SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 4416
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JUNE 11, 2026
The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4416.
This bill expands the role of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI) and transfers certain funds.
This bill amends section 1 of P.L.2024, c.100 (C.30:9A-34) to delete paragraphs (7) and (8) of subsection c.
Under the bill, the NJHCQI 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. In this capacity, the NJHCQI, in coordination with the Department of Human Services (department) and other appropriate State departments and agencies, is to: (1) facilitate stakeholder engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and convening activities necessary to support implementation of the report recommendations; (2) provide policy, research, technical assistance, and implementation support to State departments and agencies, as it relates to children's mental health system improvement initiatives; (3) assist the department and other State departments and agencies in the development, coordination, and dissemination of guidance, best practices, and transition-of-care protocols across levels of care and service systems; (4) consult with the department regarding the design, implementation, governance, and ongoing use of the Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard; (5) monitor the implementation of the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report recommendations, identify barriers and opportunities for improvement, and support coordination among responsible entities; and (6) prepare and submit periodic implementation progress reports and recommendations to the department.
Under the bill, the department, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, Department of Health, Department of Banking and Insurance, Division of Children's System of Care, managed care organizations, health systems, insurers, providers, and other appropriate entities, is 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, but not limited to, workforce capacity, service availability, utilization, access measures, wait times, quality indicators, and other information deemed appropriate by the department.
The department is to enter into a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate agreement with the NJHCQI 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 transfers from funds appropriated to the Department of Children and Families in fiscal year 2027 the sum of $3,000,000 to the Department of Human Services for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this bill. Half of this sum—$1.5 million is 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. The remaining $1.5 million is to be distributed over a three-year period to the NJHCQI for implementation coordination, stakeholder engagement, technical assistance, reporting, and other activities necessary to support implementation of the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report recommendations.