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S4013
SENATE, No. 4013
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires State provider subsidy payments for child
care services be based on enrollment.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning State subsidies to certain child care
providers and supplementing chapter 5B of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a. �Notwithstanding any
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Division of Family Development in
the Department of Human Services shall require a subsidy payment, which is issued
to a child care provider licensed pursuant to P.L. L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et
seq.) or a family day care provider registered by a family day care sponsoring
organization pursuant to the �Family Day Care Provider Registration Act,�
P.L.1987, c.27 (C.30:5B-16 et seq.), for child care services, to be based on
the number of children enrolled with the child care provider who are eligible
for child care services. �At no time shall such subsidy payment be based the
number of eligible children who are actually in attendance.
���� b.��� The subsidy payment
issued to a licensed child care provider or a registered family day care
provider pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be based on the number
of children enrolled with the provider on October 15 and April 15 of each year.
���� c.���� 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 applicable child care
programs.
���� d.��� As used in this section,
�child care services� means those services provided to eligible children, as
certified by the Division of Family Development, for which the division
receives and administers State and federal funding to provide subsidy payments
to licensed child care providers or registered family day care providers.
���� 2.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.) shall adopt rules and regulations necessary
to implement the provisions of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill provides for the
Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to require
that subsidy payments issued to child care providers licensed pursuant to
P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) or a family day care provider registered by
a family day care sponsoring organization pursuant to the �Family Day Care
Provider Registration Act,� P.L.1987, c.27 (C.30:5B-16 et seq.) for child care
services be based on enrollment instead of attendance, as currently provided by
regulation.� The subsidy payments are to be based on the number of children
enrolled with providers on October 15 and April 15 of each year.
���� The bill further provides that
at no time is a subsidy payment to be based on the number of eligible children
who are actually in attendance.
���� Under the bill, �child care
services� means those services provided to eligible children, as certified by
the Division of Family Development, for which the division receives and
administers State and federal funding to provide subsidy payments to licensed
child care providers or registered family day care providers.
���� It is critical that the State ensure
adequate funding for licensed child care providers and registered family day
care providers who serve low-income families, particularly as they face higher
operating costs and reduced enrollment due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.�
���� In order to ensure the continued
success of these child care providers, it is the sponsor�s intent to provide
relief to financially struggling licensed child care providers and registered
family day care providers who care for, educate, and support the State�s
low-income families. �By basing subsidy payments issued to licensed child care providers
and registered family day care providers on enrollment, rather than attendance,
the bill offers a more reliable source of income for these child care providers.