SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1815

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 14, 2024

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1815.

      As amended by the committee, this bill establishes the New Jersey Task Force on Coordination Among Nonprofit Social Service Organizations.

      The purpose of the task force is to develop recommendations, through collaboration among representatives of State government and social service organizations in the State, to support efforts to effectively coordinate and streamline services provided by social service organizations in the State by:  promoting shared services to reduce administrative costs; forming alliances among social service organizations to eliminate duplication of services; and establishing procedures for the uniform reporting of expenditures by social service organizations to policy makers and the public.

      Under the provisions of the bill, the task force will consist of 17 members:  the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Health, and Human Services, or their designees, as ex officio members; and 13 public members as follows:

      five of whom will be appointed by the Governor and include one representative each from the Center for Non-Profit Corporations, the Area Agencies on Aging, a Statewide social service organization offering women's support services, a Statewide social service organization providing services to people with adult onset disabilities; and a Statewide social service organization offering emergency food and nutrition services;

      three of whom will be appointed by the President of the Senate and include one representative each from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey, the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, and, as amended by the committee, a Statewide social service organization offering substance use disorder treatment and prevention services;

      three of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and include one representative each from The Arc of New Jersey, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey, and a Statewide organization providing environmental advocacy services;

      one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate who is a representative from a Statewide social service organization providing services to the homeless; and

      one appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly who is a representative from a Statewide organization advocating for the arts.

      Lastly, the task force will report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 12 months after the initial meeting on its findings and recommendations concerning efforts to effectively coordinate and streamline services provided by social service organizations in the State. The task force will dissolve upon the issuance of its report.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments replace the term “substance abuse” with “substance use disorder.”