This bill establishes two new benefit programs under the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) initiative, specifically the State WFNJ Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and the State WFNJ Diaper Benefit Program, aimed at providing financial assistance to low-income residents. The Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program will provide a monthly benefit of $14 to each menstruator aged 18 to 50 participating in WFNJ, while the Diaper Benefit Program will offer $30 per month for each dependent under 36 months of age. Both benefits will be distributed via the participants' existing WFNJ electronic benefits card on the same issuance date as their standard benefits. Participants are required to use these funds specifically for menstrual hygiene products or diaper products, respectively, and any unspent funds can be carried over to the following month.
To support these programs, the bill appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services. The Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with adopting necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of these programs. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the fourth month following its enactment, although anticipatory administrative actions may be taken in advance to facilitate its rollout.