ASSEMBLY HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5086

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 19, 2023

      The Assembly Human Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5086.

     This bill increases the minimum monthly benefit under the State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Minimum Benefit Program from $50 to $95 and authorizes the Commissioner of Human Services to increase the program’s benefit amount.  SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households. 

     Base SNAP benefits are provided by the federal government.  However, currently under the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program, State funds are used to ensure each SNAP household receives a minimum monthly SNAP benefit of $50.  This bill amends the governing law of this program to provide that the minimum monthly SNAP benefit is $95.  Moreover, the bill authorizes the Commissioner of Human Services to increase the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program benefit amount, subject to available State appropriations.  The bill also clarifies that if federal funds become available for the purposes of the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to utilize such federal funds as the primary source for issuing the monthly benefit before State funds, if necessary, are expended.