SENATE, No. 2227

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 17, 1997

By Senators SINAGRA and KOSCO

An Act concerning child care services and supplementing chapter 5B of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. As used in this act:

    "Child care services" means child care arrangements authorized for payment by the State and administered by the Department of Human Services, for victims of domestic violence, including, but not limited to, in-home child care, licensed child care centers, registered family day care homes, approved family day care homes, centers for children with special needs, centers serving sick children, infant-toddler programs and school-age child care programs.

    2. a. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the State shall pay for the cost of child care services for the child of a parent who is the victim of domestic violence, as defined by the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), for a total period of six months pursuant to the requirements of this act.

    b. At the time a temporary restraining order has been filed pursuant to the provisions of section 12 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-28), a parent who is a victim of domestic violence shall be informed of the department's child care services program, the program's eligibility requirements and the parent's rights and obligations in applying for and receiving services under the program. The parent may then make an application for the services with the Department of Human Services.

    c. All information contained in a parent's application for the child care services pursuant to this act shall remain confidential and shall be disclosed only for purposes directly related to the provision of child care services pursuant to this act.

    3. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish criteria for determining financial and programmatic eligibility for child care services under the provisions of this act, including provisions for the submission of proof of a parent's income and resources, and such other documentation as may be necessary to establish eligibility.

   b. The commissioner shall establish resource limits and a sliding fee scale applicable to a participating parent based on income guidelines and the maximum authorized child care payment rates utilized by the department for its subsidized child care services programs.

   c. The commissioner shall adopt such rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires the State to pay for the cost of child care services for the child of a parent who is a victim of domestic violence, as defined by the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), for a total period of six months. As defined in the bill "child care services" would mean child care arrangements administered by the Department of Human Services for victims of domestic violence, including, but not limited to, in-home child care, licensed child care centers, registered family day care homes, approved family day care homes, centers for children with special needs, centers serving sick children, infant-toddler programs and school-age child care programs.

    Under the provisions of the bill, at the time a temporary restraining order is filed pursuant to the provisions of section 12 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-28), a parent who is a victim of domestic violence would be informed of the department's child care services program, its eligibility requirements and the rights and obligations of the parent when applying for and receiving the services. The parent would then be able to make an application for services with the department. The information contained in the application would be kept confidential.

    The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Human Services to:

    1. establish criteria for determining financial and programmatic eligibility for child care services under the provisions of the bill; and

    2. establish resource limits and a sliding fee scale applicable to participating parents based on income guidelines and the maximum authorized child care payment rates utilized by the department for its subsidized child care services programs.

Requires the State to pay for child care services for victims of domestic violence.