SPONSOR: Trent Upon voter approval, this Constitutional amendment requires Medicaid participants ages 19 to 64 to comply with specified work and community engagement requirements in order to remain eligible for Medicaid benefits.
The participants must complete at least 80 hours a month of any combination of specified work, education, job search, child care, participation in a substance abuse treatment programs, or and volunteer community services. The Department of Social Services shall provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who are not otherwise exempt from the work and community engagement requirements under this amendment, to ensure that the participants are able to comply with the requirements, including exemptions, modifications of hours, and the provision of necessary support services.
The following Medicaid participants are not required to comply with these work and community engagement requirement:
(1) Those under 19 and over 64;
(2) Those who are medically frail, as defined in the amendment, including those with certain disabilities;
(3) Those who are pregnant or caring for a child under one year of age;
(4) Those who are primary caregivers of a dependent child under the age of six or a dependent adult; and
(5) Those who are also participants of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and are exempt from work requirements under those programs.
The Department may permit further exemptions in areas of high unemployment, limited economies or educational opportunities, or lack of public transportation, or for good cause, as defined in this amendment.
The Department is required to apply for a waiver and any necessary state plan amendments to implement these work and community engagement requirements.
This bill is the same as SJR 32 (2020).