Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Stipulates that qualifying applicant for personal assistance services who is primary caregiver of minor child is automatically eligible for services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning personal assistance services and supplementing P.L.1987, c.350 (C.30:4G-13 et. seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. An applicant for personal assistance services, under the program established pursuant to P.L.1987, c.350 (C.30:4G-13 et seq.), who is the primary caregiver of one or more minor children and who otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria for personal assistance services, shall be automatically determined eligible by the applicable county-designated agency for up to 40 hours per week of personal assistance services based upon an assessment of the applicant’s needs.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill stipulates that an applicant to the Personal Assistance Services Program, or PASP, who is a primary caregiver of one or more minor children and who is otherwise eligible for services, is to be automatically determined eligible by the applicable county- designated agency for up to 40 hour per week of personal assistance services based upon an assessment of the applicant’s needs. Personal assistance services are health and chore related tasks performed by a personal assistant and include assistance in essential daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation; assistance with mobility, laundry, and shopping; and driving or other forms of transportation.
Currently the Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services administers the PASP. Existing law provides that the program is to assist adults with permanent physical disabilities in the performance of routine, nonmedical tasks that are directly related to maintaining their health and independence, in order to enable these persons to: 1) be employed; 2) receive training or education related to employment, parenting, or volunteering; or 3) support community-based independent living. Under the law, “community-based independent living" means self-directed living whereby the applicant is actively participating in community-based activities aside from employment or education, including parenting. This bill expands the existing law’s provisions regarding parenting and requires automatic eligibility for a qualifying applicant who is the primary caregiver of one or more dependents.