S 2617 — Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success.*

S2617 1R2R [First[Second Reprint] SENATE, No.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Senate Health,Budget Human Services and SeniorAppropriations Citizens Committee on MayJune 11,28, 2026, with amendments.

            2.  2.    a.  There is established the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs.  For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success is allocated within the Department of Community Affairs but, notwithstanding this allocation, the council shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any officer or employee thereof.

          b.  b.    The council shall consist of 252[25] 172 members as follows:

          (1) (1)   the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections,2[Corrections,]2 Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio;

          (2) (2)   132[13 public members appointed by the Governor, which members shall include representatives of children’s advocacy and family support, juvenile justice advocacy, behavioral health, housing support and homelessness prevention, and early childhood supports and education organizations, an organization providing support for family financial security, business and commerce, the faith-based community, a community leader, and parents or guardians whose children are receiving State funded services;

          (3) (3)   two public members appointed by the Senate President, one of whom shall be a representative of municipal government, and one of whom shall be a resident of an underserved community;

and           (4) (4)   two public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a representative of county government, and one of whom shall be a resident of an underserved community.community.] eight public members appointed by the Governor, which members shall include a representative of county government, a representative of municipal government, and representatives from:  children’s advocacy and family support organizations;

     behavioral c.  health Vacanciesorganizations; in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.  The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform their duties, within the limits of funds made available to the council for these purposes.

     housing d.  support The council shall organize as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days following the appointment of its members, and shallhomelessness selectprevention twoorganizations; co-chairpersons from among their members, one of whom shall be a State official and one of whom shall be a community representative.  The chairpersons shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the council.

     early e.  childhood Thesupports council shall meet at the call of its chairpersons, and holdeducation hearingsorganizations; at the times and in the places it deems appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.  The council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or public or private agency as the council may require and as may be available for the council’s purposes, and shall be entitled to call on the assistance of professional services for support, and the Administrative Office of the Courts for information relevant to its purposes.

     organizations f.   providing Thesupport councilfor mayfamily seekfinancial thesecurity, advicebusiness ofand experts,commerce; such as persons specializing in the field of social work, education, law, human services, economic development, workforce development, or other related fields, as deemed appropriate by the membership of the council.

      g.   The council shall annually prepare its administrative budget and work plan in conformance with its duties, and shall secure staff services from the Departmentsfaith-based ofcommunity; Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, the Juvenile Justice Commission, other council member organizations, and from other contracted professional staffing and support services, as may be necessary for the council to carry out its duties under this act.

     community 1h. leaders; All funds provided to the council, including appropriations or grants from federal, State, or local government, private sector donations, or philanthropic gifts shall be held by and administered by the Community Foundation of New Jersey or similar non-governmental, nonprofit entity.1         3.   a.

and parents or guardians whose children are receiving State-funded services;

     (3)   one public member appointed by the Senate President, which public member shall be a resident of an underserved community;

and      (4)   one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, which public member shall be a resident of an underserved community.2      c.     Vacancies in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.  The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform their duties, within the limits of funds made available to the council for these purposes.

     d.    The council shall organize as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days following the appointment of its members, and shall select two co-chairpersons from among their members, one of whom shall be a State official and one of whom shall be a community representative.  The chairpersons shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the council.

     e.     The council shall meet at the call of its chairpersons, and hold hearings at the times and in the places it deems appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.  The council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or public or private agency as the council may require and as may be available for the council’s purposes, and shall be entitled to call on the assistance of professional services for support, and the Administrative Office of the Courts for information relevant to its purposes.

     f.     The council may seek the advice of experts, such as persons specializing in the field of social work, education, law, human services, economic development, workforce development, or other related fields, as deemed appropriate by the membership of the council.

     g.    The council shall annually prepare its administrative budget and work plan in conformance with its duties, and shall secure staff services from the Departments of Children and Families, Community Affairs, 2[Corrections,]2 Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, the Juvenile Justice Commission, other council member organizations, and from other contracted professional staffing and support services, as may be necessary for the council to carry out its duties under this act.

     1h.   All funds provided to the council, including appropriations or grants from federal, State, or local government, private sector donations, or philanthropic gifts shall be held by and administered by the Community Foundation of New Jersey or similar non-governmental, nonprofit entity.1         3.   a.

       4.    The council shall submit an annual report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, with the council’s recommendations for legislative and administrative actions regarding the use of federal, State, county, municipal, and business and philanthropic funds to support the development and implementation of innovative family success initiatives and preventive services for all infants, children, youth, and families in New Jersey.