Read the full stored bill text
A1433
ASSEMBLY, No. 1433
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK K. SIMONSEN
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman McClellan, Assemblywoman Flynn and Assemblyman
Scharfenberger
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes "Task Force on Supportive Technology
for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act
establishing the Task Force on Supportive Technology
for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities to
study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive
technology in the State.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
����
1.��� The
Legislature finds and declares that:
���� a.���� Many New Jerseyans with
developmental disabilities encounter obstacles in daily life that could be
overcome with the assistance of certain technology.
���� b.��� Supportive or assistive
technology, which includes any product, device, or equipment that may be used
to maintain, increase, or improve functional capabilities, can effect positive
change in the lives of many individuals.
���� c.���� Innovations in
supportive technology lower barriers faced by persons with disabilities in
their daily lives, and can promote greater independence and improved
functioning, while enhancing the confidence of those who benefit from using the
technology
���� d.��� Those who provide care
and support for individuals with developmental disabilities benefit both from
the assistance provided by supportive technology and from learning how to use
it to improve the lives of their clients or loved ones.
���� e.���� In order to better
understand and address the challenges faced by persons with developmental
disabilities, it is appropriate for the Legislature to establish a task force
to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology to improve
the lives of persons with developmental disabilities.
���� 2.��� a. There is hereby
created a task force to be known as the �Task Force on Supportive Technology
for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.� The purpose of the task force
shall be to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology for
individuals with developmental disabilities in the State and to provide
recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on how the use of
supportive technology might improve the lives of individuals, with particular
attention to the following areas:
���� (1)�� proposing State policy
initiatives to encourage and support the use of supportive technology by
individuals with developmental disabilities;
���� (2)�� advising of any
impediments, law, regulation, or practice that may potentially interfere with
the expanded use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental
disabilities;
���� (3)�� identifying areas in
which sufficient support for those with developmental disabilities is not
currently available and opportunities for the expanded use of supportive
technology in the following contexts: employment, education, and the activities
of daily life;
���� (4)�� identify best practices,
opportunities for shared services, or potential partnerships that would
increase supportive technology opportunities for persons with developmental
disabilities; and
���� (5)�� make recommendations on
integrating supportive technology into existing programs.
���� �b.�� The task force shall
consist of 15 members as follows: the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of
Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, the Director
of� the Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services,
the Director of the Children�s System of Care in the Department of Children and
Families, and 12 public members to be appointed as follows: three public
members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a
representative of the Bancroft School or another nonprofit provider of
specialized services to individuals with developmental disabilities, one of
whom shall have professional expertise in the use of supportive technology by
persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall
be a representative of� the ARC of New Jersey; three public members to be
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a
representative of New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Network, one
of whom shall be a representative of the Alliance for the Betterment of
Citizens with Disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the
Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; three
public members to be appointed by Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom
shall be� a representative of the New Jersey Council on Developmental
Disabilities, one of whom shall be a physician or other health care
professional with expertise in developmental disability issues, and one of whom
shall be a representative of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers;
and three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General
Assembly, one of whom shall be an individual with developmental disabilities,
one of whom shall be the parent or caregiver of an individual with
developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of NJ
APSE-The Network on Employment.
���� c.���� The task force shall
organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but
not later than the 30th day following the appointment of its members. Upon its
organization, the task force shall select a chairperson from among its members.
The task force may hold meetings at the times and places it may designate. A
majority of the authorized membership shall constitute a quorum. The task force
may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote on a recommendation
when a quorum is present. The members of the task force shall serve without
compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and
reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within
the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force
for its purposes.
���� d.��� The task force is
entitled to receive assistance and services from any State, county, or
municipal department, board, commission, or agency as may be made available to
it for its purposes.
���� e.���� Not later than 18
months after the initial meeting of the task force, it shall prepare and submit
a written report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2
of P.L.1991, c. 164 (C.52:14-19.1), outlining its recommendations on how the
use of supportive technology might improve the lives of individuals with
developmental disabilities in the State as described in subsection a. of
section 2 of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day following submission by the
task force of its written recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature,
as required by subsection e. of section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes the
�Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental
Disabilities.� The purpose of the task force shall be to study opportunities
for the expanded use of supportive technology for individuals with developmental
disabilities in the State and provide recommendations to the Governor and the
Legislature on how the use of supportive technology could improve the lives of
individuals, with particular attention to the following areas:
���� (1)�� proposing State policy
initiatives to encourage and support the use of supportive technology by
individuals with developmental disabilities;
���� (2)�� advising of any
impediments, law, regulation, or practice that may potentially interfere with
the expanded use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental
disabilities;
���� (3)�� identifying areas in
which sufficient support for those with developmental disabilities is not
currently available and opportunities for the expanded use of supportive
technology in the following contexts: employment, education, and the activities
of daily life;�
���� (4)�� identify best practices,
opportunities for shared services, or potential partnerships that would
increase supportive technology opportunities for persons with developmental
disabilities; and
���� (5)�� make recommendations on
integrating supportive technology into existing programs.
���� The task force is to consist
of 15 members as follows: the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of
Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, the Director of
the Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services, the
Director of the Children�s System of Care in the Department of Children and
Families, and 12 public members to be appointed as follows: three public
members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a
representative of the Bancroft School or another nonprofit provider of
specialized services to individuals with developmental disabilities, one of
whom shall have professional expertise in the use of supportive technology by
persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall
be a representative of� the ARC of New Jersey, three public members to be
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a
representative of New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Network, one
of whom shall be a representative of the Alliance for the Betterment of
Citizens with Disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the
Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, three
public members to be appointed by Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall
be a representative of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities,
one of whom shall be a physician or other health care professional with
expertise in developmental disability issues, and one of whom shall be a
representative of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers; and three
public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly,
one of whom shall be an individual with developmental disabilities, one of whom
shall be the parent or caregiver of an individual with developmental
disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of NJ APSE-The Network
on Employment.
���� The task force shall organize
as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but not later
than the 30th day following the appointment of its members.� The members of the
task force shall serve without compensation, but may be� reimbursed for
necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official
duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to
the task force for its purposes.
���� The bill requires that the
task force prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the
Legislature, no later than 18 months following its initial meeting, outlining
its recommendations for the expanded use of supportive technology for
individuals with developmental disabilities in the State. �The bill would
expire on the 30th day following submission by the task force of its written
recommendations.�