TRENTON, NJ – A bipartisan effort to strengthen mental health crisis intervention resources for New Jersey’s law enforcement community took a major step forward this week as the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth).
The measure, Senate Bill 1233, would establish the “Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund,” providing a dedicated stream of state funding to the long-running Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program. The hotline, operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care’s National Call Center, offers confidential 24-hour peer support for officers and their families.
“Our bill would expand funding for mental health support and services for law enforcement and their families,” O’Scanlon said. “By establishing and investing in the Cop 2 Cop Stability Fund, we can ensure the stability of this vital program and ongoing support for law enforcement and other first responders facing mental and behavioral health challenges.”
Expanding access to police mental health care
The law enforcement mental health bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the state’s General Fund to supplement the hotline’s existing $400,000 annual funding from Body Armor Replacement Funds. The new appropriation aims to guarantee long-term stability for the hotline, which was launched in 2000 as the first program of its kind in the nation.
Supporters say the move underscores a growing recognition of mental health needs within policing, especially as departments statewide continue to address issues related to trauma, burnout, and officer wellness.
Senator O’Scanlon emphasized that the legislation reflects a commitment to protecting those who protect the public. “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities,” he said. “This bill ensures our men and women in blue have access to mental health services that could save lives.”
- Senate committee advances O’Scanlon’s bill to boost police mental health funding
- Creates a $500,000 annual sustainability fund for the Cop 2 Cop hotline
- Hotline offers 24/7 confidential peer support for law enforcement and families
Senate advances O’Scanlon’s Cop 2 Cop mental health bill