SENATE SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 676

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Agriculture Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 676, with committee amendments.

      Senate Bill No. 676, as amended, increases the maximum annual income limits for a New Jersey resident who is 65 years of age or over or who is disabled, and if single from less than $16,624 to less than $17,056, and if married from less than $20,383 (for both spouses) to less than $20,913, to be eligible for the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" (PAAD) program. As amended, the bill also allows a single, divorced or widowed person, whose annual income is less than $18,143, who is 65 years of age or over or who is disabled, and who has a dependent child under the age of 18 residing with him, or a married individual whose annual income, combined with that of his spouse, is less than $22,000 and who is 65 years of age or over or who is disabled, and who has a dependent child under the age of 18 residing with him, to be eligible for benefits under the PAAD program.

      The committee amended the bill to: 1) raise the annual income limits for a single person who is 65 years of age or over or who is disabled, from less than $16,624 to less than $17,056; 2) raise the annual income limits for a married individual, combined with that of his spouse, who is 65 years of age or over or who is disabled, from less than $20,383 to less than $20,913; 3) allow a single, divorced or widowed person, whose annual income is less than $18,143, who is 65 years of age or over or who is disabled, and who has a dependent child under the age of 18 residing with him, to be eligible for benefits under the PAAD program; 4) change the date from January 1, 1995 to January 1, 1996 and annually thereafter regarding the provision that income eligibility limits provided in subsection a. of section 1 of the bill shall increase by the amount of the maximum Social Security benefit cost-of-living increase for that year for single and married persons, respectively; and 5) change the effective date of the bill from immediately to 60 days after enactment, and allowing the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to take anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.

      The committee also made a technical change to the bill to conform to the proper name of the PAAD program.