SENATE, No. 3491

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 19, 2023

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Turner, Diegnan, Singleton, Gill, Gopal, Greenstein and Pou

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Increases minimum monthly benefit under State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program from $50 to $95 and authorizes DHS to increase program benefit amount.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program and amending P.L.2022, c.32.

 

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

 

     1.    Section 1 of P.L.2022, c.32 (C.44:10-111) is amended to read as follows:

     1.  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] $95, which amount may be increased by the Commissioner of Human Services, as deemed appropriate and subject to available State appropriationsIf federal funds become available for the purposes of this subsection, the Commissioner of Human Services shall utilize such federal funds as the primary source for issuing the monthly State SNAP benefit before State funds, if necessary, are expended.  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] $95 per month, or a larger amount as deemed appropriated by the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available State and federal funds.

     "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.).

(cf: P.L.2022, c.32, s.1)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

 

     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.