Requires county welfare agency to provide financial planning services.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Raj Mukherji

County welfare agencies must provide free on-demand financial planning services during operating hours, or refer clients to NJ FinLit if staff are unavailable.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

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Summary of S 4258: Requires county welfare agency to provide financial planning services

Purpose and intent

S 4258 requires the New Jersey Commissioner of Human Services to ensure that county welfare agencies offer free financial planning services to clients on request, during the agency’s operating hours. If a qualified staff member is not available, clients must be directed to the Department of the Treasury’s free personal finance platform (NJ FinLit or successor). The bill also mandates promotion of these services on agency websites and in physical offices. The overarching goal is to improve financial literacy and planning assistance for individuals utilizing county welfare programs.

Key provisions

Financial planning services (free, on demand):

County welfare agencies must provide financial planning services when requested by a client.
Service delivery must be free of charge and occur during the agency’s operating hours.
Services must be provided by a qualified staff member.

Alternative referral when staff unavailable:

If the qualified staff member is not available to provide the service, the client must be directed to the Department of the Treasury’s free personal finance web-based platform (NJ FinLit) or any subsequent platform offered by the department or the State.

Promotion of services:

Agencies must promote the availability of in-agency financial planning, as well as the NJ FinLit platform (and any successor platforms) on the agency’s website and within the agency’s physical office.

Funding:

An appropriation from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services is provided “such sums of money as are necessary” to allocate to county welfare agencies to implement the provisions.

Effective date:

The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

County welfare agencies in New Jersey (the primary implementers).

Department of Human Services (DHS), which administers the funding and oversight required to implement the program.

Department of the Treasury (through the NJ FinLit platform), which provides the referenced free personal finance resources.

Program clients utilizing county welfare services, who gain access to free financial planning assistance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced: February 3, 2025.

Status actions: Referred to the Senate committee handling Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens; subsequent legislative actions indicate referral to Codes and committee consideration.

Legislative sponsorship: Primary sponsor Robert Ortt with cosponsor George Borrello.

Related legislation: Companion bill A 5369.

Additional notes

The bill does not specify a fixed funding amount; it authorizes necessary General Fund appropriations to DHS for implementation.

A companion bill exists (A 5369), indicating parallel consideration in the Assembly.