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C.44:10-111

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Approp.

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Note

 


P.L. 2022, CHAPTER 32, approved June 30, 2022

Assembly, No. 2366 (First Reprint)

 

 


An Act concerning 1[supplemental] minimum monthly1 benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1[1.  a.  The Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services shall issue a monthly supplemental benefit of $15 to each eligible enrollee of SNAP, provided that the enrollee is a senior citizen or an individual with a disability.  The division shall distribute the monthly supplemental benefit via the enrollee’s existing SNAP electronic benefits card, on the same issuance date as the enrollee’s standard SNAP benefits.  An enrollee shall use the monthly supplemental benefit issued pursuant to this section in the same manner as, and in compliance with, all State and federal laws and regulations that apply to the use of the enrollee’s standard SNAP benefits.

     b.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions of this act.

     c.     As used in this act:

     “Individual with a disability” means an individual who meets one of the following requirements by the last day of the month in which the SNAP supplemental benefit is being issued: (1) receives federal disability or blindness payments under the federal “Social Security Act,”  42 U.S.C. s.301 et seq.; (2) receives State disability or blindness payments under the Supplemental Security Income program, P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.); (3) receives a disability retirement benefit from a governmental agency because of a permanent disability; (4) receives an annuity under the federal "Railroad Retirement Act of 1974," 45 U.S.C. s.231 et seq. and is eligible for Medicare or is considered disabled under the Supplemental Security Income program; (5) is a veteran who is totally disabled, permanently homebound, or in need of regular aid and attendance; or (6) is the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who is receiving federal veterans’ benefits and is considered permanently disabled.

     "Senior citizen" means an individual who is 60 years of age or older by the last day of the month in which the SNAP supplemental benefit is being issued.

     “SNAP” means the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,” Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).]1

 

     11.   a. There is established in the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program.  Under the program, the division shall distribute to each eligible household a monthly State SNAP benefit equal to the difference between the household’s federal SNAP monthly benefit and $50. The State SNAP benefit shall be provided to an eligible household in addition to the federal SNAP benefit.

     b.    The program shall be subject to the same State rules and procedures for implementing the federal SNAP to the greatest extent possible, including, but not limited to, distributing the State SNAP benefit using the program’s Electronic Benefit Transfer system and requiring that benefits be used solely for the purchase of food as defined in 7 U.S.C. s.2012.

     c.     The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions of this section.

     d.    As used in this section:

     “Eligible household” means a household that is certified to receive a federal SNAP benefit of at least one dollar per month, but less than $50 per month.

     “SNAP” means the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,” Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).1

 

     2.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

 

     3.    There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services 1[$20,500,000] $18,000,0001 to effectuate the provisions of this act.

     4.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the 1[fourth] sixth1 month next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.

 

 

                                

 

     Establishes State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program; appropriates $18 million to DHS.