Establishes pilot program to create student mental health assistance programs in selected school districts.

S3803

SENATE, No. 3803

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes pilot program to create student mental
health assistance programs in selected school districts.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning student mental health assistance and
supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Education shall establish a four-year pilot program in which participating
school districts will establish a mental health assistance program for students
in grades kindergarten through 12.� The purposes of the pilot program shall be
to identify issues affecting student mental health and the possible impact of
those issues on academic performance, and to provide intervention, support, and
referral services in a confidential setting to help students who may be
experiencing mental health difficulties.

���� b.��� Under the pilot program,
each participating school district shall create a mental health assistance
program to serve students who attend the schools of the district in any of the
grades kindergarten through 12. A mental health assistance program created by a
participating school district shall include, at a minimum, the following
elements:�

���� (1)�� identification of
students who may be experiencing personal, school, or family difficulties
impacting the student�s mental health, regardless of whether the difficulties
may be associated with alcohol or other drug-related concerns;

���� (2)�� procedures for the
referral of students who may be experiencing such difficulties to the mental
health assistance program.� Referrals may be made by a student�s parent or
guardian, teachers or other school staff, or by student self-referral;

���� (3)�� voluntary participation
on the part of the student and full confidentiality with regard to receiving
services from the program;

���� (4)�� the ability for students
to confidentially express their feelings and concerns in a safe place and to
acquire personal skills development leading to student success in the school
setting;

���� (5)�� providing mental health
education, support, and intervention services for students served by the
program in order to foster risk reduction and positive asset development and to
ensure an environment for students that is safe and alcohol and drug-free;

���� (6)�� providing referrals,
where appropriate, to community agencies and resources that may help address
the particular needs of the student; and

���� (7)�� the goal of providing
mental health support services to students that promote and increase factors
including, but not limited to: academic achievement and good grades; positive
attitudes toward school; attendance and likelihood of staying in school; the ability
to communicate and express feelings appropriately; and students� sense of
self-worth and formation of positive relationships.

���� A participating school
district shall appoint one or more student assistance counselors to facilitate
the district�s mental health assistance program.� Student assistance counselors
shall act as a resource for the entire school community and shall work with
students or groups in a confidential setting to carry out the work of the
program.� Student assistance counselors shall also build connections within the
local community to enable them to act as a source of information and referrals
to various community agencies and resources. Student assistance counselors
shall receive specialized prevention and intervention training to identify and
address the needs of the school district�s students and schools, and shall
participate in ongoing professional development in order to best serve the
students and schools.�

���� c.���� A school district that
wishes to participate in the pilot program shall submit an application to the
Commissioner of Education, which includes a description of the district�s
proposal for creating a mental health assistance program, factors that support the
district�s current need for such a program, the district�s plans for funding
any costs associated with the mental health assistance program following the
completion of the pilot program, and any other information as prescribed by the
commissioner.�

���� d.��� The commissioner shall
select up to 15 school districts for participation in the pilot program.� To
the maximum extent possible, the commissioner shall select school districts in
the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and shall seek a cross
section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

���� 2.��� a.� At the conclusion of
the pilot program, each participating school district shall submit a report to
the commissioner.� The report from each district shall include, at a minimum,
information on the number of students who were served by the mental health
assistance program, including the number of students in each grade level; the
number of staff who served as student assistance counselors under the program;
any voluntary feedback collected from students, staff, and parents regarding
the program; and the school district�s views on the success and benefits of the
program.

���� b.��� After receiving the
reports from each participating school district, the commissioner shall submit
a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation and effectiveness of the
pilot program.� The report shall include the commissioner�s recommendation on
the advisability of the program�s continuation and expansion to additional
school districts in the State.�

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes a
four-year pilot program in which the participating school districts will
establish a mental health assistance program for students in grades
kindergarten through 12.� The purposes of the pilot program are to identify
issues affecting student mental health and the possible impact of those issues
on academic performance, and to provide intervention, support, and referral
services in a confidential setting to help students who may be experiencing
mental health difficulties.�

���� A school district that wants
to participate in the pilot program will submit an application and proposal to
the Commissioner of Education, and the commissioner will select up to 15 school
districts for participation.� Each participating school district will create a
mental health assistance program which, among other things: identifies students
who may be experiencing personal, school, or family difficulties impacting the
student�s mental health, regardless of whether the difficulties are associated
with alcohol or other drug-related concerns; establishes procedures for the
referral of students to the program; provides mental health education, support,
and intervention services for students served by the program in order to foster
risk reduction and positive asset development; and provides referrals, where
appropriate, to community agencies and resources that may help address the
particular needs of the student.

���� In order to facilitate the
mental health assistance program, each participating school district is
required to appoint one or more student assistance counselors, who will act as
a resource for the entire school community and will work with students or groups
in a confidential setting to carry out the work of the program.� Student
assistance counselors must receive specialized prevention and intervention
training, and participate in ongoing professional development, in order to best
serve the needs of the school district�s students and schools.��

���� At the conclusion of the pilot
program, the bill requires each participating school district to submit a
report to the Commissioner of Education containing certain information on the
district�s mental health assistance program as well as voluntary feedback
collected from students, staff, and parents regarding the program. The bill
directs the commissioner, after receiving the reports from the participating
districts, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the
implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program and the commissioner�s
recommendation on the advisability of the program�s continuation and expansion
to additional school districts in the State.