Expands responsibilities of Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and establishes "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program"; appropriates $8.5 million.

A2232

ASSEMBLY, No. 2232

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman CARMEN THERESA MORALES

District 34 (Essex)

Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Donlon, Assemblymen Bailey, Singh and
Karabinchak

SYNOPSIS

���� Expands responsibilities of Child Advocacy
Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and establishes "Problematic
Sexual Behavior Program"; appropriates $8.5 million.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act

concerning child advocacy centers and
multi-disciplinary teams, amending and supplementing P.L.2017, c.90, and making
an appropriation.

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

���� 1.� Section 1 of P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.107) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.� The Legislature finds and
declares that:

���� a.� Child advocacy centers are
child-friendly centers where a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, child
protective services, prosecutors, mental health and medical professionals, and
victim witness and family advocates can provide a coordinated response to the
investigation, treatment, prosecution, and prevention of child abuse and
neglect.

���� b.� Child advocacy centers and
multidisciplinary teams are designed to ease the stress experienced by
survivors of child abuse and neglect, and their families, throughout the
investigation process and improve methods of responding to acts of child abuse and
neglect.

���� c.� Child advocacy centers and
multidisciplinary teams reduce the trauma suffered by children who have been
abused or neglected by employing forensic interviewers specifically trained to
work with survivors of child abuse and neglect.

���� d.� The centers and teams also
assist child abuse and neglect survivors and their families in obtaining
judicial, medical, therapeutic, and victim advocacy services, and enhance the
effectiveness of law enforcement, prosecutors, and child protective services
professionals when investigating child abuse and neglect.

���� e.� The number of child
advocacy centers in the United States has grown dramatically since 1986 when
the first center was established. According to the National Children's
Alliance, the national accrediting organization for child advocacy centers,
there are now more than
[
770
]

900

centers nationwide
and 21 centers in New Jersey
, and, as of 2009, there
were over 900 multidisciplinary teams throughout the United States.

���� f.� In order to ensure the
effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to the survivors of
child abuse and neglect and their families, it is necessary to establish
[
a
certification
]

an annual progress review
program for the State's child advocacy centers
and multidisciplinary teams
to qualify for available funding through the
provisions of P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.107 et seq.)
.

���� g.� Therefore, it is the
intent of the Legislature to create a
[
certification
]

an annual
progress review
program for the State's child advocacy centers and
multidisciplinary teams through the adoption and implementation of guidelines
of practice consistent with the accreditation standards developed by the
National Children's Alliance, or its successor.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.90, s.1)

���� 2.� Section 2 of P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.108) is amended to read as follows:

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

���� "
Board" means the
Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board established in
section 3 of P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.109).

���� "Child advocacy
center" means a county-based center as defined in section 6 of P.L.1998,
c.19 (C.9:6-8.104).

���� "Multidisciplinary
team" means a county-based team as established in section 6 of P.L.1998,
c.19 (C.9:6-8.104).

����
"Problematic sexual
behavior" means behavior, initiated by youth under the age of 18,
involving the use sexual body parts in a manner that is developmentally
inappropriate or potentially harmful to the person or persons impacted by the
behavior.� �Problematic sexual behavior� also includes technology facilitated
adverse sexualized behaviors that can be considered problematic and harmful
including, but not limited to, sexting, posting sexual images, and exposure to
pornography and other sexually explicit electronic communication.

����
"Program" means
the "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program" established pursuant to
section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill).

����
"Specialized care
coordinator" means a care coordinator employed by a care management
organization contracted with the Division of Children�s System of Care in the
Department of Children and Families to provide case coordination services to youth
and families impacted by problematic sexual behaviors, including, but not
limited to, determining service needs and making referrals to appropriate medical
and mental health providers and community-based resources available for youth
who engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behavior and their
families.

����
"State Central Registry"
means the emergency telephone service for the receipt of calls involving a
report, complaint, or allegation of child abuse or neglect established pursuant
to section 25 of P.L.2012, c.16 (C.9:8-8.12)

(cf: P.L.2017, c.90, s.2)

���� 3.� Section 3 of P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.109) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.� a.� There is established
in, but not of, the Department of Children and Families in the Executive Branch
of State government the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory
Board. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section
IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Child Advocacy
Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board is allocated within the Department
of Children and Families, but, notwithstanding this allocation, the advisory
board shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or
by any officer or employee thereof.

���� b.� The purpose of the board
is to establish
[
a
certification
]

an annual progress review
program for the State's child advocacy centers
and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that the certified centers and teams
comply with the accreditation standards developed by the National Children's
Alliance, or its successor.

���� c.� The board shall consist of
14 members as follows:

���� (1) the Commissioner of
Children and Families, the Attorney General, the Chairperson of the New Jersey
Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the
[
Chapter Coordinator
]

Executive
Director
of New Jersey Children's Alliance or their designees, who shall
serve ex officio; and

���� (2)
[
ten
]

13
public members, with
at least 10 years' experience, background, or specialized knowledge in child
welfare, child advocacy centers, and multidisciplinary teams, to be appointed
by the Governor, including a representative of the New Jersey Prosecutors' Association,
a law guardian, a multidisciplinary team coordinator, a pediatrician with
expertise in child abuse and neglect, a psychologist with expertise in child
abuse and neglect
and problematic sexual behaviors in children
, a
representative of a child advocacy center, a representative of a victim or
family advocacy group, a law enforcement officer with experience in child abuse
and neglect investigations, an academician with experience and expertise in
child abuse and neglect research or a related field
[
;
]

, a representative of the
leadership of a care management organization contracted with the Division of
Children�s System of Care, a specialized care coordinator or a specialized care
coordinator supervisor, a representative of the State Central Registry
[
;
]

,
and
one member with general expertise in child welfare and multidisciplinary teams.

���� d.� Vacancies in the
membership of the board shall be filled in the same manner provided for the
original appointments.� The members of the board shall serve without
compensation, but may be reimbursed for traveling and other miscellaneous
expenses necessary to perform their duties, within the limits of funds made
available to the board for its purposes.

���� e.� The board shall organize
as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days 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 board.

���� f.� The board may meet at the
call of its chair and hold hearings at the times and in the places it deems
appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.� The board 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.

���� g.� The Department of Children
and Families shall provide professional and clerical staff to the board as
necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

����
h.� (1) The board shall
establish a Problematic Sexual Behavior Subcommittee to:

����
(a) provide oversight of
the Statewide response to reports of problematic sexual behavior;

����
(b) review the Problematic Sexual
Behavior Program established in section 7 of P.L.��� , c.�� (C.������ )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill);

����
(c) make recommendations to
the department that will enable the program to improve the effectiveness of the
services provided to youth who engage in or have been impacted by problematic
sexual behavior and their families; and

����
(d) evaluate the need for new
or expanded services or programs to enhance the Statewide response to reports
of problematic sexual behavior.

����
(2) The board shall appoint
at least nine members to the subcommittee consisting of:

����
(a) the Assistant
Commissioner of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency; the Assistant
Commissioner of the Division of Children�s System of Care; and the Executive
Director of the New Jersey Children�s Alliance, or their designees, who shall
serve ex-officio; and

����
(b) at least six public
members, including: a representative of the program; a representative of a care
management organization contracted with the Division of Children�s System of
Care; a county prosecutor with at experience, background, or specialized
knowledge in child welfare cases and problematic sexual behavior; a law
enforcement officer with experience in child abuse and neglect investigations;
a pediatrician employed by a regional diagnostic and treatment center for child
abuse and neglect; and a mental health provider with expertise in child abuse
and neglect and problematic sexual behavior.

����
(c) A minimum of one public
member shall serve on both the subcommittee and the board.

����
(d) The members of the
subcommittee shall serve for a term of three years or until the appointment of
a successor.

����
(e) Members of the
subcommittee shall be appointed and hold their initial organizational meeting
within 45 days after the effective date of P.L.��� , c.�� (C.������ ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).

����
(f) The subcommittee shall
designate a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members, except
that the assistant commissioner of the Division of Children�s System of Care and
the assistant commissioner of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency,
or their designees, shall not serve as the chairperson or vice chairperson of
the subcommittee.

����
(g) The subcommittee shall
be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of
employees of the Department of Children and Families and seek the advice of
experts as required and as may be available for the purposes of conducting the
reviews required by this subsection.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.90, s.3)

���� 4.� Section 4 of P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.110) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4.� The board shall:

���� a.� direct the development and
implementation of
[
a
certification
]

an annual progress review
program for the State's child advocacy centers
and multidisciplinary teams pursuant to section 5 of
[
this act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.111)
;

���� b.� develop a comprehensive
plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the State's child advocacy centers and
multidisciplinary teams;
[
and
]

���� c.� apply for and accept any
grant of money from the State or federal government or other sources, which may
be available to establish, expand, or improve child advocacy centers or
multidisciplinary teams pursuant to section 7 of
[
this act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.113)
.� Any monies received by the board shall be deposited in
the "Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Fund" established
pursuant to section 6 of
[
this
act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.112) or the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund"
established pursuant to section 9 of P.L.��� , c.�� (C.������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill), as appropriate; and

����
d.� administer, in
coordination with the Department of Children and Families, the "Child
Treatment Assistance Fund
.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.90, s.4)

���� 5.� Section 5 of P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.111) is amended to read as follows:

���� 5.� a.� The board shall
establish
[
a
certification
]

an annual progress review
program for the State's child advocacy centers
and multidisciplinary teams.� The goal of the program shall be to ensure that:

���� (1) every child advocacy
center or multidisciplinary team in the State applying for
[
certification
]

an annual
progress review
pursuant to subsection b. of this section is in compliance
with guidelines of practice that are consistent with the accreditation
standards developed by the National Children's Alliance, or its successor; and

���� (2) the State's child advocacy
centers and multidisciplinary teams incorporate best practices and standards in
providing child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment services to
survivors of child abuse and neglect.

���� b.� Every child advocacy
center and multidisciplinary team in the State may apply to the board for
[
certification
]

an annual
progress review
in a manner and on a form prescribed by the board.� In
order to
[
qualify
for certification with
]

receive a satisfactory progress review from
the board, a child advocacy
center or multidisciplinary team shall adopt and implement guidelines of
practice that are consistent with the accreditation standards developed by the
National Children's Alliance, or its successor.� The guidelines shall, at a
minimum, provide for:

���� (1) a multidisciplinary team
response in an investigation of child abuse and neglect by representatives of
the following core disciplines: law enforcement, child protective services,
mental health, prosecution, victim advocacy, and medicine;

���� (2) the designation of a
private, child-friendly interview and family meeting room which provides an
environment that is physically and psychologically safe for, and provides
comfort to, a survivor of child abuse and neglect and the survivor's family during
the course of an investigation of child abuse and neglect;�

���� (3) protocols governing the
forensic interview of a survivor of child abuse and neglect that comply with
the 2010 Guidelines of Practice for Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams in New
Jersey and current best practice standards and nationally recognized methods
for forensic interviews, New Jersey Court Rules, relevant case law, and
internal or external peer review;

���� (4) an interdisciplinary case
review process that describes the responsibilities of each team member in an
investigation of child abuse and neglect and the provisions of the services to
a survivor of child abuse and neglect and the survivor's family;

���� (5) a uniform system to
identify, track, collect, and coordinate information obtained during an
investigation of child abuse and neglect, and to monitor the progress and
outcomes of the investigation;

���� (6) procedures to facilitate
communication, collaboration, coordination, information sharing, problem
solving, and decision making between team members
during and immediately
after a multidisciplinary team meeting, and
during an investigation of
child abuse and neglect;

���� (7) a dispute resolution
process to resolve interdisciplinary conflicts that may arise between team
members during the course of an investigation of child abuse and neglect;

���� (8) the provision of services,
supports, and other assistance in a culturally competent manner to a survivor
of child abuse and neglect and the survivor's family during an investigation of
child abuse and neglect;

���� (9) on-going, specialized
interdisciplinary training for team members
, based on the multidisciplinary
team�s most recent progress review,
to enhance their basic skills and
expertise in the investigation and prevention of child abuse and neglect;

���� (10) mechanisms and processes
to allow the center to self-evaluate the effectiveness of its operations and
its success in investigating child abuse and neglect;

���� (11) the establishment of
county based child advocacy center-multidisciplinary team advisory boards
,
consistent with standards developed by the National Children�s Alliance and all
other applicable standards relating to child advocacy center-multidisciplinary
team advisory boards,
to oversee the operations and administration of the
child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team;

���� (12) the creation of an
education and outreach program to train professionals from State and local
governmental and community-based social services agencies in providing
multidisciplinary services to survivors of child abuse and neglect and their
families, and to educate the community on child maltreatment and child abuse
prevention techniques;

���� �(13) procedures to apply for
and accept any grant of money from the State or federal government or other
sources, which may be available to child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary
teams; and

���� �(14) reporting requirements
on the use of grant funds received by a child advocacy center or
multidisciplinary team pursuant to section 7 of
[
this act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.113)
.

���� c.� If a child advocacy center
or multidisciplinary team adopts and implements the guidelines of practice
specified in subsection b. of this section, the board shall certify that a
child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team is in compliance with the
provisions of this act.

���� d.� The board shall conduct an
annual
[
compliance
]

progress

review of each child advocacy center and multidisciplinary team the board
certifies
has received a satisfactory annual progress review
pursuant to
subsection c. of this section, and shall evaluate the center or team to
determine whether it continues to comply with the provisions of
[
this act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.107 et seq.)
.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.90, s.5)

���� 6.� Section 7 of P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.113) is amended to read as follows:

���� 7. a. The monies deposited in
the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Fund shall be distributed by
the Department of Children and Families as grants to child advocacy centers or
multidisciplinary teams certified by the board pursuant to subsection c. of
section 5 of
[
this
act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.111)
, as applicable to:

���� (1) establish or construct new
centers, or renew, renovate, improve, expand, or reconstruct existing centers
,
with government and community-based support
;

���� (2) make technological
improvements, including the modernization of software and hardware;

���� (3) hire personnel, fund new
positions, expand the responsibilities of existing positions, pay for
additional diagnostic treatment services and other costs, and provide for
continuing funding that has been eliminated from a State, federal, or private
funding source for diagnostic mental health and medical treatment services, as
necessary, to establish new services or improve existing services provided by
the centers or teams; and

���� (4) fund any other purpose
that would enhance the effective and efficient operation of the centers or
teams.

���� b. The Department of Children
and Families shall accept and approve the applications of child advocacy
centers or multidisciplinary teams for grants from the fund, and shall award
the grants to new centers or teams that apply and qualify for, and existing
centers or teams that meet the requirements of, certification in accordance
with subsection b. of section 5 of
[
this
act
]

P.L.2017,
c.90 (C.9:6-8.111)
.� The Department of Children and Families shall maintain
records of all the grants made from the fund pursuant to this section.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.90, s.7)

���� 7.� (New section)� The
Legislature finds and declares that:

���� a.� The National Children�s
Alliance estimates that 25 percent of cases seen at child advocacy centers
involved a youth who either engaged in or was impacted by problematic sexual
behavior.� In New Jersey, regional diagnostic and treatment centers report this
represents between 15 and 30 percent of all cases treated by the centers.

���� b.� In these cases, both the
youth who engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behavior
require access to treatment and services to promote their healing and prevent
future problematic behaviors.

���� c.� In February 2022, the
Problematic Sexual Behavior Workgroup was established in coordination with the
Department of Children and Families and various stakeholders including, but not
limited to, State governmental agencies, child advocacy centers, regional
diagnostic and treatment centers, law enforcement agencies, and victim advocacy
groups.

���� d.� The Workgroup was tasked
with creating a framework to address the need for youth involved in cases of
problematic sexual behavior to have access to appropriate medical and mental
health services by instituting a Statewide coordinated response to such cases.

���� e.� Over the course of a year,
the workgroup met regularly collecting research, speaking with other states,
conducting surveys of professionals involved in, and families impacted by,
problematic sexual behavior, and published a report describing the framework it
created for a Statewide response to cases involving problematic sexual
behavior.

���� f.� The framework included
creating a problematic sexual behavior program to provide oversight of the
Statewide response to problematic sexual behavior cases and the establishment of
the Child Treatment Assistance Fund.

���� g. �The fund received an
initial $2.5 million from the Department of Children and Families to cover
medical and mental health expenses for youth referred to medical and mental
health services through the program.

���� h.� Additional monies were
allocated to the fund through the State�s Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 budgets to
support the creation of specialized positions throughout the State to provide
information on, and refer children and families to, available medical and mental
health services for youth who engage in or have been impacted by problematic
sexual behavior.

���� i.� The framework created by
the workgroup also recommended: creating a screening and referral process by
which cases involving youth who engage in or have been impacted by problematic
sexual behavior and their families; establishing a specialized assessment team
within the State Central Registry to refer youth who engage in or have been
impacted by problematic sexual behavior and their families to treatment and
other appropriate services; providing regular training in evidence-based
treatment and prevention modalities for mental health providers; and providing
training, support and technical assistance to the professionals and
stakeholders involved in the Statewide response to cases involving problematic
sexual behavior.

���� j. Since the publication of
the Workgroup�s report, the Department of Children and Families and the Child
Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board established pursuant to
section 3 of P.L.2107, c.90 (C.9:6-8.19) have worked to implement its
recommendations and institute a sustainable referral and treatment process for
youth who engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behaviors and
their families.

���� k.� Therefore, it is the
Legislature�s intent to codify the efforts of the department and the board to
ensure that the framework created by the Problematic Sexual Behavior Workgroup
to treat and provide services to youth who engage in or have been impacted by
problematic sexual behavior and their families is permanently established in
law and supported by the current and all future administrations.

���� 8.� (New section)� a.� There
is established, in but not of the Department of Children and Families, the
Problematic Sexual Behavior Program.� The program shall be administered by the
New Jersey Children�s Alliance and funded by the Department of Children and
Families.� The purpose of the program is to:

���� (1) institute a Statewide,
coordinated response to reports of problematic sexual behavior referred to the
program by the Sexual Contact Between Youth Screening and Referral Team
established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.��� , c.�� (C.������ ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill); and

���� (2) address the need for youth
who engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behavior and their
families to have access to appropriate medical and mental health services.

���� b.� The program shall:

���� (1) screen and refer youth who
engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behaviors and their families
to, and provide information on, available medical, mental health, and other
appropriate services and resources pursuant to section 8 of P.L.; c.��
(C.������ ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

���� (2) develop, approve, and
provide for training in evidence-based treatment and prevention modalities for
mental health providers who will treat youth who engage in or are impacted by
problematic sexual behavior and their families; and

���� (3) provide support, technical
assistance, and training on evidence�based prevention, intervention, and
response relating to problematic sexual behavior to specialized care
coordinators, community leaders, stakeholders, and social services professionals
who may come into contact with or provide services to youth who engage in or
are impacted by problematic sexual behavior.

���� c.� (1) The program shall
select specialized care coordinators to ensure coverage of the northern,
central, and southern regions of the State and provide care coordination
services, upon request, to youth who engage in or are impacted by problematic
sexual behavior and their families.� The number of specialized care
coordinators selected by the program shall be based on the determined needs of
residents for services relating to, and the number of reports of, problematic
sexual behavior in each of the regions.

���� (2) The care coordination
services provided by a specialized care coordinator to youth who engage in or
have been impacted by problematic sexual behavior and their families shall
include:

���� (a) services to assess and
determine the level of service needs for, and referrals to, available medical
and mental health care services; and

���� (b) providing information on
and referral to other appropriate services and community-based resources.

���� (3)� A specialized care
coordinator shall be assigned to provide care coordination services to a youth
who engages in or is impacted by problematic sexual behavior and the youth�s
family until such time all requested services have been arranged for and
engaged in by the youth and the youth�s family.

���� 9.� (New section)� a.� The
program shall form a Sexual Contact Between Youth Screening and Referral Team,
consisting of State Central Registry representatives, to conduct a telephone
assessment of and determine whether a report of child abuse or neglect received
by the State Central Registry involves problematic sexual behavior, and whether
the report warrants a referral to the Problematic Sexual Behavior Program
established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.��� , c.����� (C.������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).

���� b.� The program shall:

���� (1) establish criteria to
determine whether a potential report of problematic sexual behavior received by
the registry shall be screened and referred by the program for available
medical and mental health care services pursuant to subparagraph (a) of
paragraph (2) of subsection c. of section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.���� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill);

���� (2) create procedures to
facilitate coordination of, and information sharing on, referrals made pursuant
to subsection a. of this section between the team, relevant county prosecutor�s
offices, consistent with N.J.A.C.3A:10-5.1, and specialized care coordinators;

���� (3) institute a process for
continued communication between a specialized care coordinator and a county
prosecutor�s office allowing for the care coordinator or the prosecutor�s
office, when appropriate, to refer a report of problematic sexual behavior back
to the team for additional review; and

���� (4) develop standards to
facilitate the payment of medical and mental health care services provided to youth
who engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behaviors pursuant to
section 7 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill) and their families who may not otherwise have access to such
services.

���� 10.� (New section)� There is
established in the Department of Children and Families a fund to be known as
the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund."� The fund, administered by the
board and in coordination with the department, shall be the repository of
monies appropriated to cover the cost of the medical and mental health services
provided through the program established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.��� ,
c.�� (C.������ ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to youth who
engage in or have been impacted by problematic sexual behavior and their
families.

���� 11.� (New section)� The board
and the Department of Children and Families shall promulgate rules and
regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may necessary to effectuate the
purposes of this act.

���� 12.� (New section)� There is
appropriated $8,500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Children and
Families to effectuate the purposes of this act as follows:

���� a.� $5,000,000 for the
administration of the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund" established
pursuant to section 9 of P.L.��� , c.�� (C.) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill); and

���� b.� $3,5000,000 to fund the:

���� (1) Statewide coordinated
response to reports of problematic sexual behavior;

���� (2) positions of specialized
care coordinators selected by the program pursuant to subsection c. of section
7 of P.L.��� , c.�� (C. ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill);

���� (3) training of mental health
providers, in evidence-based treatment and prevention modalities pursuant to
paragraph (2) of subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.��� , c.�� , (C.���� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill);

���� (4) provision of support,
technical assistance, and training on evidence�based prevention, intervention,
and response relating to problematic sexual behavior to specialized care
coordinators, community leaders, stakeholders, and social services
professionals pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 7 of
P.L.��� , c.�� (C.���� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

���� (5) data collection, analysis,
and reporting of information concerning problematic sexual behavior in the
State.

���� 13.� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment, except
that the Commissioner of Children and Families may take any anticipatory
administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation
of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill expands the responsibilities
of the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board (the board)
established in P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.107 et seq.) and establishes the Problematic
Sexual Behavior Program (the program).

���� Specifically, the bill amends various
sections of P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.108 et seq.) to:� (1) include definitions
relating to the establishment of the program; (2) stipulate that the board is
to establish an annual progress review, instead of a certification process, as
originally required by law, for the State's child advocacy centers and
multidisciplinary teams; (3) establish a Problematic Sexual Behavior
Subcommittee; and (4) administer, in coordination with the DCF, the "Child
Treatment Assistance Fund" established in the bill.

���� The bill also amends P.L.2017,
c.90 to increase the number of members of the board from 10, as originally
provide by the law, to 13, update the guidelines of practice for child advocacy
centers and multidisciplinary teams must adopt to receive satisfactory annual
progress reviews, and clarify how the grants distributed by the DCF to centers
and teams, through the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Fund, are
to be spent.

���� The bill establishes the Problematic
Sexual Behavior Program administered by the New Jersey Children�s Alliance and
funded by the DCF.� The purpose of the program is to institute a Statewide,
coordinated response to, and address the medical and mental health care
services needs of those impacted by, problematic sexual behavior. �

���� The bill also establishes the "Child
Treatment Assistance Fund" in the DCF. �The fund is to be the repository
of monies appropriated to cover the cost of the medical and mental health care
services provided through the program.

���� As defined in the bill,
"problematic sexual behavior" means behavior, initiated by youth
under the age of 18, involving the use sexual body parts in a manner that is
developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful to the person or persons impacted
by the behavior, and also includes technology facilitated adverse sexualized
behaviors that can be considered problematic and harmful.

���� The bill appropriates $8,500,000
from the General Fund to the DCF to effectuate the purposes of the bill.