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Bill

S 4502

Repeals the state Medicaid spending cap and related processes; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jabari Brisport and 10 co-sponsors

Imposes a $0.40/month per line fee to fund New Jersey’s 9‑8‑8 crisis lifeline, routing, crisis services, and public awareness through a dedicated state fund.

REFERRED TO FINANCE
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Bill Summary · S 4502

Summary — S-4502 (1R): Establishes statewide 9‑8‑8 fee to support behavioral health crisis system

Overview / Purpose

S-4502 creates a dedicated funding stream to support New Jersey’s statewide behavioral health crisis system tied to the 9‑8‑8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The bill imposes a monthly telecommunications fee to be used for routing/response to 9‑8‑8 contacts, mobile crisis response and crisis stabilization services, and public awareness.

Key provisions

  • Fee
    • Imposes a monthly Statewide 9‑8‑8 fee of $0.40 per line per month on each New Jersey resident who subscribes to commercial mobile service or IP‑enabled voice service.
    • Exempts mobile users who receive federal Lifeline benefits (per 47 C.F.R. §54.401).
  • Collection and remittance
    • Service providers collect the fee on customers’ periodic bills and report/ remit collections to the Director, Division of Taxation.
    • Collections are to be reported monthly and paid to the Director on a quarterly basis in the manner prescribed by the Director.
    • Providers are liable for remitting fees but are not required to undertake independent legal action to enforce fee collection from customers; any such enforcement action must be brought by the State (with the Director joined in collection actions).
  • Trust Fund
    • Establishes the “9‑8‑8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund Account” within the General Fund.
    • The State Treasurer credits fee revenue to this account; funds are annually appropriated to support allowable uses (below).
  • Uses of fund (explicitly authorized)
    • Efficient and effective routing and response to all 9‑8‑8 calls, chats, and texts and related staffing/operations of Lifeline contact centers.
    • Provision and enhancement of acute mental health services, Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Teams, crisis stabilization services (including Crisis Stabilization & Receiving Centers, Crisis Diversion Homes, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics) that directly respond to 9‑8‑8 contacts.
    • Public awareness and advertising campaigns to increase visibility and access to the 9‑8‑8 continuum of services.
    • All expenditures must comply with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 (47 U.S.C. §251a) and implementing rules.
  • Reporting and oversight
    • Department of Human Services (in coordination with Treasury) must submit an annual public report (posted by Dec. 31) to the Governor and Legislature with: total funds collected, detailed expenditures, assessment of service expansion, identified gaps/needs/barriers in crisis care coverage, and recommendations on adjusting the monthly fee.
  • Effective date (as amended)
    • Act takes effect immediately and applies to bills for commercial mobile or IP‑enabled voice services issued for billing periods ending on or after the first day of the first calendar quarter that occurs following 30 days from date of enactment.

Who is affected

  • Consumers: subscribers to commercial mobile or IP‑enabled voice services in New Jersey will incur a $0.40/month per‑line fee (except Lifeline beneficiaries).
  • Telecommunications providers: responsible for billing, collection, reporting, and remittance; liable for fees collected but not required to pursue legal actions to collect unpaid customer fees.
  • State agencies: Department of Human Services and Department of the Treasury administer reporting and appropriations from the Trust Fund.
  • Behavioral health providers & crisis response teams: potential recipients of enhanced, ongoing state-funded support.

Legislative status / timeline

  • Introduced: May 22, 2025.
  • Committee action: Reported by Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee with amendments (Nov. 13, 2025); subsequently referred to Budget & Appropriations / Finance.
  • Current status (as provided): REFERRED TO FINANCE; reported out of committee with amendments 11/13/2025.

Sponsors & related measures

  • Bill text (reprint) sponsors: Senator Joseph F. Vitale and Senator Vin Gopal; co-sponsors listed in reprint include Senators Mukherji, Zwicker, McKnight, and Diegnan.
  • Related/companion bills: A-5972, A-2170; prior-session bills include A-11079, S-5255, S-4861.

Notes / Potential fiscal implications

  • The bill does not include a revenue estimate; fiscal impact depends on number of assessed lines/subscribers. Collected revenue is dedicated to 9‑8‑8 continuum services and is subject to annual appropriation and federal statutory requirements. The annual report requires the Administration to assess whether the $0.40 fee should be adjusted.

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

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