SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3330

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 7, 2019

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3330, with committee amendments.

      Current law at N.J.S.18A:20-34 authorizes the use of public school buildings and school district property for certain other purposes when not in use for school purposes.  The authorized uses include child care services before or after regular school hours for school aged children who attend school within the district. 

      As amended, this bill would amend current law to also authorize the use of public school buildings and school district property for child care services for children younger than school age.  The child care services would operate for less than 24 hours a day and may be provided by the board of education, a board approved sponsor, or a child care program licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.).   The bill provides that preference for the child care services would be required to be given to children who reside within the school district and to children of persons employed by the district, whether the employee resides within or outside the district.  If available space permits, the district may provide the child care services to any child who resides outside the district. 

      The child care services permitted under the bill are required to meet the standards established in the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers promulgated pursuant to regulations of the Department of Children and Families.  Any revenue raised by a board of education through the provision of the child care services that exceeds the amount required to provide the services, is required to be used by the board to support the general fund budget of the school district.  

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments provide:

· That children residing in the district and children of persons employed by the district would be given preference for the child care services authorized under the bill’s provisions;

· That these child care services are required to meet the standards promulgated by the Department of Children and Families for licensed child care centers; and

· That any revenue raised by a district through the provision of these child care services which exceeds the amount required to provide the services must be used to support the district’s general fund budget.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.