S 1175 — Requires counties to establish crisis intervention services programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers.

Summary

Crisis intervention svc program-estab, law enforce off/firefighters/sheriff off

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current html December 30, 2025

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 4 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: N.J.S.A. 40A:14-195; N.J.S.A. 40A:14-196; N.J.S.A. 40A:14-197; N.J.S.A. 40A:14-198.

• N.J.S.A. 40A:14-195

  may law enforcement or → shall , firefighters, , P.L.1998, c.148 (C.40A:14-195 et seq.), , , or of any firefighting unit within the county or a municipality in the county or firefighting Upon application for reimbursement by a county governing body to the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, a county shall be reimbursed by the State for any costs incurred by the county as a result of the requirements of this section.

  amended

• N.J.S.A. 40A:14-196

  If If a county establishes a crisis intervention services program pursuant to P.L.1998, c.148 (C.40A:14-195 et seq.), any law enforcement → When P.L.1998, c.148 (C.40A:14-195 et seq.), , firefighter, , or any firefighting unit in the county or a municipality in the county The services of a county program shall also be available to any law enforcement officer or firefighter who is employed by a department or agency of the State when the officer or firefighter is a resident of that county or when the primary work location of the officer or firefighter is in that county. The services of a county program shall also be available to volunteer firefighters. The term "law enforcement officer" shall include 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers. An employer shall not require a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer who is receiving debriefing and counseling services to use accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or sick leave if the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer leaves work to attend the debriefing and counseling sessions. , firefighter, Any or firefighter , any firefighting unit in the county or a municipality in the county, or any department or agency of the State, or firefighting unit or firefighters If a provider of the debriefing and counseling services determines that the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is not fit for duty while the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is undergoing debriefing and counseling services, the employer shall ensure that the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer has no loss of pay and benefits for up to 30 calendar days per incident after the date the provider determines that the employee is not fit for duty if all of the following apply: (1) the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is unable to work light duty or the employer does not offer a light duty option; (2) the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer has exhausted sick leave, vacation leave, or other leave that is provided as part of the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer's benefits; (3) the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is not eligible to receive short-term disability benefits if the employer offers short-term disability benefits; and (4) the employer does not have a supplemental program that provides pay and benefits after the occurrence of an injury. or firefighter or unit or firefighter's or firefighter's the visual or audible witnessing of the death or maiming, or the visual or audible witnessing of the immediate aftermath of such a death or maiming, of one or more human beings; the response to or direct involvement in a criminal investigation of an offense involving dangerous crimes against children; the need for rescue in the line of duty where one's life was in danger; the response to or direct involvement in an investigation regarding the drowning or near drowning of a child; c. This section does not apply to State law enforcement officers or firefighters if the State employer provides a program to its law enforcement officers, firefighters, or 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers and if all of the following apply: (1) the program is paid for by the employer; (2) the program provides licensed counseling for any issue; (3) for counseling related to trauma experienced while in the line of duty, the counseling is provided upon request by the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or 9-1-1 first responder dispatcher and is in person; and (4) the program offers at least 12 visits per year and will offer additional visits if the provider determines that additional visits are necessary.

  amended

• N.J.S.A. 40A:14-197

  or → this act, , , or firefighting unit or State , or firefighting unit , firefighters, or firefighters Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers who qualify to receive debriefing and counseling services shall be entitled to up to 12 counseling sessions, which may be provided in person or by telehealth. If a provider of the debriefing and counseling services determines that the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer requires additional counseling sessions beyond that to which the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is entitled, the program shall provide up to an additional 24 counseling sessions, if the sessions occur within one year after the first session. , former firefighters, , , or State or firefighting unit , former firefighters,

  amended

• N.J.S.A. 40A:14-198

  a. b. The council shall annually compile data including, but not limited to: (1) for each category of persons, the total number of persons who have participated in the program; (2) for each category of persons, the average number of visits per person; (3) for each category of persons, the average number of months that a person participated in the program; (4) for each category of persons, the average number of days that a person who participated in the program missed work; (5) for each category of persons, the total number of persons who participated in the program and who subsequently filed a workers' compensation claim and the number of those claims that were approved and the number of those claims that were denied; (6) for each category of persons, of the total number of persons who have participated in the program, the percentage of persons who received additional visits under subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1998, c.148 (C.40A:14-197); (7) for each category of persons, the total number of persons who were deemed not fit for duty by a provider pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1998, c.148 (C.40A:14-196),; and (8) for each employer, the total amount of work missed by each category of persons who participated in the program and how missed work was provided for by the employer or through employee benefits. c. On or before September 1 of each year, each council shall submit the data collected pursuant to subsection b. of this section to the Department of Community Affairs. On or before October 1 of each year, the department shall compile the data into a report and submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, data shall be compiled and reported only in a manner that complies with the privacy requirements of the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191, and related regulations.

  amended

Action History

1. January 13, 2026

   INT 1RS REF SLP

Sponsors

• Joseph A. Lagana · Cosponsor
• Andrew Zwicker · Primary
• Kristin M. Corrado · Primary

Subjects