SENATE, No. 1797

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

Senator JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators McKnight and Burgess

SYNOPSIS

     Requires eligible children from birth to five to receive early intervention services.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning early intervention services and amending and supplementing P.L.1993, c.309.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    Section 2 of P.L.1993, c.309 (C.26:1A-36.7) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    The Department of Health, in conjunction with the Departments of Education and Human Services, shall establish a Statewide system of early intervention services for eligible infants, [and] toddlers, and young children from birth to age [two] five, inclusive, with physical, cognitive, communication, social[,] or emotional, and adaptive developmental delays or disabilities in accordance with Part [H] C of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," [Pub.L.91-230 (20 U.S.C. s.1471 et seq.)] Pub.L.108-446 (20 U.S.C. s.1431 et seq.).

(cf: P.L.2012, c.17, s.96)

     2.  (New section) The Department of Health shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under Part C of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," Pub.L.108-446 (20 U.S.C. s.1431 et seq.) as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

     3.  This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     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.