S2329 —

S2329 1RCV FISCALSENATE ESTIMATEBILL  NO. LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

2329 STATE(First OFReprint) NEW  JERSEY  219thTo LEGISLATUREthe  Senate: DATED:

MAY     21,Pursuant 2020to  Article  V, SUMMARYSection  I, Synopsis:Paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution, I am returning Senate Bill No.

Revises2329 requirements(First Reprint) forwith cashmy assistancerecommendations benefitsfor underreconsideration. Work First New Jersey program;

appropriatesThis $17bill millionwould Typemake a variety of Impact:changes to the criteria for eligibility to participate in the Work First New Jersey program.  Among other things, the bill would revise work experience requirements, expand the earned income disregard for purposes of determining income eligibility, and broaden eligibility requirements for immigrants and students enrolled in institutions of higher education.

Annual In increasesaddition, the bill would annually increase the monthly temporary assistance for needy families (“TANF”) benefit according to the consumer price index, plus an amount equal to 33.3 percent of the difference between the benefit amount and percent of the federal poverty level.  Although the bill would appropriate $17 million from the General Fund to implement its provisions, the fiscal note prepared by the Office of Legislative Services estimates that the increase in the monthly TANF benefit would cost approximately $24.4 million annually and that the bill’s other provisions would result in additional, indeterminate increases on State expenditures Agenciesunder Affected:the TANF and General Assistance components of the Work First New Jersey program.

DepartmentWork ofFirst HumanNew ServicesJersey  benefits  provide Officea ofcritical Legislativelifeline Servicesto Estimatevulnerable Fiscalpopulations Impactin YearNew 1 Jersey, Yearenabling 2 individuals Yearand 3families Stateto Costexit Increasepoverty.  IndeterminateIt  is  for ·        this Thereason Officethat ofthe Legislativefirst Servicestwo (OLS)budgets estimates that theI billsigned wouldincluded increasesubstantial annualincreases Statefor expendituresmonthly bycash indeterminateassistance amountsand bysafety makingnet changesservices, tosuch theas formulaemergency andhousing requirementsassistance, forjob cashtraining assistanceand benefitscase availablemanagement.  toWorking low-incomein familiesclose andcollaboration individualswith undermy colleagues in the Legislature, Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)assistance program. increased Basedby onten certainpercent assumptionsin Fiscal Year 2019 and availableby data,an theadditional provisiontwenty ofpercent thein billFiscal increasingYear 2020.  In Fiscal Year 2019, my legislative partners and I also eliminated the monthlyWork cashFirst assistancefamily benefitscap, undera WFNJpunitive wouldrule itselfthat costunfairly atlimited leastfamily $2.3benefits millionregardless duringof size.  These measures, the extendedfirst FYmeaningful 2020increases andin $22.1cash millionassistance overin thea ninegeneration, monthstranslated ofinto FYdirect 2021. relief Thefor OLSindividuals notesand thatfamilies in need across the billState, appropriatesincreasing $17the millionmonthly inTANF FYallowance 2020for a family of three receiving from $424 to implement$559 theseand programthe changes.monthly General Assistance allowance from $140 to $185.

 I ·        commend Multiplethe otherbill’s provisionssponsors infor their efforts to build upon the billcritical wouldsteps alsowe increase,have byalready indeterminatetaken amounts,to annualreduce Statepoverty expendituresacross underour theState WFNJ/Temporaryand Assistanceappreciate fortheir Needyadvocacy Familiesfor (TANF)a broader and WFNJ/Generalmore Assistancegenerous (GA)safety programs. net However,at a time when so many families are facing unprecedented economic challenges.  The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the magnitudenumber of theseNew increasesJerseyans isat uncertainrisk becauseof entering poverty and exacerbated the numberfinancial struggles of peoplethose whoalready mayin seekcrisis.  WFNJHowever, cashalthough assistanceI benefitssupport duemany toof the deterioratingbill’s economicworthy conditionsinitiatives, fromI am unable to approve the COVID-19bill pandemicin isits unknown. present Forform thisbecause reason,it aswould welltrigger asan aindeterminate, lackunbudgeted ofcost.  timelyEven accessunder tonormal certaincircumstances, WFNJI enrollmentwould andbe benefitshesitant data,to theendorse OLSa isbill unablewith tosuch determinefar-reaching thefiscal preciseimplications costsoutside of the billannual atbudget thisnegotiation time.process;

  ·         During the stateState’s ofcurrent emergencybudgetary or public health emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever is longer, the bill would increase program enrollment by permitting county welfare agency staff to deem presumptive eligibility for WFNJ applicants who appear to be eligible for benefits, based on submitted financial statements and othereconomic informationconditions immediatelycompel availableeven atgreater therestraint. time of application.  Moreover, to the extent that a WFNJ recipient is unable to comply with work activity requirements during the COVID-19 state of emergency or public health emergency, any month in which the recipient is unable to comply with work activity requirements would not count toward the recipient’s 60-month limit on WFNJ benefits.

 The  COVID-19 BILLpandemic DESCRIPTIONis  having      a Thisprofoundly billnegative wouldimpact reviseon the requirementsState’s foreconomy cashand assistancefinancial benefitscondition.  underThe thehard WFNJreality program,is whichthat provideswe cashwill andcontinue other assistance to low-incomeface Newunprecedented Jerseybudgetary residentschallenges in order to alleviate the negativecoming effectsmonths ofand poverty. beyond.  TheI WFNJhave programsbeen includeadvised theby TANF program, which assists families with dependent children, and the GAState program,Treasurer whichthat supportswe adultsexpect withoutthis dependentpandemic children.  The monthly cash benefit allocated to acause householdprecipitous isdeclines basedin onrevenues thewell household’sinto size.  Fiscal FundingYear for2021.  TANFWhile benefitsI isabsolutely splitshare between the federalsponsors’ government,concerns whichfor allocates funding to the Statewell-being in the form of athose blockin grant,need, andit the State.  Funding for the GA program is providedincumbent solelyupon fromus theto State’smake Generalinformed Fund.  decisions       Specifically, the bill provides that an individual who is otherwise eligible for GA benefits under WFNJ will not be deemed ineligible for public assistance solely on the grounds that the individual is enrolled in anfull institutionconsideration of higherour education.financial position.

     As Themy billAdministration addscontinues languageto clarifyingfight that,for whendirect determiningassistance whetherfrom goodour causefederal existsgovernment, there are steps that our State must take on its own to excusesecure noncomplianceour withbudgetary programand requirements,cash goodflow causeposition.  Among the most crucial is swift passage of the New Jersey COVID‑19 Emergency Bond Act (“Bond Act”), which will allow New Jersey to beaccess consideredbillions broadlyof dollars in considerationloans ofthrough the recipient’sfederal health,lending safety,facility familyand needs,the financialpublic considerations, and otherprivate factorsmarkets.  asPassing determinedthe byBond Act is essential to ensuring the commissioner.State can meet its short-term obligations in light of present revenue and liquidity challenges.

     While TheI cannot approve the new spending authorized by this bill willat expanda time when the earnedState’s incomefiscal disregardcircumstances forare so dire, I have worked closely with the purposesDepartment of Human Services to identify critical reforms to the program. Work CurrentFirst lawNew providesJersey that,program forthat recipientswill employedprovide 20significant orrelief moreto hoursthose in need, while having a minimal impact on the State’s budget.  My recommended revisions retain the bill’s reduction in work requirements from 40 hours per week to 30 hours per week, and certainto recipients20 hours per work for families with ayoung disabilitychildren, and expand to six months the period of time in which children and adults who arefollow unableprogram rules can continue to receive benefits while a member of their assistance unit is out of compliance with Work First New Jersey program rules.  These changes will work together to help more thanfamilies 20maintain hourseligibility perfor week,Work 100First percentNew Jersey while striving to meet the program’s work requirements.  I also have revised language in the bill increasing the child support pass through for TANF families in receipt of earnedchild incomesupport based on the number of children in the assistance unit, ensuring that the pass-through amount is disregardedgreater for families with two or more children.  I comment the firstbill’s monthsponsors infor whichtheir itefforts wouldto behelp countedfamilies ason earnedTANF income;access more child support resources.

theFinally, disregardmy dropsrecommendations tomaintain 75 percent for the nextbill’s sixrevisions consecutiveto monthsthe aftergeneral that,purposes and togoals 50 percent for each consecutive month of employment after that.  In the caseWork ofFirst recipientsNew workingJersey lessprogram.  thanAlthough 20these hourschanges perare month,largely thesymbolic, disregardthey iscontain 100important percentand forlong theoverdue firstrevisions fullto monthoutdated of employment and 50offensive percentlanguage forconcerning eachsafety continuousnet monthprograms ofand employmentthe afterindividuals that. and      families Thewho billutilize revisesthem.  theI earnedlook incomeforward disregard to allowworking aclosely 100with percentmy disregardpartners forin the firstLegislature two full months of employment in which the earneddays incomeand wouldweeks beahead counted. to Theaddress disregardthe wouldunprecedented thenbudget dropchallenges toour 75State percentfaces.  forOnce sixwe cumulativehave monthstaken ofthe employment,necessary andsteps to 50improve percentour forfiscal eachposition, monthI ofinvite employmentthe thereafter. Legislature Ifto awork recipientwith losesme employmentto thenrevisit becomesthis reemployed,and thesimilar twoissues monthsto ofaid 100in percentthe incomeState’s disregardrecovery andfrom the sixCOVID-19 monthspandemic. of 75 percent income may be reapplied no more than once every 12-months;

otherwise,Therefore, theI 50herewith percentreturn incomeSenate disregardBill willNo. apply.        The bill revises the eligibility criteria for aliens, which currently makes various distinctions on who is eligible based on the individual’s date of entry into the United States, country of origin, length of time in the United States, whether the individual is a veteran, whether the individuals is a victims of domestic violence, and whether the individual has satisfied certain work requirements, among other factors, to revise the term to refer to “eligible immigrants” and provide that the term applies to all immigrants who otherwise meet program requirements and are lawfully present in the United States.  The term will include individuals who are “qualified aliens” or “lawfully present” for the purposes of federal law, individuals granted relief from federal immigration laws under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and any other non-citizen or non-national of the United States who is otherwise authorized to live in the United States.

     2329 The(First Reprint) bill requires that, when a recipient has reached months of benefits, welfare agencies are to offer additional case management and supportiverecommend servicesthat toit thebe recipient,amended basedas onfollows: an assessment of the barriers to the recipient securing employment.

     Page The2, amendedTitle, billLine requires,1:             commencingAfter September“program,” 1,insert through“and” July  1,Page 2022,2, theTitle, TANFLine benefit2:             amountAfter to“law” beinsert annually“.” increased  byPage any2, increaseTitle, inLine the2:             consumerDelete price“, indexsupplementing plusTitle an44 amountof equalthe” to  33.3Page percent2, ofTitle, theLine difference3:             betweenDelete thein benefitits amountentirety    Page 2, Section 1, Lines 8-35:     Delete in effecttheir asentirety of  thePage effective2, dateSection of2, theLine bill37:        Delete “2.” and 50insert percent“1.” of  thePage federal2, povertySection level2, inLine effect40:        asAfter of“training” theinsert effective“only” date  ofPage the2, bill. Section During2, thisLine period,41:        GAAfter benefits“public” willinsert be“, annuallyprivate increasednonprofit” by  aPage percentage2, amountSection equal2, toLine the41:        percentageAfter increase“private” ininsert TANF“charitable” benefits  forPage that3, year. Section Commencing2, JulyLine 1,1:         2023,Delete the“unless TANFthe” benefit  amountPage is3, toSection be2, annuallyLines increased2-4:      byDelete anyin amounttheir necessaryentirety to  makePage 3, Section 2, Line 25:        After “training” insert “, if, before the benefitstudent amountattains equivalentage 19, the student may reasonably be expected to atcomplete leastthe 50student’s percentprogram of thesecondary federalschool povertyor leveltraining”   Page 3, Section 2, Line 36:        after “payments” insert “,”   Page 3, Section 2, Line 36:        Delete “other”   Page 3, Section 2, Lines 37-38:    Delete in effecttheir onentirety that  JulyPage 1,5, andSection the3, GALines benefit9-46:     isDelete toin betheir increasedentirety by  anyPage increase6, Section 4, Lines 1-47:     Delete in thetheir consumerentirety price  index. Page      7, InSection addition,4, commencingLines July1-10:     1,Delete 2023,in thetheir commissionerentirety is  toPage conduct7, anSection annual5, assessmentLines of12-48:    theDelete realin costtheir ofentirety living  andPage actual8, deprivationSection as5, reflectedLines 1-39:     Delete in their entirety   Page 8, Section 6, Line 41:        Delete “6.” and insert “2.”   Page 9, Section 6, Line 18:        After “training” insert “, if, before the currentstudent standardattains ofage need19, establishedthe pursuantstudent may reasonably be expected to currentcomplete law;the student’s program of secondary school or training”   Page 9, Section 6, Line 28:        After “means” insert “one of the following:

the  commissioner                                  willa.   bea requiredqualified toimmigrant transmitadmitted this assessment to the LegislatureUnited forStates considerationprior whento decidingAugust on22, appropriations1996, towho fundis casheligible assistancefor benefits. means-tested, Infederally nofunded casepublic maybenefits benefitpursuant amountsto befederal reduced.law;

       The                                  billb.   providesa thatrefugee, theasylee, fullvictim amount of childhuman supporttrafficking, providedor toperson thegranted assistancewithholding unitof fordeportation whichunder federal reimbursementlaw isfor waivedthe isperson's tofirst passfive throughyears toafter thereceiving unit.  Child support that passesclassification throughin to the unitUnited willStates notpursuant countto asfederal income.law;

       The                                  billc.   reducesa thequalified hourlyimmigrant requirementwho foris worka activityveteran fromof, 40or hourson peractive weekduty toin, 30the hoursarmed perforces week,of and provides that the maximumUnited aggregateStates, requirementor isthe 20spouse hoursor perdependent week for assistance units with a child under six years of age. that Currentperson lawpursuant providesto forfederal alaw; deferral from the work activity requirement for parents and relatives caring for a child under 12 weeks of age;

the  bill     extends                             thisd.   deferrala torecipient applyof torefugee parents and relativesentrant caringassistance foractivities or a childCuban underor oneHaitian yearentrant ofpursuant age.to federal law;

       The     amended                             bille.   adds a provisionlegal topermanent theresident sectionimmigrant of law concerning the sanctions that may be imposed for noncompliance with program requirements to specify that any sanctions imposed are to be applied only to the pro-rata share of an adult recipient who ishas noncompliant,worked and40 willqualifying notquarters apply to any other adult or child members of thecoverage assistanceas unitdefined whounder areTitle compliantII with program requirements, which members will continue to be eligible for their full pro-rata share of cash assistance benefits.  If the casesfederal ofSocial allSecurity theAct; adult members of the assistance unit are closed for noncompliance, the dependent child members will still receive their pro-rata share of assistance benefits as a dependent child-only unit.

     except Ordinarily,that, recipientsfor areany allowedperiod after December 31, 1996, a lifetimequarter totalduring ofwhich monthsan individual received means-tested, federally funded public benefits shall not count toward the total number of benefits;quarters;

however,  current     law                             providesf.   fora anqualified extensionimmigrant admitted to the United States on or after August 22, 1996, who has lived in certainthe cases,United includingStates upfor toat 12least additionalfive monthsyears ofand is eligible for means-tested, federally funded public benefits inpursuant casesto where:federal law;

or                                     g.   a recipientqualified wouldimmigrant bewho subjecthas been battered or subjected to extreme hardshipcruelty in the absenceUnited States by a spouse, parent or a member of WFNJthe assistance;spouse or parent's family residing in the same household as the immigrant, or a qualified immigrant whose child has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the United States by a spouse or parent of the immigrant, without the active participation of the immigrant, or by a member of the spouse or parent's family residing in the same household as the immigrant.  In either case, the spouse or parent shall have consented or acquiesced to the battery or cruelty and there shall be a substantial connection between the battery or cruelty and the need for benefits to be provided.  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an immigrant during any period in which the individual responsible for the battery or cruelty resides in the same household or assistance unit as the individual subjected to the battery or cruelty.  Benefits shall be provided to the extent and for the period of time that the immigrant or immigrant's child is eligible for the program.

                                    For the recipientpurposes of this section, “qualified immigrant” is engageddefined pursuant to the provisions of section 431 of Title IV of Pub.L.104-193.”   Page 10, Section 6, Lines 22-31:   Delete in full-timetheir employmententirety but  remainsPage eligible10, forSection benefits6, basedLines on33-35:   incomeDelete disregards;“other than child support payments provided to an assistance unit pursuant to subsection c.

of section 6 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-49)”   Page 11, Section 7, Line 33:       Delete “7.” and insert “3.” Page 11, Section 7, Lines 37-38:   Delete “, except that in no case may the recipientcommissioner hasreduce notbenefits hadlevels” an  opportunityPage 13, Section 8, Line 24:       Delete “8.” and insert “4.”   Page 13, Section 8, Lines 42-44:   Delete “that is equal to engagethe maximum benefit amount for which the federal reimbursement share is waived,”   Page 13, Section 8, Line 45:       After “month” insert “and the number of children in workaccordance activities;with federal law”   Page 14, Section 9, Line 1:        Delete “9.” and interest “5.”   Page 15, Section 9, Line 7:        After “effectively” insert “.”   Page 15, Section 9, Lines 8-9:     Delete in their entirety   Page 15, Section 10, Line 12:      Delete “10.” and insert “6.”   Page 15, Section 10, Line 15:      After “training” insert “only”   Page 15, Section 10, Line 16:      After “public” insert “, private nonprofit”   Page 15, Section 10, Line 16:      After “private” insert “charitable”   Page 15, Section 10, Line 21:      Delete “unless the” and insert “.”   Page 15, Section 10, Lines 22-24:  Delete in their entirety   Page 16, Section 10, Line 9:       After training insert “, if, before the student attains age 19, the student may reasonably be expected to complete the student’s program of secondary school or training”   Page 16, Section 10, Line 19:      After “means” insert “one of the following:

or  the     recipient                             wasa.   engageda inqualified full-timeimmigrant employmentadmitted andto was income-ineligible, but the recipientUnited wasStates terminatedprior from employment through no fault of the recipient.  The bill revises the exceptions involving employment to provideAugust that22, they1996, will apply to any form of employment, not just full-time employment.  The bill further provides that an exception will be provided for any parent of a minor child who was in compliance with program requirements for the six months of enrollment immediately preceding the date the recipient reached the 60-month limit.        The bill provides that WFNJ benefits received while the individual is undereligible 18 years of age will not count against the 60-month lifetime limit on benefits.  The bill further provides that, in the event any adult in an assistance unit loses eligibility on the grounds that the individual reached the 60-month cap, that loss of eligibility will not affect the eligibility of any other recipient in the assistance unit, including, but not limited to, a minor child who is receiving assistance.        The bill provides that, for themeans-tested, durationfederally offunded the state of emergency or public health emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever is longer, an applicant who appears to be eligible for benefits underpursuant WFNJ based on the applicant’s certification of income, resources, and family composition, and based on other information immediately available to thefederal agencylaw; at the time of application, will be deemed presumptively eligible for WFNJ assistance and immediate need assistance.  Additionally, any months in which a recipient is unable to comply with work activity requirements because of the COVID-19 state of emergency or public health emergency will not count against the 60-month lifetime cap on benefits.

       The                                  billb.   appropriatesa $17refugee, millionasylee, fromvictim theof Generalhuman fundtrafficking, toor theperson Divisiongranted withholding of Familydeportation Developmentunder federal law for the purposesperson's offirst implementingfive theyears provisionsafter ofreceiving that classification in the bill.United States pursuant to federal law;

        FISCAL                             ANALYSISc.    a EXECUTIVEqualified BRANCHimmigrant  who      is Nonea received.veteran of, or on active duty in, the armed forces of the United States, or the spouse or dependent child of that person pursuant to federal law;

        OFFICE                             OFd.   LEGISLATIVEa SERVICESrecipient  of      refugee The OLS concludes that the bill would increase annual State expenditures by indeterminate amounts by making several changes to the formula and requirementsentrant for cash assistance benefitsactivities availableor toa low-incomeCuban familiesor andHaitian individualsentrant underpursuant the WFNJ program.  Based on certain assumptions and available benefit enrollment data, the OLS estimates that the provision in the bill that would raise the monthly benefit amount available to recipientsfederal underlaw; both the TANF and GA programs would increase State expenditures by at least $2.3 million during the extended FY 2020, and $22.1 million in FY 2021, which runs from October 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

 This  estimate     is                             basede.   on the maximum TANF monthly grant for a familylegal ofpermanent threeresident andimmigrant thewho maximumhas GAworked monthly40 grantqualifying forquarters an individual in FY 2020.  To the extent that TANF and GA grant recipients receive a higher or lower monthly grant amount, based on such variable factors as family size, disability, and hours worked, the cost of thiscoverage provision of the bill could increase or decrease from estimated amounts.        Beginning September 1, 2020, the effective date of this provision of the bill, the TANF grant amount would be increased on an annual basis by the consumer price index for all urban wage earners (CPI-W) in effect for the 12 months prior to the March 31 preceding the date of the increase, plus an inflation factor equal to 33.3 percent of the difference between the TANF benefit level as ofdefined theunder effectiveTitle dateII of the bill and 50 percent of the federal povertySocial levelSecurity (FPL)Act; in place on that date.  In effect, the bill raises the TANF grant amount from approximately 31 percent of the FPL in FY to an amount equivalent to 50 percent of the FPL in FY 2023, but spreads the cost of this benefit increase over three years.  Beginning in FY 2024, the TANF grant would increase on an annual basis by whatever amount is necessary to make the benefit level equivalent to 50 percent of the FPL in effect on July 1 of that year.        Under the TANF benefit formula specified in the bill, the maximum monthly grant for a family of three would increase from $559 in January 2020 to $683 as of September 1, 2020, which is the last month of FY 2020, remain at $683 in FY 2021, and increase to $809 in FY 2022 and $937 in FY 2023.        Average monthly grant amounts under the GA program would increase by the same rate of increase as the TANF benefit for the same fiscal year, beginning on September 1, 2020.  Beginning on July 1, 2023, the GA benefit level would annually increase by the CPI-W in effect for the 12 months prior to the March 31 preceding that July 1.  According to this formula, the maximum monthly grant for a GA recipient would increase from $185 in January to $226 as of September 1, 2020, which is the last month of FY 2020, remain at $226 in FY 2021, and increase to $268 in FY 2022, and $310 in FY 2023.  Based on the proposed monthly benefit increases under the TANF and GA programs, State expenditures under the bill could increase by $22.1 million over the nine months of FY 2021, $48.2 million in FY 2022, and $67.2 million in FY 2023       The OLS cautions that these estimates of the annual cost of increasing the TANF and GA monthly benefit amount are sensitive to changes in the input variables.  For example, substantial changes in the CPI-W or the FPL beyond FY 2020 would affect the projected cost of the proposed benefit increase.  Additionally, the OLS estimate is based on TANF and GA enrollment data as of January 2020, prior to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the State.  Although WFNJ enrollment has declined in recent years as the State’s unemployment rate has dropped, unemployment rates have increased dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic has closed an unprecedented number of New Jersey employers.  To the extent that newly-unemployed New Jersey residents exhaust their unemployment benefits in August 2020, the State may face a sharp increase in the number of residents enrolling in WFNJ programs, thereby increasing the costs of this monthly benefit expansion.

           except Multiplethat, otherfor provisionsany inperiod theafter billDecember would31, also1996, increasea Statequarter expendituresduring underwhich thean TANFindividual andreceived GAmeans-tested, programs. federally However,funded thepublic magnitude of this increase is highly uncertain because the number of people who may seek WFNJ cash assistance benefits becauseshall ofnot thecount deterioratingtoward economic conditions from the COVID-19total pandemicnumber is unknown.  For this reason, as well as a lack of timelyquarters; access to certain WFNJ enrollment and benefits data, the OLS is unable to determine the precise costs of the bill at this time.

        Section:                             f.   a qualified immigrant admitted to the United States on or after August 22, 1996, who has lived in the United States for at least five years and is eligible for means-tested, federally funded public benefits pursuant to federal law;

Humanor Services  Analyst:                                  g.   a qualified immigrant who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the United States by a spouse, parent or a member of the spouse or parent's family residing in the same household as the immigrant, or a qualified immigrant whose child has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the United States by a spouse or parent of the immigrant, without the active participation of the immigrant, or by a member of the spouse or parent's family residing in the same household as the immigrant.  In either case, the spouse or parent shall have consented or acquiesced to the battery or cruelty and there shall be a substantial connection between the battery or cruelty and the need for benefits to be provided.  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an immigrant during any period in which the individual responsible for the battery or cruelty resides in the same household or assistance unit as the individual subjected to the battery or cruelty.  Benefits shall be provided to the extent and for the period of time that the immigrant or immigrant's child is eligible for the program.

Anne  Hunt  Cappabianca                                AssistantFor Fiscalthe Analystpurposes Approved:of this section, “qualified immigrant” is defined pursuant to the provisions of section 431 of Title IV of Pub.L.104-193”   Page 17, Section 10, Lines 13-22:  Delete in their entirety   Page 17, Section 10, Lines 26-28:  Delete “other than child support payments provided to an assistance unit pursuant to subsection c.

Frankof W.section 6 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-49)”   Page 18, Section 11, Line 31:      Delete “11.” and insert “7.”   Page 18, Section 11, Line 38:

Haines     IIIAfter Legislative“children” Budgetinsert and“; Finance Officer     This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

and benefits shall be provided only when other means of support and maintenance are not present to support the assistance unit”   ThisPage fiscal19, estimateSection has12, beenLine prepared36:      pursuantDelete “12.” and insert “8.”   Page 19, Section 12, Line 39:      After “shall” insert “continuously and actively seek employment in an effort to P.L.1980,remove c.67the (C.52:13B-6assistance etunit seq.).of which the recipient is a member from the program”   Page 19, Section 12, Lines 41-48:  Delete in their entirety   Page 20, Section 12, Lines 1-7:    Delete in their entirety    Page 20, Section 12, Line 8:       Delete “or to an”   Page 20, Section 12, Line 9:       Delete in its entirety   Page 20, Section 12, Line 10:      Delete “, that will enhance the”   Page 20, Section 12, Lines 11-12:  Delete in their entirety   Page 20, Section 12, Line 13:      Delete “poverty”   Page 20, Section 12, Line 15:      After “of the” insert “work activity”   Page 20, Section 12, Lines 16-17:  Delete “for the work activity or other opportunity”   Page 20, Section 12, Line 18:      Delete “In no case shall a recipient’s work activity”   Page 20, Section 12, Lines 19-20:  Delete in their entirety   Page 23, Section 13, Line 10:      Delete “13.” and insert “9.”   Page 23, Section 13, Lines 28-37:  Delete in their entirety   Page 24, Section 13, Line 19:      After “month” insert “or until such time as the adult actively cooperates or participates, or demonstrates good cause, whichever is greater”   Page 24, Section 13, Line 21:      Delete “first-month” and insert “sixth month of the”   Page 24, Section 13, Line 41:      After “month” insert “or until such time as the noncompliant adult actively cooperates or participates, or demonstrates good cause, whichever is greater”   Page 24, Section 13, Line 43:      After “of the” insert “sixth month of the pro-rata”   Page 24, Section 13, Line 43:      Delete “month”   Page 25, Section 14, Lines 26-47:  Delete in their entirety   Page 26, Section 14, Lines 1-47:   Delete in their entirety   Page 27, Section 15, Lines 1-34:   Delete in their entirety   Page 27, Section 16, Lines 36-47:  Delete in their entirety   Page 28, Section 16, Lines 1-13:   Delete in their entirety   Page 28, Section 17, Lines 15-29:  Delete in their entirety   Page 28, Section 18, Lines 31-34:  Delete in their entirety   Page 28, Section 19, Lines 36-37:  Delete in their entirety   Page 28, Line 38:                 Insert new sections:

                                                                                                                  “10.

Commencing July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall assess the real cost of living and actual deprivation as reflected in the current standard of need established pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1997, c.13 (C.44:10-42), which assessment shall be transmitted to the Legislature by the commissioner for consideration when deciding on appropriations to fund cash assistance benefits to recipients.