SENATE, No. 2224
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 17, 1997
By Senator LaROSSA
An Act establishing the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive
Demonstration Program.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that: the increase in numbers of working parents in New Jersey has led to a serious shortage of child care resources, especially for infants and toddlers of low and middle income, working families; in light of the implementation of welfare reform the need to expand the availability of safe, affordable child care is critical; and the State must promote regulatory flexibility without jeopardizing the quality and safety of child care as it provides incentives to encourage the establishment of innovative community partnerships and the use of volunteer networks in the delivery of neighborhood-based child care services, and to expand the family day care model.
2. The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish a three-year Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program in the Division of Youth and Family Services in the Department of Human Services.
The program shall be designed to utilize to the greatest extent possible: neighborhood resources such as religious organizations and schools; volunteer networks of college students, retired teachers, nurses and other persons qualified to participate in the child care program; active, involved parents of children needing child care services; community leaders; and local businesses interested in establishing collaborative partnerships in developing the child care centers.
3. a. The Director of the Division of Youth and Family Services shall adopt regulations for creating the child care centers for the three-year demonstration program in five counties which are representative of all regions of the State. At least two of the child care centers established under the program shall be located in municipalities targeted by the Governor's Urban Coordinating Council for urban revitalization.
b. The director shall adopt standards regarding the physical facility, staffing, record keeping and other administrative requirements for the program that promote regulatory flexibility without jeopardizing the quality and safety of child care.
c. The director shall review child care center proposals submitted by nonprofit community agencies and religious organizations interested in participating in the program as sponsors, and award grants from the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Fund established pursuant to this act within six months of the effective date of this act to those proposals which best meet the purposes of the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program.
d. Priority consideration for the awarding of grants shall be given to those proposals which: use a partnership approach; leverage in-kind donations, such as physical space and equipment, for the child care centers; leverage monetary contributions; and use a large network of volunteers that have social, educational or professional qualifications that would further the goal of expanding quality child care services.
4. a. The Director of the Division of Youth and Family Services, in consultation with child care advocacy groups, shall actively inform parents, community and religious groups, retired teachers, college students, businesses and business organizations, and other volunteer networks about the demonstration program.
b. The director shall establish a training program for volunteers who will provide services under the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program or refer the volunteers to existing training programs.
5. a. There is established a nonlapsing, revolving Neighborhood- Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Fund. The fund shall be administered by the Director of the Division of Youth and Family Services, and shall be credited with monies received pursuant to subsection b. of this section and section 6 of this act.
The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund and all disbursements from the fund shall be made by the treasurer upon vouchers signed by the director. The monies in the fund shall be invested and reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury as are other trust funds in the custody of the State Treasurer in the manner provided by law. Interest received on the monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
b. For the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to establish and meet the purposes of the fund, fees paid by a licensed child care center at the time of application for a license and at every renewal of a license, pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-8), shall be deposited in the fund annually as provided by the director.
6. The director shall apply for and accept any grant of money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources, which may be available for the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program and for volunteer training. Such moneys shall be leveraged with the moneys collected pursuant to subsection b. of section 5 of this act.
7. The Commissioner of Human Services shall give priority consideration for the awarding of moneys for Mini Child Care Center Project Grants to centers established by the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program which use a volunteer network in addition to professional child care personnel in the delivery of child care services and demonstrate a need for training of volunteer child care staff.
8. No later than six months before the expiration of this act, the director shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on the effectiveness of the program and present recommendations for expanding the program Statewide, as appropriate. Specific recommendations pertaining to expanding financing opportunities for the programs shall be provided in the report.
9. In accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the director shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
10. This act shall take effect immediately and expire on the first day of the 37th month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a three-year Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program in the Division of Youth and Family Services in the Department of Human Services. This program will offer new and innovative opportunities for the delivery of child care services, which will be carefully monitored and provided in safe and secure child care settings.
The Director of the Division of Youth and Family Services shall adopt regulations for creating the three-year demonstration program in five counties of the State. At least two of the child care centers established under the program shall be located in municipalities targeted by the Governor's Urban Coordinating Council for urban revitalization.
The program shall be designed to utilize to the greatest extent possible: neighborhood resources such as religious organizations and schools; volunteer networks of retired teachers, nurses and other persons qualified to participate in the child care program; active, involved parents of children needing child care services; community leaders; and local businesses interested in establishing collaborative partnerships in developing the child care centers.
The director shall adopt standards regarding the physical facility, staffing, record keeping and other administrative requirements for the program that promote regulatory flexibility without jeopardizing the quality and safety of child care. The director shall also review child care center proposals submitted by nonprofit community agencies and religious organizations interested in participating in the program as sponsors, and award the grants within six months of the effective date of this bill to those proposals which best meet the purposes of the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program.
Priority consideration for the awarding of grants shall be given to those proposals which: use a partnership approach; leverage in-kind donations, such as physical space and equipment, for the child care centers; leverage monetary contributions, and use a large network of volunteers that have social, educational or professional qualifications that would further the goal of expanding quality child care services.
The director, in consultation with child care advocacy groups, shall actively inform parents, community and religious groups, retired teachers, college students, businesses and business organizations, and other volunteer networks about the Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program. The director shall also establish a training program for volunteers who will provide services under the program.
The bill establishes a nonlapsing, revolving Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Fund, from which grants for the demonstration program can be made. Fees paid by a licensed child care center at the time of application for a license and at every renewal of a license, pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-8), shall be deposited into this fund.
No later than six months before the expiration of this bill, the director shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on the effectiveness of the program and present recommendations for expanding the program Statewide, as appropriate.
This bill is one of several legislative initiatives resulting from a series of public hearings on child care issues which were held by the General Assembly Advisory Council on Women in 1996 and 1997.
Establishes Neighborhood-Based Child Care Incentive Demonstration Program.