Bill Text: NJ A4704 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Allows groups of no more than 15 children in child care center classrooms.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-21 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [A4704 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4704-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 4704

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  BRIAN BERGEN

District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

Assemblyman  CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Allows groups of no more than 15 children in child care center classrooms.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning the operating capacity of licensed child care centers.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Executive Order No. 149 of 2020 and any other executive order to the contrary, a child care center licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) shall group no more than 15 children at any one time in each of the child care center's classrooms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.

 

     2.  This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the conclusion of the declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires child care centers licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) to group no more than 15 children at any one time in each of the child care center's classrooms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.

     Executive Order No. 149 of 2020 outlines the rules that licensed child care centers are required to implement in order to facilitate the safety and well-being of child care operators, child care center staff, and the children and families they serve during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

     Although the rules mandate that licensed child care centers are to group no more than 10 children at one time in each of the center's classrooms, child care center operators are concerned that limiting the number of children in a given classroom may be a barrier to providing child care services as New Jersey moves toward reopening, and parents return to work.  Increasing the number of children who can be grouped together in child care center classrooms from 10 to 15 would address those concerns while allowing for the continued operation of child care centers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

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