The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by introducing new requirements for the Department of Economic Security (DES) to evaluate eligibility. Specifically, it mandates that DES enter into a data matching agreement with the Arizona Department of Revenue to identify households with lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more, treating this data as verified upon receipt. Additionally, the bill requires DES to conduct regular reviews of information from various state and federal sources to assess changes in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility, including income, employment status, and residency.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that DES must monitor electronic benefit transfer (EBT) transactions to identify individuals making out-of-state purchases and take action to verify their residency. It also requires DES to publicly report aggregated data related to noncompliance and fraud investigations. Overall, these updates aim to enhance the integrity of the SNAP program by increasing oversight and verification processes, while also ensuring that individuals who no longer meet eligibility criteria are promptly removed from the program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46-232, 46-297.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 46-232, 46-297.01
House Engrossed Version: 46-232, 46-297.01