30:9A-24 Report by teacher of attempted, completed suicide by student; other reporting requirements.

3. a. Any teaching staff member, who, as a result of information obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a student has attempted or completed suicide, shall promptly report such information to the division in a form and manner prescribed by the division.

b. A nonpublic school is encouraged to require any member of its professional staff, who, as a result of information obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a student has attempted or completed suicide, to promptly report such information to the division in a form and manner prescribed by the division.

As used in this subsection, "nonpublic school" means an elementary or secondary school within the State, other than a public school, offering education in grades K-12 or any combination thereof, at which a child may legally fulfill compulsory school attendance requirements.

c. Any licensed psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, physician, physician assistant, alcohol and drug counselor, or registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed in this State pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, who, as a result of information obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a youth has attempted or completed suicide, shall promptly report such information to the division in a form and manner prescribed by the division.

d. Any public health official, probation officer, employee of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, Certified Domestic Violence Specialist, or member of a professional group identified by the council as having a likelihood to know about suicide attempts and deaths, who, as a result of information obtained in the course of the person's employment, has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a youth has attempted or completed suicide, is encouraged to promptly report such information to the division in a form and manner prescribed by the division.

e. The reporting form established by the division shall not require the reporter to identify the student or youth by name or other unique identifier, but may require that the reporter supply non-identifying demographic information about the student or youth, other attempts made by the student or youth and the response or referral made to deal with the incident.

f. The reporting form shall be submitted to a designated employee of the division with responsibility for compiling data from the reports. Information contained in the reports shall not be considered a public record, but the division may aggregate the data for the purpose of preparing an annual report pursuant to section 6 of this act.

g. The division shall offer to provide persons who are required or encouraged to report an attempted or completed suicide with current information about public and private assistance available to survivors and families of attempted and completed suicides and professionals who deal with suicide.

h. The reporting of an attempted or completed suicide pursuant to this section shall not replace or alter any other requirement of law or professional standard or obligation that requires a person to evaluate a death or report an attempted or completed suicide.

i. Any person who reports an attempted or completed suicide pursuant to this act shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability on account of that report, unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.

j. No provision of this act shall be deemed to require the disclosure of, or penalize the failure to disclose, any information which would be privileged pursuant to the provisions of sections 18 through 23, inclusive, of P.L.1960, c.52 (C.2A:84A-18 through 2A:84A-23).

L.2003,c.214,s.3.