HB 1443 Modifies provisions relating to certain prohibited uses of TANF and SNAP benefits and SNAP work requirements

     Handler: Sater

Current Bill Summary

- Prepared by Senate Research -


SCS/HCS/HB 1443 - Under current law, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients are not permitted to use benefits in certain places, such as liquor stores or casinos, or for certain purchases, such as alcohol, lottery tickets, or tobacco. This act adds the purchase of pornography to the list of prohibited items. A TANF recipient shall lose their benefits for any impermissible use of benefits in a prohibited place or for a prohibited purchase as follows: (1) for the first occurrence of noncompliance, three months; (2) for the second occurrence of noncompliance, six months; and (3) for the third and or subsequent occurrence of noncompliance, five years.

Subject to federal approval, no TANF or SNAP recipient shall use their EBT card to obtain cash from any automated teller machine or point-of-sale terminal or otherwise access benefits as cash. The repeal of an existing provision of law requiring the establishment of pilot projects in St. Louis and certain counties to allow public assistance recipients to obtain cash from ATMs or point-of-sale terminals is contingent upon federal approval.

This act modifies existing law by adding definitions of "pornography", "prohibited place", "prohibited purchase", and "tobacco products".

Additionally, this act requires individuals participating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to comply with the work requirements described in federal statute and regulations. Any nonexempt participant who refuses or fails without good cause to comply with the work requirements shall be ineligible to participate in the program for the duration of the disqualification period as follows: (1) for the first occurrence of noncompliance, the individual shall be disqualified for three months; (2) for the second occurrence of noncompliance, the individual shall be disqualified for six months; and (3) for the third or subsequent occurrence of noncompliance, the individual shall be disqualified for two years.

An individual may resume participation in SNAP at the end of a disqualification period if the individual applies again and is in compliance with the work requirements. A disqualified individual may be permitted to resume participation during a disqualification period by becoming exempt from the work requirements.

An individual disqualified under the provisions of this act shall be entitled to a fair hearing under applicable federal and state law.

Implementation of this act shall be accomplished using existing resources.

Provisions of this are similar to SB 561 (2018).

SARAH HASKINS


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