LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
ASSEMBLY, No. 2386
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: MARCH 5, 2024
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Establishes Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program; appropriates $1 million. |
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Type of Impact: |
One-Time State Expenditure Increase. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Human Services. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
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One-Time State Expenditure Increase |
Up to $1 million |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill will result in a one-time increase in State expenditures of up to $1 million to implement the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program. If the full $1 million appropriated is not expended in the first year, the residual amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $1 million is exhausted. The Department of Human Services may also experience some indeterminate workload increases to establish, administer, and report on the status of the program.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Human Services to award grants to mental health providers to provide confidential mental health services to paid firefighters employed by a public fire department and members of their immediate families who are in a mental health crisis or are suicidal. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to support the grants.
The department is required to develop an application by which a mental health services provider may apply for a grant and is to establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program.
The department is to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program and make the application available on the department's website. Upon receipt of an application, the department is to award a grant to each approved grant applicant, subject to the availability of funding. Additionally, the department is required to publish a list of approved mental health providers on its website.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that this bill will result in a one-time increase in State expenditures of up to $1 million to implement the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program. If the full $1 million appropriated is not expended in the first year, the residual amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $1 million is exhausted. The Department of Human Services may also experience some indeterminate workload increases to establish, administer, and report on the status of the program.
Currently, the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association website indicates that the association established a Peer Assistance Program in 2015 that acts as a referral agency for members or their families seeking help for substance abuse and stress-related problems.
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Section: |
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Analyst: |
Lead Fiscal Analyst |
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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.).