Prohibits DHS from deeming certain teachers and school employees ineligible for child care subsidies due to number of hours worked when school is not in session for students.

A1194

ASSEMBLY, No. 1194

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman ALEXANDER "AVI" SCHNALL

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman S.Kean

SYNOPSIS

���� Prohibits DHS from deeming certain teachers and
school employees ineligible for child care subsidies due to number of hours
worked when school is not in session for students.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning criteria for eligibility of subsidized child care services and
amending P.L.1993, c.46.

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

���� 1.��� Section 2 of P.L.1993,
c.46 (C.30:5B-31) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Human Services is authorized to establish criteria for determining financial
and programmatic eligibility for child care services subsidized through State
and federal funding sources, including provisions for the submission of proof
of income and resources, and such other documentation as may be necessary to
establish programmatic eligibility.�

����
The criteria established by
the commissioner pursuant to this subsection shall provide that an applicant or
participant who is a teacher or other school employee shall not be determined
ineligible for subsidies due to the number of hours worked during weeks that
fall outside of the school year.� A teacher or other school employee who
qualifies for subsidies under this subsection shall not be required to report
to the Department of Human Services changes in the number of hours worked
during weeks that fall outside of the school year, but shall be required to
participate in any redetermination process required by the commissioner of all
participants.� As used in this subsection, �school year� means the part of the
year in which a school or school district is in session for students.

���� b.��� The commissioner is
authorized to establish resource limits and a sliding fee scale applicable to
participants based on income guidelines for all families eligible for
subsidized child care services.� In setting such fees, the commissioner shall
give consideration to maximizing federal funding and to effectively utilizing
all State and federal funding sources available for the purpose of subsidizing
child care services in New Jersey.�

���� c.��� The commissioner shall
adopt such rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure
Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as are necessary to carry out
the purposes of this act.�

(cf: P.L.1993, c.46, s.2)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the fourth month� next following the date of
enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory
administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for the
implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This
bill prohibits the Department of Human Services (DHS) from deeming certain
teachers and school employees ineligible for child care subsidies due to number
of hours worked when school is not in session for students.
� The Division of Family Development in the DHS administers
the State�s child care subsidy program, which provides low-and moderate-income
working parents with subsidies for child care, including preschool instruction,
after-school programs for children up to age 13, and care for children and
teens with special needs.� In order to be eligible for the program, a parent
must be a New Jersey resident, work a minimum of 30 hours per week or be
enrolled in a school or training program for a minimum of 20 hours, and meet
certain income requirements.
�

���� This
eligibility criteria regarding number of weekly hours worked is challenging for
teachers and school employees, who are otherwise eligible for subsidies, but
who are not employed 30 hours or more a week during certain times of the year
when schools are not in session for students.� Currently, a teacher or other
school employee, deemed eligible for subsidies initially, may be determined
ineligible during the redetermination process due to non-compliance with the
weekly work requirement.�

���� This
bill mandates that an applicant or participant
in the
State� s child care subsidy program
who is a teacher or other school
employee is not to be determined ineligible for subsidies due to number of
hours worked during weeks that fall outside of the school year.� As used in the
bill, �school year� means the part of the year in which a school or school
district is in session for students.

���� Moreover,
a teacher or other school employee who qualifies for subsidies under the bill
are not required to report to the DHS changes in the number of hours worked
during weeks that fall outside of the school year, but are required to
participate in any redetermination process required by the commissioner of all
participants.�