SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4544

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 17, 2025

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4544 (1R).

      As reported, this bill requires the Division of Family Development (division) in the Department of Human Services, subject to the availability of funds appropriated in the annual appropriations act for the purposes of the bill, 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 student or a full-time post-graduate student would be eligible to participate in the program, if the applicant meets all other eligible criteria regarding income, assets, and residency.

      Under the bill’s definitions, a student who has been accepted to pursue a course of graduate or post-graduate study at a public or private institution of higher education and is enrolled full-time as a graduate or post-graduate student in good standing at that institution would be considered to meet the program’s work, school, and training eligibility requirements.

      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.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4544 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3429 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services concludes that the bill’s provisions would result in an indeterminate increase to 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.