LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[Third Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 3883

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 6, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires Governor’s Office of Volunteerism to promote and support volunteerism for compliance with certain eligibility requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP recipients; appropriates $200,000 to DHS, Office of Volunteerism, and DOLWD.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase; potential State revenue increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of State; Department of Human Services; Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1

Year 2 and Beyond

 

State Expenditure Increase

Up to $200,000

Indeterminate

 

Potential State Revenue Increase

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) determines that this bill would result in a State expenditure increase of up to $200,000 in the first year.  If the full $200,000 is not expended in the first year, the remaining amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $200,000 is exhausted.

·         The OLS finds there will be a one-time expenditure increase for the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism in redesigning the HelpNJNow.org platform to reflect the expanded purpose required under the bill and in updating the data input forms submitted by volunteer organizations to highlight opportunities that comply with the applicable federal NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements. 

·         The OLS also estimates that the Department of Human Services will incur ongoing expenses, in the form of staffing costs, to perform annual audit reviews of information and documents submitted by NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries regarding volunteer or community service hours.  To the extent that existing eligibility review processes can comply with the audit requirement under the bill, these costs will be minimized.  

·         State revenue may increase in the form of partial federal reimbursement if any of the expenses incurred under the bill qualify as eligible NJ FamilyCare or SNAP administrative costs.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

     This bill requires the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State, or any successor entity, to work with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to modify and expand the State’s existing volunteer resources such that information is easily accessible to State residents regarding compliance, via volunteer hours or community service, with NJ FamilyCare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as any subsequent federal regulations or guidance regarding these statutory requirements.  The bill appropriates $100,000 to the Office of Volunteerism, $50,000 to the Department of Human Services, and $50,000 to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to implement these provisions.

     At a minimum, these efforts are to include modifying the existing, web-based HELPNJNOW portal, or any equivalent successor portal, to allow: 1) the public to search and apply for volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable federal requirements; and 2) the appropriate entities to register and submit volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable federal requirements.  The bill also directs that a link to the HELPNJNOW portal, or any equivalent successor portal, be included on relevant State webpages. 

     The bill requires the Department of Human Services: 1) to create or modify an existing, web-based mobile friendly resource to allow NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries to submit the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with the federal work requirements via the participation in volunteer or community service opportunities; and 2) to perform annual audit reviews of information and documents submitted by NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries regarding volunteer or community service hours to verify accuracy and to determine that no abuse or malfeasance is being committed.

     Finally, the bill directs the Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a system by which to support the tracking of work activities and participation, including volunteer and community service hours acquired by SNAP applicants and beneficiaries, so that the departments can collaboratively administer the New Jersey SNAP Employment and Training Program.  Certain SNAP beneficiaries can participate in this voluntary program to gain job skills, training, and work experience.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism in the Department of State and the Department of Human Services will incur indeterminate expenditures to implement the provisions of this bill regarding the modification of the existing HelpNJNow.org platform, or any equivalent successor portal, as well as the performance of annual audits to ensure that certain information submitted under the bill is accurate.  The bill appropriates $100,000 to the Office of Volunteerism, $50,000 to the Department of Human Services, and $50,00 to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to implement the bill’s provisions.  The OLS determines that there would be a State expenditure increase of up to $200,000 in the first year.  If the full $200,000 is not expended in the first year, the remaining amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $200,000 is exhausted.   

      The OLS finds there will be a one-time expenditure increase for the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism in redesigning the HelpNJNow.org platform, or any equivalent successor portal, to reflect the expanded purpose required under the bill and in updating the data input forms submitted by volunteer organizations to highlight opportunities that comply with the applicable federal NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid and SNAP work requirements.  For reference, the existing HelpNJNow.org platform connects New Jersey nonprofit organizations with potential volunteers who have completed background checks. The website was built and is maintained by a partnership between New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism.

      This estimate assumes that the technological infrastructure for the platform to interface with NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries, as well as volunteer organizations, will require minimal modifications, as the platform currently functions to meet these provisions.  For example, after creating an account and receiving authorization, organizations can post volunteer opportunities and request volunteers.  Volunteers, who have registered and completed their background checks, are then matched to the request based on, for example, availability, interests, and location. 

      The OLS also estimates that the Department of Human Services will incur ongoing expenses, in the form of staffing costs, to perform annual audit reviews of information and documents submitted by NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries regarding volunteer or community service hours.  These costs will largely depend upon the audit standards established by the department following the adoption of the bill to comply with these requirements.  The OLS notes that the department currently reviews NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applications for accuracy.  To the extent that these existing eligibility processes can comply with the audit requirement under the bill, these costs will be minimized.  

      State revenue may increase in the form of partial federal reimbursement if any of the expenses incurred under the bill qualify as eligible NJ FamilyCare or SNAP administrative costs under federal rules.

      In order to comply with the federal requirements under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, this estimate further assumes that, absent the bill, the Department of Human Services will be required to establish systems: 1) to monitor compliance with the NJ FamilyCare and SNAP work requirements under the federal act, including compliance via volunteering and community service participation; and 2) to ensure data sharing with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development that streamlines SNAP beneficiaries participation in the New Jersey SNAP Employment and Training Program with any volunteer or community service activities completed under the bill.  Therefore, the fiscal estimate does not anticipate any expenditure increase under the bill to: 1) create or modify an existing, web-based mobile friendly resource that allows NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries to demonstrate compliance with the work requirements under the federal act via completion of volunteer or community service hours; or 2) to develop a means to share the applicable volunteer or community service hours of certain SNAP beneficiaries with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

 

      Additionally, the OLS also notes that the departments may be able to use existing systems to facilitate the accomplishment of these provisions.  For example, MyNJHelps.gov and NJHelps.gov are mobile friendly resources that currently help the Department of Human Services collect or screen eligibility data for SNAP and NJ FamilyCare.  Moreover, the State uses the America’s One Stop Operating System, or AOSOS, to document programmatic and participant data effectively and accurately across the various partner agencies supporting the New Jersey SNAP Employment and Training Program.

 

 

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah Schmidt

Principal Research 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.).