Revises Work First New Jersey program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program procedures to require information on security protocols be provided when replacement benefit cards are issued.

A4099

ASSEMBLY, No. 4099

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblyman� CHIGOZIE U. ONYEMA

District 28 (Essex and Union)

Assemblywoman� ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Walker

SYNOPSIS

���� Revises Work First New Jersey program and
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program procedures to require information on
security protocols be provided when replacement benefit cards are issued.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the Work First New Jersey program and
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and amending P.L.1997, c.37.

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

���� 1.� Section 5 of P.L.1997,
c.37 (C.44:10-75) is amended to read as follows:

���� 5. �a. �The department shall
implement the electronic benefit distribution system established pursuant to
P.L.1985, c.501 (C.44:10-5.1 et seq.) in every county of the State.

���� b.��� All cash assistance and
food stamp benefits shall be provided through the issuance of a single benefit
card utilizing the electronic benefit distribution system. The commissioner may
include additional programs in this system at his discretion.

���� c.���� No charge, including a
fee imposed by a terminal owner, shall be imposed upon a person receiving cash
assistance, food stamp or other benefits for participating in the electronic
benefit transfer system, except as follows:

���� (1)�� after three free cash
automatic teller machine withdrawals in a month, the department may deduct a
transaction fee from a recipient's account for each subsequent withdrawal;

���� (2)�� a recipient shall be
required to pay a fee for a replacement benefit card in an amount to be
determined by the commissioner, which may be deducted from the recipient's
account as determined by the commissioner, in accordance with federal law; and

���� (3) in the case of a recipient
who elects to receive benefits at a point-of-sale location licensed by the
Department of Banking and Insurance� pursuant to P.L.1993, c.383 (C.17:15A-30
et seq.), the State shall pay the licensee the difference between the contracted
base transaction fee and $1.00.� The provisions of this paragraph shall expire
two years after the effective date of the single Statewide electronic� benefits
distribution contract that is let pursuant to P.L.1997, c.37 (C.44:10-71 et
al.).

���� d.��� A retail establishment
currently authorized to participate in the federal food stamp program, or the
New Jersey Supplementary Food Stamp Program established pursuant to P.L.1998,
c.32 (C.44:10-79 et al.), shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in
the electronic benefit distribution system.

���� e.���� The department shall
cycle the issuance of cash assistance and food stamp benefits over multiple
dates throughout the month in a manner that best serves cash assistance and
food stamp recipients within the framework of the electronic benefit
distribution system in each county.

���� f.���� The commissioner shall
have the discretion to determine the need for appropriate benefit card security
measures, as well as whatever personal identification technology is included on
the benefit card, to access cash assistance, food stamp or other benefits under
the electronic benefit distribution system.

���� g.��� A county agency shall
issue a photo-identification card to each adult recipient as a condition of
receiving benefits until implementation of the electronic benefit distribution
system in that county agency. Once a county begins to implement the electronic
benefit distribution system, the county agency shall no longer be required to
issue a photo-identification card to each adult recipient but may continue the
issuance of photo-identification cards separate from the benefit cards.

���� h.��� Notwithstanding any
provisions of law to the contrary, until such time as the� electronic benefit
distribution system is implemented Statewide, contracts for the provision of
food stamp coupons are not subject to the requirements of the "Local Public
Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.).

����
i.�
A replacement benefit card shall be accompanied by written

instructions,
when the replacement card is issued, that clearly inform the recipient of the
procedures for locking and unlocking their card to

safeguard against
unauthorized use.

(cf: P.L.1997, c.37, s.5)

���� 2. �This act shall take effect
immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill revises the
provisions of State law concerning the Work First New Jersey program and
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program electronic benefit card security
protocols.� Specifically, the bill revises section 5 of P.L. 1997, c.37 (C.44:10-75),
which implements the electronic benefit distribution system, to require that a
replacement card be issued with instructions on how a recipient can lock and
unlock their card to prevent unauthorized use.� Under current law, the
Commissioner of Human Services is required to issue replacement electronic
benefit cards but is not required to provide recipients with written
instructions on how to prevent unauthorized use of the card at the time of
issuance.