WHEREAS, changes
in federal law which occurred on August 22, 1996, have resulted
in a large number of legal immigrant children and legal immigrants
who are aged, blind or disabled, living in New Jersey prior to August
22, 1996, losing their access to federal food stamp assistance;
and
WHEREAS, federal
law was subsequently amended on June 12, 1997, to allow states to
retain, at their own expense, certain former aspects of this food
stamp program; and
WHEREAS, the
vast majority of these legal immigrants depend upon the food stamp
assistance to feed themselves and their dependents; and
WHEREAS, the
health and welfare of the approximately 10,000 households which
include children and the aged, blind or disabled persons affected
by the cessation of federal assistance will be detrimentally impacted;
and
WHEREAS, the
Department of Human Services total budget for Fiscal Year 1998 contains
funds in anticipation of changes in federal law and the loss of
federal assistance for certain populations which could be made available
to provide food stamp assistance to these legal immigrants; and
WHEREAS, it
is my intention that the benefits should continue without disruption
to assist the affected children and those recipients who are aged,
blind or disabled and that this program be administered in an efficient
and effective manner;
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. The Commissioner
of the Department of Human Services shall take all necessary action
to insure that those legal immigrant children and those legal
immigrants who are aged, blind or disabled who were bona fide
residents of New Jersey prior to August 22, 1996, and who have
lost federal food stamp assistance as a result of the June 1997
changes in federal law, be granted State food stamp assistance
for the duration of this Order.
2. Pursuant
to Paragraph 11 of the General Provisions of the Fiscal Year 1998
Appropriations Act, the Commissioner, through the Office of Management
and Budget, shall apply to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee
for permission to specifically transfer the necessary funding
to support this Order.
3. The Commissioner
of the Department of Human Services shall have full authority
to adopt such rules, regulations, orders and directives as he
shall deem necessary to effect the above provisions.
4. This
Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect
until June 30, 1998, unless superseding legislation is enacted
sooner.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 26th day of August in the
Year of Our Lord, One Thousand
Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven,
and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-Second.
/s/Christine
Todd Whitman
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Michael
P. Torpey
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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