Bill > S4971

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, to promote and support volunteerism in connection to compliance with certain eligibly requirements for NJ FamilyCare and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients. On July 4, 2025, the federal law known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," Pub.L.119-21, or OBBBA, was adopted, requiring New Jersey to implement and expand certain work requirements for these two critical safety net programs. These changes will jeopardize current and future beneficiaries' access to these programs. One avenue of response to preparing the State for implementation is to help residents find bona fide volunteer opportunities that will satisfy these requirements and demonstrate compliance. Under the bill, the Department of Human Services is required to work in collaboration with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, or any successor entity, to modify and expand the State's existing volunteer resources such that information is easily accessible to State residents regarding compliance, via volunteer hours or community service, with NJ FamilyCare and SNAP work requirements under OBBBA. At a minimum, these efforts shall include: 1) Establishing, or modifying an existing, web-based tool that allows the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements; 2) Engaging and soliciting appropriate entities to identify volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements; 3) Creating, or modifying an existing, web-based database through which entities can register and submit volunteer opportunities to be included on the web-based search tool; and 4) Providing a link to the web-based search tool, as well as information regarding the applicable NJ FamilyCare and SNAP work requirements, on relevant State webpages. The bill also directs the Department of Human Services: 1) to create or modify an existing mobile application that allows NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries to submit to the appropriate agency all information and documentation regarding volunteer or community service hours that is necessary to demonstrate compliance with the work requirements under OBBBA; 2) perform annual audit reviews of information and documents submitted under the bill to verify accuracy and that no abuse or malfeasance is being committed; and 3) in consultation with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, to immediately adopt regulations that the Commissioner of Human Services deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act . Finally, the bill explicitly states that the State is to be immune from any liability for any injury incurred by a volunteer as a result of an individual's volunteer or community service stemming from the web-based search tool established or modified under the bill.

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Committee Categories

Teresa Ruiz (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 12/08/2025)

Official Document