LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 4401

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JANUARY 15, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program.

Type of Impact:

No fiscal impact to the State.  Potential county expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Law and Public Safety; County Prosecutors; State and local law enforcement.

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

 

 

 

State Finances

No fiscal impact

 

Potential Local Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that the bill will have no fiscal impact on the State because it codifies the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together program into permanent law.

·       The bill requires each county prosecutor to designate a crisis response support coordinator to develop and implement procedures issued pursuant to guidance from the Office of the Attorney General and to provide documentation or information as required by the Office of the Attorney General.  The OLS is of the understanding this requirement has been in practice since 2024 as the ARRIVE Together Program has been established in all 21 counties according to the Office of the Attorney General.  However, to the extent any county has not designated a crisis response support coordinator, there would be a county expenditure increase.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill codifies into permanent law the ARRIVE Together Crisis Response Pilot Program established pursuant to P.L.2022, c.36.  The bill establishes the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together program in the Department of Law and Public Safety, requiring the Attorney General to issue guidelines for a mental health services provider a mental health services agency to contract with a law enforcement agency to respond to a request for assistance involving a person alleged, reported, or suspected to be experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

      Law enforcement agencies in the State are eligible to participate but there is no requirement.  A participating agency must designate a crisis response support coordinator to implement the Attorney General’s guidance.  Each county prosecutor must designate a county crisis response support coordinator to comply with Attorney General’s guidance and provide documentation or information to the Attorney General as required.

      The bill provides certain protections for personal identifying information pertaining to the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or health status of an individual, including but not limited to an individual’s name or identity; whether the individual is subject to an emergency call or other report; whether the individual is alleged or suspected to be experiencing a mental health crisis or whether the individual is receiving an assessment for crisis intervention , a mental health screening, or other support services through the ARRIVE Together Program.  The bill also provides that the records created by an ARRIVE Together response or maintained by the Department of Law and Public Safety are confidential and exempt from the Open Public Records Act, P.L.1963, c.73.

      The bill also supplements the Good Samaritan Act, P.L.1963, c.140 by providing that a licensed mental health services provider or agency contracted to provide crisis response services for ARRIVE, or a substantially similar program, would not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any acts or omissions taken in good faith.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

        None received on this bill.  However, during the May 29, 2025 Senate Law and Public Safety Committee meeting, a representative of the Office of the Attorney General indicated this bill would codify into permanent law the current practice of supporting law enforcement officers by partnering them with mental health professionals to assist individuals experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.  The representative indicated that in over 9,000 interactions made by the ARRIVE Together program, there have been zero injuries to community members or law enforcement officers.

      The Office of the Attorney General also emphasized the provisions of the bill ensuring the health care information obtained during an ARRIVE Together response would remain confidential and unavailable to the public; and granting immunity from civil liability to the providers of mental health care under the program when supporting an emergency response.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS notes that the bill will have no fiscal impact on the State because it codifies the ARRIVE Together program into permanent law.

      The bill requires each county prosecutor to designate a crisis response support coordinator to develop and implement procedures issued pursuant to guidance from the Office of the Attorney General and to provide documentation or information as required by the Office of the Attorney General.  The OLS is of the understanding this requirement has been in practice since 2024 as the ARRIVE Together Program has been established in all 21 counties according to the Office of the Attorney General.  However, to the extent any county has not designated a crisis response support coordinator, there would be a county expenditure increase.

      The ARRIVE Together program began as a pilot initiative in 2021 when the State Police deployed a Trooper trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques alongside a certified mental health screener and crisis specialist to respond to 911 calls involving behavioral health incidents.  The premise of the program is that this pairing can better support the safe resolution of certain emergency calls leading to safer outcomes for State’s most vulnerable residents.  The Department of Law and Public Safety contends the program’s effectiveness accomplishes several other goals: increasing the use of mental health resources; keeping residents in the community; and improving trust between law enforcement and community.

      Annual Expenditures:  In FY 2023, the State appropriated $2 million for the ARRIVE Together Pilot program.  An additional $10.6 million was appropriated in FY 2024 and $20.1 million was appropriated in FY 2025 as the program was expanded to all 21 counties of the State. An additional $20.1 million was appropriated in FY 2026. 

 

ARRIVE Together Program State Funding

FY 2023 State Appropriation

$2.0 million

FY 2024 State Appropriation

$10.565 million

FY 2025 State Appropriation

$20.065 million

FY 2026 State Appropriation

$20.065 million

 

 

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.).