Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Senator JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Madden and Allen
SYNOPSIS
Requires one-time application for requesting services for individuals with developmental disabilities from DCF and DHS.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on September 15, 2014, with amendments.
An Act concerning eligibility of individuals with developmental disabilities and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Division of Children's System of Care in the Department of Children and Families, shall develop a single process for determining eligibility 1from the two divisions1 for services for individuals with developmental disabilities 1[from the two divisions] who are 18 years of age or over and for individuals who are under 18 years of age, in any case in which the two divisions mutually determine that a single process is clinically appropriate1. The process, at a minimum, shall provide for:
(1) a one-time application to be used for determining eligibility for services from the Division of Children's System of Care and the Division of Developmental Disabilities; and
(2) consent for authorizing release of information on the application about an individual with a developmental disability to the Division of Developmental Disabilities at the time services are requested from the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the individual.
b. The Division of Developmental Disabilities may request updated or additional information on specific developmental delays or medically diagnosed mental or physical conditions of an individual with a developmental disability that is necessary to determine eligibility of the individual for the specific services requested.
2. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families shall enter into cooperative agreements with each other as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
13. Nothing in this act shall be construed to preempt any provision of P.L.2012, c.16.1
14. Nothing in this act shall be construed to eliminate or otherwise affect the need of the Division of Developmental Disabilities to require the completion of the New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool prior to the receipt of adult services or to conduct any ongoing assessment as needed to comply with federal requirements, quality monitoring, and any other State or federal laws, regulations, or policies.1
1[3.] 5.1 This act shall take effect on the first day of the 13th month next following the date of enactment.