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 departments 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 utilize electronic benefit transfer (EBT) data 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 concerning SNAP. Overall, these updates aim to enhance the integrity of the SNAP program by increasing oversight and ensuring that eligibility determinations are based on accurate and timely information.

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