SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1399

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: SEPTEMBER 19, 1996

      The Senate Human Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1399.

      This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to submit a plan for the elimination of the Division of Developmental Disabilities' community residential and day program waiting lists by the year 2008 and to annually update the plan.

      Specifically, the provisions of the bill require the plan to include:

∙    Statistical information on the current and projected increase in the waiting list;

∙    Financial information on the capital funds necessary to eliminate the current and future waiting list by the year 2008; and

∙    Financial information on the amount of additional State, federal and other funds that may be required annually for operating costs associated with eliminating the waiting list by the year 2008.

In developing the plan, the commissioner is required to conduct public hearings and obtain public input from persons with developmental disabilities or their families or guardians and providers of services to the developmental disabilities community. Also, the commissioner is required to update the statistical and financial data in the plan annually and submit the updated plan to the Governor and the Legislature by December 31 of each year.