SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3234

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 31, 2019

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3234.

      As amended by the committee, this bill would require the State Chief Technology Officer of the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, to establish an “Anti-Hunger Link” on the official website of every State executive department.  The link will direct the website user to a dedicated Internet page that lists all of the emergency food programs in the State, including, but not limited to, emergency meal providers, food pantries, soup kitchens, child and senior feeding programs, faith-based anti-hunger initiatives, and other food programs.

      The State Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, will be required to establish and maintain the “Anti-Hunger Link.” However, if deemed appropriate by the State Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, the link and webpage may be established, hosted, and maintained by a nonprofit organization pursuant to an agreement between the nonprofit organization and the Department of Treasury.  The “Anti-Hunger Link” and the dedicated emergency food website are to be regularly updated pursuant to a schedule to be determined by the State Chief Technology Officer.

      As reported by the committee with amendments, Senate Bill No. 3234 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4703 (3R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that the dedicated emergency food program webpage may be established, hosted, and maintained by a nonprofit organization pursuant to an agreement with the Department of Treasury, if deemed appropriate by the State Chief Technology Officer in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture.

      The committee amended the bill to make certain technical corrections, including updating references to the Secretary of Agriculture, the State Chief Technology Officer, and the New Jersey Office of Information Technology.