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Bill

A 4932

Establishes five-year Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program; appropriates $15 million.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Shanique Speight

NJ A-4932 creates a five-year Tri-Share Child Care Pilot, funding $15M to test shared costs among families, employers, and the state to expand access and affordability.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee
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Bill Summary · A 4932

Summary of New Jersey Bill A-4932 (Session 222)

Title

Establishes a five-year Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program; appropriates $15 million.

Purpose and intent

  • Create a state-supported pilot program aimed at improving access to and affordability of child care through a model called “Tri-Share.”
  • The pilots are designed to test whether a shared-cost approach among families, employers, and the state can expand access to quality early childhood education and care, alleviate barriers to workforce participation, and support child development.

Key provisions and changes

Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program

  • Duration: Five-year pilot period.
  • Model framework: A Tri-Share approach typically involves cost-sharing among three parties:
    • Families (contributing a portion of child care costs)
    • Employers (providing or supporting employer-based contributions)
    • State assistance (subsidies or additional funding)
  • The bill would establish the program, define eligibility, and set funding criteria to operationalize the tri-party model within participating jurisdictions or programs.

Funding

  • Appropriation: $15,000,000 allocated to support the pilot over its duration.
  • The bill would specify how funds are to be distributed to participating entities (e.g., providers, subsidies to families, or administrative costs for program operation). Details typically include grant mechanisms, matching requirements, and reporting obligations.

Administration and Oversight

  • The bill would designate an administering agency (likely a state department related to human services, children and families, or education) to manage, monitor, and evaluate the pilot.
  • Establishes reporting requirements to the Legislature, including performance metrics, enrollment data, cost-sharing arrangements, participant outcomes, and program sustainability considerations.

Eligibility and Participation

  • The pilot would set criteria for participating families, employers, and child care providers.
  • Could include income thresholds, age ranges for children served (e.g., preschool and early childhood age groups), and geographic scope (e.g., targeted counties or municipalities).

Evaluation and Sunset

  • A formal evaluation plan to assess effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and impact on workforce participation.
  • Sunset provision at the end of the five-year period, unless renewed or integrated into permanent policy, with final reporting to legislative bodies.

Who is affected

  • Families and children who utilize or are eligible for subsidized child care under the Tri-Share model.
  • Employers who participate or support employer-based contributions to child care costs.
  • Child care providers receiving funding or participating in pilot activities.
  • State agencies responsible for human services, early childhood education, and program oversight.
  • Local governments or providers in targeted areas where the pilot is implemented.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative process: Establishes a pilot program with a five-year horizon and requires administrative rules, funding distribution plans, and annual or periodic reporting.
  • Funding timeline: Appropriation of $15 million to be deployed over the five-year pilot, subject to eligibility determinations and grant cycles.
  • Evaluation timeline: Requires ongoing assessment throughout the pilot, culminating in a comprehensive evaluation prior to potential expansion or renewal.

Notes

  • Specific eligibility parameters, funding formulas, matching requirements, and geographic scope would be defined in implementing regulations and annual grant announcements.
  • The bill’s success metrics would likely include increased child care access, reduced waitlists, employer participation rates, parental workforce participation, and child development indicators.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize particular stakeholder concerns (e.g., employer impact, family subsidies, or provider eligibility) or compare it to existing NJ child care initiatives.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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