Sponsored by:
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires standard certification period of 12 and 24 months, under certain circumstances, within SNAP.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on May 12, 2022, with amendments.
An Act concerning the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program certification period and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish a standard certification period of 1not less than1 12 months within SNAP, except that the certification period shall be 1not less than1 24 months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled provided that all certified households shall have contact with a State SNAP administering agency at least once every 12 months. 1These certification periods shall not apply to initial certification periods for expedited benefit issuance.1 Telephone contact shall be sufficient to comply with the provisions of this subsection.
b. The Commissioner 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.
c. As used in this section:
“Certification period” means the period for which households shall be eligible to receive SNAP benefits.
“Elderly or disabled” means the same as defined in section 3 of the federal “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,” Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2012).
“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.).
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. This act shall take effect immediately.