New Jersey § 44:10-75

§ 44:10-75.

a. The department shall implement the electronic benefit distribution system established

pursuant to P.L.1985, c. 501 ( C.44:10-5.1 et seq. ) in every county of the State. b. All cash assistance and food stamp benefits shall be provided through the issuance

of a single benefit card utilizing the electronic benefit distribution system. The commissioner may include additional programs in this system at his discretion. c. No charge, including a fee imposed by a terminal owner, shall be imposed upon a

person receiving cash assistance, food stamp or other benefits for participating in

the electronic benefit transfer system, except as follows: (1) after three free cash automatic teller machine withdrawals in a month, the department

may deduct a transaction fee from a recipient's account for each subsequent withdrawal; (2) a recipient shall be required to pay a fee for a replacement benefit card in an

amount to be determined by the commissioner, which may be deducted from the recipient's

account as determined by the commissioner, in accordance with federal law; and (3) in the case of a recipient who elects to receive benefits at a point-of-sale location

licensed by the Department of Banking and Insurance pursuant to P.L.1993, c. 383 ( C.17:15A-30 et seq. ), the State shall pay the licensee the difference between the contracted base transaction

fee and $1.00. The provisions of this paragraph shall expire two years after the effective date

of the single Statewide electronic benefits distribution contract that is let pursuant

to P.L.1997, c. 37 ( C.44:10-71 et al.). d. A retail establishment currently authorized to participate in the federal food stamp program , or the New Jersey Supplementary Food Stamp Program established pursuant to P.L.1998, c.32 ( C.44:10-79 et al.), shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in the electronic benefit distribution

system. e. The department shall cycle the issuance of cash assistance and food stamp benefits

over multiple dates throughout the month in a manner that best serves cash assistance

and food stamp recipients within the framework of the electronic benefit distribution

system in each county. f. The commissioner shall have the discretion to determine the need for appropriate

benefit card security measures, as well as whatever personal identification technology

is included on the benefit card, to access cash assistance, food stamp or other benefits

under the electronic benefit distribution system. g. A county agency shall issue a photo-identification card to each adult recipient

as a condition of receiving benefits until implementation of the electronic benefit

distribution system in that county agency. Once a county begins to implement the electronic benefit distribution system, the

county agency shall no longer be required to issue a photo-identification card to

each adult recipient but may continue the issuance of photo-identification cards separate

from the benefit cards. h. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, until such time as the electronic

benefit distribution system is implemented Statewide, contracts for the provision

of food stamp coupons are not subject to the requirements of the “Local Public Contracts

Law,” P.L.1971, c. 198 ( C.40A:11-1 et seq. ).