LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3890

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MARCH 14, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires public institution of higher education to provide students with information on food assistance programs.

Type of Impact:

Potential State expenditure increase for certain public institutions of higher education.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Human Services. Public Institutions of Higher Education.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

Potential State Expenditure Increase for Public Institutions of Higher Education

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill may lead to increases in costs to certain public institutions of higher education.  The magnitude of the potential cost increases for a public institution would be dependent on the extent to which the institution does not already comply with the provisions of the bill related to supplying students with information concerning various food assistance programs. 

·         While some public institutions may provide information in a new manner through initial offers of admission and via email each semester as a result of the bill, the OLS finds it likely that supplying this information would not significantly increase costs for public institutions of higher education. 

·         The OLS finds that the provisions of the bill requiring the Department of Human Services to develop general information about the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will likely have no fiscal impact on the department.  The department appears to have already developed information and various resources on the program in a manner that conforms with the bill’s provisions.

 

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, to develop general program information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as SNAP).  The bill also requires each public institution of higher education to include with its initial offer of admission and, via email, upon each semester’s registration: the general program information developed by the department pursuant to the bill; and information on any food assistance, pantry, meal swipe, or similar programs offered by the institution or located in the community.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that this bill may lead to increases in costs to certain public institutions of higher education.  The magnitude of the potential increases for a public institution would be dependent on the extent to which the institution does not already comply with the provisions of the bill related to supplying students with information concerning various food assistance programs. 

      While certain public institutions may newly disseminate food assistance information as a result of this bill, it is likely that many public institutions of higher education already have the resources to meet the requirements of the bill.  The OLS notes that the State enacted the Hunger-Free Campus Act in 2019.  The law requires the Secretary of Higher Education to establish a program that provides grants to public institutions of higher education to, in part, raise awareness of services currently offered on campus which address basic food needs.  In order to qualify for a grant, a public institution of higher education is required to be a “hunger-free campus.”  To be designated as a hunger-free campus, a public institution is required to meet various criteria, including designating a staff member to assist students with enrollment in SNAP and participating in certain awareness activities.  In fiscal year 2025, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education distributed approximately $1.1 million in Hunger-Free Campus Act grants to 28 of the State’s 31 public institutions of higher education. 

      The OLS details the Hunger-Free Campus Act to illustrate the extent to which public institutions of higher education are already implementing efforts to increase awareness of food assistance programs.  While some institutions may provide information in a new manner through initial offers of admission and via email each semester as a result of the bill, the OLS finds it likely that supplying this information would not significantly increase costs for public institutions of higher education. 

      Finally, the OLS finds that the provisions of the bill requiring the Department of Human Services to develop general information about SNAP will likely have no fiscal impact on the department.  The department appears to have already developed information on the program in a manner that conforms with the bill’s provisions.  For example, the department currently operates a website for SNAP that includes a variety of resources and information related to the program, including links for ways in which an individual can apply to receive benefits through the program.

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Christopher Myles

Senior Fiscal Analyst

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.).