Bill
A 1673
Establishes a statewide right to culturally affirming, linguistically appropriate mental health care for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, using certified, fluent providers.
Status
- Introduced: January 9, 2024
- Latest action: Advanced to Third Reading (Cal. 98) — April 10, 2025
- Committee reports: Aging & Human Services (6/6/24), Health (6/17/24), Appropriations (2/20/25, with amendments)
- Companion bill: S1067 (substituted 2/27/25)
- Primary sponsor (bill text): Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (multiple co‑sponsors)
Purpose and intent
- Establish a statutory right and statewide framework to ensure that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing (referred to as “clients”) have access to culturally affirmative and linguistically appropriate mental health services delivered in the client’s primary method(s) of communication.
Key definitions (selected)
- “Certified mental health professional”: licensed provider (psychiatrist, psychologist, APN, therapist, counselor, social worker) certified by the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) as fluent in one or more communication methods, trained to work with interpreters, and knowledgeable of deaf culture.
- “Fluent”: defined by sign language assessment benchmarks (e.g., “Advanced” for providers; “Intermediate Plus” for support staff).
- “Communication skills assessment”: includes the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) or other DDHH‑approved assessments.
Major provisions
- Require mental health services to be culturally affirmative and linguistically appropriate, using the client’s primary communication method(s). Clients may use multiple methods and retain the right to refuse services.
- Direct DDHH, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), to:
- Implement and maintain linguistically appropriate mental health services statewide;
- Recruit, develop, and maintain an adequate number of certified mental health professionals and support staff;
- Develop certification criteria and incentives for recruitment/retention;
- Monitor services and ensure access regardless of geography (including telemedicine/approved remote technologies);
- Provide funding strategies and maintain outcome data.
- Require DDHH to establish an advisory committee to guide implementation.
- Administrative responsibility: committee amendments shifted implementation responsibility to the DDHH (Executive Director), in consultation with DMHAS. Earlier versions authorized a separate deaf services coordinator; later Appropriations amendments removed the coordinator position and the explicit appropriation, assigning duties to the DDHH Executive Director.
Fiscal and operational impact
- Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds an indeterminate, likely ongoing increase in State expenditures. Primary cost drivers:
- Workforce development to expand providers competent in deaf/hearing‑loss mental health care;
- Creation and implementation of certification criteria and related training;
- Funding of expanded service delivery.
- OLS population estimate: up to ~322,000 individuals could qualify for services under the bill (affecting cost magnitude).
- Staffing estimates varied across fiscal notes/versions:
- Sept. 27, 2024 estimate: ~$255,000 annually (one deaf services coordinator at ~$170,000 + one program specialist at ~$85,000).
- Feb. 28, 2025 estimate: ~$170,000 annually (two program specialists at ~$85,000 each).
- Feb. 20, 2025 Appropriations report assumes ~$170,000 for two program specialist positions to support DDHH Executive Director oversight (after elimination of the dedicated coordinator).
Who is affected
- Primary: individuals in New Jersey who are deaf or hard of hearing seeking mental health services.
- Secondary: licensed mental health providers, support staff, interpreters, DDHH and DMHAS operations, and contracted behavioral health providers who must meet new certification, training, and accessibility standards.
Implementation and next steps
- If enacted, DDHH (with DMHAS consultation) will develop certification standards, workforce strategies, statewide access plans (including telehealth), monitoring/reporting mechanisms, and an advisory committee to guide rollout.
- Final fiscal and operational impacts depend on rulemaking, certification standards, funding allocations, and the scale of provider-network expansion required.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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