TRENTON – Acting to prevent inmates from fraudulently obtaining public benefits a Senate committee on Thursday approved legislation requiring the state to establish a verification process so that unemployment checks are not sent to prisoners. Responding to a recent investigation that found more than 7,600 inmates illegally collected approximately $10 million, Senator Fred Madden, (D-Camden/Gloucester), Senator Paul Sarlo, (D-Bergen/Passaic), Senator Sandra Cunningham, (D-Hudson) and Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May/Cumberland/Atlantic) sponsored legislation to prevent any further abuse of benefits programs by those serving time for criminal activities.
The Senate committee substitute for S-2626 and S-2838 was voted out of the Senate Labor Committee, which is chaired by Senator Madden.