Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Senator CHRIS A. BROWN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Stack and Turner
SYNOPSIS
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to issue supplemental cash assistance payments to Work First New Jersey recipients under certain circumstances; makes appropriation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning supplemental cash payments to Work First New Jersey recipients, supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Human Services, in collaboration with county welfare agencies, shall issue supplemental cash assistance payments to eligible recipients of the Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c. 38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), in addition to the standard benefits issued under the program, subject to the following conditions:
(1) during a public health emergency declared by the Governor, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-3), in which the commissioner determines that the standard benefits issued under the Work First New Jersey program are not sufficient to support the needs of recipients in the State; and
(2) the payments shall be in an amount equal to a recipient’s monthly benefit amount for the most recent complete month.
b. Following the initial determination to issue supplemental cash assistance payments as provided for in subsection a. of this section, the commissioner shall make all subsequent determinations on a monthly basis until the supplemental cash assistance payments cease.
c. The commissioner shall distribute the supplemental cash assistance payments via the State’s electronic benefit transfer system. If an eligible recipient does not participate in the electronic benefit transfer system, the commissioner shall determine the most efficient means to distribute the payment, which the recipient shall receive no later than 15 days following the initial determination.
2. There is appropriated such sum of money as may be necessary from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to implement the provisions of this act, including any necessary funds for the administration of the supplemental cash assistance payments.
3. The Commissioner of Human Services, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedures Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
4. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services, in collaboration with county welfare agencies, to issue supplemental cash assistance payments to eligible recipients of the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c. 38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), in addition to the standard benefits issued under the program, subject to the following conditions:
(1) during a public health emergency declared by the Governor, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-3), in which the commissioner determines that the standard benefits issued under the Work First New Jersey program are not sufficient to support the needs of recipients in the State; and
(2) the payments shall be in an amount equal to a recipient’s monthly benefit amount for the most recent complete month.
Following the initial determination to issue supplemental cash assistance payments, the commissioner is required to make all subsequent determinations on a monthly basis until the supplemental cash assistance payments cease. Furthermore, the bill directs the commissioner to distribute the supplemental cash assistance payments via the State’s electronic benefit transfer system. If an eligible recipient does not participate in the electronic benefit transfer system, the commissioner is to determine the most efficient means to distribute the payment, which the recipient is to receive no later than 15 days following the initial determination.
Under the bill, there is appropriated such sum of money as may be necessary from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to implement the provisions of the bill, including any necessary funds for the administration of the supplemental cash assistance payments.