Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Kane
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1.5 million from General Fund to DOH and DCA for Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L.2025, c.74.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2025, c.74, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, there are appropriated from the General Fund the following amounts for the purposes specified:
46 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
20 Physical and Mental Health
22 Health Planning and Evaluation
GRANTS-IN-AID
07-4270 Health Care Systems Analysis ............................ $1,000,000
Total Grants-in-Aid appropriation,
Health Planning and Evaluation ...................... $1,000,000
Grants-in-Aid:
07 Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers Pledge to Connect Program................................................. ………($1,000,000)
22 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security
55 Social Services Programs
GRANTS-IN-AID
05-8050 Community Resources ............................................ $500,000
Total Grants-In-Aid appropriation,
Social Services Programs ................................... $500,000
Grants-In-Aid:
05 Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers Housing First Program…………………......................................($500,000)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides for two FY2026 supplemental appropriations from the General Fund to the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers: one for $1 million to the Department of Health for the Pledge to Connect Program and one for $500,000 to the Department of Community Affairs for the Housing First Program. The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers is one of New Jersey’s four Regional Health Hubs.
The Pledge to Connect Program connects patients with behavioral health needs in hospital emergency departments to timely, community-based outpatient care. Launched in FY2022, the program uses in-person and telephonic models to triage patients based on the severity of their needs and to connect them to appropriate services, with the goal of reducing future emergency room visits.
The Housing First Program provides permanent housing and wraparound services to individuals facing chronic homelessness. The program was introduced in 2015 in response to the high rates of homelessness and lack of low-barrier housing programs for individuals with complex health and social needs in the city of Camden.
The FY2026 Annual Appropriations Act marks the first fiscal year in recent years in which these specific programs did not receive State support.