If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by adding specific restrictions on the Department of Economic Security (DES) regarding work requirement waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents. Under the new provisions, DES would be prohibited from seeking, applying for, accepting, or renewing any waivers of work requirements unless such actions are mandated by federal law or explicitly authorized by state law. This change aims to tighten the conditions under which waivers can be granted, ensuring that any exemptions from work requirements are also subject to state law authorization.

Additionally, the bill would prevent DES from exercising the option to provide exemptions from the SNAP work requirement unless these exemptions are authorized by state law. This would effectively eliminate any discretionary power DES currently holds in granting exemptions, thereby reinforcing a stricter adherence to work requirements as outlined in federal law. Overall, the bill seeks to limit the flexibility of DES in managing SNAP work requirements and exemptions, aligning state practices more closely with federal mandates.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46-232
House Engrossed Version: 46-232