1. The Legislature hereby recognizes that it is the declared public policy of this State that the social and personal anguish of substance use disorder is a grave public concern, and that priority should be given to the establishment of a comprehensive program to be achieved through the coordinated efforts and resources both of public and private agencies to prevent and control substance use disorder and to provide diagnosis, treatment care and rehabilitation for persons with a substance use disorder. The Legislature further recognizes that the costs incurred in treating and rehabilitating the person with a substance use disorder and in counseling the potential person with a substance use disorder have become increasingly expensive, and that current financial exigencies are creating additional burdens for private, nonprofit agencies performing this important public service, while also rendering the cost of establishing new treatment centers prohibitive for local units of government. Therefore, the Legislature hereby finds that because private, nonprofit agencies are providing services which are in furtherance of a policy in an area of grave public concern, it is in the public interest to authorize counties and municipalities to appropriate funds for the purpose of helping to defray expenses incurred by such private agencies in the provision of substance use disorder treatment facilities and programs to community residents.

L.1974, c. 120, s. 1, eff. Oct. 10, 1974; amended 2023, c.177, s.123.