FY24 State Budget Signed into Law
ABCD thanks Governor Murphy and members of the New Jersey Legislature for the expansion of investment and services to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget. Noteworthy investments include:
- Investing in services and supports to enable people with IDD to fully participate in an integrated community, insuring that people on both sides of the disabled divide can thrive in the same place. A 3.25% across the board cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase to all DDD Fee-For-Service rates. Effective July 1, 2023. A total of $78 million in State and Federal funding.
- Annualizing and on January 1, 2024, increasing wages for our front-line workers, supervisors, and managers to ensure that they receive salaries commensurate with the support they provide. A total of $83.4 million, in State and Federal funding.
- Preventing the erosion of life changing services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities through a 7.5% increase to the Early Intervention Provider rate. Effective July 1, 2023. A total of approximately $11 million, in State funding.
- Working to support the best possible housing choices for individuals with IDD by increasing the capped housing rates for provider managed rents by 10%. Effective July 1, 2023. A total of $5 million in State dollars
- Ensuring high quality support coordination for the adult IDD population by annualizing into the DDD budget the Support Coordination rate increase initiated in November 2021 which used one-time federal funds. A total of $9 million in State and Federal funding.
- Strengthening mental health crisis care for adults with IDD through the redevelopment of DDD Emergency Capacity System beds. At total of $8.6 million in State and Federal funding.
- Establishing community-based crisis intervention for adults with IDD and mental health needs by implementing up to two START Model Crisis Response Teams. A total of $3.2 million in one-time funds. (Ongoing funding beyond FY’24 is required.)
- Reinforcing the mental health care provided by our workforce through a two-year pilot program to fund 3,000 DSPs to be certified through the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed Competency Based IDD/MI Dual Diagnosis Direct Support Professional Certification Program. A total of $3 million in one-time funds.
- Developing 25 group homes/100 residential beds to support persons moving out of nursing homes and other institutional settings. A total of $5 million in one-time funds will support the development of the location, furniture, vehicle, accessibility, staff training, etc.
- Increasing the rate for behavioral supports assessments/plan development to $22.05/15 minute increment and for behavioral supports monitoring to no-less than $8.26/15 minute increment. Effective July 1, 2023.
- Increasing the Supports Brokerage rate to $10/15 minute increment. Effective July 1, 2023. A total of $250,000 in State and Federal funding.
- Increasing the income limitations of PAAD and Senior Gold prescription drug programs by $10,000.
- Increasing funds for Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and the Disabled (HAAAD). A total of $200,000 in State funds.
- Ensuring a minimum of $95 per month for every household receiving SNAP benefits.
- Expanding the Workability program so that NJ residents with disabilities who join the workforce and begin to earn income that would otherwise cost them their health benefits, will not lose NJ FamilyCare benefits. A total of $36 million in State and Federal funding
This budget reflects the value Governor Murphy, the New Jersey Legislature, and the Administration place on the people we serve and the people who serve them.
Our thanks to the multi-season long advocacy of ABCD’s board and membership and of our colleagues and friends at The Arc of New Jersey and NJACP. Congratulations and thanks to you all.
