1. a. There is established in the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program. Under the program, the division shall distribute to each eligible household a monthly State SNAP benefit equal to the difference between the household’s federal SNAP monthly benefit and $95, which amount may be increased by the Commissioner of Human Services, as deemed appropriate and subject to available State appropriations. If federal funds become available for the purposes of this subsection, the Commissioner of Human Services shall utilize such federal funds as the primary source for issuing the monthly State SNAP benefit before State funds, if necessary, are expended. The State SNAP benefit shall be provided to an eligible household in addition to the federal SNAP benefit.

b. The program shall be subject to the same State rules and procedures for implementing the federal SNAP to the greatest extent possible, including, but not limited to, distributing the State SNAP benefit using the program’s Electronic Benefit Transfer system and requiring that benefits be used solely for the purchase of food as defined in 7 U.S.C. § 2012.

c. 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.

d. As used in this section:

“Eligible household” means a household that is certified to receive a federal SNAP benefit of at least one dollar per month, but less than $95 per month, or a larger amount as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available State and federal funds.

“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. § 2011 et seq.).

L.2022, c.32; amended 2023, c.13.