This bill establishes a three-year pilot program aimed at providing NJ FamilyCare eligibility for children with special needs who would otherwise be ineligible due to their parents' income and assets. It defines a "child with special needs" as a child under 21 who meets the federal definition of blind or disabled under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with conducting annual redeterminations to assess whether these children continue to meet the criteria for SSI benefits. If a child is found no longer eligible, their NJ FamilyCare benefits will be terminated, but an appeals process will be established for families affected by such decisions.

Additionally, the Commissioner is required to report to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days after the pilot program concludes. This report will detail the number of children who gained eligibility for NJ FamilyCare, the total costs incurred by the state for these benefits, and recommendations on whether to make the program permanent. The bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on middle-income families caring for children with special needs, who often struggle to afford necessary services due to income restrictions that prevent them from qualifying for existing assistance programs.