LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
ASSEMBLY, No. 2027
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: JULY 3, 2024
SUMMARY
Synopsis: |
Establishes State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. |
Type of Impact: |
State expenditure increase, General Fund. |
Agencies Affected: |
Department of Human Services. |
Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
|||
Fiscal Impact |
One-Time |
Annual |
|
State Cost Increase |
Up to $60,000 |
$2.4 million |
|
|
|
· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill will increase annual State costs by $2.4 million in order to provide menstrual hygiene benefits and diaper benefits to certain Work First New Jersey Program beneficiaries, as described under the bill.
· The OLS assumes that the Department of Human Services will incur one-time expenses up to $60,000 to make technological modifications to the State’s existing electronic benefits transfer system to accommodate these new benefit programs.
· The bill appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purposes of the bill.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes the State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and the State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Program in the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services. Work First New Jersey is the State’s cash assistance program for low-income residents.
Under the Menstrual Hygiene Program, the division is to distribute to each Work First New Jersey participant who menstruates and who is between 18 to 50 years of age a monthly State benefit of $14. Under the Diaper Benefit Program, the division is to distribute to each person participating in Work First New Jersey a monthly State benefit of $30 for each dependent of the person who is under 36 months of age. The division is required to distribute the monthly State benefit under both programs via the participant’s Work First New Jersey electronic benefits transfer card, on the same issuance date as the participant’s standard Work First New Jersey benefits.
The bill appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received; however, data provided by the Department of Human Services indicated that in May 2023, there were 9,200 female beneficiaries between the ages of 18 and 59 participating in Work First New Jersey and 2,200 children under the age of three participating in Work First New Jersey. As of April 2024, participation in the Work First New Jersey Program has increased by 16 percent compared to May 2023 levels.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS estimates that this bill will increase annual State costs by $2.4 million in order to provide menstrual hygiene benefits and diaper benefits to certain Work First New Jersey Program beneficiaries, as described under the bill. This estimate is based upon enrollment data provided by the Department of Human Services. Of the expenditure growth, $1.4 million is attributed to the Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and $918,000 is attributed to the Diaper Benefit Program.
In addition, the OLS assumes that the Department of Human Services will incur one-time expenses up to $60,000 to make technological modifications to the State’s existing electronic benefits transfer system to accommodate these new benefit programs. To the extent that federal funds can be utilized, State expenditures will decrease. Currently, Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries access benefits via electronic benefits transfer cards. In March of 2023, the department initiated a State-funded benefit under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which required a $60,000 update to the State’s electronic benefits transfer system. This estimate assumes the provisions of the bill will cost up to this amount.
Section: |
Human Services |
Analyst: |
Lead Research Analysist |
Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).