NJ A3016

Minors aged 16 and older who contact mental health and suicide crisis resource centers or 9-8-8 crisis hotline centers may consent to receive follow-up calls, texts, or chat messages without parental consent or authorization

Operators who identify a minor caller as being at high risk of death by suicide are permitted to place follow-up communications to that minor

Follow-up communications are explicitly defined as brief supportive contact for suicide prevention purposes only, not constituting behavioral health treatment, diagnosis, or clinical care

All communications between the minor and crisis center operators are considered confidential information and not subject to mandatory reporting when based on voluntary consent

The bill amends existing law (P.L.1968, c.230) that already allows minors 16 and older to consent to temporary outpatient behavioral health services without parental authorization