ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3412

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 24, 2024

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 3412.

This bill increases the maximum number of respite care service hours funded through the Department of Children and Families (department) for certain families.

     Under the bill, the family of a child that is eligible to receive respite care services funded through the department, is to be eligible to receive no more than 90 hours of respite care services, provided by either an agency-hired or self-hired respite worker, over a 90-day period through funding provided by the department. 

     The bill defines "respite care" to mean the provision of temporary, short-term care for, or the supervision of, an eligible child on behalf of the caregiver, in emergencies or on an intermittent basis to relieve the daily stresses and demands of caring for a child with a functional impairment.  Respite care may be provided hourly or daily, may be provided by an agency-hired or self-hired respite worker or a volunteer, but may not exceed service and cost limitations as determined by the commissioner.

     The bill defines an “agency-hired respite worker” as a respite care worker who is recruited, trained, and employed by a qualified agency under contract with the department.  The bill additionally defines a “self-hired respite worker” as a respite care worker who is recruited, trained, and paid directly by a family of a child that is eligible for respite care services.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information for this bill is currently unvailable.