Sponsored by:
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Cruz-Perez and Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Concerns SNAP services provided at county boards of social services; appropriates $250,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 6, 2022, with amendments.
An Act concerning county boards of social services 1[and] ,1 supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes 1, and making an appropriation1 .
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Commissioner" means Commissioner of Human Services.
"Department" means Department of Human Services.
"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. a. The Department of Human Services, to the maximum extent permissible under federal law, shall establish a training program for 1[each employee of a]1 county 1[board] boards1 of social services 1[who assists] that assist1 individuals with SNAP enrollment and recertification processes. The purpose of the training shall be to educate employees on current federal laws, regulations, and standards concerning SNAP, and standard best practices to comply with federal SNAP requirements. The department shall review the training program and curriculum 1[at least once every six months] each year1 and 1[shall require modification of] may modify1 the training program from time to time, as need may require, to incorporate any changes to the federal laws, regulations, and standards concerning SNAP.
b. Participation in the training program established pursuant to this section shall be mandatory for all employees of a county board of social services who assist individuals with SNAP enrollment and recertification processes. 1[The chief administrative office of each] Each1 county board of social services shall be responsible for ensuring that all required employees complete the training program, at least once in each calendar year.
3. The Department of Human Services shall publish county-level case tracking data for SNAP on its Internet website that includes, but is not limited to: application approval rates, reasons for application denial, and average application approval time.
1[4. a. The Department of Human Services, to the maximum extent permissible under federal law, shall establish a one-year pilot program that conduct focused outreach efforts about SNAP benefits and provides application assistance to certain populations. The purpose of this pilot program shall be to increase enrollment, among certain underserved populations, of eligible participants in SNAP, which underserved populations include, but are not limited to, college students, immigrants, and older adults.
b. The application assistance for older adults; commissioner shall select one county board of social services in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State to participate in the pilot program.
c. The pilot program may include, but shall not be limited to, the following elements:
(1) the creation and dissemination of videos to educate older adults about SNAP and the application process;
(2) grassroots outreach about SNAP through senior centers, hospitals, doctor's offices, houses of worship, and other place where older adults may congregate;
(3) the provision of telephone
(4) the development of a social media campaign for college students that raises awareness about SNAP;
(5) the formation of partnerships with institutions of higher education and the higher education community, such as school administrators, professors, counselors, student health offices, campus food pantries, and financial aid officers, to raise awareness about SNAP among students and provide students with the necessary information to apply for SNAP;
(6) the establishment of campus representatives at institutions of higher learning who can educate students about SNAP and refer students to a local county board of social services;
(7) the promotion of SNAP outreach and application materials in different languages through organizations and faith-based communities that serve immigrants; and
(8) outreach through social and traditional media, especially non-English media, to reach immigrant populations.
d. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation, outcomes, and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional county boards of social services in the State.]1
1[5.] 4. a.1 The Commissioner of Human Services shall 1[: (a)]1 apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions of this act 1[; and] .1
1[(b)] b. The commissioner may1 adopt rules and regulations 1[, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.140 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.),]1 as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act 1, which rules and regulations shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law for a period not to exceed 18 months, and may, thereafter, be amended, adopted, or readopted in accordance with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.)1
15. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services the sum of $250,000 for the purposes of effectuating the provisions of this act.1
6. This act shall take effect immediately.