BILL NUMBER: S665
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
state SNAP minimum benefit program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Establishes a state SNAP minimum benefit program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 95-b of the social services law by adding a new
section which establishes a state SNAP minimum benefit program in which
the office shall distribute a monthly state SNAP benefit equal to the
difference between the household's federal SNAP monthly benefit and
ninety-five dollars to each eligible household in addition to federal
SNAP benefits. This section states that this amount may be increased by
the office as deemed appropriate and that federal funds shall be
utilized as the primary source for issuing monthly state SNAP benefits
if they become available for the purposes of this subdivision. It states
that the office shall apply to the food and nutrition service within the
federal department of agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals
to implement the provisions of this section. This section also states
that the program shall be subject to the same state rules and procedures
for implementing federal SNAP to the greatest extent possible and estab-
lishes definitions for "eligible household" and "SNAP."
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, the Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance began issuing emergency supplemental
benefits to households receiving less than the maximum monthly amount of
SNAP benefits, which helped many individuals and families avoid food
insecurity. These Emergency Allotment of benefits ended in March 2023,
leaving SNAP recipients struggling to cover the lost benefits to feed
themselves at a time when food prices remain extremely high due to
inflation. In a 2022 study, the Urban Institute reported that the
increase in SNAP benefits from Emergency Allotments kept 4.2 million
people out of poverty in the fourth quarter of 2021, reducing poverty by
9.6 percent and reducing child poverty by 14%.
The Urban Institute also found that Black and Latin households benefited
most significantly from these additional SNAP benefits.
The sudden elimination of Emergency Allotment SNAP benefits will,
increase food insecurity for many individuals and families due to the
high costs of food and modest 'allotment of pre-COVID SNAP benefits.
This legislation would help support households in need from hardship and
hunger by establishing a state SNAP minimum benefit program. This would
give households receiving SNAP an additional monthly state SNAP benefit
equal to the difference between the household's federal SNAP monthly
benefit and ninety-five dollars. This program would result in relief and
support the wellbeing of our state's most vulnerable families.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.7663-A (May) / A.6214-A (Gonzalez-Rojas)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.