WHEREAS, welfare
reform is a priority of the Whitman Administration and for State
government in general; and
WHEREAS, the
"Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act
of 1996" was signed into federal law on August 22, 1996; and
WHEREAS, the
principal goal of New Jersey's welfare reform initiative, entitled
"Work First New Jersey," is to change the welfare system from an
income maintenance program that fosters dependency among its participants
into a temporary assistance system that emphasizes the development
of workforce readiness, fosters personal responsibility and encourages
recipients to obtain full-time unsubsidized employment; and
WHEREAS, the
scope of reform necessary to meet the far-reaching objectives of
"Work First New Jersey" extends beyond the authority of the Department
of Human Services and the services that it can provide; and
WHEREAS, welfare
reform in New Jersey shall include reforms in the areas of economic
development, job training and development, banking, education, housing,
transportation, technology and health services; and
WHEREAS, there
is an immediate need for a comprehensive, coordinated plan and implementation
involving various Departments of State government to address the
broad array of challenges associated with successful welfare reform;
and
WHEREAS, the
Departments of Human Services, Banking and Insurance, Commerce and
Economic Development, Community Affairs, Education, Health and Senior
Services, Labor and Transportation are charged with the responsibility
of implementing welfare reform in the State of New Jersey;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. Within
30 days of the issuance of this Order, the Governor's Office shall
convene a "Work First New Jersey" Interdepartmental Coordinating
Committee ("Committee") that shall comprise the respective Commissioners
of the Departments, or their designees, and members of the Governor's
staff as the Governor determines. The chairperson of the Committee
shall be the Director of the Governor's Office of Policy and Planning,
or her designee.
2. The Committee
shall develop and implement policies and programs within each
Department that augment and support comprehensive welfare reform
in New Jersey and implement the "Work First New Jersey" initiative.
3. The Committee
shall receive administrative staff support as needed from the
participating Departments.
4. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 22nd day of October in the
Year of Our Lord, One Thousand
Nine Hundred and Ninety-Six and
of the Independence of the United
States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-First.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Michael
P. Torpey
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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