SENATE, No. 809

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

211th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2004

Sponsored by:

Senator DIANE ALLEN

District 7 (Burlington and Camden)

SYNOPSIS

    Provides for full State funding of the special education costs of students who reside in foster homes.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    As introduced.

An Act concerning the funding of special education costs for public school students who reside in foster homes and supplementing P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-1 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-1 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, in addition to the special education categorical aid for which a school district or county vocational school district is eligible pursuant to subsection a. of section 19 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-19), for a special education student who resides in a foster home, a district shall receive additional State aid in such amount as is required to reimburse the district for any costs associated with providing programs and services to the special education student which exceed the district's average cost of providing programs and services to a student in the district's regular education program, after offset by special education categorical funding.

    2. This act shall take effect for the 2004-2005 school year.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that in the case of a special education student who resides in a foster home, in addition to the special education categorical aid for which a school district or county vocational school district is eligible pursuant to the "Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act of 1996," (CEIFA), P.L.1996, c.138, a district will receive additional State aid in the amount required to reimburse the district for any costs associated with providing programs and services to the special education student which exceed the district's average cost of providing programs and services to a student in the district's regular education program, after offset by special education categorical funding.