LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, Nos. 722 and 785

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JUNE 27, 2022

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes three-year Crisis Response Support Program to make mental health services available to police departments responding to certain emergencies; appropriates $2,000,000.

Type of Impact:

State and Local Expenditure Increases; Local Revenue Increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Health; Certain Designated Municipalities in Essex, Middlesex, and Burlington Counties.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Years 2 and 3

 

State Cost Increase

Up to $2 million

Indeterminate

 

Local Expenditure Increase

       Up to $2 million                            Indeterminate                                                                 

 

Local Revenue Increase

       Up to $2 million                            Indeterminate                                   

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes the bill would result in State and local expenditure increases, and a local revenue increase, of up to $2 million to support a three-year Crisis Response Support Pilot Program to make mental health services available to police departments responding to certain emergencies in three municipalities as designated in the bill.  The bill appropriates $2 million to the Department of Health (DOH) for this purpose.

·         The bill requires the DOH to reimburse each pilot municipality, or county, with appropriate documentation of the costs incurred to implement the pilot program.  This reimbursement to each pilot municipality or county will represent a revenue gain for these local units.

·         The OLS notes that any potential administrative costs beyond the $2 million are indeterminate.

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      The bill establishes a three-year Crisis Response Support Pilot Program to make mental health services available to police departments responding to certain emergencies and appropriates $2 million.  The purpose of the Crisis Response Support Pilot Program would be to provide support to law enforcement agencies when responding to a call that involves a person who is suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder and is in crisis.  All allowable costs will be reimbursed with respective documentation derived from the $2 million State appropriation to the DOH.  The following are examples of the bill’s provisions and potential reimbursable expenditures:

·         The county prosecutor’s office is required to designate a crisis response support coordinator responsible for coordinating with the DOH to develop procedures for implementing the pilot program in each pilot municipality; and

·         Each pilot municipality, or pilot county, is required to contract with a nonprofit mental health service provider to provide support to the respective law enforcement agency when responding to a call that involves a person who is suffering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder and is in crisis.

      The Commissioner of Health may also seek assistance from the federal government, private foundations, and any other source to fund the pilot program established by the bill.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes the bill would result in State and local expenditure increases, and a local revenue increase, of up to $2 million to support a three-year Crisis Response Support Pilot Program to make mental health services available to police departments responding to certain emergencies in three municipalities as designated in the bill.

      Department of Health Revenues and Expenditures - The bill appropriates from the State General Fund to the DOH the sum of $2 million to effectuate the bill’s provisions.

      The OLS estimates that the DOH may incur certain minimal costs to initiate and administer the program, provide technical assistance to three designated municipalities, comply with the program requirements to effectuate the pilot program; and comply with the bill’s reporting provisions.  To the extent that the department can utilize the appropriation and existing operational resources, any expenses experienced from these activities will be reduced.

      Essex, Middlesex, and Burlington County Revenues and Expenditures – As per the bill, all allowable costs will be reimbursed with respective documentation derived from the $2 million State appropriation to the DOH.

      Additionally, the OLS estimates there will be a cost for the training of the designated municipal law enforcement officers in working alongside the mental health professionals in emergency situations. This cost is not currently indicated as a reimbursable expense in the provisions of the bill.

Section:

Law and Public Safety

Analyst:

Kristin Brunner Santos

Lead Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).