6. a. For each State-placed child who is resident in a district and in a State facility on the last school day prior to October 16 of the prebudget year, and for each district-placed child who is resident in a district and in a State facility on the last school day prior to October 16 of the budget year, the Commissioner of Education shall deduct from the State aid payable to that district an amount equal to the approved per pupil cost established pursuant to the provisions of section 24 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C. 18A:7F-24); except that for a child in a county juvenile detention center, no deduction shall be made until Fiscal Year 1999, in which year and thereafter 50% of the per pupil cost shall be deducted.

b. If, for any district, the amount to be deducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section is greater than State aid payable to the district, the district shall pay to the Department of Education the difference between the amount to be deducted and the State aid payable to the district.

c. The amount deducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section and the amount paid to the Department of Education pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be forwarded to the Department of Human Services or the Department of Children and Families, as applicable, if the facility is operated by or under contract with that department, or to the Department of Corrections if the facility is operated by or under contract with that department, or to the Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.284 (C. 52:17B-170) if the facility is operated by or under contract with that commission, and shall serve as payment by the district of tuition for the child. In the case of county juvenile detention centers, the tuition shall be deemed to supplement funds currently provided by the county for this purpose under chapter 10 and chapter 11 of Title 9 of the Revised Statutes. In Fiscal Year 1998, a county shall not decrease its level of contribution as a result of the payment of tuition pursuant to this section. In Fiscal Year 1999 and thereafter, a county shall be required to pay 50% of the approved per pupil costs established pursuant to the provisions of section 24 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C. 18A:7F-24) for the purpose of implementing chapters 10 and 11 of Title 9 of the Revised Statutes. Amounts so deducted shall be used solely for the support of educational programs and shall be maintained in a separate account for that purpose. No district shall be responsible for the tuition of any child admitted by the State to a State facility after the last school day prior to October 16 of the prebudget year.

L.1979, c.207, s.6; amended 1990, c.52, s.34; 1995, c.280, s.24; 1996, c.138, s.41; 2006, c.47, s.81.