New Jersey § 30:5b-39

§ 30:5b-39.

a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall award grants, on a competitive basis pursuant

to criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, to licensed child care

providers, registered family day care providers, and Head Start programs that meet

the requirements of subsection b. of this section. Providers and programs that meet the requirements of subsection b. of this section

shall be eligible for a one-time initial grant that may be used to: purchase equipment;

recruit, train, or compensate staff for new infant and toddler slots or classrooms;

and for other initiatives to support the expansion of infant and toddler child care

capacity. The Department of Human Services may provide technical assistance to assist providers

in meeting the requirements of the grant program. b. To be eligible for consideration for a grant award under this section, a licensed

child care provider, registered family day care provider or Head Start program shall

submit an application to the Department of Human Services, in a form and manner as

shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of Human Services and in accordance with criteria

established by the Commissioner of Human Services, which application shall outline

the purposes for which a grant award would be used. Eligible providers shall include, but shall not be limited to, providers that receive

a grant from the Economic Development Authority pursuant to section 2 of this act. 1 To be eligible for consideration for a grant award under this section, an applicant

shall additionally: (1) comply with the current child care licensing standards for infant and toddler

child care, including, but not limited to, class size, child-to-staff ratios, and

health and safety standards; (2) demonstrate that the grant funding will be used to support the expansion of infant

and toddler child care capacity; and (3) participate or apply to participate in the State's child care quality rating and

improvement system, Grow NJ Kids. c. The commissioner shall establish selection criteria for the awarding of grant funds

under the program. One-time initial grants shall be awarded, in an amount to be determined by the commissioner,

based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. d. The department shall calculate the initial grant award for an eligible recipient

based on the number of new infant or toddler child care slots that will be supported

through the grant program created pursuant to this section. Initial grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be in an amount that is not

less than $3,000 per new infant or toddler child care slot that will be supported

through the grant program. e. (1) Subject to appropriation and the availability of funds, grant recipients not

already participating in Grow NJ Kids at the time the grant recipient applied to the

department for a grant award under this section, which recipients apply to participate

in Grow NJ Kids as a condition of program eligibility, shall be eligible to apply

for and receive up to two additional grant awards to allow for time for the recipient

to join and become rated under Grow NJ Kids. A recipient shall not be eligible for an additional grant award under this subsection

if the recipient has received a Grow NJ Kids rating. (2) A grant recipient shall apply for additional grant awards pursuant to paragraph

(1) of this subsection in a form and manner as shall be prescribed by the commissioner. The application for an additional grant award shall outline the purposes for which

the grant would be used. Additional grant awards may be used for the same purposes as are authorized for

grants awarded pursuant to subsection a. of this section. (3) The department shall calculate an additional grant award for an eligible recipient

based on the number of new infant or toddler child care slots that are supported using

the recipient's initial grant award. Additional grants awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be in an amount that

is not less than $1,200 per infant or toddler child care slot that will be supported

through the grant program. (4) A first additional grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be paid on

the first day of the 12th month next following the date the initial grant award is

paid. A second additional grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be paid on the

first day of the 24th month next following the date the initial grant award is paid. f. In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner shall give preference to

providers and programs that: (1) are located in communities identified as child care deserts with few or no options

for high-quality child care for infants and toddlers; (2) are located in communities with high percentages of low-income families; and (3) can align their infant and toddler child care programs with high-quality preschool

programs, support collaborations for shared services, and build upon existing early

childhood education services. 1

L.2022, c. 25 (N.J.S.A § 30:5B-37).