ASSEMBLY, No. 4746

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman  YVONNE LOPEZ

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  ANNETTE CHAPARRO

District 33 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires that certain provider subsidy payments for child care services be based on enrollment.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning State subsidies to child care providers and supplementing chapter 5B of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and in addition to any other criteria set forth by the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to determine a provider’s subsidy payment for child care services, the division shall determine the subsidy payment for child care services issued to a licensed child care provider in which 60 percent or more of the provider’s enrollment is eligible for child care services based on the number of children enrolled with the provider who are eligible for child care services.  At no time shall a subsidy payment for child care services issued to a licensed child care provider in which 60 percent or more of the provider’s enrollment is eligible for child care services be based on the attendance of eligible children for child care services.

     b.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section and to continue to secure any available federal financial participation for the applicable child care programs.

     c.     As used in this section, “child care services” means those services provided to eligible children, as certified by the Division of Family Development within the Department of Human Services, for which the division receives and administers State and federal funding to provide subsidy payments to licensed child care providers.

 

     2.    The Commissioner of Human Services, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires that subsidy payments for child care services to providers with 60 percent or more of their enrollment eligible for child care services be based on enrollment.  Under the bill, “child care services” means those services provided to eligible children, as certified by the Division of Family Development within the Department of Human Services, for which the division receives and administers State and federal funding to provide subsidy payments to licensed child care providers.  It is the intent of the bill’s sponsor to provide relief to financially struggling child care providers who care for, educate, and support the State’s low-income families.  By basing subsidy payments for these providers on enrollment, rather than attendance, the bill offers a more reliable source of income for these providers.  It is critical that the Legislature ensure adequate funding for child care providers who serve low-income families, particularly as they face higher operating costs and reduced enrollment due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, in order to ensure their continued success.

     Under the bill, in addition to any other criteria set forth by the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to determine a provider’s subsidy payment for child care services, the division is required to determine the subsidy payment for child care services issued to a licensed child care provider in which 60 percent or more of the provider’s enrollment is eligible for child care services based on the number of children enrolled with the provider who are eligible for child care services.  At no time is a subsidy payment for child care services issued to a licensed child care provider in which 60 percent or more of the provider’s enrollment is eligible for child care services to be based on the attendance of eligible children for child care services.  Currently, the division determines subsidy payments to all providers based on the attendance, age, and disability-status of eligible children.

     The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section and to continue to secure any available federal financial participation for the applicable child care programs.