; make findings on deaths by suicide and suicide attempts, in a
manner that is not violative of federal privacy laws under the "Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191, or
any regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services; and share those findings and aggregated data with
all member participants to report back to their respective suicide prevention
entities.

����� b.�
The council shall consist of 25 members as follows:

����� (1)�
the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, Children and Families,
Corrections, and Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the executive
director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Adjutant General of the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, the Executive Director of the
Board of Directors of NJ Transit, the Chief State Medical Examiner, the
assistant commissioner of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services,
the chair of the Governor�s Council on Mental Health Stigma, and the Chief
Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, or their designees;
except that if one of these members has a suitable prevention or mental health
entity operating under the control of the member's department, corporation, or
office, as applicable, the member shall select a member of that entity as a
member of the council, who shall serve ex officio;

����� (2)�
four public members appointed by the Governor, three of whom are each faculty
members at institutions of higher education who have expertise in the area of
mental health; and one of whom is either a law enforcement officer in the
Office of the Attorney General with expertise related to suicide, or a mental
health professional;

����� (3)�
four public members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom has
experience as a mental health professional in the private sector with
experience in youth suicide prevention and counseling, one of whom has
experience as a psychiatrist in the private sector in the provision of services
to elderly persons, one of whom identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, or intersex,� and one of whom is a licensed clinical alcohol and
drug counselor who is also a licensed clinical social worker with experience
working with individuals in crisis; and

����� (4)�
four public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two of
whom are current or former mental health professionals with experience
providing services in a secondary school , one of whom is a survivor of suicide
or who has a family member who has been affected by suicide,

and one of whom has a background as a primary health
practitioner.

����� c.�
The public members shall be appointed no later than 60 days after the effective
date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this
bill).

����� d.�
The public members shall serve for a term of five years; but, of the members
first appointed, four shall serve for a term of three years, three for a term
of four years, and three for a term of five years.� Members are eligible for
reappointment upon the expiration of their terms.� Vacancies in the membership
of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original
appointments.

����� e.�
The council shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of
its members, and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the
members.� The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of
the council.

����� f.�
The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed
for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within
the limits of funds available to the council.

����� g.�
The council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the
services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board,
bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it
for its purposes.

����� h.�
The Department of Health shall provide staff support to the council.

���� i.�
The council shall, at a minimum, meet every other month and may meet more
frequently as needed, based on a vote of a majority of the members of the
council.

���� 8.��� (New section)� Whenever,
in any law, rule, regulation, order, contract, document, judicial or
administrative proceeding, or otherwise, reference is made to the New Jersey
Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council or the New Jersey Elderly Person
Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, the same shall mean and refer to the New
Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, established pursuant to section 7
of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill),
in the Department of Health.

���� 9.� The Commissioner of Health
may, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules and regulations as the commissioner
deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

���� 10.� The following sections
are repealed:

���� Sections 1 through 4 of
P.L.2005, c.274 (C.26:2MM-1 through C.26:2MM-4); and

���� Sections 1 through 7 of
P.L.2003, c.214 (C.30:9A-22 through C.30:9A-28).

���� 11.� This act shall take
effect on the 180th day after the date of enactment, except that the
Commissioner of Health may take anticipatory action in advance as necessary for
the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the New
Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council in the Department of Human
Services.� The council would serve as the sole advisory council in the State,
which deals with issues of suicide prevention.� Currently, there are two such
councils, the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council in the
Department of Children and Families and the New Jersey Elderly Person Suicide
Prevention Advisory Council in the Department of Human Services.� By
establishing one council, relevant information may be shared among all council
members.

���� The 25-member New Jersey
Suicide Prevention Advisory Council established under the bill would examine
existing needs and services for all those at risk of suicide, and would make
recommendations to any suicide prevention entity operating under statutory authority.

���� The 13 ex officio members
would include the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, Children and
Families, Corrections, and Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the
executive director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Adjutant General of the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, the Executive Director of the
Board of Directors of NJ Transit, the Chief State Medical Examiner, the
assistant commissioner of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services,
the chair of the Governor�s Council on Mental Health Stigma, and the Chief
Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, or their designees,
except that if one of these members has a suitable prevention or mental health
entity operating under their control, the member would be required to select a
member of that entity to act as a member of the council.

���� The Governor would appoint
four public members, three of whom would be higher education faculty members
with expertise in the area of mental health; and one of whom is either a law
enforcement officer in the Office of the Attorney General with expertise related
to suicide, or a mental health professional.

���� The President of the Senate
would appoint four public members, one of whom has experience as a mental
health professional in the private sector with experience in youth suicide
prevention and counseling, one of whom has experience as a psychiatrist in the
private sector in the provision of services to elderly persons, one of whom
identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex, and one of whom
is a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor who is also a licensed
clinical social worker with experience working with individuals in crisis.

���� The Speaker of the General
Assembly would also appoint four public members, two of whom are current or
former mental health professionals with experience providing services in a
secondary school, one of whom is a survivor of suicide or a family member who
has been affected by suicide, and one of whom has a background as a primary
health practitioner.

���� The bill would repeal sections
1 through 4 of P.L.2005, c.274 (C.26:2MM-1 through C.26:2MM-4), which
established the New Jersey Elderly Person Suicide Prevention Advisory Council,
and sections 1 through 7 of P.L.2003, c.214 (C.30:9A-22 et seq.), which gave
certain relevant duties to the Departments of Children and Families and Human
Services, since the bill is establishing a single council in the Department of
Health, whose duties and responsibilities are covered under Title 26 of the
Revised Statutes.