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A5345
ASSEMBLY, No. 5345
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 28, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� BRIAN BERGEN
District 26 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
���� Streamlines application and extends certification
period for SNAP for certain populations; allows for low-cost or free delivery
in certain instances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program, and supplementing and amending Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.2021,
c.243 (C.44:10-81.3) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1. a. The Commissioner of
Human Services, to the maximum extent permissible under federal law, shall
review and streamline the SNAP application process, as provided in this
section.� The goal of the streamlining process shall be to maximize the
enrollment of eligible SNAP participants in New Jersey by increasing the
accessibility of the SNAP application.�
To the maximum extent permissible,
the commissioner shall also streamline the application process for households
in which all adult members are elderly or disabled.
���� b.��� In streamlining the SNAP
application process, as required by this section, the commissioner shall, at a
minimum, update the online application system to ensure the system employs
current technology and is user friendly, with features that include, but are
not limited to, easy account creation, easy user access, and easy tracking of
an applicant's application status.
���� c.���� The Department of Human
Services, working in consultation and cooperation with appropriate advocacy
organizations, shall engage in comprehensive outreach efforts to ensure that
New Jersey residents are made aware of their ability to apply for and obtain SNAP
benefits through a streamlined and expedited process.� At a minimum, the
department shall provide outreach at all health care facilities, social service
agencies that serve seniors in the State, and other organizations focused on
food assistance, and shall use all available media, including print, radio,
television, and the Internet, to inform residents of the availability of the
streamlined SNAP application process established pursuant to this section.
����
A State agency that
provides social services to individuals 60 years of age or older shall screen
such clients for eligibility for SNAP and assist the client with enrollment
into the program.
���� d.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United
States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to
implement the provisions of this section.
���� e.���� As used in this
section:
���� "Commissioner" means
the Commissioner of Human Services.
���� "Department" means
the Department of Human Services.
����
�Elderly or disabled� means
the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the federal "Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2012).
���� "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.).
(cf: P.L.2022, c.26, s.2)
���� 2.��� Section 1 of P.L.2023,
c.145 (C.44:10-81.7a) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1. a.
[
The
]
To the
extent permissible by federal law, the
Commissioner of Human Services shall
establish a standard certification period of not less than 12 months within
SNAP, except that the certification period shall be not less than
[
24
]
36
months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled provided that all
certified households shall have contact with a State SNAP administering agency
at least once every 12 months.� These certification periods shall not apply to
initial certification periods for expedited benefit issuance or if a shorter
certification period is necessary to align with the certification period of
another program or to ensure the proper issuance of benefits.
���� b.��� The Commissioner shall
apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of
Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions
of this section.
���� c.���� As used in this
section:
���� "Certification
period" means the period for which households shall be eligible to receive
SNAP benefits.
���� "Elderly or
disabled" means the same as defined in section 3 of the federal "Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2012).
���� "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.).
(cf: P.L.2023, c.145, s.1)
���� 3.��� (New section) a. To the
extent permissible by federal and State law, the Commissioner of Human Services
shall authorize the use of and may enter into public-private partnerships to
allow for free or low-cost delivery of SNAP-eligible foods to a SNAP
participant that is a housebound senior aged 60 years or older. �The
commissioner shall ensure that such participants spend no more than three
percent or $30, whichever is less, of their monthly allotment of SNAP benefits
on delivery fees of SNAP-eligible foods.
���� b.��� The Commissioner of
Human Services shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United
States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to
implement the provisions of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).
���� 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 as necessary to
effectuate the provisions of this act.
���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill would amend the State
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) law to allow certain New
Jersey residents who are elderly or disabled access to a streamlined
application and require recertification every 36 months, to the extent
permissible under federal law. �Under the bill, a State agency that provides
social services to seniors would be required to screen clients for eligibility
for SNAP and assist the client with enrollment into the program.
���� The bill also permits the
Commissioner of Human Services to authorize the use of or enter into
public-private partnerships to allow for the low-cost or free delivery of
SNAP-eligible foods to SNAP participants who are housebound seniors aged 60
years or older.� The maximum delivery fee for these participants would be no
more than three percent or $30, whichever is less, of their monthly allotment
of SNAP benefits.