Bill Text: NJ A1404 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides financial assistance for higher education expenses of former Work First New Jersey recipients after leaving program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [A1404 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A1404-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman ALBERT COUTINHO
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Provides financial assistance for higher education expenses of former Work First New Jersey recipients after leaving program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning assistance for higher education expenses of former Work First New Jersey recipients and amending P.L.1997, c.13.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1997, c.13 (C.44:10-38) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. The program shall provide supportive services to a recipient as a last resort when no other source of support is available, except that the recipient shall be required to continuously seek other sources of support. The commissioner shall determine the amounts and extent of the support. The supportive services shall include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following:
(1) child care services , including after-school child care in the case of a child over six years of age, for eligible dependent children, to be provided during the recipient's program eligibility period and for 24 consecutive months following ineligibility for benefits as a result of receipt of earned income.
An adult recipient who continues to be eligible to receive child care services following ineligibility for benefits, and an adult recipient who is employed but continues to receive benefits, shall pay a copay for child care services in accordance with a sliding fee scale established by the commissioner, which shall be no greater than the child care co-payment schedule established pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:81-14.18A;
(2) transportation services to be provided directly by the program or through an allowance or other means of subsidy by which the recipient may purchase transportation; [and]
(3) a limited allowance for each assistance unit to cover work-related expenses necessary to engage in required work activities, as determined by the commissioner: and
(4) financial assistance to an adult recipient for expenses associated with a course of study at an institution of higher education, including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required therefor, as well as a stipend to cover the recipient's reasonable living expenses as determined by the commissioner if the recipient is enrolled in the course of study on a full-time basis, when the recipient commences the course of study no later than 24 months following ineligibility for benefits as a result of receipt of earned income. The financial assistance shall be provided for such period of time as the recipient requires to complete that individual's course of study, provided that the recipient is determined to be making satisfactory progress toward completion as determined by the commissioner. As used in this paragraph, "course of study at an institution of higher education" means one or more courses offered at a college, university or post-secondary vocational education program, and includes, but is not limited to, pursuit of a two-year or four-year college degree, that is reasonably related to enhancing the recipient's employment prospects, as determined by regulation of the commissioner.
b. Medical assistance shall be provided to an assistance unit with dependent children pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.), in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1987, c.283 (C.30:4D-6c) which provides for a continuation of medical assistance for a period of 24 consecutive months under certain circumstances, except that:
(1) coverage solely of the adult head of an assistance unit by an employer's health insurance plan shall not preclude other members of the assistance unit from receiving the additional 24 months of medical assistance; and
(2) an assistance unit with dependent children which, using the limits and methodologies contained in Title IV-A, would not be eligible for cash assistance under Title IV-A as a result of the collection of child or spousal support under Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.651 et seq.), shall receive an additional four consecutive months of medical assistance beginning with the first month of ineligibility under the provisions of Title IV-A.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.13, s.5)
2. The Commissioner of Human Services, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2001, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program provide financial assistance to an adult recipient for expenses associated with a course of study at an institution of higher education, including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required therefor, as well as a stipend to cover the recipient's reasonable living expenses as determined by the commissioner if the recipient is enrolled in the course of study on a full-time basis, when the recipient commences the course of study no later than 24 months following ineligibility for WFNJ benefits as a result of receipt of earned income. The financial assistance shall be provided for such period of time as the recipient requires to complete that individual's course of study, provided that the recipient is determined to be making satisfactory progress toward completion as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services.
The bill defines "course of study at an institution of higher education" to mean one or more courses offered at a college, university or post-secondary vocational education program, and includes, but is not limited to, pursuit of a two-year or four-year college degree, that is reasonably related to enhancing the recipient's employment prospects, as determined by regulation of the commissioner.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2001, but authorizes the Commissioner of Human Services to take anticipatory administrative action in advance as necessary for its implementation.
