[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4177

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 2, 2022

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman  LISA SWAIN

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblywoman  AURA K. DUNN

District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblyman Spearman and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Extends duration of law requiring certain provider subsidy payments for child care services be based on enrollment.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Women and Children Committee on June 9, 2022, with amendments.

  


An Act concerning child care subsidies and amending P.L.2021, c.324.

 

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

 

     11.   The title of P.L.2021, c.324 is amended to read as follows:

     An Act concerning State subsidies to child care providers , supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.1

(cf: P.L.2021, c.324, Title)

 

     1[1.] 2.1  Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.324 1(C.        )1 is amended to read as follows:

     1.    a.  For the period beginning on the effective date of P.L.2021, c.324 and ending June 30, [2022] 2025, and notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and in addition to any other criteria set forth by the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to determine a provider’s subsidy payment for child care services, the division shall determine the subsidy payment for child care services issued to a licensed child care center or a registered family day care provider based on the number of children enrolled with the provider who are eligible for child care services.  At no time during this period shall a subsidy payment for child care services issued to a licensed child care center or a registered family day care provider be based on the attendance of eligible children for child care services.

     b.    A licensed child care center or a registered family day care provider for which the subsidy payment is based on enrollment of children who are eligible for child care services shall comply at all times with requirements concerning the ratio of staff to enrolled children, as established pursuant to regulation by the Office of Licensing in the Department of Children and Families.  At no time shall this ratio be based on the attendance of children eligible for child care services.

     c.     [Within 12 months following the effective date of this act, the division shall conduct a study and submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature] The division shall conduct a study comparing the costs of basing child care provider subsidy payments on the number of children enrolled who are eligible for child care services and basing such subsidy payments on the number of children in attendance who are eligible for child care services.  As
part of the study and [report] the reports issued pursuant to this section, the division may consider other measures that may be taken with respect to the payment of subsidies to licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers to ensure stability for providers and best serve families of children eligible for child care services.

     The division shall issue an initial report on the study to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature within 12 months following the effective date of 1[this act] P.L.2021, c.324 (C.        )1 , and a final report within three years of the effective date 1[this act] of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)1 .

     d.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section and to continue to secure any available federal financial participation for the applicable child care programs.

     e.     As used in this section, “child care services” means those services provided to eligible children, as certified by the Division of Family Development within the Department of Human Services, for which the division receives and administers State and federal funding to provide subsidy payments to licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers.

(cf:  P.L.2021, c.324, s.1)

 

     1[2.] 3.1     This act shall take effect immediately.