Requires DHS to establish program to assist children with incarcerated non-custodial parents in enrolling in safety net programs.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a program helping children under 18 with incarcerated non-custodial parents access safety net benefits. The program must collaborate with Corrections and Courts to identify affected children, then contact their custodial parent or guardian at least three times (including one written contact) to explain available benefits like food assistance, healthcare (NJ FamilyCare), and childcare subsidies. It mandates tracking applications and providing eligibility decisions within 30 days of submission. The bill directly affects children in these situations by connecting them to existing state support programs they might otherwise miss.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Jan 13, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee
lower
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Gary Schaer
DDemocratic
P
Shanique Speight
DDemocratic
Co
Carmen Morales
DDemocratic
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