Requires DHS to establish five-year pilot program to facilitate coordinated provision of systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment (START) services to adults who have both developmental disabilities and mental illness.
This bill creates a 5-year pilot program requiring New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to coordinate START services - systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment services - for adults with both developmental disabilities and mental illness. It directly affects eligible adults who are at risk of behavioral health crises, aiming to prevent institutionalization by providing community-based support. Key mechanisms include establishing therapeutic respite homes with dedicated respite beds (for crisis prevention) and stabilization beds (for active crises), offering 24/7 crisis response services, and developing personalized crisis management plans. The program mandates DHS to create regional partnerships and designate at least one therapeutic respite home per state region (north, central, south), each with minimum bed requirements.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Jan 13, 2026
Floor votes
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Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
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0
Committee
0
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Anthony Verrelli
DDemocratic
Co
Gerry Scharfenberger
RRepublican
Co
Vicky Flynn
RRepublican
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