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A4171
ASSEMBLY, No. 4171
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires DVA conduct outcomes and efficacy study of
veteran to veteran peer support helpline.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to
conduct a study on the outcomes and efficacy of the veteran to veteran peer
support helpline.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.�� The Commissioner of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, or a designee, shall conduct a two-year
study on the outcomes and efficacy of the veteran to veteran peer support
helpline, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2011, c.116 (C.38A:13-11)
and commonly referred to as the vet to vet hotline, and shall prepare and
submit a written report to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991,
c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within six months of the conclusion of the study.� The
study shall be based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected
from the helpline, and shall include, but not be limited to:�
���� (1)�� the efficacy of the
helpline in leading veterans to sustained mental health regimens and suicide
prevention;
���� (2)�� the helpline�s
visibility;
���� (3)�� the role of the helpline
as part of the department�s mental health care services;
���� (4)�� whether receiving
sustained mental health care services affects suicidality and whether veterans
previously receiving department mental health care services use the helpline in
times of crisis;
���� (5)�� the helpline's
effectiveness in assisting veterans at risk for suicide when contacted by a
non-veteran;
���� (6)�� the helpline�s overall
efficacy in preventing suicides and whether the number of contacts affects such
efficacy;
���� (7)�� the helpline�s long-term
efficacy in preventing repeated suicide attempts and when such efficacy is
temporary;
���� (8)�� when referral to mental
health care services affects the risk of suicide; and
���� (9)�� the helpline�s efficacy
in promoting continued mental health care for those veterans who are at high
risk for suicide and whose suicide was prevented.
���� b.��� In addition to the
written report submitted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the Commissioner,
or a designee, may submit a proposal for legislation that improves the laws of
this State regarding the efficacy of the veteran to veteran peer support
helpline.
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires the Commissioner
of the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the outcomes and
efficacy of the veteran to veteran peer support helpline, commonly referred to
as the vet to vet hotline, and to submit a report of its findings to the
Legislature, and permits the Commissioner to submit a proposal for legislation
that improves the laws of this State regarding the efficacy of the veteran to
veteran peer support helpline.� The study will be for a two-year period and
will be based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from
the helpline.�
���� The study will include, but
not be limited to:�
���� (1)�� the efficacy of the helpline
in leading veterans to sustained mental health regimens and suicide prevention;
���� (2)�� the helpline�s
visibility;
���� (3)�� the role of the helpline
as part of the department�s mental health care services;
���� (4)�� whether receiving
sustained mental health care services affects suicidality and whether veterans
previously receiving department mental health care services use the helpline in
times of crisis;
���� (5)�� the helpline's
effectiveness in assisting veterans at risk for suicide when contacted by a
non-veteran;
���� (6)�� the helpline�s overall
efficacy in preventing suicides and whether the number of contacts affects such
efficacy;
���� (7)�� the lines long-term
efficacy in preventing repeated suicide attempts and when such efficacy is
temporary;
���� (8)�� when referral to mental health
care services affects the risk of suicide; and
���� (9)�� the helpline�s efficacy
in promoting continued mental health care for those veterans who are at high
risk for suicide and whose suicide was prevented.