Provides for drug testing of adult recipients of Work First New Jersey program benefits.

A4497

ASSEMBLY, No. 4497

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 9, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� DAWN FANTASIA

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Assemblyman� MICHAEL INGANAMORT

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Assemblyman� GERRY SCHARFENBERGER

District 13 (Monmouth)

SYNOPSIS

���� Provides for drug testing of adult recipients of Work
First New Jersey program benefits.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the Work First New Jersey program and
supplementing P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-44 et seq.).

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

���� 1.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:

���� a.��� The use of random drug
testing for adult recipients of benefits under the Work First New Jersey
program, and the enrollment of those individuals who have a substance abuse
problem in an approved treatment program, will enhance the efforts of this
State to assist families in need of both economic and social supports to
improve their condition and remove barriers to employment and the achievement
of economic self-sufficiency;

���� b.��� These measures will
conduce to the safety of children of drug-addicted parents who are at risk for
suffering child abuse and neglect and are more likely to abuse drugs than
children in other households; and

���� c.��� This bill will fulfill
the State�s responsibility to assist those persons who are facing drug-related
barriers to employment as part of its effort to strengthen families and help
everyone who is able to work to find a job and develop the economic and social
skills to be a productive member of society.

���� 2.��� a.� An adult recipient
of benefits under the Work First New Jersey program, on or after the effective
date of this act, shall be subject to random drug testing in a manner to be
prescribed by regulation of the Commissioner of Human Services.

���� b.��� The program shall assume
the cost of such testing.

���� c.��� A person�s eligibility
for benefits under the Work First New Jersey program or any other program of
public assistance shall not be dependent upon the results of such testing;
however, based upon those results, the commissioner may condition eligibility for
benefits under the Work First New Jersey program upon the person�s completion
of a drug treatment program approved by the commissioner.

���� 3.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services, as soon as is practicable after the date of enactment of this
act, shall apply for any federal waivers that the commissioner determines are
required to implement the provisions of this act.

���� 4.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to
effectuate the purposes of this act.

���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of
enactment, except that section 3 of this act shall take effect immediately; but
the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative
action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this
act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill provides for random
drug testing of adult recipients of Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program
benefits.

���� The bill provides specifically
that an adult recipient of WFNJ benefits, on or after the effective date of the
bill, will be subject to random drug testing in a manner to be prescribed by
regulation of the Commissioner of Human Services.� The WFNJ program is to
assume the cost of such testing.� A person�s eligibility for benefits under the
WFNJ program or any other program of public assistance will not be dependent
upon the results of such testing; however, based upon those results, the
commissioner may condition eligibility for WFNJ benefits upon the person�s
completion of a drug treatment program approved by the commissioner.� The
commissioner, as soon as is practicable after the bill�s enactment, is to apply
for any federal waivers that the commissioner determines are required to
implement the bill�s provisions.

���� The bill will take effect on
the first day of the seventh month following the date of enactment, except for
the provision that requires the commissioner to seek any necessary federal
waivers, which will become effective immediately.