Sponsored by:

Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Johnson, Assemblywomen Pintor Marin and Speight

SYNOPSIS

Establishes "Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Initiative" in DOH.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on March 7, 2019, with amendments.

An Act concerning violence intervention in hospitals and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. ¹As used in this section:

"Violence prevention services" means evidence-based, trauma-informed, supportive, and non-psychotherapeutic services provided by prevention professionals, as defined by the National Uniform Claim Committee, for the purpose of promoting improved health outcomes and positive behavioral change, preventing injury recidivism, and reducing the likelihood that violently injured individuals will perpetrate or promote violence themselves. Such services may be provided within or outside of a clinical setting, and may include the provision of peer support and counseling, mentorship, conflict mediation, crisis intervention, targeted case management, referrals, patient education, or screening services to victims of interpersonal violence.¹

The Commissioner of Health shall establish the "Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Initiative" in the department. The commissioner shall develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated plan to create hospital-based violence intervention programs, ¹[in]¹ which ¹[people recovering from violent injuries are counseled by trained intervention specialists that offer long-term case management, connection to community services, mentoring, and follow-up assistance, in order to substantially reduce the risk of violent re-injury and discourage the use of retaliatory violence. In addition to any moneys appropriated by the Legislature, the commissioner may seek money from the federal government, private foundations, and any other source to fund this initiative, as well as to fund on-going monitoring and evaluation of the programs created through this initiative] provide targeted violence prevention services to individuals who have been the victim of a firearm or stabbing injury and who are at elevated risk of violent reinjury or involvement in retaliatory violence. The Commissioner shall promote coordination of hospital-based violence intervention programs with other evidence-based violence reduction initiatives, including those implemented under the State's Violence Intervention Program, in order to minimize duplication of services and achieve maximum impact. The Commissioner shall compile a list of violence prevention best practices for hospitals to employ. The Commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall collect data and monitor the effectiveness of the "Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Initiative" in reducing violence and share this information with hospitals¹.

¹2. The Commissioner may seek money from the federal government, private foundations, and any other source to fund this initiative, as well as to fund on-going monitoring and evaluation of the programs created through this initiative.¹

¹[2.] 3.¹ This act shall take effect immediately.