Joint study, Human Services, Health, appropriate treatment settings placement, challenges, supply, demand, involuntary, voluntary commitment beds

2. a. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health shall jointly conduct a study concerning the challenges of placing individuals in appropriate treatment settings and the supply of and demand for both involuntary commitment beds and voluntary commitment beds in this State. In conducting the study, the departments shall solicit input from interested stakeholders including, but not limited to, hospitals, the Office of the Public Defender, the Administrative Office of the Courts, advocates representing mental health patients, advocates representing individuals with disabilities, and representatives of psychiatric screening centers. b. No later than 18 months after the effective date of P.L.2023, c.139 (C.30:4-27.9a et al.), the Commissioner of Human Services shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report, which shall include, but not be limited to: (1) a summary of the findings from the study conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section; (2) an analysis of the supply of and demand for involuntary commitment beds and voluntary commitment beds, including consideration of, to the extent practicable, the geographic location of the patient and whether the patient is an adult patient or a pediatric patient, whether the patient has a criminal history, whether the patient is uninsured or underinsured, and whether the patient has been diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability and a mental health condition or has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental health condition; (3) the number of temporary licenses granted by the Department of Health pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.139 (C.30:4-27.9a) as of the date the information concerning the licenses is submitted to the Commissioner of Human Services pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.139 (C.30:4-27.9a); and (4) any recommendations for legislative action. c. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health shall jointly conduct a follow-up study to the study conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section. In conducting the study, the departments shall solicit input from interested stakeholders including, but not limited to, hospitals, the Office of the Public Defender, the Administrative Office of the Courts, advocates representing mental health patients, advocates representing individuals with disabilities, and representatives of psychiatric screening centers. No later than April 30, 2026, the Commissioner of Human Services shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report, which shall include, but not be limited to: (1) a summary of the findings from the study conducted pursuant to this subsection; (2) an analysis of the supply of and demand for involuntary commitment beds and voluntary commitment beds, including consideration of, to the extent practicable, the geographic location of the patient and whether the patient is an adult patient or a pediatric patient, whether the patient has a criminal history, whether the patient has a complex medical condition, whether the patient is uninsured or underinsured, and whether the patient has been diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability and a mental health condition, or has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental health condition; (3) an analysis of the supply of, and demand, bed capacity, and waiting lists for, forensic beds at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, Ann Klein Forensic Center, and Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, including consideration of whether the number of forensic beds available meets the demand from hospitals and jails based on existing waiting lists; (4) an analysis of the supply of and demand for short-term care facility beds, including consideration of, as applicable, whether the beds are subject to certificate of need requirements and if so, whether the Department of Health should issue a call for certificate of need applications to increase the supply of short-term care facility beds; (5) an analysis of the State's Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services system, including any recommendations for the modernization of the system in order to improve the system's operations and effectiveness in placing patients in appropriate care settings in a timely manner; (6) the number of temporary licenses granted by the Department of Health pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.139 (C.30:4-27.9a) as of the date the information concerning the licenses is submitted to the Commissioner of Human Services pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.139 (C.30:4-27.9a); (7) an analysis of the information collected pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.139 (C.30:4-27.9a); and (8) any recommendations for legislative action.