Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators A.M.Bucco, Diegnan, Ruiz, Greenstein and T.Kean
SYNOPSIS
Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities; makes annual appropriation of $4.5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act providing for the establishment of county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities and supplementing chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Many individuals with developmental disabilities are not able to realize their potential as full community members with maximum independence and productivity because the education and related services, which they were entitled to while in school, ended abruptly once they exited the secondary school system.
b. Individuals with developmental disabilities deserve the opportunity to successfully transition into meaningful employment and enhanced independent living opportunities and skills, as appropriate, and they can make greater progress with special services and support during this critical transition period.
c. A center that offers individuals with developmental disabilities special services and support, including the coordination of opportunities available from service providers, educational institutions, and the private sector during this period, will enable individuals with developmental disabilities to more successfully transition into independent, productive, and meaningful lives.
d. It is appropriate that the board of trustees of each county college establish a county college-based adult center for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities, to assist them in utilizing the college’s, State’s, and county’s existing services, programs, and resources.
2. a. The board of trustees of a county college shall establish a county college-based adult center for transition for developmentally disabled individuals up to the age of 24 to experience a more successful transition from secondary school to postsecondary education, adult employment, and independent living opportunities and skills, as appropriate. The board shall appoint a person qualified by training and experience to direct and administer the adult center for transition.
It shall be the purpose of a county college-based adult center to:
(1) coordinate and integrate existing county and State-based services, programs, and resources; and
(2) ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities up to the age of 24 have opportunities to receive mentoring, job coaching, skill training, and any other appropriate wrap-around services to help them make a successful transition into employment and independent living, as appropriate.
b. The board of trustees of a county college may receive and expend moneys from the State and federal governments or private individuals, corporations, associations, or college foundations to meet the expenses of the county college-based adult center for transition.
3. a. There is appropriated each fiscal year from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education the sum of $4,500,000 for the purposes of fulfilling the provisions of this act.
b. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education shall distribute grants to county college-based adult centers for transition in such amounts and by such criteria as are determined by the Secretary of Higher Education.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides for the establishment of county college-based adult centers for transition, which will serve developmentally disabled individuals up to the age of 24. The bill also makes an annual appropriation of $4.5 million for the bill’s purposes.
This bill requires the board of trustees of each county college to establish a county college-based adult center for transition for developmentally disabled individuals up to the age of 24 to experience a more successful transition from secondary school to postsecondary education, adult employment, and independent living opportunities and skills, as appropriate. Under the bill, the board is required to appoint a person qualified by training and experience to direct and administer the adult center for transition.
The bill provides that the purpose of a county college-based adult center will be to:
(1) coordinate and integrate existing county and State-based services, programs, and resources; and
(2) ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities up to the age of 24 have opportunities to receive mentoring, job coaching, skill training, and any other appropriate wrap-around services to help them make a successful transition into employment and independent living, as appropriate.
Under the bill, the board of trustees of a county college may receive and expend moneys from the State and federal governments or private individuals, corporations, associations, or college foundations to meet the expenses of the county college-based adult center for transition.
The bill also provides for an annual appropriation from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education in the amount of $4,500,000 for the purposes of fulfilling the bill’s provisions. The bill directs the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to distribute grants to county college-based adult centers for transition in such amounts and by such criteria as are determined by the Secretary of Higher Education.