ASSEMBLY, No. 126

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman JONES

An Act concerning family support for persons with a developmental disability and amending P.L.1993, c.98.

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

    1. Section 3 of P.L.1993, c.98 (C.30:6D-35) is amended to read as follows:

    3. For the purposes of this act:  

    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.

    "Family member with a developmental disability" means a person who has a developmental disability as defined pursuant to section 3 of the "Division of Developmental Disabilities Act," P.L.1985, c.145 (C.30:6D-25).

    "Family" means the family member with a developmental disability and his parents [and], siblings, [or] spouse [and],children or uncompensated caregiver.

    "Family support services" means a coordinated system of ongoing public and private support services which are designed to maintain and enhance the quality of life of a family member with a developmental disability and his family as set forth in section 4 of this act.

    "Parent" means the biological or adoptive parent or uncompensated foster parent or legal guardian who cares for the family member with a developmental disability and with whom the family member with a developmental disability resides.

    "System" means the Family Support System established pursuant to section 4 of this act.

    "Uncompensated caregiver" means the person who gratuitously resides with and cares for the family member with a developmental disability, and includes, but is not limited to, a grandparent, step family member, aunt, uncle, or cousin.

(cf: P.L.1993, c.98, s.3)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill amends the "Family Support Act," P.L.1993, c.98 (C.30:6D-33 et seq.) by expanding the definition of "family" to include an uncompensated caregiver who is not the parent, sibling, spouse or child of the individual with the developmental disability. "Uncompensated caregiver" includes, but is not limited to, a grandparent, step family member, aunt, uncle, or cousin who gratuitously resides with and cares for a family member with a developmental disability.

    These changes would allow uncompensated caregivers to receive family support.

Amends the "Family Support Act."