A2254

An Act establishing the New Jersey Food Security Coordination and Response Program and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

“Program” means the New Jersey Food Security Coordination and Response Program established by this act.

“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.).

“WIC” means the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, established pursuant to the "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," Pub.L.89-642 (42 U.S.C. s.1771 et seq.).

2. a. There is established in the Department of Human Services the New Jersey Food Security Coordination and Response Program. The program shall be responsible for coordinating State programs and initiative to ensure:

(1) a coordinated, data-informed, and community centered approach to improving maternal and infant health outcomes; and

(2) access to food and nutrition resources and supports during times of crisis, including periods of widespread disruption in the distribution of State or federal food assistance benefits.

b. The department shall serve as the lead agency responsible for administering the program and entering into interagency agreements with the Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, Office of the Food Security Advocate, and any other relevant State or local entity, to carry out the purposes of this act.

c. The department, in coordination with appropriate State agencies and community partners, shall develop and implement a Statewide public awareness campaign to inform residents about available food and nutrition assistance programs and the process for applying for such benefits. The campaign shall place particular emphasis on reaching pregnant individuals and parents or guardians of young children, and shall include culturally appropriate materials in English, Spanish, and any other language deemed by the commissioner to be the first language of a significant number of individuals likely to access food and nutrition assistance programs, prepared for dissemination through multiple communication channels, including print, digital, and community-based outreach.

d. The department shall post on its Internet website all outreach and communication materials prepared and disseminated pursuant to this section and section 3 of this act.

3. a. The commissioner shall establish a Food Security Coordination and Response Working Group to guide the implementation of the New Jersey Food Security Coordination and Response Program.

b. The Food Security Coordination and Response Working Group shall include:

(1) the Commissioner of Department of Human Services;

(2) the Commissioner of Department of Health;

(3) the Commissioner of Department of Children and Families;

(4) the Commissioner of Department of Education; and

(5) at least five public members appointed by the Commissioner of Human Services who shall include one person representing a food bank, a maternal health care provider, a representative of a child care or after-school program, and two community-based service providers.

c. In the event of a widespread benefit disruption or an anticipated widespread benefit disruption, the New Jersey Food Security Coordination and Response Working Group shall prepare and disseminate culturally appropriate outreach and communication materials in English, Spanish, and any other language deemed by the Commissioner of Human Services to be the first language of a significant number of individuals likely to be affected. The materials shall inform SNAP and WIC beneficiaries of available resources, including, but not limited to, local food banks and other emergency supports that can assist with food access and nutrition support during the period of disruption.

4. a. There is established in the Department of Human Services a fund to be known as the “Emergency Food Security Coordination and Response Fund.” The purpose of the fund shall be to support food access and nutrition assistance activities for individuals and families affected by a crisis that threatens or disrupts access to food or nutrition benefits, including but not limited to disruptions in the distribution of SNAP or WIC benefits. The fund shall be used to provide emergency grants to local food banks, faith-based organizations, childcare and after-school programs, community doulas, and other community-based entities to distribute food, assist with SNAP and WIC enrollment, and provide maternal and family nutrition support during such crises.

The fund shall be the repository for monies appropriated to the Department of Human Services to carry out the provisions of subsection b. of this section.

b. The monies deposited in the fund shall be utilized by the department to administer and oversee emergency grant programs, and to coordinate with State agencies and community partners to support activities that enhance food access, assist with SNAP and WIC enrollment, and provide maternal and family nutrition support during a crisis. The department may also use monies from the fund to cover reasonable administrative, operational, and outreach expenses necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, including the development and dissemination of public information materials, technology and data systems improvements, and staffing required to implement emergency response activities. The fund shall be used to provide emergency grants to businesses and organizations that directly deliver food access and nutrition support during periods of widespread disruption to SNAP and WIC benefits, including but not limited to:

(1) local food banks and pantries;

(2) faith-based organizations and churches;

(3) licensed child care providers and after-school programs; and

(4) community doulas and maternal health providers.

c. The Emergency Food Security Coordination and Response Fund may receive:

(1) such sums as may be appropriated by the Legislature pursuant to section 6 of this act;

(2) any available federal funds, including emergency or contingency funds; and

(3) private donations, grants, or other contributions.

d. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Emergency Food Security Coordination and Response Fund, and all disbursements from the fund shall be made by the State Treasurer upon certification by the Commissioner of Human Services or the commissioner’s designee. The monies in the fund shall be invested and reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury in the same manner as other trust funds in the custody of the State Treasurer, in the manner provided by law. Interest received on the monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

e. The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, shall authorize the transfer of Emergency Food Security Coordination and Response Fund resources to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of this section.

5. a. The Department of Human Services shall develop, make available on its Internet website, and update at least quarterly, a data dashboard, that tracks:

(1) Statewide and county-level food insecurity rates;

(2) SNAP and WIC enrollment, renewals, and any benefits interruptions; and

(3) maternal and infant health indicators related to nutrition access.

b. The department shall publish an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), summarizing the data collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section and recommending strategies to reduce food insecurity.

6. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the commissioners of the departments represented on the Food Security Coordination and Response Working Group, shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L. 1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

7. This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment, except that the Commissioner may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the Food Security Coordination and Response Program, in the Department of Human Services, to ensure access to food and nutrition resources for SNAP and WIC recipients during a crisis, such as when a widespread disruption to the distribution of State or federal food assistance benefits occurs.

The bill requires the Department of Human Services to enter into interagency agreements with the Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, Office of the Food Security Advocate, and any other relevant State or local entity. The Commissioner of Health is to establish a Food Security Coordination and Response Working Group to guide the implementation of the New Jersey Food Security Coordination and Response Program. The working group is to include: (1) the Commissioner of Department of Human Services; (2) the Commissioner of Department of Health; (3) the Commissioner of Department of Children and Families; (4) the Commissioner of Department of Education; and (5) at least five public members appointed by the Commissioner of Human Services who is to include one person representing a food bank, a maternal health care provider, a representative of a child care or after-school program, and two community-based service providers.

The bill establishes a fund to be utilized by the department to administer and oversee emergency grant programs, and to coordinate with State agencies and community partners to support activities that enhance food access, assist with SNAP and WIC enrollment, and provide maternal and family nutrition support during a crisis.

The Department of Human Services is to, in consultation with the Food Security Coordination and Response Working Group, develop and maintain a publicly accessible online dashboard that tracks: (1) Statewide and county-level food insecurity rates; (2) SNAP and WIC enrollment, renewals, and any benefits interruptions; and (3) maternal and infant health indicators related to nutrition access. The Department of Human Services is to publish an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing the data collected and recommending strategies to reduce food insecurity.

The bill requires the Department of Human Services, in coordination with appropriate State agencies and community partners, to develop and implement a Statewide public awareness campaign to inform residents about available food and nutrition assistance programs and the process for applying for such benefits.

This bill appropriates money from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such as are available and appropriate, to implement the provisions of this act and establish the Emergency Food Security and Community Partnership Fund.