ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3582

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 26, 2024

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 3582.

      This bill amends the Child Care Revitalization Act, P.L.2021, c.144, to remove language requiring that the $54.5 million of federal resources, appropriated under the act for use by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide facilities improvement grants to licensed child care providers, fund such grants for registered family child care homes.

      The Child Care Revitalization Act appropriates federal funds, allocated to the State from the federal “Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund” established pursuant to the federal “American Rescue Plan Act”, Pub.L.117-2, as the funding stream for the child care facilities improvement grants.

      The Economic Development Authority is currently developing a facilities improvement grant program, to be funded with State resources that have already been appropriated to the authority, for family child care providers.  Both the sponsor and the authority believe that a State-funded program will provide a less burdensome application, implementation, and compliance experience for family child care providers.

      The initial phase of the Child Care Facilities Improvement Act provides grants, in an amount ranging from $50,000 to $200,000, for qualifying facilities improvement projects undertaken by child care centers licensed by the Department of Children and Families prior to June 4, 2021.  Family Child Care providers are not eligible for the first phase of the grant program.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 3582 is identical to Senate Bill No. 2344, which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.