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
As introduced.
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 of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," Pub.L.91-230 (20 U.S.C. s.1471 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 the Part H of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," Pub.L.91-230 (20 U.S.C. s.1471 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. Currently, the program provides services to eligible infants and toddlers from birth to age two, inclusive, but does not require the DOH to provide early intervention services to eligible young children older than the age of two. This bill expands the programs mandate to also provide services to eligible young children between the ages of three and five.
The bills provisions also require the DOH to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the Part H of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," Pub.L.91-230 (20 U.S.C. s.1471 et seq.) 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.