SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 653

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 3, 2025

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 653.

      Under the amended bill’s provisions, a person with a developmental disability who is 21 years of age and older who transitions from receiving services and supports from the Division of Children's System of Care to receiving services and supports from the Division of Developmental Disabilities would be eligible to attend and participate in both an adult day program and an employment program if:

      (1)  the person meets the eligibility requirements of, and applies to, both the adult day program and the employment program; and

      (2)  the person’s individualized service plan contains documentation that the person is authorized to both attend the day program and participate in the employment program.

      As used in bill, “day program” means a program that is certified to provide day habilitation services or sheltered workshops for persons with developmental disabilities; and “employment program” means a program designed for persons with developmental disabilities whose disabilities make sheltered employment, after completion of a certified program of vocational evaluation and training, the only suitable form of employment.

      Under current law, people with developmental disabilities who are 21 years of age or older can participate in an adult day program or an employment program, but not both at the same time.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments remove a provision of the bill that required the Commissioner of Education to expressly allow certain persons with developmental disabilities 21 years of age and older to attend special education programs.  The committee amendments revise the bill’s title and synopsis to reflect this change.

      The committee amendments make various technical changes involving grammar and punctuation and to remove an incorrect cross-citation from the bill.