ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4544

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 24, 2024

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4544.

      This bill requires the Division of Family Development (division) in the Department of Human Services to expand the work, school, and training eligibility requirements of the State’s child care assistance program to provide that an applicant who is a full-time graduate and post-graduate student would be eligible to participate in the program, if the applicant meets all other eligible criteria regarding income, assets, and residency.

      As used in the bill, “full-time graduate and post-graduate student” means an individual that has been accepted to pursue a course of graduate or post-graduate study at a public or private institution of higher education and are enrolled full-time as graduate or post-graduate students in good standing at that institution.

      The bill also requires the Department of Human Services to apply for State plan amendments or waivers necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

      Currently, the eligibility requirements of the State’s child care assistance program include full-time students, enrolled at a college or university as part of a two-year associate’s or four-year baccalaureate degree program, with the goal to achieve a degree or credentials to gain employment, who qualify for financial assistance under the program.

      This bill requires the division to expand the eligibility requirements of the State’s child care assistance program to also include full-time graduate and post-graduate students who are enrolled and are in good standing at public or private institutions of higher education and qualify for financial assistance under the program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the bill’s provisions would result in an indeterminate increase in State expenditures due to growth in the number of families who would qualify for benefits under the child care assistance program.  In FY 2025, the estimated average annual cost per child under the program is approximately $11,576.