The bill amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 39-709 to refine eligibility requirements for assistance programs funded by federal moneys in Kansas. It allows the Secretary for Children and Families to exempt one motor vehicle owned by the applicant from resource calculations, while additional vehicles may be considered nonexempt unless primarily used for income generation. The bill also clarifies the definition of a "family group" for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility and establishes work participation requirements for adults in TANF households. Additionally, it introduces penalties for non-cooperation with TANF work programs and child support services, and imposes stricter regulations on food assistance for individuals convicted of certain felony offenses related to controlled substances.

Moreover, the bill mandates drug screening for cash assistance applicants and recipients when there is reasonable suspicion of unlawful substance use, with specific consequences for positive test results. It establishes that individuals convicted of certain felony offenses related to controlled substances after July 1, 2013, will face permanent ineligibility for cash assistance unless it is their first conviction, in which case they will be ineligible for five years. The bill also includes provisions for the verification of eligibility for assistance programs, prohibits the use of state or federal funds for advertising food assistance benefits, and allows for the filing of liens against the real property of medical assistance recipients under certain conditions. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of assistance programs in Kansas while addressing substance abuse issues among recipients.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 39-709, 21-5701