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 would require DES to 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, and to treat this data as verified upon receipt, as allowed by federal law. Additionally, the bill mandates that DES conduct monthly and quarterly reviews of various information sources to assess changes in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility, including income, employment status, and residency.

Furthermore, the bill would require DES to utilize electronic benefit transfer (EBT) data to identify individuals making out-of-state purchases over a 90-day period, and to contact these individuals to verify their residency. If an individual is found not to reside in Arizona, DES must remove them from the program and refer the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The bill also includes provisions for posting aggregate data related to fraud investigations on DES's public website, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the administration of SNAP benefits.

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