New NJ Laws: See How They Could Impact You

NEW JERSEY — With 2024 now past the halfway mark, some new laws are on the books in New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed two bills into law impacting women and children.

Here is a look at the state's new laws and what they do:

Menstrual Hygiene and Diaper Benefit Programs

Murphy signed A2027/S2330 to establish the State Work First New Jersey(WFNJ) Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and the State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Program. The bill also appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development to administer these programs.

Under the Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program, certain eligible adults ages 18 through 50 who are participating in WFNJ may purchase menstrual hygiene products using a dedicated $14 monthly State benefit through their electronic benefits card. Menstrual hygiene products include tampons, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins.

Similarly, under the Diaper Benefit Program, individuals with a dependent under 36 months of age and who participate in WFNJ will receive a $30 monthly State benefit through their electronic benefits card. The funds shall be for the benefit of the dependent child and shall be dedicated to purchase of diaper products. The monetary benefit shall be carried over to the next month for use by the participants for the same respective purchases. These additional funds will be distributed on the same issuance date as the participants standard WFNJ benefits.

Increasing Respite Care Service Hours

Murphy signed legislation (S2491/A3412) that would increase from 60 to 90 the number of respite care service hours funded through the Division of the Children’s System of Care in the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. Under the bill, up to 90 hours of respite care services may be provided by either an agency-hired or self-hired respite worker over a 90-day period, with funding provided by the Department.

Respite care workers provide temporary, short-term care for an eligible child on behalf of the caregiver in the case of an emergency or on an intermittent basis to relieve the daily stresses and demands of caring for a child with disabilities.