Bill Text: NJ SCR141 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs Governor to provide minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21 to every household in State that is eligible to receive benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-09-22 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [SCR141 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SCR141-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 141
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
Sponsored by:
Senator RAYMOND J. LESNIAK
District 20 (Union)
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Governor to provide minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21 to every household in State that is eligible to receive benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution directing the Governor to provide a minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21 to every household in the State that is eligible to receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Whereas, Under a new policy implemented pursuant to the federal Agricultural Act of 2014, households that qualify for energy assistance must receive more than $20 in annual energy assistance payments in order to maintain the household's eligibility for the standard utility allowance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides added SNAP benefits under a program commonly known as "heat and eat"; and
Whereas, By spending $3.2 million to provide eligible SNAP recipients with annual energy assistance payments of $21 per household, the State would continue to generate an additional $170 million in federal SNAP benefits for food-insecure households; and
Whereas, Maintaining the "heat and eat" program would bring $53 in benefits for every dollar invested; and
Whereas, The State could fund most of the $3.2 million by using federal funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, obviating the need for any increase in State spending, which has been the method used by a number of other states; and
Whereas, Studies have shown that every dollar of SNAP benefits generates almost twice that amount in economic activity. If New Jersey fails to maintain the program, the State would lose an estimated $300 million in economic activity, much of which would be on taxable goods, as these households would have to spend more money on non-taxable food items; and
Whereas, Of the 15 states affected by the "heat and eat" program, eight have already opted in including New York, whose Governor is a Democrat, and Pennsylvania, whose Governor is Republican; and
Whereas, The 160,000 New Jersey households affected by a potential cut in SNAP benefits are already hurting, and the effective cut in SNAP benefits resulting from the Governor's veto would make it harder for them to eat regular, balanced meals; and
Whereas, The most vulnerable residents of this State deserve stable sources of supplemental nutrition and heating resources, through a program that saves money and generates tax revenues for the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The Legislature directs the Governor to provide a minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21 to every household in the State that is eligible to receive nutrition assistance benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to Governor Chris Christie and the Commissioner of Human Services.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution directs the Governor to provide a minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21 to every household in the State that is eligible to receive nutrition assistance benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Under the federal Agricultural Act of 2014, households that qualify for energy assistance must receive more than $20 in annual energy assistance payments in order to maintain their eligibility for the standard utility allowance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides added SNAP benefits under a program commonly known as "heat and eat."
By spending $3.2 million to increase its annual energy assistance payment to $21 per household, the State would continue to generate $170 million in federal SNAP benefits. The State could fund most of the $3.2 million by using federal funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, obviating the need for any increase in State spending, which has been the method used by a number of other states.
