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A4941
ASSEMBLY, No. 4941
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� JERRY WALKER
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� Revises SNAP application process to include certain
notices, and certification and recertification requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a. The Division of
Family Development in the Department of Human Services shall create a notice
for State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants informing
applicants of:� (1) the eligibility and verification requirements for SNAP, and
(2) a county SNAP agency�s responsibility to assist the applicant in the
application process.� The division or the county SNAP agency, as applicable,
shall provide this notice to an applicant at the time of application for
certification or recertification of SNAP benefits.� The information in the
notice shall be written at a fourth-grade reading level and in English.� In
accordance with the provisions of P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), the
notice shall be translated into the top seven most common non-English languages
in the State, and in any other languages deemed necessary by the Commissioner
of Human Services based on SNAP applicant demographics. �
���� b.��� Subject to the
requirements of the federal SNAP law and regulations, SNAP applicants
certifying or recertifying eligibility, in addition to any other eligibility
requirements, shall self-attest to:
���� (1)�� dependent care expenses;
���� (2)�� SNAP household
composition;
���� (3)�� financial resources;
���� (4)�� shelter expenses; and
���� (5)�� citizenship status.
���� c.���� Provided that
immigration status is verified as required by federal SNAP law and regulations,
additional verification of the information self-attested to in subsection b. of
this section shall not be required unless the information is deemed
questionable.� If the self-attested information is deemed questionable, the
applicant shall receive written notice:� (1) explaining why the information is
questionable; and (2) containing examples of the types of documents the
applicant may provide to verify the self-attested information.� Pursuant to
federal SNAP regulations, the Division of Family Development in the Department
of Human Services shall establish guidelines to follow in determining what is
considered questionable information.�
���� d.��� As used in this act, the
�State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program� or �SNAP� means the program
established pursuant to the federal �Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,�
Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
���� 2.��� Pursuant to the
�Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the
Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Development in the Department
of Human Services shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the
purposes of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires the
Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to create a
notice that informs a State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
applicant of the household eligibility and verification requirements that must
be met as part of the SNAP application process.� The notice is also required to
include information on a county SNAP agency�s responsibility in assisting the
applicant throughout the application process.� This notice is required to be
provided in English and written at a fourth-grade reading level.� In accordance
with the provisions of P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), the notice will be
translated into the top seven most common non-English languages, and in any
additional languages necessary as determined by the Commissioner of Human
Services.�
���� Additionally, the bill states
that applicants, during certification or recertification, can self-attest to:
1.
dependent care expenses;
2.
SNAP household composition;
3.
financial resources;
4.
shelter expenses; and
5.
citizenship status.
Pursuant to federal regulations,
immigration status must be verified; however, additional verification of the
above-mentioned self-attestations will not be required unless the information
is deemed questionable.� If additional verification is required, the SNAP
agency must provide the applicant with a written notice:� (1) explaining why
the information is questionable; and (2) containing examples of the types of
documents the applicant may provide for verification of the questionable
information.
���� Lastly, the bill provides that
the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Development promulgate
rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this bill.