Bill Text: NJ S3035 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Establishes State WFNJ Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and State WFNJ Diaper Benefit Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-06-27 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [S3035 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-S3035-Amended.html

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3035

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  RENEE C. BURGESS

District 28 (Essex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 15, 2023, with amendments.

  


An Act concerning a monthly State benefit 1[from] for1 menstrual hygiene products 1and diaper products1 under the 1[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance] Work First New Jersey1 Program, supplementing 1[Title 44 of the Revised Statutes] P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55)1, and making an appropriation.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      1.   a.  There is established in the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services the State 1[SNAP] WFNJ1 Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program.  Under the program, the division shall distribute to each menstruator 1participating1 in 1[an eligible SNAP household] WFNJ who is 18 to 50 years of age,1 a monthly State benefit of $14The division shall distribute the monthly State benefit via the 1[household's] participant's1 existing 1[SNAP] WFNJ1 electronic benefits card, on the same issuance date as the 1[household's] participant's1 standard 1[SNAP] WFNJ1 benefits.  A 1[household] participant1 shall be required to use any monthly State benefit issued pursuant to this section for menstrual hygiene products.  Any unspent funds from a 1[household's] participant's1 monthly State 1[SNAP] WFNJ1 Menstrual Hygiene Benefit shall be carried over to the next month, for use by the 1[household] participant1 for the same purpose.

     b.    As used in this section,

     "Menstrual hygiene products" means tampons, menstrual cups, or sanitary napkins used to collect or absorb menstrual fluids.

     1["SNAP"] "WFNJ"1 means the 1[New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance] Work First New Jersey1 Program, established pursuant to 1[the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.)] P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) in accordance with authorization received under Title IV of the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-193 (8 U.S.C. s.1601 et seq.), and includes both the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the General Assistance program1.

 

      12.  a. There is established in the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services the State WFNJ Diaper Benefit Program.  Under the program, the division shall distribute to each person participating in WFNJ a monthly State benefit of $30 for each dependent of the person who is under 36 months of ageThe division shall distribute the monthly State benefit via the participant's existing WFNJ electronic benefits card, on the same issuance date as the participant's standard WFNJ benefits.  A participant shall be required to use any monthly State benefit issued pursuant to this section for diaper products.  Any unspent funds from a participant's monthly State WFNJ Diaper Benefit shall be carried over to the next month, for use by the participant for the same purpose.

     b.    As used in this section, "WFNJ" means the Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) in accordance with authorization received under Title IV of the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-193 (8 U.S.C. s.1601 et seq.).1

 

     1[2.]  3.1    The Commissioner of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

 

     1[3.]  4.1   There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services 1[$1,000,000] $2,500,0001 to effectuate the provisions of this act.

 

     1[4.]  5.1    This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month  next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.

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