SB 611 - This act requires individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to comply with the work requirements described in federal statute and regulations. Any nonexempt participant who refuses or fails without good cause to comply with the work requirements shall be ineligible to participate in the program for the duration of the disqualification period as follows: (1) for the first occurrence of noncompliance, the individual shall be disqualified for three months; (2) for the second occurrence of noncompliance, the individual shall be disqualified for six months; and (3) for the third occurrence of noncompliance, the individual shall be disqualified permanently.

If a disqualified individual is the head of a household, the household shall be ineligible to participate in SNAP for a period not to exceed the lesser of either the duration of the ineligibility period of the disqualified individual or 180 days. A household disqualified under this act may reestablish eligibility if the head of the household leaves the household, a new and eligible head of the household joins the household, or the head of the household becomes exempt from the SNAP work requirements during the disqualification period. If a disqualified head of the household joins another household during the disqualification period, that household shall be ineligible for the remaining disqualification period.

Except in cases of permanent disqualification, an individual may resume participation in SNAP at the end of a disqualification period if the individual applies again and is in compliance with the work requirements. A disqualified individual may be permitted to resume participation during a disqualification period by becoming exempt from the work requirements.

An individual disqualified under the provisions of this act shall be entitled to a fair hearing under applicable federal and state law.

This act is identical to SB 4 (2019) and SB 561 (2018).

SARAH HASKINS

Statutes affected:
Introduced (3828S.01): 208.246