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 enhance eligibility evaluations and fraud detection. Specifically, the bill 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, and to treat this data as verified upon receipt, unless further investigation is warranted. Additionally, the bill requires DES to conduct regular reviews of information from various state departments to identify changes in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility, including changes in residency and income.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that DES must utilize data from electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to identify individuals making out-of-state purchases and to contact them to verify their residency. If an individual is found not to reside in Arizona, they must be removed from the program, and the case referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The bill also requires DES to publicly report aggregated data on SNAP fraud investigations and improper payments, thereby increasing 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