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Bill

A 2054

Requires Division of Children's System of Care to make changes to certain polices regarding the provision of family support and respite care services for certain eligible individuals.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Rosy Bagolie and 8 co-sponsors

Establishes a 12-month respite authorization with an annual reevaluation, plus a family bank of respite hours to increase stability and reduce reapplication burdens for under-21s w

Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · A 2054

Summary of Assembly Bill No. 2054 (A-2054), 222nd Legislature, New Jersey

Purpose and Intent

  • This bill directs the Division of Children’s System of Care (DCSOC) within the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to reform how respite care and family support services are authorized and managed for individuals under age 21 with developmental disabilities.
  • The overarching goal is to provide greater flexibility and stability for families by extending authorization periods, removing rigid hour caps within those periods, and introducing an annual reevaluation process instead of annual reapplication.

Key Provisions

  1. 12-Month Authorization Period

    • Requires DCSOC to establish a 12-month (one-year) authorization period for:
      • Agency-hired respite care
      • Agency-weekend respite care
      • Self-hired respite care
    • Applies to individuals under age 21 with a developmental disability.

  2. Annual Reevaluation Instead of Annual Reapplication

    • After a family is authorized to receive family support services through a DCF-contracted agency, the bill requires an annual reevaluation of the family supports services (rather than requiring families to reapply each year).
    • The reevaluation is intended to assess ongoing needs and adjust services accordingly.

  3. Respite Care Hours Not Limited by a Set Annual Cap During Authorization

    • The bill prohibits reducing the number of respite care service hours authorized during a 12-month period.
    • It preserves the currently authorized level of respite hours for the duration of the 12-month authorization, rather than imposing a fixed quarterly or annual cap.

  4. Bank of Respite Hours for Families

    • When an individual under 21 with a developmental disability is authorized for family support services, the family or guardian will receive:
      • A bank of respite care service hours in addition to any other family support service hours already available.
      • This bank can be used during the 12-month authorization period and is allocated based on the individual’s and family’s needs (including agency-hired, agency-weekend, or self-hired respite).

  5. Definitions of Respite Care Types

    • Agency-hired respite care: respite services (including social and recreational activities) provided by a trained respite worker employed by a contracted agency, in or outside the home.
    • Agency-weekend respite care: similar services provided on weekends by a contracted agency.
    • Self-hired respite care: family or guardian hires a trained respite worker paid directly by the family to provide services in or outside the home.

Affected Parties

  • Primary Beneficiaries: Children and young adults under 21 with developmental disabilities who receive family support services and respite care through DCSOC-DCF programs.
  • Families/Guardians: Entitled to a separate bank of respite hours and the annual reevaluation process, increasing flexibility and potentially reducing the burden of frequent reapplications.
  • Service Providers: Agencies contracted by DCF to provide agency-hired and agency-weekend respite care, and respite workers who may be self-hired by families.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Timeframe: The bill sets a 12-month authorization period for respite services, replacing the current 90-day cycle.
  • Annual Processes: Replaces annual reapplication with an annual reevaluation of family support services.
  • No Reduced Hours: The 12-month authorization period cannot be used to reduce previously authorized respite hours during that period.

Practical Impact and Considerations

  • Families are likely to experience improved continuity and predictability in respite services.
  • The creation of a dedicated bank of respite hours provides flexibility to address fluctuating needs and emergencies.
  • Agencies and the DCSOC will need to adjust administrative processes to manage 12-month authorizations and annual reevaluation workflows.
  • The bill preserves protections against reductions in authorized respite hours within a 12-month period, emphasizing stability for families.

Legislative Status

  • Pre-filed for the 2026-2027 session; reported favorably by the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee.
  • Sponsor list includes multiple lawmakers, indicating bipartisan support.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing or a side-by-side comparison with current DCSOC policies to highlight the changes more visually.

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

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