ACR185

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Pinkin, Mosquera, Watson Coleman, Spencer and Assemblyman Wilson

SYNOPSIS

Urges Governor to apply to Secretary of Agriculture for approval to implement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program employment and training pilot program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Concurrent Resolution urging the Governor to apply for federal approval to implement SNAP employment and training pilot project.

Whereas, Federal law requires each state to operate employment and training (E&T) programs for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and

Whereas, Although the states currently receive federal funding for SNAP E&T program activities, as well as federal matching funds for state-funded expenditures in this regard, the federal Agricultural Act of 2014 (H.R.2642) would allow up to 10 states to receive additional federal funds for the development and implementation of pilot projects that are designed to test innovative E&T strategies, which may increase SNAP beneficiary earnings, enable more SNAP beneficiaries to obtain unsubsidized employment, and reduce SNAP beneficiaries’ reliance on public assistance; and

Whereas, Pilot projects that are approved by the United States Secretary of Agriculture would operate within the structure of current SNAP E&T rules, and could include any existing SNAP E&T components and services, as well as employment, education, and training programs that are authorized under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; and

Whereas, Each approved pilot project would be implemented over a period of not more than three years, and would be subject to a rigorous, independent evaluation of the project’s impact on beneficiary employment levels, earning levels, and other measures of well-being; and

Whereas, A total of $200 million in federal funds will be made available for pilot project implementation, independent project impact analysis, and the administrative costs associated therewith, and approved pilot programs will be 100% federally funded, with no state match required, during the three-year project implementation period; and

Whereas, Because the implementation of a pilot project in New Jersey would enable the State to take immediate action, at no cost thereto, to improve SNAP beneficiaries’ access to tools that may help them become gainfully employed, more self-sufficient, and less reliant on SNAP and other government benefits programs, and could also effectively position the State as a leader in the area of innovative E&T programming, it is both reasonable and appropriate for the State to take necessary action to ensure the timely submission of a State pilot project application to the Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The Governor is respectfully urged to timely submit an application to the United States Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (H.R.2642), requesting the approval of, and federal funding for, a State-level SNAP employment and training pilot project that would allow for the development of innovative strategies designed to improve the financial situation of SNAP beneficiaries, and reduce beneficiary reliance on SNAP and other government benefits programs.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to Governor Chris Christie and the Commissioner of Human Services.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution would urge the Governor to make a timely application to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for the federal approval and funding necessary to institute a State-level employment and training (E&T) pilot project for beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Although states already receive federal funding for SNAP E&T program activities, as well as federal matching funds for state-funded expenditures in this regard, the federal Agricultural Act of 2014 (H.R.2642) would allow up to 10 states to receive additional federal funds for the development and implementation of pilot projects, which are designed to test innovative E&T strategies that may increase SNAP beneficiary earnings, enable more SNAP beneficiaries to obtain unsubsidized employment, and reduce SNAP beneficiaries’ reliance on public assistance.

Approved pilot projects would operate within the structure of current SNAP E&T rules, and could include any existing SNAP E&T components and services, as well as employment, education, and training programs that are authorized under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Each pilot project would be implemented over a period of not more than three years, and would be subject to a rigorous, independent evaluation of the project’s impact on SNAP beneficiary employment levels, earning levels, and other measures of well-being.

A total of $200 million in federal funds will be made available to cover the costs of pilot project implementation, independent project impact analysis, and the administrative costs associated therewith, and pilot programs will be 100% federally funded, with no state match required, during the three-year project implementation period.

Because the implementation of a pilot project in New Jersey would allow the State to take immediate action, at no cost thereto, to improve SNAP beneficiaries’ access to tools that may help them become gainfully employed, more self-sufficient, and less reliant on SNAP and other government benefits programs, and could additionally position the State as a leader in the area of innovative E&T programming, it is both reasonable and appropriate for the State to take necessary action to ensure the timely submission of a State pilot project application to the Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014.