Bill Text: NJ A4090 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DHS establish a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-19 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A4090 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4090-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHS establish a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment program and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Department of Human Services shall establish a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program "SNAP" enrollment program as follows:
a. The SNAP enrollment program shall consist of events hosted by the department at which: individuals are provided with information on SNAP benefits; interested individuals' information is reviewed by representatives of DHS or participating county welfare agencies to determine eligibility for SNAP benefits; and individuals, who are determined to be eligible for SNAP benefits, are assisted with completing and submitting the application for SNAP benefits by representatives of the department or the county welfare agency.
b. The department shall sponsor SNAP enrollment program events six times each year, as follows: twice annually at a location easily accessible to individuals residing in Southern New Jersey; twice annually at a location easily accessible to individuals residing in Central New Jersey; and twice annually at a location easily accessible to individuals residing in Northern New Jersey.
c. The department shall collaborate with the Food and Nutrition Service in the United States Department of Agriculture and the appropriate county welfare agencies for each location to establish, coordinate, and publicize the SNAP enrollment program events.
d. The department shall establish a system through which information on the individuals who enrolled in SNAP at a SNAP enrollment program event is collected. The information to be collected shall include, at a minimum, the number of individuals who participated in a SNAP enrollment event and who were subsequently approved for SNAP benefits and the number of individuals who received, at a minimum, one payment of SNAP benefits subsequent to the SNAP enrollment event.
e. The department shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature, prior to January 1 of each year, providing information on the SNAP enrollment program events. The annual report shall include, at a minimum: the number of individuals who attended each event; the number of individuals whose eligibility status for SNAP benefits was reviewed by the department or the participating county welfare agency; the number of individuals who completed the application for SNAP benefits; the number of individuals who were approved for SNAP benefits; and, the number of individuals who received, at a minimum, one payment of SNAP benefits subsequent to the SNAP enrollment event.
2. The Commissioner of Human Services shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment, except the Commissioner of Human Services may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment program in the Department of Human Services. The bill requires the department to collaborate with the federal Food and Nutrition Service in the Department of Agriculture and the appropriate county welfare agencies to hold events twice a year at three different locations, representing all geographic areas, of the State. These six events will be an opportunity for individuals to learn about SNAP benefits, be screened for eligibility and, if eligible, be given the opportunity and assistance to enroll in SNAP.
The bill requires that the department prepare and submit to the Legislature, prior to January 1 of each year, an annual report providing information on the SNAP events held each year. The report is required to include: the number of individuals who attended each event, the number of individuals who were screened for eligibility at each event by the department or county welfare agencies; the number of individuals who were deemed eligible at each event; the number of individuals who applied for and were approved for SNAP benefits; and the number of individuals who received at least one payment of SNAP benefits after the SNAP enrollment event.
