Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHS to use funds awarded from performance bonuses to increase staffing for processing certain applications and providing certain services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning funds received by the Department of Human Services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall use any funds received by the Department of Human Services, as a result of a performance bonus awarded to the department, for the purpose of increasing the number of trained personnel available to process applications for nutrition and public assistance and to provide services to individuals eligible for services from the department, as provided for in this section.
b. In the case of a performance bonus awarded for providing assistance under:
(1) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program established pursuant to the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), the funds from the bonus shall be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to provide for the timely processing of applications for nutrition assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and
(2) the Work First New Jersey Program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), the funds from the bonus shall be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to provide for the timely processing of applications for public assistance under the Work First New Jersey Program.
c. In the case of a performance bonus awarded for providing services to:
(1) individuals with developmental disabilities, the funds from the bonus shall be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to staff facilities defined in section 3 of P.L.1977, c.82 (C.30:6D-3) for individuals with developmental disabilities; and
(2) individuals with mental illness, the funds from the bonus shall be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to staff State psychiatric hospitals listed in R.S.30:1-7 and community residences for the mentally ill defined in section 2 of P.L.1977, c.448 (C.30:11B-2).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to use funds received by the Department of Human Services (DHS), as a result of a performance bonus awarded to DHS, for the purpose of increasing the number of trained personnel available to process applications for nutrition assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and public assistance under the Work First New Jersey program, and for providing services to certain individuals served by DHS.
If the bonus was awarded for performance in providing assistance under SNAP, the funds are to be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to timely process SNAP applications. Similarly, if the bonus was awarded for performance in providing public assistance under the Work First New Jersey Program, the funds would be used to increase personnel for timely processing of applications under that program.
In the case of performance bonuses awarded for providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness, the funds from the bonuses would be used to increase the number of trained personnel available to staff facilities for these individuals.