[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4876

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 15, 2019

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  JOANN DOWNEY

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblywoman  BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires county welfare agencies to conduct full eligibility screening of public assistance and social service programs for each applicant.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Human Services Committee on May 16, 2019, with amendments.

  


An Act concerning county welfare agencies 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 county welfare agency shall conduct a full eligibility screening of the public assistance and social service programs administered by the agency for each member of the public who submits an application for one, but less than all, of the public assistance and social service programs for which the agency accepts applications.

     For the purposes of this act:

     "County welfare agency" means that agency of county government, which is charged with the responsibility for determining eligibility for public assistance and social service programs.  1[The term county] "County1 welfare agency1"1 includes, but is not limited to, 1[agencies] any agency1 that may be locally known as the Board of Social Services; the Department of Citizen Services; 1the1 Division of Welfare; the Division of Social Services; the Division of Temporary Assistance and Social Services; or 1[as]1 the Department of Family and Community Development.

     "Public assistance and social service 1[programs] program1" 1[mean] means1 any program administered through a county welfare agency1,1 which 1program1 is authorized to provide assistance and services to needy persons, including1,1 but not limited to:  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.);  the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.); and the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.)1.1

 

     2.    The Commissioner 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.) to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the 1[fourth] sixth1 month next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Human Services may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.