Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Food Assistance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel releases bill requiring colleges to share food-assistance information with students
Summary
A5579, which would require public institutions of higher education to provide students information on food assistance programs (including NJ 211), was released unanimously after testimony from Ken Murphy praising NJ 211’s 24/7 assistance and member remarks about student food insecurity.
The Assembly Higher Education Committee unanimously released Assembly Bill 5579 on Friday, a measure that would require public colleges and universities to provide students with information on available food assistance programs.
Ken Murphy of Zeta Group testified briefly in favor and thanked the committee for including NJ 211 in the bill, calling NJ 211 “an amazing service” that provides 24/7 live assistance and answers phone calls in under two minutes. Murphy said the service’s website is also a useful resource for residents seeking human-service supports.
Committee members offered personal and policy-oriented reasons for supporting the measure. Assemblyman Abdelaziz described seeing students who relied on school meals in high school and said students should not have to worry about their next meal when they are in college; he said the bill was “a step in the right direction.” Assemblywoman Simmons noted that nearly half of college students are food insecure and thanked the sponsor for bringing the bill forward.
The committee recorded unanimous “yes” votes from Assemblywoman Matsakis, Assemblyman Sharpenberger, Assemblyman Abdelaziz, Assemblywoman Simmons, Assemblyman Miller, and Chairwoman Carter and released the bill without amendments.
Why it matters: Supporters framed A5579 as a low-cost, practical step to connect students to existing assistance resources. The committee took no further action beyond releasing the bill.
