ASSEMBLY OVERSIGHT, REFORM AND FEDERAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 474

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2026

      The Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 474.

      As reported by the committee, this bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to establish a process to ensure that any funding distributed by the Division of Family Development or a county welfare agency to a provider of substance use disorder treatment or housing for support services rendered to a beneficiary of General Assistance cash benefits ceases on the date that the beneficiary is discharged from the provider or is otherwise no longer receiving services from the provider.  Under the bill, the commissioner is authorized to: contact a provider or a beneficiary to determine the date on which services ceased to be provided to the beneficiary and on which funding for services provided by the division or a county welfare agency are to discontinue; and require a provider to repay the division or a county welfare agency for any funding received by the provider for a beneficiary that was discharged from the provider or was otherwise no longer receiving services from the provider.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.