Sponsored by:
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes “2020 New Jersey Burial Assistance Program;” appropriates $20 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on March 9, 2021, with amendments.
An Act establishing the “2020 New Jersey Burial Assistance Program1[,]1” 1[supplementing chapter 13 of Title 26 of the Revised Statutes]1 and making a $20 million appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Human Services the “2020 New Jersey Burial Assistance Program” for the purpose of providing financial assistance to individuals to cover eligible funeral expenses related to 1[COVID-19] coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)1 deaths during the COVID-19 1[crisis] pandemic1.
b. The Commissioner of Human Services shall administer this program and adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1), rules and regulations to implement this program. The commissioner shall determine eligible funeral expenses, establish a maximum amount of assistance per applicant, and devise a formula for the distribution of an amount of program funds to each applicant based on household income and need.
c. In order to qualify for this program, an applicant shall comply with the following conditions of eligibility:
(1) the applicant is a New Jersey resident;
(2) the applicant is filing for a death that a state, local, territorial, or tribal (SLTT) government licensed medical official has attributed to COVID-19;
(3) the applicant incurred or will incur eligible funeral expenses, not covered by other sources such as burial insurance or financial assistance from voluntary agencies, applicable government programs, or other entities; and
(4) the applicant1[ will provide] provides1 to the Department of Human Services the following documentation:
(a) an official death certificate or a signed statement from a SLLT government licensed medical officer attributing the death to COVID-19;
(b) an itemized funeral bill, any funeral receipts, and a funeral contract signed by the funeral director, indicating the applicant incurred or will incur eligible funeral expenses;
(c) documentation of burial insurance and any forms of funeral assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, charities, or other entities;
(d) information and documentation regarding the applicant’s available household assets and income as of the date of the death; and
(e) proof of New Jersey residency.
d.
1[As used in this section:
“COVID-19” means the coronavirus disease 2019, which is a highly infectious disease that causes respiratory illness.
“COVID-19 crisis” means the duration of the public health emergency and state of emergency, as declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020.
e.]1 The commissioner shall identify amounts of federal government assistance provided to this State for COVID-19 emergency relief, which can be allocated to this program.
2. There is appropriated to the Department of Human Services the sum of $20 million to be credited to the “2020 New Jersey Burial Assistance Program” to effectuate the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The amounts appropriated herein shall be funded first from assistance provided from the federal government to the extent not prohibited by federal law. The remaining amounts necessary to fund this program are appropriated from the General Fund.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire one year following the 1[rescission of Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 by the Governor.] end of both the state of emergency and public health emergency declared in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic1 .