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A4846
ASSEMBLY, No. 4846
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MAY 4, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Assemblywoman� SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Kearney and Assemblywoman Dunn
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires child care subsidy rate paid for certain
children to equal school district�s per pupil preschool education aid;
appropriates funds.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning child care subsidies, supplementing
Title 30 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� As used in this act:
���� �Preschool student� means a
three or four year old child enrolled in a preschool education program provided
by a licensed or registered child care provider who participates in the State�s
child care assistance program.
���� 2.��� a.� Notwithstanding any
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, and subject to the availability of
funds appropriated in the annual appropriations act for the purposes of this
act, the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services
shall reimburse for preschool education services provided by a licensed or
registered child care provider for a preschool student whose family is eligible
for subsidized child care services available through the State�s child care
assistance program, at a rate that is equal to the resident per pupil preschool
education aid calculated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of
subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-54).
���� b.��� The division shall annually
review and adjust the subsidy rate established pursuant to subsection a. of
this section, based on the current resident per pupil preschool education aid
calculated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a.
of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-54).�
���� c.���� On an annual basis, the
Department of Education shall provide the Division of Family Development in the
Department of Human Services with data regarding the amount of per pupil
preschool education aid distributed to each school district in the State for
the division�s use pursuant to subsection a. of this section.�
���� 3.��� a.� The reimbursement
rates established pursuant to section 2 of this act shall be provided to licensed
and registered child care providers that participate in the State�s child care
assistance program and are evaluated and rated as a high quality program by the
State� s child care quality rating and improvement system for early childhood
education, Grow NJ Kids.
���� b.��� The Division of Family
Development in the Department of Human Services shall establish a process by
which licensed and registered child care providers shall apply annually to be
reimbursed at the child care subsidy rate provided pursuant to subsection a. of
section 2 of this act.�
���� c.���� The division shall
provide information on the availability of, and application process for, the
subsidy rates established pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of this act to
licensed and registered child care providers, and shall publish this
information on the division�s Internet website.
���� 4.��� The Division of Family
Development in the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the
Department of Education, shall report annually to the Governor, and to the
Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), concerning
the number of licensed and registered child care providers reimbursed at the
child care subsidy rate established under subsection a. of section 2 of this
act, the number of preschool children for whom this enhanced subsidy rate is
paid, and total State expenditures to provide this enhanced subsidy rate.�
���� 5.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be
necessary to� implement the provisions of this act and to continue to secure
any available federal financial participation for the applicable child care
programs.
���� 6.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums as may be
necessary to implement the provisions of this act, as determined by the
Commissioner of Human Services, subject to approval by the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury.
���� 7.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services and the Commissioner of Education shall, in accordance with the
"Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.),
adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.
���� 8. This act shall take effect
on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires the
Division of Family Development (division) in the Department of Human Services to
reimburse licensed or registered child care providers who provide preschool
education services for preschoolers whose families participate in the State�s
child care assistance program at a rate that is equal to the resident per pupil
preschool education aid, as calculated under section 12 of P.L.2007, c.260
(C.18A:7F-54). �A preschool student is defined as a three or four year old
child enrolled in a preschool education program provided by a licensed or
registered child care provider who participates in the State�s child care
assistance program.
���� The division will annually review
and adjust the subsidy rate, based on the current resident per pupil preschool
education aid.� The bill also requires the Department of Education to provide
the division with information on the amount of resident per pupil preschool
education aid distributed to each school district in the State for the division�s
use.
���� The enhanced preschool subsidy
rate will be paid to licensed and registered child care providers who are
evaluated and rated as a high quality program under the State�s child care
quality rating and improvement system for early childhood education, Grow NJ
Kids. �The division will establish a process by which licensed and registered
child care providers will apply for the enhanced subsidy rate provided under
the bill.� The bill also requires the division to provide information on the
enhanced subsidy rates to licensed and registered child care providers, and
post this information on the division�s website.
���� The division, in collaboration
with the Department of Education, will issue an annual report to the Governor
and the Legislature concerning the number of licensed and registered child care
providers reimbursed at the child care subsidy rate under the bill, the number
of preschool children for whom this enhanced subsidy rate is paid, and total
State expenditures needed under the bill to provide the enhanced subsidies.�
���� Finally, the bill appropriates
from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums as may be
necessary to implement the provisions therein, as determined by the
Commissioner of Human Services, subject to approval by the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury.