ASSEMBLY CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND FOOD SECURITY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2772

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 7, 2026

      The Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2772.

This bill requires the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (the division) to develop a training course and curriculum on suicide screening and crisis response planning.  The training course and curriculum developed is to be on:

     (1) recognizing warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide in children and adolescents through hands-on use of validated suicide prevention tools such as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale;

     (2) establishing protocols for responding when a child is identified as at risk, including immediate de-escalation techniques; and

     (3) coordinating care with mental health professionals, schools, resource parents, and community supports.

     The division is to ensure that:

     (1) the training course is part of each caseworker’s initial training and, biennially, as part of the in-service training provided to each caseworker, as appropriate; and

     (2) every caseworker hired by the division prior to the effective date of this bill, within 24 months of the effective date of this bill, is to satisfactorily complete the training course developed and adopted.

     The Division is to periodically review the training course and curriculum established pursuant to this bill, and is to update the course and curriculum as necessary.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.