(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Benjie Wimberly to create voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support NJ SHARES was approved by the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on Monday.
The bill (A-2410) would establish the “NJ SHARES Fund” and provides for designation on the state gross income tax return that would allow taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund for distribution to New Jersey SHARES, Inc.
“NJSHARES helps thousands of low-income residents in New Jersey to pay their utility bills when they simply cannot,” said Wimberly (D- Bergen, Passaic). “Enabling the program to receive voluntary contributions through income tax returns would mean more assistance it can provide to residents.”
NJ SHARES is a statewide, non-profit organization that provides assistance to New Jersey households who are in need of temporary help in paying their bills due to a short-term financial crisis. To qualify for assistance, an individual or family must be facing a financial crisis and not be eligible for welfare or other income-based energy assistance programs. Recipients must also have a history of good-faith payments of their utility bills.
The NJSHARES bill will now be considered for a floor vote by the Assembly Speaker.