Bill Text: NJ S1749 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Provides for student recipients of educational opportunity funds to be exempt from 20 hour weekly work requirement ordinarily required for student SNAP participation.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-02-06 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [S1749 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S1749-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides for student recipients of educational opportunity funds to be exempt from 20 hour weekly work requirement ordinarily required for student SNAP participation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on January 19, 2023, with amendments.
An Act concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Human Services shall authorize a student of higher education who is the recipient of an award from the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund to obtain nutrition assistance benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, regardless of whether the student satisfies the 20 hour weekly student work requirement established by federal law at 7 CFR 273.5(b)(5).
b. (1) The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall remain inoperative until 1[such time as the federal Food and Nutrition Service approves the change in, and authorizes a waiver of, existing federal student work requirements for the students identified in subsection a. of this section] the adoption of a federal law, regulation, waiver, or other approval authorizing the provisions of this act to take effect without penalty to the State and without loss of benefits to any enrollee under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program1 .
(2) Within 90 days after 1[the effective date] subsection a. of this section becomes operable as provided in paragraph (1)1 of this section, the commissioner shall: (a) apply 1[to the federal Food and Nutrition Service to secure any appropriate] for any1 federal approvals or waivers that may be necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of this section; and (b) take any additional actions as may be necessary to ensure that the State's implementation of this section is done in compliance with all applicable provisions of federal and State law and regulation.
c. Following the receipt of necessary federal approvals and waivers, as provided by subsection b. of this section, the department shall implement and enforce the provisions of this section. In so doing, the department shall institute a public awareness campaign that is designed to inform high school seniors and students of higher education about the new SNAP eligibility criteria applicable to Educational Opportunity Fund award recipients under this section.
d. As used in this section:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
"Educational Opportunity Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-31), which provides financial assistance to needy students to attend institutions of higher education.
"Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" or "SNAP" means the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
2. The Department of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
