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Bill

A 4264

Establishes student-athlete mental health specialists in school districts and public institutions of higher education; creates student-athlete mental health registry; makes appropriation.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Vicky Flynn and 4 co-sponsors

New Jersey would mandate mental health specialists for student-athletes in schools and colleges, establish a tracking registry, and fund the initiative.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
#edhealth #highered #mentalhealt
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Bill Summary · A 4264

Legislative bill overview

Assembly Bill A 4264 would require New Jersey school districts and public colleges to employ mental health specialists dedicated to student-athletes and establish a statewide registry to track student-athlete mental health services. The bill includes state funding appropriations to support these new positions and infrastructure.

Why is this important

Student-athletes face unique mental health pressures from competitive stress, injury, and academic demands, yet may lack access to specialized mental health support. This legislation addresses a documented gap in school-based mental health services by creating dedicated resources and establishing data collection mechanisms to monitor outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding: Appropriations for new specialist positions across all districts and higher education institutions could be substantial; unclear whether state funding fully covers implementation costs or creates unfunded mandates on local budgets
  • Specialist availability: New Jersey may lack sufficient mental health professionals with student-athlete specialization to fill new positions, potentially delaying implementation or requiring training programs
  • Registry privacy concerns: A statewide mental health registry raises questions about data security, student privacy protections, and potential stigma or misuse of mental health information

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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