Read the full stored bill text
A2254
ASSEMBLY, No. 2254
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes New Jersey Food Security Coordination and
Response Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
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.