OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 240 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 240’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Schaffer
Effective date:
Jason Hoskins, Attorney
SUMMARY
Public assistance programs
 Requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to update the systems
used by ODJFS and county departments of job and family services to make public
assistance benefits eligibility determinations.
 Requires the ODJFS Director, not later than 30 days prior to submitting a waiver or state
plan amendment related to a public assistance benefit program to the appropriate
federal entity, to also submit a copy of the waiver or amendment to the General
Assembly.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program changes
 Requires ODJFS to periodically monitor the balances of Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) accounts, and upon the discovery of an account with a
balance greater than $2,000, take steps to determine if the account is inactive.
 Generally prohibits ODJFS from seeking an exemption from the SNAP benefit time limits
that apply to able-bodied adults without dependents and withdraw or rescind any such
existing exemptions or exemption requests.
 Requires ODJFS to implement an option, under which a noncustodial parent, as a
condition of receiving SNAP benefits, must comply with the terms of a court order for
child support.
 Specifies that an individual convicted of a felony offense for drug trafficking is ineligible
to receive benefits for a period of three years following the completion of all obligations
imposed by the court, unless the individual agrees to submit to random drug testing
during that period.
May 3, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Regarding quarterly reports concerning SNAP that ODJFS must submit to the General
Assembly, requires the reports to include (1) additional information concerning out-of-
state SNAP transactions and (2) the number of accounts with whole dollar transactions.
Medicaid eligibility
 Prohibits the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) from taking certain actions with
regard to determining eligibility for the Medicaid program.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Public assistance programs
Systems updates
The bill requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to update the
systems used by ODJFS and county departments of job and family services to determine
eligibility for (1) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), (2) benefits funded in part
by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, (3) cash assistance provided
through the Ohio Works First program, (4) benefits provided by the Medicaid program, and
(5) publicly funded child care. In making the required updates, ODJFS must include a
mechanism by which application information input by individual caseworkers can be tracked
and audited. Additionally, county departments must provide caseworker training related to
improper eligibility determinations.1
Program change notification
Not later than 30 days prior to submitting a waiver or state plan amendment related to
a public assistance program to the appropriate federal entity, the bill requires the ODJFS
Director to submit a copy of the waiver or state plan amendment to (1) the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, (2) the President of the Senate, and (3) the chairpersons of the
relevant House and Senate committees that have jurisdiction of the subject matter of the
waiver or state plan amendment. These notice requirements do not apply in instances where
the waiver or state plan amendment is necessary to address a statewide emergency.2
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program changes
Account balances
The bill contains provisions relating to funds in inactive SNAP accounts. Federal
regulations governing SNAP permit a state agency responsible for the administration of the
program to store benefits off-line upon the discovery of inactive accounts or to expunge
benefits from inactive accounts.3 In accordance with these options, and to ensure program
1 R.C. 5101.042.
2 R.C. 5101.95.
3 7 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 274.2(h) and (i).
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As Introduced
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integrity, the bill requires ODJFS to periodically monitor the balances of SNAP accounts stored
on electronic benefits transfer cards. If ODJFS discovers that an account contains a balance that
exceeds $2,000, the bill requires ODJFS to take steps to determine whether the account is
inactive. If the account is inactive, ODJFS must move the account benefits off-line or expunge
the unused benefits in accordance with federal regulations.4
SNAP work-related eligibility requirements
The bill includes provisions relating to work requirements under the SNAP program.
Federal law imposes work-related eligibility requirements on SNAP recipients who are classified
as able-bodied adults without dependents. This group consists of individuals between the ages
of 18 and 49 who have no dependents and are not disabled.5 These individuals are only eligible
to receive SNAP benefits for up to three months every three years unless they satisfy federally
specified work requirements.
Under federal law and regulations, states can apply for a waiver to exempt from the
time limit described above certain geographic areas of the state that have an unemployment
rate of over 10% or do not have a sufficient number of jobs for able-bodied adults.6 The bill
prohibits ODJFS from requesting, applying for, or renewing such a waiver, except for instances
in which the Governor has declared a state of emergency.7 Additionally, not later than 30 days
after the bill’s effective date, ODJFS must rescind any previously approved waiver described
above, and withdraw any pending request, application, or renewal of such a waiver.8
The bill further prohibits ODJFS from exercising an option under federal law to exempt
individuals from the three-month time limit discussed above who are otherwise required to
meet federal work requirements.9
Child support cooperation
The bill requires ODJFS to mandate that, as a condition of SNAP eligibility, noncustodial
parents must comply with the terms of a court order for the support of a child. 10 Under federal
law, states have the option to exclude noncustodial parents (defined as a parent who does not
live with his or her minor child) from SNAP eligibility if they do not cooperate with the state
4 R.C. 5101.543.
5 Recent changes made in the federal Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, P.L. No. 118-5, will gradually
increase the age of able-bodied adults without dependents subject to the time limit for receipts of SNAP
benefits, from 49 to 54.
6 7 United States Code (U.S.C.) 2015(o)(4).
7 R.C. 5101.546(A).
8 Section 4.
9 R.C. 5101.546; 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6).
10 R.C. 5101.548.
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As Introduced
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child support agency regarding establishing paternity and establishing, modifying, and enforcing
a child support order.11
Drug testing requirements
The bill imposes temporary disqualification periods under SNAP for individuals with
certain felony offenses, as follows. Federal law permanently disqualifies individuals from
receiving SNAP benefits or certain benefits funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families block grant if the individual has been convicted of a federal or state felony offense
involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance.12 Under federal law,
states have the option to opt-out of this permanent disqualification, or to modify the
disqualification. Ohio law currently permits individuals with a federal or state felony offense
described above to receive SNAP benefits and benefits provided under the Ohio Works First
program and the Prevention, Retention, and Contingency program, so long as they meet other
program eligibility requirements.13
The bill establishes a temporary disqualification for SNAP benefits for individuals who
have been convicted of a felony offense for trafficking a controlled substance. Under the bill, an
individual who has been convicted of a felony offense for trafficking a controlled substance in
Ohio or another jurisdiction is ineligible to receive SNAP benefits for three years following the
individual’s completion of all obligations imposed by a criminal court related to the individual’s
felony offense. An individual may receive benefits during this three-year period if they agree to
submit to random drug testing during the three-year period.14
SNAP quarterly reports
The bill adds additional requirements to the SNAP program quarterly reports that ODJFS
must submit to the General Assembly. H.B. 33 of the 135th General Assembly (the biennial
operating budget) established quarterly reporting requirements for ODJFS. Specific to SNAP,
ODJFS is required to report all of the following on a quarterly basis to the Senate President and
the Speaker of the House, who are required to distribute the report to the chairpersons of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over public assistance programs:
 The number of SNAP accounts with high balances, as determined by ODJFS;
 The number of SNAP out-of-state transactions; and
 The number of SNAP transactions when the final amount processed was a whole dollar
amount.
11 7 C.F.R. 273.11(p).
12 21 U.S.C. 862a.
13 R.C. 5101.84.
14 R.C. 5101.84(B).
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As Introduced
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Regarding out-of-state transactions, the bill requires the report to include the city and
state in which each out-of-state transaction occurs, as well as the amount of the transaction.
Additionally, the bill requires ODJFS to include in the quarterly report, the number of accounts
that had a transaction in which the final amount processed was a whole dollar amount (for
example, $2.00).15
Medicaid eligibility
The bill specifies that, unless required by federal laws or regulations, the Ohio
Department of Medicaid (ODM) is prohibited from doing any of the following related to
Medicaid eligibility:16
 Conducting post-enrollment verification of income or nonincome-related eligibility
instead of verifying income and nonincome-related eligibility before enrollment;
 Designating itself as a qualified health entity for the purpose of making presumptive
eligibility determinations; or
 Accepting self-attestation of income or receipt of other health insurance coverage.
If federal law or regulations require ODM to take one of the actions described above,
the bill requires ODM to seek a federal waiver in accordance with existing law to implement the
requirement.17
Additionally, the bill specifies that unless prohibited by federal law or regulations, ODM
must (1) periodically check available income-related data sources to verify eligibility and
(2) comply with the public notice requirements related to proposed changes to the state
Medicaid plan.18
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 04-09-24
ANSB0240IN-135/ks
15 R.C. 5101.98.
16 R.C. 5163.51(A).
17 R.C. 5163.51(C).
18 R.C. 5163.51(B).
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As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 5101.84, 5101.98