LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 4102

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 22, 2021

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes Direct Support Professional Career Development Center; makes appropriation of $450,000.  

Type of Impact:

State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Annually Thereafter

 

State Cost Increase

$450,000

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that this bill will lead to a State expenditure increase of $450,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2022 to provide a grant to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development for the purposes of establishing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Center and developing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program.

 

·         The cost to the State of providing resources in future fiscal years to support the center and the development program is indeterminate.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes a Direct Support Professional Career Development Center at the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development in partnership with a trade association serving organizations that employ direct support professionals.  The purpose of the center will be to provide a potential career path to high school students at-risk of failing to graduate in addition to existing direct support professionals (DSPs), thereby assisting with recruitment and retention of this critical workforce. 

      The bill requires the center, through partnerships with local school districts, to identify and recruit high school students “at risk” of not graduating from high school who have not pursued vocational education or any other alternative education program, and who are interested in learning about and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The center will provide participating students with a two-year program that offers mentorship and training regarding the responsibilities of DSPs and a potential job opportunity upon graduation.  The program will provide online training in addition to on-site training and mentorship with experienced DSPs employed by participating agencies that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

      The bill provides that, upon completion of the program, a participating student will receive academic credits and the school district at which the student is enrolled shall apply the credits towards the district requirements for high school graduation.  The student will also be offered an opportunity to interview for employment as a DSP at the agency where the student received on-site training. 

      In addition to “at-risk” students, the Direct Support Professional Career Development Center will work with existing and future DSPs to identify their educational goals including credentialing, an associate’s degree, and a bachelor’s degree.

      The bill requires the Direct Support Professional Career Development Center to employ a career counselor, who will provide ongoing support to participating high school students as well as DSPs and assist in the establishment of a Career Development Program. 

      The bill provides for the establishment, in collaboration with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, of a Career Development Program for new and existing DSPs at the Direct Support Professional Career Development Center. It will be the purpose of the Career Development Program to create a career path for the recruitment and retention of DSPs.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS notes that this bill will lead to a State expenditure increase of $450,000 in FY 2022 to provide a grant to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development for the purposes of establishing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Center and developing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program. The cost to the State of providing resources in future fiscal years to support the center and the development program is indeterminate.

      To the extent that State funds are not provided, the consortium, which is a part of the New Jersey Council on County Colleges, would expend funds to fulfill the requirements of the bill, including: identifying and recruiting high school students “at risk” of not graduating; providing a two-year program to participating students that includes training and mentorship; employing a career counselor to provide ongoing support to prospective and current DSPs; and developing efforts to create a career path for the recruitment and retention of DSPs.

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Christopher Myles

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).