5. a. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the State Treasurer, the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, the Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, and the Attorney General, shall conduct a study concerning the implementation of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline and shall prepare a report:

(1) detailing the resources necessary to make the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline available, operational, and effective Statewide, including an evaluation of available and new revenue sources to support the implementation, staffing, and ongoing activities of 9-8-8 services that are reasonably attributed to implementing the provisions of section 2 of this act; and

(2) assessing if the implementation of a fee, as permitted pursuant to the “National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020,” Pub.L.116-172, is necessary to support the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline and, if the fee is determined to be necessary, making recommendations on the amount of the fee, the manner in which the fee will be collected, and the establishment of a special account to serve as a repository for monies dedicated to the implementation of the hotline system.

b. In conducting the study and preparing the report required pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the Commissioner of Human Services shall solicit public comments and may hold public hearings at such times and places as the commissioner deems appropriate. The Commissioner of Human Services shall submit the report required under this section to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, no later than April 1, 2023.

L.2022, c.35, s.5.