This bill amends current law to establish annual fellowship stipends for participants in the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program, which supports individuals providing services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The legislation introduces a requirement for an annual appropriation from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, starting in Fiscal Year 2026, to ensure the ongoing funding necessary to fulfill the program's provisions.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education will distribute grants to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to support the program and its additional sites. It also mandates the annual distribution of fellowship funding to cover living expenses for participants and to assist existing direct support professionals with educational costs. The bill limits administrative expenses to no more than 10 percent of the appropriated funds, ensuring that the majority of the funding directly benefits the program participants.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:64A-86