Bill Text: NJ S2340 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Makes various statutory changes to "Family Support Act."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-10-07 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S2340 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2340-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Makes various statutory changes to "Family Support Act."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning family support services and amending and supplementing P.L.1993, c.98.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 6 of P.L.1993, c.98 (C30:6D-38) is amended to read as follows:
6. Family support planning councils shall be established on a regional basis and shall work to expand and establish family support services in their region. Family support planning councils shall provide an opportunity for the public to express comments and share concerns and grievances. The councils shall be comprised of no more than 11 members; each of whom shall be either a family member of a person with a developmental disability or a person with a developmental disability. Council members shall serve without compensation beyond reimbursement for reasonable transportation, child care and other costs related to serving on the council. The councils shall monitor the implementation of the system and provide recommendations to the coordinator regarding family support services.
The councils shall also conduct a review of the family support services available in their region to determine the extent to which such services are meeting the needs of the families in the region. The review shall include personal interviews with the families, and shall be conducted by council members at times and locations convenient to both the council members and the families. Each council shall, at least annually, submit a report, in writing, to the Commissioner of Human Services.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.98, s.6)
2. Section 7 of P.L.1993, c.98 (C.30:6D-39) is amended to read as follows:
7. a. No more than 10% of the monies available for the purposes of this act shall be allocated for administration of the system.
b. The department and any publicly funded agency which provides family support services shall assist families in obtaining all other sources of funding before using funds available for the purposes of this act.
c. The services provided pursuant to this act shall not supplant any existing rights, entitlements or services for which the family or individual may be eligible.
d. The Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services shall establish guidelines for the allocation and equitable distribution of funds for family support services on the regional level. The guidelines shall be based on the review of family support services conducted by the family support planning councils pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1993, c.98 (C.30:6D-38), and the assessed needs of the families receiving family support services in each region.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.98, s.7)
3. (New section) The Statewide Family Support Council established pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:46A-43 shall meet a minimum of once every six months. To the extent practicable and feasible, the meetings shall rotate between each region represented by the council members.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes various statutory changes to the "Family Support Act," P.L.1993, c.98 (C.30:6D-33 et seq.).
Specifically, the bill mandates that family support planning councils conduct a review of the family support services available in their region to determine the extent to which such services are meeting the needs of the families in the region. The review shall include personal interviews with the families, and shall be conducted by council members at times and locations convenient to both the council members and the families.
The bill also requires the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services to establish guidelines for the allocation and equitable distribution of funds for family support services on the regional level. The guidelines shall be based on the review of family support services conducted by the family support planning councils, and the assessed needs of the families receiving family support services in each region.
Finally, the bill stipulates that the Statewide Family Support Planning Council established pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:46A-43 meet a minimum of once every six months, and that the meetings, to the extent practicable and feasible, rotate between each region represented by the council members.
