New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A5236: Pediatric psychiatry/behavioral health care svcs-strengthen, children & families
Status: Passed one chamber, September 28, 2026
Requires DCF to strengthen Statewide pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health care services for children and families.
What the bill says
An Act concerning childrens behavioral health and access to pediatric psychiatry services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
From the amended text, June 28, 2026:
An Act concerning childrens behavioral health and access to pediatric psychiatry services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. 1 [ADDED: a.] 1 The Department of Children and Families shall be responsible for overseeing and implementing policies and procedures to strengthen Statewide pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health care services for children and their families. In implementing the policies and procedures prescribed in this section, the department shall: 1[a. expand] [ADDED: (1) Complete an evaluation of the current services provided by the contracted entity for the Child Collaborative Mental Health Care Program (CCMHCP) to collect information on process and outcomes with clear performance measures of] 1 the services provided by the 1[New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC)] [ADDED: departments contracted entity for the CCMHCP] 1 to better support pediatricians who are members of the 1[NJPPC] [ADDED: CCMHCP] 1 in delivering ongoing longitudinal behavioral health care within primary care settings and building pediatric and family medicine practice autonomy to provide quality behavioral health care for children and their families. The expansion of services to pediatric primary care physicians who are members of the 1[NJPPC] [ADDED: CCMHCP] 1 shall include, but not be limited to: 1[(1)] ( [ADDED: a)] 1 increased access to telepsychiatry services to …
Sponsors
- Andrea Katz (D, 8) · primary sponsor
- Linda S. Carter (D, 22) · primary sponsor
- James J. Kennedy (D, 22) · primary sponsor
- Anthony S. Verrelli (D, 15)
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15)
Latest actions
- : R/S SWR 2RS
- : PA (77-0-0)
- : REP/ACA 2RA
- : TRANS ABU
- : INT 1RA REF ACF
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Pediatric psychiatry/behavioral health care svcs-strengthen, children & families (June 30, 2026): 77 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Assembly Budget Committee: Reported with committee amendments (Aca) (June 28, 2026): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH, CHILDREN
Common questions
- What is A5236?
- A5236 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Pediatric psychiatry/behavioral health care svcs-strengthen, children & families.
- What does A5236 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning childrens behavioral health and access to pediatric psychiatry services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
- What is the status of A5236?
- Passed one chamber as of September 28, 2026. Latest action: R/S SWR 2RS (September 28, 2026).
- Who sponsored A5236?
- Andrea Katz (D, 8), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A5236?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A5236
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.