Bill > S3095

Introduced Session

This bill codifies federal regulations, found at 7 CFR s.272.4(b), which require the state agencies that administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide bilingual SNAP materials and services under certain circumstances. SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households. While the program is federally regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), SNAP eligibility determination agencies, such as county welfare agencies, in New Jersey, under the supervision of the Division of Family Development (division) in the Department of Human Services administer the program. The federal government pays the full cost of SNAP benefits and splits the cost of administering the program with the State. Specifically, the bill requires the division, in collaboration with SNAP eligibility determination agencies, to provide bilingual SNAP information and certification materials, as well as bilingual staff or interpreters to assist SNAP applicants or beneficiaries when there is a certain level of households that are of a single-language minority in the county or service area of the SNAP eligibility determination agency. Under the bill, "single-language minority" means households which speak the same non-English language and which do not contain any adult fluent in English as a second language. These provisions extend to areas where there is a seasonal influx of non-English-speaking households. If SNAP materials are required in only one language other than English, the materials may be printed in English on one side and in the other language on the reverse side. For multiple languages, the materials may be printed in English and may contain statements in other languages summarizing the purpose of the notice and the telephone number that the household may call to receive additional information in the appropriate language. Finally, the division is to develop estimates of the number of low-income single-language minority households, both participating and not participating in the SNAP, for each county or service area of a SNAP eligibility determination agency by using census data and knowledge of the area. If these information sources do not provide sufficient information for the division to make such a determination, each SNAP eligibility determination agency is required to record, for a 6-month period, the total number of single-language minority households that visit the office regarding SNAP. Those SNAP eligibility determination agencies that are contacted by over 100 single-language minority households in the 6-month period will be mandated to provide bilingual staff or interpreters. The division is required to combine the data collected in each SNAP eligibility determination agency to determine the need for bilingual SNAP outreach materials.

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Teresa Ruiz (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 04/11/2024)

Official Document