6. a. The Department of Human Services shall evaluate the operation of the electronic benefit distribution system in the initial counties, and, as deemed appropriate, shall proceed to implement the system in additional counties.

b. The department shall implement the system in any additional county upon the request of the board of chosen freeholders of such county, or, in a county operating under the provisions of the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C. 40:41A-1 et seq.), upon the request of the chief executive officer of such county. However, if the department does not deem it appropriate to implement the system in such requesting county, the department shall not implement the system, and shall submit a report in writing stating the reasons for that determination to the Assembly Health and Human Services and Appropriations Committees and the Senate Institutions, Health and Welfare and Revenue, Finance and Appropriations Committees, or their successors.

c. Any additional county in which the system is implemented shall be exempted from the cycling of the issuance of benefits over multiple dates throughout the month, upon the request of the board of chosen freeholders of such county, or, in a county operating under the provisions of the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C. 40:41A-1 et seq.), upon the request of the chief executive officer of such county.

L.1991,c.478,s.6.