ASSEMBLY, No. 386
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION
By Assemblywoman HECK
An Act concerning children and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The ability of the United States to continue its role as a world economic power depends, to a great extent, upon New Jersey and the rest of the country's ability to produce confident and caring adults, possessing both the job and social skills required for leadership in the 21st century.
b. New Jersey's educational and social service systems must both stimulate young minds and provide our children with the proper environment to ensure that they grow up healthy and are willing to learn.
c. Education and social services often have the same goals but are not coordinated in a way that address the complex problems facing the State's children.
d. There is, therefore, a need to establish an Office of Child Advocacy to foster interagency coordination, facilitate communication and encourage the establishment of cooperative agreements among children's services providers, as well as encourage the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of the children of this State.
2. There is established the Office of Child Advocacy in the Executive Branch of the State Government. For purposes of complying with Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the office is allocated within the Department of the Treasury, but notwithstanding the allocation, the office shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or any board or officer thereof.
3. The office shall:
a. Serve as the Governor's chief advocate for child development and education;
b. Assist the Governor in identifying child development and education funding priorities, including preventive services for children and youth;
c. Aid the Governor in proposing methods of achieving increased coordination and collaboration among State agencies to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the provision of services to children and youth; and
d. Report to the Governor and the Legislature on recommendations that will further the State's ability to secure, preserve and promote the health, safety and welfare of New Jersey's children and youth.
4. The office is authorized to:
a. Adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), concerning the operation of the office and other matters that may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act;
b. Maintain offices in such places within the State as it may designate;
c. Employ an executive director and other personnel as are necessary to protect the rights of children. The executive director shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. All professional employees of the office except the executive director shall be in the State unclassified service and all stenographic, clerical and other secretarial assistants shall be in the career service pursuant to Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes;
d. Apply for and accept any grants of money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources, which may be available for programs related to child development and education; and
e. Enter into contracts with individuals, organizations and institutions necessary for the performance of its duties under this act.
5. The office is entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. All departments, agencies and divisions are authorized and directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Office of Child Advocacy.
6. This act shall take effect on the 60th day of enactment.
Establishes an Office of Child Advocacy.