SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5405

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 22, 2021

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5405.

      As amended, this bill appropriates $10 million to the Department of Agriculture from a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) established pursuant to the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Pub.L.116-136. 

      The bill requires $9.9 million to be distributed to the State’s six Emergency Feeding Organizations (EFOs).  The remaining $100,000 is allocated to the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger Program.  Farmers Against Hunger distributes excess food donated by farms and markets to various organizations that provide food directly to individuals.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 5405 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3527 (1R), which also was amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments clarify that $100,000 is to be allocated to the Farmers Against Hunger Program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.