STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RYAN E. PETERS
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Johnson and DePhillips
SYNOPSIS
Permits use of public schools and school district property for certain child care services for children younger than school age.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning child care services on school district property and amending N.J.S.18A:20-34.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:20-34 is amended to read as follows:
18A:20-34. The board of education of any district may, pursuant to rules adopted by it, permit the use of any schoolhouse and rooms therein, and the grounds and other property of the district, when not in use for school purposes, for any of the following purposes:
a. The assembly of persons for the purpose of giving and receiving instruction in any branch of education, learning, or the arts, including the science of agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture;
b. Public library purposes or stations of public libraries;
c. The holding of such social, civic, and recreational meetings and entertainments and such other purposes as may be approved by the board;
d. Such meetings, entertainments, and occasions where admission fees are charged as may be approved by the board;
e. Polling places, holding elections, registration of voters, and holding political meetings;
f. Child care services provided by the board of education, or a board approved sponsor, or a child care program licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.), before or after regular school hours, for any school aged child who attends school within the school district ;
g. Child care services provided by the board of education, a board approved sponsor, or a child care program licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) for children younger than school age and which are provided for less than 24 hours a day. The child care services for children younger than school age need not be limited to children who reside within the school district .
(cf: P.L.1999, c.83, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Current law at N.J.S.18A:20-34 authorizes the use of public school buildings and school district property for certain other purposes when not in use for school purposes. The authorized uses include child care services before or after regular school hours for school aged children who attend school within the district. This bill would amend current law to also authorize the use of public school buildings and school district property for child care services for children younger than school age. The child care services would operate for less than 24 hours a day, need not be limited to children who reside within the school district, and may be provided by the board of education, a board approved sponsor, or a child care program licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.).