ASSEMBLY AGING AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 6248

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 3, 2022

      The Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 6248.

This bill requires State agencies and political subdivisions of the State that are authorized to purchase goods and services to make a good faith effort to purchase five percent of such goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency, an agency established by the “Rehabilitation Facilities Set Aside Act.”

      Under current law, the “Rehabilitation Facilities Set Aside Act” assists persons who are blind or have a severe disability to achieve maximum personal independence through productive employment by assuring a continuous market for their goods and services, which are produced at qualified rehabilitation facilities and distributed through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The agency is designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to facilitate the distribution of orders received from various State agencies as provided in the act.

This bill furthers the goals of the “Rehabilitation Facilities Set Aside Act” and its implementing regulations to assist in the productive employment of individuals with special needs and codifies into law Executive Order No. 67 of 2005. The bill increases the purchase percentage from three percent to five percent.