ASSEMBLY AGING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5185

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 17, 2025

      The Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5185.

This bill provides for annual fellowship stipends for Direct Support Professional Career Development Program participants.  Direct support professionals provide services and support to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

     Current law governing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program provided for a one time appropriation of $1,000,000 to establish the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program as part of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development’s Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative.  The appropriation also covered living expenses for participating individuals and established a fund for existing direct support professionals to cover costs associated with furthering their education.

     This bill requires an annual appropriation from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education in such amounts as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of law governing the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program, including to provide an annual distribution of fellowship funding to cover living expenses for participating individuals and to support existing direct support professionals to cover costs associated with furthering their education.