Bill > A3862

Introduced Session

This bill requires that when determining a parent's or legal guardian's eligibility for the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund program established pursuant to P.L.1987, c.370 (C.26:2-148), the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission exclude from the parent's or legal guardian's income up to $15,000 in donations made to the parent or legal guardian by members of their community to assist with family living expenses. As used in the bill, "family living expenses" means expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and other reasonable and necessary costs associated with the care of a child with a catastrophic illness. Current law does not allow for the exclusion of any type of income when determining eligibility for the Catastrophic Illness in Children in Relief Fund program. It is common for a community to rally around the family of a child with a catastrophic illness, and to undertake fundraising efforts to assist the family with living expenses, such as travel, lodging, meals, and other costs associated with the care of a child with a catastrophic illness. Therefore, it is the sponsor's intent to guarantee that the amount a parent or legal guardian receives from the Catastrophic Illness in Children in Relief Fund program for the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses for a child with a catastrophic illness will not be negatively impacted by such donations.

AI Summary

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Craig Coughlin (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document