HB1798: relative to eligibility for food stamps/supplemental nutrition assistance.

HB 1798-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED

2018 SESSION

18-2255

05/10

HOUSE BILL 1798-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to eligibility for food stamps/supplemental nutrition assistance.

SPONSORS: Rep. Morrison, Rock. 9; Rep. Vose, Rock. 9; Rep. M. McCarthy, Hills. 29; Rep. Horn, Merr. 2; Rep. Binford, Graf. 15; Sen. Avard, Dist 12

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits the state from waiving the federal work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents who receive food stamp benefits.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2255

05/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

AN ACT relative to eligibility for food stamps/supplemental nutrition assistance.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Eligibility Criteria. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 10 the following new section:

161:10-a Food Stamp Program; Work Requirement for Certain Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents. The department of health and human services shall ensure that the work requirement provision for able-bodied adults who are 18 years of age or older and under 50 years of age with no dependents found in Section 6(o) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 are in full effect and not waived.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.

LBAO

18-2255

12/7/17

HB 1798-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to eligibility for stamps/supplemental nutrition assistance.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Funding Source:

[ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Federal funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

LOCAL:

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

METHODOLOGY:

This bill prohibits the state from waiving the federal work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents who receive food stamp benefits. As of October 2017, there were a total of 38 unique households for which work requirements were waived under the current waiver, which applies to 14 towns identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as having high unemployment rates and few employment opportunities. As the food stamp program is 100% federally-funded, the bill will result in an indeterminable decrease in expenditures of federal funds received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The current waiver is effective through September 30, 2018. The Department of Health and Human Services notes that, to the extent that individuals apply for benefits through local welfare agencies because they are ineligible for food stamp benefits, there may be an indeterminable increase in local expenditures.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services