44:10-62.2 Findings, declarations relative to "Public Assistance Cost Reduction and Transportation Independence Pilot Program Act."

2. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. The Work First New Jersey program provides transportation assistance to eligible persons to further employment opportunities, to promote personal responsibility and economic self-sufficiency, and to help end the cycle of dependence on public assistance;

b. The cost of providing such transportation assistance, in the form of cash payments as well as free New Jersey Transit bus and rail passes, is a worthwhile investment for the taxpayers of New Jersey and for the benefit of recipients and their families;

c. Nonprofit charitable organizations have assisted in reducing such costs, while also providing a greater degree of transportation independence to such recipients and families, by accepting donated motor vehicles and making those vehicles available for use by, or for transfer to, recipients of public assistance in order to provide independent transportation to places of employment, day care facilities, and other locations as necessary to promote employment; and

d. It is in the public interest for the State Treasurer to have the discretion to establish a pilot program to determine whether providing surplus State motor vehicles to nonprofit charitable organizations engaged in such activity may result in net cost savings to the State as well as support for transportation assistance to recipients of public assistance.

L.2008, c.105, s.2.