An Act concerning the ARRIVE Together Crisis Response Pilot Program and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
“Pilot county” means a county in which a municipality has been selected by the Attorney General to participate in the pilot program expansion established pursuant to subsection c. of this section.
“Pilot municipality” means a municipality selected by the Attorney General to participate in the pilot program expansion established by subsection c. this section.
“Pilot program expansion” means the expansion of the Alternative Response to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Pilot Program established by subsection c. of this section.
b. The Attorney General shall establish a pilot program to be known as the Alternative Response to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Pilot Program. The program shall be designed to provide accessible crisis intervention, mental health screening, or other support to individuals experiencing mental health crises who have contacted or are engaging with law enforcement.
Following the establishment of the program, the Attorney General shall effectuate a pilot program expansion as provided in subsection c. of this section.
c. Within the limits of available funds provided pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2022, c.36, the Attorney General shall select for participation in the pilot program expansion two municipalities in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, the selection of which shall not exclude participation by other counties or municipalities in the pilot program.
d. The county prosecutor's office in each pilot county shall designate a crisis response support coordinator who shall be responsible for coordinating with the Attorney General to develop procedures consistent with the guidelines established pursuant to subsection f. of this section.
e. Consistent with the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection f. of this section, one or more mental health service providers shall be contracted to provide services as needed to the State Police or the police department or force, as appropriate, in the pilot municipality when responding to a call that involves a person who is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The provider shall provide services as needed for up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
f. The Attorney General shall establish guidelines for the implementation of the pilot program expansion.
g. To the extent applicable and consistent with the guidelines established pursuant to subsection f. of this section, the governing body of a pilot municipality or pilot county shall provide documentation or information to the Attorney General.
h. The Attorney General shall cause to be transmitted a report evaluating the implementation and operation of the pilot program expansion to the Governor and, pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature within 90 days after the completion of the pilot program expansion. The report shall recommend whether the pilot program expansion should be continued, modified, or made permanent.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety the sum of $2,000,000 to effectuate the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2022, c.36. The Attorney General and any other department, as appropriate, may seek assistance from the federal government, private foundations, and any other source to fund the Pilot Program expansion established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2022, c.36.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the eleventh month next following the date of enactment and shall expire upon the filing of the report required pursuant to subsection h. of section 1 of P.L.2022, c.36. The Attorney General may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance of the effective date as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
Approved June 30, 2022.