ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 477

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 1996

      The Assembly Health Committee favorably reports an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 477.

      This substitute would require that the Commissioner of Human Services establish a high technology finger imaging identification program in the Division of Family Development, to be implemented by county and municipal welfare agencies for the aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) and general public assistance (GA) programs, respectively.

      Finger imaging identification uses computerized non-invasive technology to discover multiple fraudulent enrollments in the assistance programs by matching the finger image of one applicant for assistance against all recipients in the database. The finger imaging data is to be used for the sole purpose of preventing multiple enrollments.

      This program is expected to curtail welfare fraud and provide substantial savings to the State, as it did in Los Angeles County, California, which saved six million dollars in six months. In 1992, New York State enacted legislation adopting pilot programs to require high technology finger imaging identification for recipients of home relief in two upstate counties, Rockland and Onondaga. In 1995, Massachusetts enacted legislation to establish a similar pilot program for AFDC recipients, and the Governor there has proposed legislation to provide for Statewide finger imaging identification in the AFDC program.

      The Department of Human Services (DHS) intends to implement Statewide high technology finger imaging identification for AFDC and GA recipients and applicants as part of the Governor's "Work First New Jersey" welfare reform initiative, using existing resources in the department's recommended budget for Fiscal Year 1997. (Implementation of this requirement with respect to AFDC recipients would be subject to federal approval under existing federal law.) DHS is currently operating a pilot finger imaging program for GA recipients and applicants in 103 municipalities within the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union.