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Bill

S 4416

Expands role of New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and transfers $3 million from DCF to DHS for establishment of dashboard and associated implementation.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Angela McKnight and 2 co-sponsors

NJ would spend 3 million to fund grants via DCF to implement pediatric mental health care recommendations and expand NJHCQI’s quality oversight.

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4416

Overview

Senate Bill S 4416 (Session 222, New Jersey) proposes an appropriation of $3 million to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide a grant program aimed at implementing pediatric mental health care report recommendations. The bill also expands the responsibilities of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI). The bill includes sponsorship by Sen. Nicholas Scutari and Sen. Joe Vitale.

Purpose and intent

  • Provide targeted funding to support the implementation of recommendations from pediatric mental health care reports.
  • Enhance oversight and quality oversight in pediatric mental health services through expanded duties for the NJHCQI.
  • Improve access to and the quality of pediatric mental health care for children across New Jersey.

Key provisions

  • Appropriation:
    • Allocates $3,000,000 to the Department of Children and Families.
    • The funds are designated as a grant to implement pediatric mental health care report recommendations. Details on grant administration (e.g., eligible applicants, competitive vs. formula grant, reporting requirements) are not specified in the summary and would be defined in the bill’s text or implementing regulations.
  • DCF Grant Program:
    • Creates or designates a grant program within DCF to support providers, systems, or initiatives aligned with the pediatric mental health care recommendations.
    • Objectives likely include improving access, coordination, and outcomes for pediatric mental health services, though specific metrics are not provided in the summary.
  • NJHCQI Responsibilities:
    • Expands the responsibilities of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.
    • Potential focus areas may include quality metrics, patient safety, reporting, and guidance related to pediatric mental health care, though exact expansions are not enumerated here.
  • Compliance and reporting:
    • The bill likely requires periodic reporting on grant usage, outcomes, and progress toward implementation of recommendations, consistent with typical grant program structures. Specific reporting frequency and measures would be detailed in the bill text.

Who is affected

  • Department of Children and Families (DCF): Receives and administers a $3 million grant program to support pediatric mental health initiatives.
  • Pediatric health care providers and systems: Potential recipients of the DCF grant funding to implement recommendations.
  • Youth and families: Indirect beneficiaries through improved access to and quality of pediatric mental health care.
  • New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI): Expanded responsibilities may affect governance, oversight, and guidance related to pediatric mental health care.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill sets the legislative framework for funding and expanded responsibilities but does not specify a start date for the grant program in the summary provided. The effective date and any phased implementation would be in the bill text.
  • Appropriation would be enacted as part of the state budget process or as a standalone appropriation, depending on how the bill is structured.
  • Any ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and statutory reporting requirements would accompany the grant program and the expanded duties of NJHCQI.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Funding could accelerate the implementation of pediatric mental health care recommendations, potentially improving access and care coordination for children.
  • Expanding NJHCQI’s responsibilities may enhance quality oversight and data-driven improvements in pediatric mental health services.
  • The actual impact will depend on program design details (eligibility, grant criteria, performance measures, and how the NJHCQI expansions are defined and funded).

If you’d like, I can incorporate the bill’s exact legislative language to extract specific grant criteria, reporting requirements, and the precise scope of the NJHCQI expansion.

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

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