SENATE SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 957

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 8, 1997

      The Senate Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Human Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 957 with committee amendments.

      As amended by the committee, this bill 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 adult recipients of the Work First New Jersey program.

      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. The program is expected to curtail welfare fraud and provide substantial savings to the State.

      The Department of Human Services (DHS) intends to implement Statewide high technology finger imaging identification for GA recipients and applicants and former AFDC recipients and applicants, under the Work First New Jersey program. 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.

      The committee adopted amendments to conform the bill to the provisions of P.L.1997, c.37 and P.L.1997, c.38 governing the Work First New Jersey program.