LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 4416

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Expands role of New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and transfers $3 million from DCF to DHS for establishment of dashboard and associated implementation.

Type of Impact:

One-time and annual State expenditure increases.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Families, Department of Health, and Department of Banking and Insurance.

 

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

 

One-Time State Expenditure Increase – New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute Implementation and Coordination

$1.5 million

 

One-Time State Expenditure Increase – Development of Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard

$1.5 million

 

Annual State Expenditure Increase – Staffing for Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard

$32,000

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) determines that this bill would result in a one-time State expenditure increase of $1.5 million to support the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute over a three-year period to function as the designated implementation and coordination entity for the existing Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.

 

·         The OLS also estimates that the Department of Human Services would incur a one-time expenditure increase of $1.5 million in the first year following the bill’s enactment to design, develop, and implement a public-facing Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard.  If the full amount is not expended in the first year, the remaining amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $1.5 million is exhausted.

 

·         The OLS further estimates that in the out years, the department would incur an estimated $32,000 in annual staffing costs to maintain the dashboard.

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      Under the bill, the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, in coordination with the Department of Human Services and other appropriate State departments and agencies, is to serve as the designated implementation and coordination entity to support the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.  Commissioned by the Department of Children and Families under P.L. 2024, c.100, this study maps New Jersey’s pediatric mental health landscape, identifies eligibility rules and access barriers, and examines how programs interact across the system. The Department of Human Services is to enter into a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate agreement with the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute for a period of three years.  The memorandum of understanding is to establish implementation activities, deliverables, reporting requirements, performance expectations, timelines, and interdepartmental coordination responsibilities.

      The bill requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, the Department of Banking and Insurance, the Division of Children's System of Care, managed care organizations, health systems, insurers, providers, and other appropriate entities, to establish and maintain a publicly accessible Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard.  The dashboard is to provide transparent, publicly available information regarding the children's behavioral health system, including workforce capacity, service availability, utilization, access measures, wait times, quality indicators, and other information deemed appropriate by the department.

      The bill transfers $3.0 million from funds appropriated to the Department of Children and Families in FY 2027 to the Department of Human Services - $1.5 million to be used during the first year following the bill’s enactment to design, develop, implement, and operationalize the Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard; and $1.5 million to be distributed over a three-year period to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to implement the requirements of the bill regarding the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS determines that this bill would result in a one-time State expenditure increase of $1.5 million to support the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute over a three-year period to function as the designated implementation and coordination entity for the existing Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.  The OLS notes that the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is uniquely positioned to fulfill this role, as it received a $1.0 million grant under P.L. 2024, c.100 to prepare the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.

      The OLS also estimates that the Department of Human Services would incur a one-time expenditure increase of $1.5 million in the first year following the bill’s enactment to design, develop, and implement a public-facing Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard.  This expenditure would cover the necessary staffing to develop the dashboard, as well as technological support to integrate the applicable data and design support to create the dashboard interface.  If the full $1.5 million is not expended in the first year, the remaining amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $1.5 million is exhausted.

      The OLS further estimates that in the out years, the department would incur an estimated $32,000 in annual staffing costs for a 0.25 full-time equivalent staff person, in a program specialist position, to maintain the dashboard.  

 

 

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah Schmidt

Principal Research 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.).