SENATE, No. 2494

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 28, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  STEPHEN M. SWEENEY

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator  TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Makes FY 2020 supplemental appropriation of $1 million to DHS and DCF to support certain direct support wage increases during coronavirus 2019 public health crisis.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Supplement to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 30, 2019 (P.L.2019, c.150).

 

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

 

     1.    In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2019, c.150, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purposes specified:

 

54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

30 Educational, Cultural, and Intellectual Development

32 Operation and Support of Educational Institutions

GRANTS-IN-AID

 

01-7601 Community Programs  .........................................................

$570,000

Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation,                                                                                                 

$570,000

      Community Programs .....................................................

Grants-in-Aid:

 

 

01      DSP COVID-19 Wage Increase for Community Care Residence  ..………………………

($570,000)

 

 

16 DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security

55 Social Services Programs

GRANTS-IN-AID

 

02-1620 Division of Children’s System of Care  ................................

$430,000

Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation,                                                                                                 

$430,000

      Division of Children’s System of Care .............................

Grants-in-Aid:

 

 

02      DSP COVID-19 Wage Increase  ..……………

($430,000)

 

 

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill makes a $1 million FY 2020 supplemental appropriation from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to support certain direct support professional (DSP) wage increases during the coronavirus 2019 public health crisis.  Under this bill, it is anticipated that the State will receive $1.5 million in federal funds to match this supplemental appropriation, for a total of $2.5 million to increase DSP wage increases during the coronavirus health crisis. 

     These funds will provide a  wage increase to  DSPs who support adults placed in substitute family situations in community care residences funded by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in the DHS and children placed in residential settings funded by the Division of Children’s System of Care in the DCF.  Such DSPs are not  included in the  DSP wage increase announced by the Governor on April 29, 2020, which only provides funds to DSPs who support adults who are served in group homes funded by the DDD. Identical to the $24 million of State and federal funding provided for the Governor’s initiative, the funds appropriated under this bill are intended to provide a $3 per hour wage increase to the identified DSPs for three months. It is the sponsor’s belief that all DSPs working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic deserve an increase in wages to care for one of the State’s most vulnerable populations.