If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by introducing new evaluation requirements for the Department of Economic Security (DES) to confirm eligibility. Specifically, the bill mandates that DES enter into a data matching agreement with the Arizona Department of Gaming to identify households with lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more, treating this data as verified upon receipt when permissible under federal law. Additionally, the bill requires DES to conduct regular reviews of information from various state departments, including the Department of Health Services and the Department of Corrections, to identify changes in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that DES must utilize electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card data to identify individuals making out-of-state purchases and contact them to verify their residency. If an individual is found not to reside in Arizona, DES is required to 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 noncompliance and fraud investigations on DES's public website, enhancing transparency and accountability in the administration of SNAP benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46-232, 46-297.01