An Assembly Resolution establishing the Assembly Task Force on Addiction and Behavioral Health.

Whereas, Substance abuse and addiction is a growing epidemic both nationally and in New Jersey; and

Whereas, Since 1990, drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled, with nearly three quarters of those deaths being attributable to prescription painkillers; and

Whereas, The State Commission of Investigation recently reported that New Jersey is in the midst of a prescription pill and heroin abuse epidemic; and

Whereas, There has been a sharp increase reported in the number of admissions to substance abuse treatment centers and in the number of deaths attributable to drug abuse and addiction, with particularly large increases associated with opioids, including prescription pain medications and heroin; and

Whereas, The rise in abuse and addiction rates has been associated with an increased number of robberies, assaults, and thefts in the State, which, in turn, has required law enforcement to devote a increasing proportion of resources to addressing addiction-related crime; and

Whereas, According to the Drug Policy Alliance, New Jersey is facing a public health crisis due to the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C among intravenous drug users; and

Whereas, The far-reaching effects of substance abuse and addiction include the diminishment of society as lives are lost, opportunities are squandered, potential goes unrealized, and families are torn apart; and

Whereas, The provision of addiction prevention and treatment services may be enhanced by a better understanding of the nexus between behavioral health issues and addiction; and

Whereas, There is a need for the Legislature to address these issues by identifying the sources of addiction and the obstacles to the efficient and effective provision of treatment in this State, and by taking appropriate action to promote enhanced prevention and treatment services for persons suffering from behavioral health issues and addiction; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is created the Assembly Task Force on Addiction and Behavioral Health, which shall consist of six members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. No more than four members of the task force shall be members of the same political party. A member may be removed from the task force for cause by the Speaker; if any member is so removed, the Speaker shall forthwith appoint another member in the same manner that the original appointment was made. The Speaker shall designate one appointee to serve as chairperson of the task force.

2. The task force shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members.

3. The task force shall meet within 60 days of the effective date of this resolution, and shall meet thereafter at the call of its chairperson.

4. Four members of the task force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Official task force action shall be by a majority vote of the members serving on the task force.

5. It shall be the duty of the task force to study and make recommendations concerning issues related to addiction prevention and treatment in New Jersey, including:

a. assessing continuum of care issues, including issues related to reintegrating patients into society and assisting patients to find and maintain post-treatment employment, and ensuring patients receive adequate and effective support services throughout the treatment and post-treatment process;

b. establishing a network to improve communication between inpatient substance abuse treatment centers throughout the State and those agencies, social workers, health care professionals, and other entities that may be in a position to assist addicted persons with accessing available and appropriate treatment resources;

c. identifying ways to facilitate the expansion of existing substance abuse treatment centers and the construction of new substance abuse treatment centers, including identifying means of ensuring that adequate professionals, support staff, and funding are available to meet the demand for addiction prevention and treatment services in this State;

d. identifying means of improving access to, and the provision of, addiction prevention and treatment services in this State;

e. assessing access to and standards of behavioral health care; and

f. studying the interplay between behavioral health and addiction issues, and identifying ways to improve the provision of addiction prevention and treatment services through improvements to behavioral health care.

6. In carrying out its duties, the task force may review the functions, duties, operations, and programs of agencies of the State and its political subdivisions relevant to issues of addiction prevention and treatment, as well as the relevant governing statutes, regulations, ordinances, resolutions, opinions, and orders. As part of that review, the task force may consider pending and proposed bills and resolutions, as well as relevant reports and testimony.

7. In furtherance of its duties, the task force may hold public meetings or hearings within the State on any matter or matters related to the provisions of this resolution, and may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, task force, or agency which the task force determines possesses relevant data, analytical and professional expertise, or other resources which may assist the task force in discharging its duties under this resolution. Each department, board, commission, or agency of this State is hereby directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate fully with the task force and to furnish such information and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this resolution.

8. All public meetings of the task force shall be recorded and transcribed, and, when feasible, audio and video of public meetings shall be broadcast on the State Legislature's website. All meetings at which official task force action is taken shall be open to the public. The chairperson of the task force shall notify the Office of Legislative Services, for posting and distribution to the public, of the time, place, and agenda of each meeting of the task force. The notice shall be distributed to the public at least five days prior to the meeting, except in the case of an emergency, or except when the Speaker of the General Assembly waives the notice requirement.

9. The Office of Legislative Services shall provide professional and clerical staff to the task force as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this resolution.

10. The deliberations of the task force shall conclude with a report, which shall be transmitted to the General Assembly pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), and which shall include proposals for legislation and other appropriate legislative action to improve services and resources available to address issues related to addiction prevention and treatment. The report shall be transmitted no later than one year after the date the task force first meets, unless an extension is approved by the Speaker of the General Assembly. Any member or members of the task force who do not concur with the report of the task force may issue a minority statement, which shall be included in the transmitted report of the task force.

11. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This resolution establishes the Assembly Task Force on Addiction and Behavioral Health. The task force is tasked with studying and making recommendations concerning issues related to addiction prevention and treatment in New Jersey, including assessing continuum of care issues, improving communication between inpatient substance abuse treatment centers and those in a position to assist addicted persons, identifying ways to increase the number of treatment centers available in the State, identifying other ways to improve the provision of addiction prevention and treatment services, assessing access to and standards of behavioral health care, studying the interplay between behavioral health and addiction issues, and identifying ways to improve the provision of addiction prevention and treatment services through improvements in behavioral health care.

The committee will consist of six members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. No more than four of the members may be of the same political party. The Speaker will designate one appointee to serve as chairperson of the task force.

The task force will organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members and will meet within 60 days of the effective date of this resolution, and thereafter at the call of the chairperson. Four members will constitute a quorum for the purposes of transacting business, and official task force action will be by a majority vote of the total membership. The task force may hold public meetings and hearings and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, task force, or agency that possesses relevant data, analytical or professional expertise, or other resources that may assist the task force in discharging its duties. Public meetings will be recorded and transcribed and, when possible, broadcast on the State Legislature's website. All meetings at which official action is taken will be open to the public. The Office of Legislative Services will provide professional and clerical staffing services to the task force.

In carrying out its duties, the task force will be permitted to review: the functions, duties, operations, and programs of the agencies of the State and its political subdivisions; relevant governing statutes, regulations, ordinances, resolutions, opinions, and orders; pending and proposed legislation; and relevant reports and testimony.

The deliberations of the task force will conclude with a report transmitted to the General Assembly which includes proposals for legislation and other appropriate legislative action to improve services and resources available to address issues related to addiction prevention and treatment. The report would be transmitted no later than one year after the date the task force first meets, unless an extension is approved by the Speaker of the General Assembly. Any member or members of the task force who do not concur with the task force report may issue a minority statement, which will be included with the final report.