SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1713

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 12, 2022

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1713.

     As amended by the committee, this bill requires a standard certification period of not less than 12 and not less than 24 months, under certain circumstances, within the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  In doing so, this bill provides for the longest certification periods allowed under federal regulation.  SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households.  The certification period is the period for which households are eligible to receive SNAP benefits.  Households may receive benefits beyond the certification period; however, the SNAP recipient is required to first submit certain documentation to a State administering agency to demonstrate eligibility.

     Currently, pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:87-6.20, county welfare agencies (CWAs), the administering agencies for SNAP, are required to certify each eligible household for a definite period of time that cannot exceed 12 months, except for households in which all adult members are elderly or disabled, which are to be certified for up to 24 months with at least one CWA contact every 12 months.  As such, New Jersey CWAs issue four, six, 12, and 24-month certification periods.

     Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is directed to establish a standard certification period of not less than 12 months within SNAP, except that the certification period will be not less than 24 months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled provided that all certified households have contact with a State SNAP administering agency at least once every 12 months.  As amended, these certification periods are not to apply to initial certification periods for expedited benefit issuance.  Under the bill, telephone contact is sufficient to comply with the provisions regarding contact with a State SNAP administering agency.  As defined under the bill, “elderly or disabled” means the same as that term is defined in the “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,” Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), the enabling federal legislation for SNAP.  Generally, elderly and disabled includes an individual who is 60 years of age or older; receives supplemental security income benefits or some other federally or State administered supplemental assistance; or receives Social Security disability insurance benefits.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

     The committee amendments specify that the Commissioner of Human Services is to establish standard certification periods of not less than 12 months and not less than 24 months, under certain circumstances, and that these certification periods are not to apply to initial certification periods for expedited benefit issuance.