SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1233

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 19, 2026

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1233.

      As reported by the committee, this bill establishes the “Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund” and appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to this fund to support, in the current fiscal year and future fiscal years, the “Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services” Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program.

     The “Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services” Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program is a 24-hour confidential peer support hotline and service for law enforcement personnel and their families.  This program is currently operated at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care’s National Call Center.  The Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program currently receives up to $400,000 annually from Body Armor Replacement Funds pursuant to R.S.39:5-41.  This bill would dedicate an additional $500,000 annually to the “Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund” to support the Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program.

      This bill was prefiled 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.