ASSEMBLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5880

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 16, 2021

      The Assembly Women and Children Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5880.

      As amended by the committee, this bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop and maintain, or enter into or modify an agreement with a third party to develop and maintain, mobile-friendly software for SNAP recipients.

      The mobile software program will include, but not be limited to, functionality that allows a user of the mobile software program who is a recipient of SNAP benefits to:  view the user’s SNAP case status and the current benefits the user receives; request an electronic benefit transfer card or a replacement card; upload and submit required documents for continued participation in SNAP and track the current processing status of those documents; receive notices and updates regarding important deadlines or actions; read and print notices and letters; update contact information; request to have a letter mailed to the user listing the amount of benefits the user receives; view local contact information for the County Board of Social Services for the county in which the user resides; and access any additional functionality as determined by the DHS.  The mobile-friendly software will also be required to be made available free of charge and in multiple languages.

      The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for any: 1) waivers from the federal government, which are necessary for approval and implementation of this act; and 2) grants through the SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grants program within the United States Department of Agriculture to receive federal funding to implement the provisions of bill.

      As amended, the bill appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the DHS to fund the development and maintenance of the mobile friendly software.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments replace the term “mobile software program” with the term “mobile-friendly software,” and defines the term as a computer program or web-based software application designed to be used in conjunction with a mobile electronic communication device and available through multiple software platforms.

      The committee amended the bill to remove the requirement that mobile-friendly software include a functionality that allows a SNAP recipient to view the current balance on the user’s electronic benefit transfer card and to receive alerts for upcoming SNAP appointments.

      The committee amendments stipulate that the mobile-friendly software is to allow a SNAP recipient to receive notices and updates regarding important deadlines or actions and to access any other functionality as determined by the department.

      The committee amended the bill to include a $2,000,000 appropriation from the General Fund to the DHS to fund the development and maintenance of the mobile friendly software.

      The committee amendments clarify that the Commissioner of Human Services is to promulgate rules and regulations that may be necessary to effectuate the bill’s provisions.

      The committee amendments provide technical changes to the title and the synopsis to reflect the addition of the appropriation.