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