[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2291

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  YVONNE LOPEZ

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

     Provides categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to certain child care workers.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee on March 10, 2025, with amendments.

An Act concerning categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

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

     1.    a.  As used in this act, “qualifying child care worker” means an educator or staff member who ¹:

(1)¹is employed ¹[,]¹ for a minimum of ¹[20] 30¹ hours per week¹[,]¹ by a licensed child care center or registered family child care provider¹;

(2)   has children ages zero through five; and

(3) is not otherwise eligible for the State’s subsidized child care assistance program¹.

     b.    Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a qualifying child care worker shall be eligible for child care services through the State’s subsidized child care assistance program to the same extent as any other participant in the program, regardless of the family’s annual household income.

     c.     The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish a process by which the department shall confirm that a qualifying child care worker satisfies the employment criteria required to access the benefit established pursuant to this section.

     d.    The commissioner shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act and to continue to secure federal financial participation for subsidized child care services for eligible families under the “Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990,” Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9857 et seq.), as amended.

     e.  ¹No later than three years after the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Human Services shall report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the effectiveness of this benefit in fostering recruitment and retention of teachers and staff for licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers, including the number of individuals eligible for this benefit and the number who actually receive the benefit.

f.¹  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.

     2.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.