ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2361

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 19, 2022

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2361.

      As amended, this bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain an outreach plan for the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and to conduct additional outreach programs, subject to available funds.  SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households.    

      Specifically, the bill directs that the outreach plan focus on increasing potential beneficiaries’ access to: 1) information regarding the availability of SNAP, the criteria for eligibility for SNAP benefits, and the various methods to apply for SNAP benefits; and 2) the technological means to apply for SNAP benefits. 

      Additional outreach programs may include:

      1)   establishing a SNAP Navigator Program, the purpose of which will be to recruit, train, and support SNAP application navigators, via a process and method determined by the Commission of Human Services;

      2)   making available training to the appropriate staff at community-based organizations regarding the necessary steps to complete and submit a SNAP application, through all available methods, including online and by telephone.  Trained staff are to assist clients with the SNAP application process;

      3)   partnering with community-based organizations to increase client access to computers and the online SNAP application;

      4)   providing SNAP information and resources to beneficiaries of public assistance programs who are served by the department and by county welfare agencies, and who are likely to be eligible for, but are not currently receiving, SNAP benefits; and

      5)   conducting a public awareness campaign using available media, including television, radio, print, and social media, to inform public of the availability of SNAP. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments require the DHS to maintain a SNAP outreach program, consistent with federal requirements, and to conduct additional outreach programs, subject to available funds.  As introduced, the bill required the DHS to develop and implement a comprehensive SNAP outreach plan, in consultation and cooperation with community based organizations and county welfare agencies.  

      The committee amendments provide that the list of outreach plan activities listed in the bill are permissive, rather than mandatory. 

      The committee amendments revise the provisions of the SNAP Navigator Grant Program, a potential outreach plan activity under the amended bill, by eliminating the grant component and the corresponding State appropriation for the grant program and by providing that the purpose of the program is to recruit, train, and support SNAP application navigators, via a process and method determined by the Commissioner of Human Services.  As introduced, the bill provided that purpose of the SNAP Navigator Grant Program was to distribute grant funding to community based organizations to support the employment of SNAP application navigators.

      The committee amendments add the following additional potential outreach plan activity under the amended bill:  conduct a public awareness campaign using available media, including television, radio, print, and social media, to inform public of the availability of SNAP.

      The committee amendments eliminate the definition of “county welfare agency” from the bill.

      The committee amendments revise the administrative procedure provisions of the bill, providing that the commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provision of the bill, rather than requiring such an action.  Furthermore, the amended bill provides that any rules and regulations are required to be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law for a period not to exceed 18 months, and may, thereafter, be amended, adopted, or readopted in accordance with the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

      The committee amendments update the bill’s title and synopsis to reflect the above amendments.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes the Department of Human Services (DHS) may experience indeterminate increases in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administrative expenditures to conduct outreach programs, subject to the availability of funds.

      The OLS notes that the federal government shares all administrative expenses of SNAP with the State. As such, the bill may also result in a State revenue increase from federal SNAP funds. Any increase in SNAP benefits under the bill would not have any fiscal impact on the State, as SNAP benefits are paid directly from federal funds.