ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 3883

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 23, 2026

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3883 (1R).

     As amended, 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 the Medicaid community engagement requirements, established in section 71119 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, on or before October 1, 2027, with the expanded work requirements for SNAP, established in section 10102 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, on or before October 1, 2027, and any subsequent federal regulations or guidance regarding these statutory requirements.

     At a minimum, these efforts are to include:  (1) modifying the existing, web-based HELPNJNOW portal, or any equivalent successor portal, to allow the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements; (2) engaging and soliciting non-profit and community organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other appropriate entities to identify volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements; (3) modifying the existing, web-based HELPNJNOW portal, or any equivalent successor portal, so that entities can:  register with the State as an organization that offers volunteer opportunities in compliance with the applicable requirements; and submit volunteer opportunities to be included on the HELPNJNOW portal, or any equivalent successor portal; and (4) providing a link to the existing, web-based HELPNJNOW portal, or any equivalent successor portal, as well as an explanation of the applicable requirements, on the State’s NJ FamilyCare webpage, the State’s SNAP webpage, the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism webpage, and any other relevant webpage as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services.

     Under the bill, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development are to establish a system by which to support the tracking of work activities and participation, including volunteer hours and community service acquired by SNAP applicants and beneficiaries that can be shared between the departments in order to collaboratively administer the NJ SNAP ETP, as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L. 2013, c.45 (C.44:10-96).

The bill appropriates $125,000 to effectuate the bill’s provisions.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      (1) replace the Department of Human Services with the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism as the lead entity in effectuating the bill’s provisions, which includes the promulgation of regulations;

      (2) clarify the information that is to be made accessible to residents through the State’s existing volunteer resources under the bill;

      (3)  modify references to the HELPNJNOW portal to include references to any equivalent successor portal;

      (4) require the Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to support the tracking of work activities and participation;

      (5) modify the requirements of the annual audit reviews performed by the Department of Human Services;

      (6) reference implementation dates; and

      (7) revise the effective date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services determines that this bill would result in a State expenditure increase of up to $125,000 in the first year. If the full $125,000 is not expended in the first year, the remaining amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $125,000 is exhausted.

      Under the bill, the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism will incur a one-time State expenditure increase for redesigning the HelpNJNow.org platform, or any equivalent successor portal, to reflect the expanded purpose of the website and for 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.  Additionally, the Department of Human Services may incur ongoing expenses, in the form of staffing costs, to perform annual audit reviews of certain information and documents, as required under the bill.  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.