ASSEMBLY, No. 2077

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 1996

 

 

By Assemblyman DeCROCE and Assemblywoman MURPHY

 

 

An Act concerning zoning laws and child care in public schools, amending N.J.S.18A:20-34, and supplementing P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.) and Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

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

 

    1. N.J.S.18A:20-34 is amended to read as follows:

    18A:20-34. The board of education of any district may, pursuant to rules adopted by it, permit the use of any schoolhouse and rooms therein, and the grounds and other property of the district, when not in use for school purposes, for any of the following purposes:

    a. The assembly of persons for the purpose of giving and receiving instruction in any branch of education, learning, or the arts, including the science of agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture;

    b. Public library purposes or stations of public libraries;

    c. The holding of such social, civic, and recreational meetings and entertainments and such other purposes as may be approved by the board;

    d. Such meetings, entertainments, and occasions where admission fees are charged as may be approved by the board;

    e. Polling places, holding elections, registration of voters, and holding political meetings;

    f. Child care services provided by the board of education, or a board approved sponsor, before or after regular school hours, for any school aged child who resides within the school district.

(cf: N.J.S.18A:20-34.)

 

    2. (New section) Any child care program approved by a local board of education and operated by the board or by an approved sponsor in a public school, before or after regular school hours, pursuant to N.J.S. 18A:20-34, shall be deemed a permitted use in all residential and nonresidential districts of a municipality and shall be exempt from local zoning restrictions.

    3. (New section) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    The bill provides that a board of education may authorize the use of school facilities for the provision of child care services before or after regular school hours. The child care services would be available to any school aged child who resides within the school district. The bill provides that the child care services may be provided by the school district or by any board-approved sponsor.

    Finally, the bill provides that any approved child care program operated in a public school will be deemed a permitted use in all residential and nonresidential districts and be exempt from local zoning restrictions.

 

 

                                                                 

Authorizes certain child care programs operated in a public school and exempts them from certain zoning regulations.