If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes by adding a new section to title 46, chapter 2, article 2 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The new provisions would require the Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude candy, soft drinks, and comparable food items from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the waiver is granted, the DES Director would then prohibit SNAP enrollees from using benefits to purchase these items. If the waiver is not granted, the Director would be required to request it annually until approval is obtained.

Additionally, the bill would define "candy" and "soft drink" for the purposes of this section. "Candy" is defined as a preparation of sugar or sweeteners combined with other ingredients that forms bars, drops, or pieces. "Soft drink" is defined as a non-alcoholic beverage containing sweeteners, excluding those that contain milk products or more than fifty percent vegetable or fruit juice by volume. These definitions would clarify the types of products that would be affected by the proposed restrictions on SNAP purchases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46-232