ASSEMBLY, No. 4986 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED OCTOBER 24, 2024
ASSEMBLY, No. 4986
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED OCTOBER 24, 2024
Sponsored by: Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK District 18 (Middlesex) Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN District 38 (Bergen) Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington) SYNOPSIS Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DHS. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced.
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DHS.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children 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. There is established in the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services an early language instruction program to support the language acquisition and developmental needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger and their families. All services delivered under this program shall be free of charge. b. At a minimum, under the program, the division shall match each eligible child and eligible child's family with an American Sign Language Deaf Language Associate to provide the child and family with instruction and support services up to 25 hours a week. The division shall make available language instruction services in all applicable settings where the eligible child participates in daily activities, including childcare centers, preschool programs, summer camps, and in the child's home. The division shall provide additional services under the program, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child and the eligible child's family, including but not limited to: information and referral services to other State and non-State resources; case management services provided by an individual fluent in American Sign Language; assistance in locating and coordinating a qualified interpreter or real-time caption provider; resources for obtaining hearing aids and other equipment to support the needs of the eligible child; and the provision of sensitivity training to the eligible child's health care providers, education or day care providers, or other applicable supports on awareness of the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. c. In order to be determined eligible to receive services under the program, an eligible child's family shall provide proof of the child's hearing loss, age, and New Jersey residency to the division. d. As used in this section: "American Sign Language Deaf Language Associate" means a deaf adult with experience working with babies, toddlers, and children who has advanced proficiency skills to provide a fluent American Sign Language model for an eligible child and eligible child's family. "Division" means the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services. "Program" means the early language instruction program established under this section to support the language acquisition and developmental needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger and their families. 2. Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Executive Director of the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act. 3. This act shall take effect on the 90th day following enactment, but the Executive Director of the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for implementation of the act. STATEMENT This bill codifies the early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services (division) known as the "Level the Playing Field Early Intervention Program." This program is supported by a $550,000 appropriation under the FY 2025 Appropriations Act. Under the bill, the early language instruction program is to support the language acquisition and developmental needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger and their families. All services delivered under this program are to be free of charge. Eligible children and their families must provide proof of the child's hearing loss, age, and State residency to receive services under the program. At a minimum, under the program, the division shall match each eligible child and eligible child's family with an American Sign Language Deaf Language Associate to provide the child and family with instruction and support services up to 25 hours a week. The division is to make available language instruction services in all applicable settings where the eligible child participates in daily activities, including childcare centers, preschool programs, summer camps, and in the child's home. Additional services provided under the program, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child and the eligible child's family, are to include: information and referral services to other State and non-State resources; case management services provided by an individual fluent in American Sign Language; assistance in locating and coordinating a qualified interpreter or real-time caption provider; resources for obtaining hearing aids and other equipment to support the needs of the eligible child; and the provision of sensitivity training to the eligible child's health care providers, education or day care providers, or other applicable supports on awareness of the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults.
An Act concerning deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children 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. There is established in the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services an early language instruction program to support the language acquisition and developmental needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger and their families. All services delivered under this program shall be free of charge.
b. At a minimum, under the program, the division shall match each eligible child and eligible child's family with an American Sign Language Deaf Language Associate to provide the child and family with instruction and support services up to 25 hours a week. The division shall make available language instruction services in all applicable settings where the eligible child participates in daily activities, including childcare centers, preschool programs, summer camps, and in the child's home. The division shall provide additional services under the program, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child and the eligible child's family, including but not limited to: information and referral services to other State and non-State resources; case management services provided by an individual fluent in American Sign Language; assistance in locating and coordinating a qualified interpreter or real-time caption provider; resources for obtaining hearing aids and other equipment to support the needs of the eligible child; and the provision of sensitivity training to the eligible child's health care providers, education or day care providers, or other applicable supports on awareness of the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults.
c. In order to be determined eligible to receive services under the program, an eligible child's family shall provide proof of the child's hearing loss, age, and New Jersey residency to the division.
d. As used in this section:
"American Sign Language Deaf Language Associate" means a deaf adult with experience working with babies, toddlers, and children who has advanced proficiency skills to provide a fluent American Sign Language model for an eligible child and eligible child's family.
"Division" means the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services.
"Program" means the early language instruction program established under this section to support the language acquisition and developmental needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger and their families.
2. Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Executive Director of the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the 90th day following enactment, but the Executive Director of the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill codifies the early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services (division) known as the "Level the Playing Field Early Intervention Program." This program is supported by a $550,000 appropriation under the FY 2025 Appropriations Act.
Under the bill, the early language instruction program is to support the language acquisition and developmental needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger and their families. All services delivered under this program are to be free of charge. Eligible children and their families must provide proof of the child's hearing loss, age, and State residency to receive services under the program.
At a minimum, under the program, the division shall match each eligible child and eligible child's family with an American Sign Language Deaf Language Associate to provide the child and family with instruction and support services up to 25 hours a week. The division is to make available language instruction services in all applicable settings where the eligible child participates in daily activities, including childcare centers, preschool programs, summer camps, and in the child's home. Additional services provided under the program, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child and the eligible child's family, are to include: information and referral services to other State and non-State resources; case management services provided by an individual fluent in American Sign Language; assistance in locating and coordinating a qualified interpreter or real-time caption provider; resources for obtaining hearing aids and other equipment to support the needs of the eligible child; and the provision of sensitivity training to the eligible child's health care providers, education or day care providers, or other applicable supports on awareness of the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults.