§ 52:27J-1 — Findings, declarations relative to food insecurity.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that: (a) Over one million people are estimated to be food insecure in New Jersey and more than one-third of them are children; (b) The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is projected to cause a disproportionate increase in the rate of food insecurity in this State compared to the national rate and neighboring states; (c) Several departments are responsible for administering different food insecurity programs in the State: the Department of Human Services administers the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Department of Health administers the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children; and the Department of Agriculture administers the United States Department of Agriculture's school nutrition program in New Jersey; (d) The State's food insecurity programs are currently operating in silos and, in some cases, they may all cover the same families, yet not all eligible families are enrolled into each program; and (e) Establishing an Office of the Food Security Advocate by statute will help coordinate the administration of the State's food insecurity programs, advocate for the food insecure, and develop new policy initiatives to combat hunger and facilitate greater access to food relief programs. L.2021, c.242, s.1; 2021, c.483, s.1.