S 3811 — Requires Governor's Office of Volunteerism to promote and support volunteerism for compliance with certain eligibility requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP recipients; appropriates $200,000 to DHS, Office of Volunteerism, and DOLWD.**

S3811 1R2R [First[Second Reprint] SENATE, No.

SenatorSenators McKnight and Timberlake         SYNOPSIS           Requires DHSGovernor’s Office of Volunteerism to promote and support volunteerism infor connection to compliance with certain eligibility requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP recipients;

appropriates $125,000$200,000 to DHSDHS, and Office of Volunteerism.Volunteerism, and DOLWD.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Senate Health,Budget Human Services and SeniorAppropriations Citizens Committee on June 11,28, 2026, with amendments.

            2.   2.   a.

The Department2[Department of Human Services shall work in collaboration with thethe]2 Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State, or any successor entity, 2shall work with the Department of Human Services2 1and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development,1 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 the Medicaid community engagement requirements established in section 71119 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, 2on or before October 1, 20272 and with the expanded work requirements for SNAP established in section 10102 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21 2on or before October 1, 20272 1, as well as any subsequent federal regulations or guidance regarding these statutory requirements1.  At a minimum, these efforts shall include:

          (1)  (1)  1[Establishing, or modifying an] Modifying the1 existing, web-based 1[tool that allows] HELPNJNOW portal 2, or any equivalent successor portal2 to allow1 the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements;

          (2)  (2)  Engaging and soliciting non-profit and community organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other appropriate entities to identify volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements;

          (3)  (3)  1[Creating, or modifying an] Modifying the1 existing, web-based 1[database through which] HELPNJNOW portal 2, or any equivalent successor portal,2 so that1 entities can:can:  register with the State as an organization that offers volunteer opportunities in compliance with the applicable requirements;

 registerand withsubmit volunteer opportunities to be included on the State1[web-based astool anestablished organizationpursuant thatto offersparagraph volunteer(1) opportunitiesof inthis compliancesubsection] withHELPNJNOW theportal1 applicable2, requirements;or any equivalent successor portal2;

and submit      volunteer(4)  opportunitiesProviding toa belink includedto on the 1[web-based1existing1 toolweb-based 1[tool established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection] HELPNJNOW portal1;portal1, 2or any equivalent successor portal,2 as well as an explanation of the applicable requirements, on the State’s NJ FamilyCare webpage, the State’s SNAP webpage, the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism webpage, and any other relevant webpage as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services.

      b.   The Department of Human Services shall create, or modify an existing, 1web-based,1 mobile 1[application] friendly resource1 that allows NJ FamilyCare and     SNAP (4)  applicants Providingand abeneficiaries linkto submit to the 1existing1appropriate web-basedeligibility 1[tooldetermination establishedagencies pursuantall paragraphinformation (1)and ofdocumentation thisregarding subsection]volunteer HELPNJNOWor portal1,community asservice wellhours asthat an1[is] explanationare1 ofnecessary theto applicabledemonstrate requirements,compliance onwith the State’sMedicaid NJcommunity FamilyCareengagement webpage,requirements theestablished State’sin SNAPsection webpage,of the Governor’sfederal Office“One ofBig VolunteerismBeautiful webpage,Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, and anywith otherthe relevantexpanded webpagework asrequirements determinedfor bySNAP theestablished Commissionerin section 10102 of Humanthe Services.federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21.

          b.   c.   The1The Department of Human Services shalland create,the orDepartment modifyof anLabor existing,and 1web-based,1Workforce mobileDevelopment 1[application]shall friendlyestablish resource1a thatsystem allowsby NJwhich FamilyCare2to andsupport SNAPthe applicantstracking of work activities and beneficiariesparticipation, toincluding2 submitvolunteer tohours theand appropriatecommunity eligibilityservice determinationacquired agenciesby allSNAP informationapplicants and documentationbeneficiaries regardingunder volunteerthis orsection communitycan servicebe hoursshared thatbetween 1[is]the are1departments necessaryin order to demonstratecollaboratively complianceadminister with the MedicaidNJ communitySNAP engagementETP, requirementsas establishedthat term is defined in section 711192 of the2[P.Ll.2013, federalc.45] “OneP.L.2013, Bigc.452 Beautiful(C.44:10-96).  BillTo Act,”the Pub.L.119-21,extent andnecessary to comply with the expandedprovisions workof requirementsthis for2[section] SNAPsubsection2, establishedthe indepartments sectionshall 10102enter ofinto the federalapplicable “Onedata Bigsharing Beautifulagreements. Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21.

          c.    d.1 1TheThe Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall establishperform aannual systemaudit byreviews whichof volunteer hours and community service acquired by SNAP applicants and beneficiaries under this section can be shared between the departments2[volunteer inopportunities ordersubmitted topursuant collaboratively administer the NJ SNAP ETP, as that term is defined in section 2 of P.Ll.2013, c.45 (C.44:10-96).  To the extent necessary to complyparagraph with(3) the provisions of thissubsection section,a. the departments shall enter into the applicable data sharing agreements.

     d.1   The Department of Humanthis Servicessection, shalland performthe]2 annualinformation auditand reviewsdocumentation of the volunteer opportunities submitted pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a.b.

of this section, and the information and documentation submitted pursuant to subsection b.

          1[d.] e.1    e.1    The State shall 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 1existing1 web-based 1[tool established, or modified, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a.

of this section] HELPNJNOW portal1. portal1     2, or any equivalent successor portal2.        1[e.] f.1     f.1     As used in this act:

          “Medicaid” means the program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).

          “NJ FamilyCare” means the State-branded name given to the programs established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) and P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.).

          “SNAP” means the State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C.

            3.   3.   Notwithstanding the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the2[the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation withwith]2 the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State 2, in consultation with the Department of Human Services2 1and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development1 , shall adopt, immediately upon filing proper notice with the Office of Administrative Law, regulations that the Commissioner2[Commissioner of Human ServicesServices] Governor’s Office of Volunteerism2 deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, which regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 18 months from the date of the filing.  The Commissioner2[Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with thethe]2 Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State 2, in consultation with the Department of Human Services2 1and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development1, may thereafter amend, adopt, or readopt the regulations in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

            14.  There2[There is appropriated from the General Fund: Fund:] In the fiscal year beginning July 1 next following the effective date of this act, the Legislature shall appropriate2 to the Department of Human Services the sum of $50,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act;

and to the Office2Department of VolunteerismLabor locatedand inWorkforce theDevelopment Department of State the sum of $75,000$50,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act.1act;        1[4.

 This]and to the2 Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State the sum of 2[$75,000] $100,0002 to effectuate the provisions of this act.1         1[4.  This] 5.  The2[The provisions of this1 act 1that apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program1 shall take effect 1[immediately] no later than October 1, 2026.  The provisions of this act that apply to the NJ FamilyCare program shall take effect no later than October 1, 2027. 2027.]  This act shall take effect immediately.2  The Department of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance of these2[these effectives datesdates] the federally required implementation deadlines2 as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act1.