New Jersey § 44:10-98

§ 44:10-98.

a. The commissioner shall issue a request for proposals from qualifying agencies to

participate in the project no later than 60 days following the effective date of P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-95 et seq. ). b. (1) The department shall select no fewer than three partnering providers, from

among qualifying agencies submitting proposals, to participate in the project. Partnering providers shall provide services under NJ SNAP ETP to eligible participants

and be eligible to receive federal reimbursements for those services pursuant to the

conditions of P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-95 et seq. ). (2) The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall extend the program beyond

the initial four-year period. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall, subject to the availability

of federal funds, annually issue a new request for proposals and maintain the participation

of no fewer than three partnering providers, from among qualifying agencies submitting

proposals, to participate in the project for each subsequent year. c. Each qualifying agency shall be evaluated for participation as a partnering provider

in the project based on the agency's capacity to: serve eligible participants under

NJ SNAP ETP; identify and utilize non-federal resources qualifying for federal SNAP

ETP reimbursements pursuant to the federal “ Food Stamp Act of 1964 ,” Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.); present and implement a coherent program plan for NJ

SNAP ETP activities, as described in subsection d. of this section; and perform effectively

each of the functions specified in section 6 of P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-100 ). d. Each qualifying agency's proposal shall include a program plan describing how the

agency's activities under the project would fulfill the purposes of NJ SNAP ETP. The program plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: (1) the program goals and objectives, including the agency's priorities for serving

eligible participants in the State; (2) the program design, including: strategies for targeting and recruiting eligible

participants; educational skills and training activities; work-related activities;

job preparation, placement, and retention activities; strategies for coordinating

with the county welfare agencies and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

and strategies for providing support services, including case management, early intervention,

career counseling, and referrals to additional programs and services; (3) the program budget, including the overall resources to be used to support the

agency's NJ SNAP ETP activities, the specific non-federal resources to be used to

generate federal SNAP ETP reimbursements, and the intended utilization of anticipated

federal SNAP ETP reimbursements; (4) the extent to which community partners, including subcontractors, will be involved

in the agency's activities; and (5) the agency's plans for performing each of the functions specified in section 6

of P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-100 ). e. In selecting partnering providers for participation in the project, the Department

of Labor and Workforce Development shall prioritize partnering providers that would: (1) serve SNAP recipients with significant barriers to employment, including, but

not limited to: able-bodied adults without dependents required to participate in

employment and training programs as a condition of receiving SNAP benefits; individuals

with a history of substance use disorder or other work limitations; ex-offenders;

individuals with low literacy or limited English proficiency; veterans who are not

eligible for other employment and training programs; and persons who are 16 through

24 years of age; (2) serve unemployed or underemployed parents, including non-custodial parents and

parents who have exceeded their Work First New Jersey TANF 60-month lifetime limit

on cash assistance; (3) provide training in both vocational and technical skills, as well as “soft skills,”

including, but not limited to: workplace preparation training, teamwork, problem

solving, time management, and conflict resolution; (4) provide training that results in marketable credentials and that prepares participants

for employment or reemployment in industries with projections of growth; (5) conduct job development activities and identify how job opportunities will be

secured to maximize SNAP recipients' permanent placement in employment providing compensation

at the level of a living wage and opportunities for wage progression; and (6) demonstrate a proven history of successful job placement and retention. f. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development may select partnering providers

that would provide NJ SNAP ETP services within any service area including, but not

limited to: the entire State; one or more regions encompassing several counties;

or a single county. g. Upon selection of a partnering provider, the Department of Labor and Workforce

Development shall negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding with the partnering

provider, the department, and county welfare agencies, as applicable. The memorandum of understanding shall define the extent and degree of assistance

and delineate the respective expectations, duties, and relations among the department,

the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the county welfare agencies, and

the partnering provider. h. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish standards of

performance for partnering providers conducting project activities pursuant to P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-95 et seq. ), including, but not limited to, standards for performing the programmatic functions

and financial functions required pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-100 ). The memorandum of understanding negotiated and executed pursuant to subsection g.

of this section shall include a performance-based system for distributing federal

SNAP ETP reimbursements to each partnering provider based upon the partnering provider's

achievement of the standards of performance. i. Upon finding that a partnering provider has not conducted its project activities

in accordance with the standards of performance established in subsection h. of this

section or that a partnering provider has otherwise failed to comply with the requirements

of P.L.2013, c. 45 ( C.44:10-95 et seq. ), the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development may: take such action as is

necessary to correct the deficiencies of the provider; and terminate the partnering

provider's participation in the project if the provider fails to take remedial action. j. Upon the effective date of P.L.2023, c. 271 ( C.44:10-102.1 et al.), 1 the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall designate each community

college in the State that provides allowable services to be a partnering provider

to deliver those allowable services under the project, provided that any designation

pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to approval by the Food and Nutrition

Service in the United States Department of Agriculture and provided further that nothing

in this subsection shall be interpreted as preventing the commissioner from subjecting

designated community colleges to reasonable reporting requirements and any other regulations

under the project. 1

L.2023, c. 271, eff. Jan. 16, 2024.