SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3140

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 7, 2024

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3140.

      This bill requires that the early intervention services program in the Department of Health (DOH) provide services to eligible infants, toddlers, and young children, from birth to age five, in accordance with Part C of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)," Pub.L.91-230 (20 U.S.C. s.1471 et seq.).  Currently, the program provides services to eligible infants and toddlers from birth to age two, inclusive.  This bill expands the program’s mandate to also provide services to eligible young children between the ages of three and five.  Under federal rules, states are allowed to extend Part C of IDEA to cover children beyond the age 3 if the child was eligible for Part C services when under the age 3, and subsequently is eligible for preschool services upon the age of 3.

      The bill’s provisions also require the DOH to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under Part C of IDEA in order to finance the expansion of the early intervention services program to also include eligible young children between the ages of three and five.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments make a technical change to correct the citation of the federal law which governs the early intervention services program, which was changed from Part H to Part C of the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” upon the federal law’s reauthorization in 1997.