Bill Text: NJ A2399 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee [A2399 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A2399-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK K. SIMONSEN
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman MICHELE MATSIKOUDIS
District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman McClellan
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing the Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology in the State.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Many New Jerseyans with developmental disabilities encounter obstacles in daily life that could be overcome with the assistance of certain technology.
b. Supportive or assistive technology, which includes any product, device, or equipment that may be used to maintain, increase, or improve functional capabilities, can effect positive change in the lives of many individuals.
c. Innovations in supportive technology lower barriers faced by persons with disabilities in their daily lives, and can promote greater independence and improved functioning, while enhancing the confidence of those who benefit from using the technology
d. Those who provide care and support for individuals with developmental disabilities benefit both from the assistance provided by supportive technology and from learning how to use it to improve the lives of their clients or loved ones.
e. In order to better understand and address the challenges faced by persons with developmental disabilities, it is appropriate for the Legislature to establish a task force to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology to improve the lives of persons with developmental disabilities.
2. a. There is hereby created a task force to be known as the "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities." The purpose of the task force shall be to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State and to provide recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on how the use of supportive technology might improve the lives of individuals, with particular attention to the following areas:
(1) proposing State policy initiatives to encourage and support the use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental disabilities;
(2) advising of any impediments, law, regulation, or practice that may potentially interfere with the expanded use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental disabilities;
(3) identifying areas in which sufficient support for those with developmental disabilities is not currently available and opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology in the following contexts: employment, education, and the activities of daily life;
(4) identify best practices, opportunities for shared services, or potential partnerships that would increase supportive technology opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities; and
(5) make recommendations on integrating supportive technology into existing programs.
b. The task force shall consist of 15 members as follows: the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Children's System of Care in the Department of Children and Families, and 12 public members to be appointed as follows: three public members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of the Bancroft School or another nonprofit provider of specialized services to individuals with developmental disabilities, one of whom shall have professional expertise in the use of supportive technology by persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the ARC of New Jersey; three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Network, one of whom shall be a representative of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; three public members to be appointed by Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, one of whom shall be a physician or other health care professional with expertise in developmental disability issues, and one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers; and three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be an individual with developmental disabilities, one of whom shall be the parent or caregiver of an individual with developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of NJ APSE-The Network on Employment.
c. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but not later than the 30th day following the appointment of its members. Upon its organization, the task force shall select a chairperson from among its members. The task force may hold meetings at the times and places it may designate. A majority of the authorized membership shall constitute a quorum. The task force may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote on a recommendation when a quorum is present. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
d. The task force is entitled to receive assistance and services from any State, county, or municipal department, board, commission, or agency as may be made available to it for its purposes.
e. Not later than 18 months after the initial meeting of the task force, it shall prepare and submit a written report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c. 164 (C.52:14-19.1), outlining its recommendations on how the use of supportive technology might improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in the State as described in subsection a. of section 2 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day following submission by the task force of its written recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, as required by subsection e. of section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities." The purpose of the task force shall be to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State and provide recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on how the use of supportive technology could improve the lives of individuals, with particular attention to the following areas:
(1) proposing State policy initiatives to encourage and support the use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental disabilities;
(2) advising of any impediments, law, regulation, or practice that may potentially interfere with the expanded use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental disabilities;
(3) identifying areas in which sufficient support for those with developmental disabilities is not currently available and opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology in the following contexts: employment, education, and the activities of daily life;
(4) identify best practices, opportunities for shared services, or potential partnerships that would increase supportive technology opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities; and
(5) make recommendations on integrating supportive technology into existing programs.
The task force is to consist of 15 members as follows: the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Children's System of Care in the Department of Children and Families, and 12 public members to be appointed as follows: three public members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of the Bancroft School or another nonprofit provider of specialized services to individuals with developmental disabilities, one of whom shall have professional expertise in the use of supportive technology by persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the ARC of New Jersey, three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Network, one of whom shall be a representative of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, three public members to be appointed by Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, one of whom shall be a physician or other health care professional with expertise in developmental disability issues, and one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers; and three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be an individual with developmental disabilities, one of whom shall be the parent or caregiver of an individual with developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of NJ APSE-The Network on Employment.
The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but not later than the 30th day following the appointment of its members. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
The bill requires that the task force prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature, no later than 18 months following its initial meeting, outlining its recommendations for the expanded use of supportive technology for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State. The bill would expire on the 30th day following submission by the task force of its written recommendations.
