Bill Text: NJ A2958 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Commissioner of Human Services to request authorization for SNAP benefits to be used to pay delivery charges for online grocery purchases.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-09 - Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2023, c.236. [A2958 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A2958-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman TENNILLE R. MCCOY
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Conaway, Verrelli, Assemblywomen Pintor Marin, Swift, Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblyman Stanley, Assemblywomen Lampitt, Haider, Speight, Lopez, Reynolds-Jackson and Carter
SYNOPSIS
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to request authorization for SNAP benefits to be used to pay delivery charges for online grocery purchases.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Human Services shall request that the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture take such steps as are necessary to permit funds available through the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" (SNAP), established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), to be utilized by individuals receiving SNAP benefits to pay the delivery fee levied by an authorized New Jersey SNAP retailer for home delivery of the individual's SNAP-eligible purchase.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to request that the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) permit "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," (SNAP) benefits, available through a beneficiary's SNAP electronic benefits transfer card, to pay the delivery charge for home delivery of the beneficiary's SNAP-eligible grocery purchase. Currently, the USDA does not allow the use of SNAP funds to pay the fee charged for home delivery of grocery purchases.
In March 2020, the USDA opened its pilot program for online grocery purchasing to New Jersey's SNAP participants. Individuals participating in New Jersey SNAP may purchase groceries online through Amazon, and at 17 participating retailers Statewide, including major supermarket chains, membership warehouse clubs, and big-box stores.
The SNAP is a nutrition assistance entitlement program for low-income households regulated by the Food and Nutrition Service within the USDA, pursuant to the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.). At the State level, the program is administered by the county welfare agencies, under the supervision of the Division of Family Development (DFD) in the Department of Human Services.
