SB351: relative to statewide work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on food stamps.

SB 351-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2024 SESSION

24-2833

05/08

SENATE BILL 351-FN

AN ACT relative to statewide work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on food stamps.

SPONSORS: Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Gendreau, Dist 1; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Rep. Hobson, Rock. 14

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that the department of health and human services shall not seek any waiver or exemption of the work requirements for able bodied adults under the food stamp or SNAP program.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2833

05/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to statewide work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on food stamps.

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

1 New Section; Human Service; Food Stamp/SNAP Program. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 10 the following new section:

161:10-a Food Stamp or SNAP Program Eligibility.

I. Unless expressly required by federal law, the department shall not seek, apply for, accept, or renew any waiver of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents under 7 U.S.C. section 2015(o)(4).

II. The department shall not exercise the state’s option to provide any exemptions from the work requirement under 7 U.S.C. section 2015(o)(6)(E).

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

LBA

24-2833

Revised 1/9/24

SB 351-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to statewide work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on food stamps.

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

Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source(s)

Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds

Appropriations

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] N/A

• Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] N/A

METHODOLOGY:

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from seeking, applying for, or renewing any waiver of the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) requirements as permitted by certain federal regulations. The Department states that it currently has a waiver of ABAWD requirements for individuals residing in certain towns with high unemployment and/or lacking in available jobs. If the bill is enacted, the Department will not renew this waiver. The Department notes that it would also be prohibited from seeking any waivers based on employment levels, meaning it would need to continue enforcing ABAWD requirements in the event that the unemployment rate significantly increases in the future.

The Department notes that ABAWD benefits are funded with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. As the SNAP program is fully federally-funded, any fiscal impact would be on federal funds only.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services