SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3491

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 26, 2023

      The Senate Economic Growth Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3491.

      As reported, 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.  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.

Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP 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, under the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program, State funds are currently used to ensure that each SNAP household receives a minimum monthly SNAP benefit of $50.  This bill amends the law governing this program to increase the minimum monthly SNAP benefit to $95, which amount may be increased by the Commissioner of Human Services, as deemed appropriate and subject to available State appropriations.