New Jersey § 26:2nn-1

§ 26:2nn-1.

a. The Department of Human Services shall maintain a toll-free information “Law Enforcement

Officer Crisis Intervention Services” telephone hotline on a 24-hour basis. The hotline shall receive and respond to calls from law enforcement officers and sheriff's

officers who have been involved in any event or incident which has produced personal

or job-related depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension,

trauma, or disorder for the officer and officers who have been wounded in the line

of duty. The operators of the hotline shall seek to identify those officers who should be referred

to further debriefing and counseling services, and to provide such referrals. In the case of wounded officers, those services may include peer counseling, diffusing,

debriefing, group therapy, and individual therapy as part of a coordinated assistance

program, to be known as the “Blue Heart Law Enforcement Assistance Program,” designed

and implemented by the University Behavioral Healthcare Unit of Rutgers, The State

University. b. The operators of the hotline shall be trained by the Department of Human Services

and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be persons, who by experience or education,

are: (1) familiar with post trauma disorders and the emotional and psychological tensions,

depressions, and anxieties unique to law enforcement officers and sheriff's officers;

or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life,

substance use disorder , personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions

which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and professional well-being of

a law enforcement officer and a sheriff's officer. c. To ensure the integrity of the telephone hotline and to encourage officers to utilize

it, the commissioner shall provide for the confidentiality of the names of the officers

calling, the information discussed by that officer and the operator, and any referrals

for further debriefing or counseling; provided, however, the commissioner may, by

rule and regulation, (1) establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any officer

who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator

handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the officer or others

and (2) establish a confidential registry of wounded New Jersey law enforcement officers.