HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 118

(By Delegates Morgan, Boggs, Canterbury, Caputo, Eldridge, A. Evans, Fleischauer, Fluharty, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hartman, Hornbuckle, Miley, Moore, Moye, Perdue, Pushkin, Reynolds, Romine, Rowe, Skinner, Stansbury, Storch, Trecost, Walters and P. White)

[March 11, 2016]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study how best to implement work and job-training requirements for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the category of Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD).

Whereas, The State Legislature is committed to helping SNAP recipients in the ABAWD category with individual screening and plans, access to paid and unpaid employment – including workfare and volunteer service, job training, and entering educational and training programs that qualify them for employment; and

Whereas, SNAP provides food support for approximately 90,000 recipients in the ABAWD category; and

Whereas, The SNAP benefits for this category bring in tens of millions in federal dollars into the state’s economy, thereby supporting numerous retail establishments and service jobs; and

Whereas, The state is currently conducting a pilot program for the nine counties to move nonexempt recipients in the ABAWD category into work and training, and this pilot may be expanded to other counties in the future; and

Whereas, The state does not currently provide a breakdown of characteristics of SNAP recipients in the ABAWD category as a basis for planning and targeting state and community resources; and

Whereas, Resources are required to give each recipient in the pilot program individual screenings and feasible plans within SNAP policies, and to develop the necessary infrastructure for assessing and developing options, including workfare, volunteer service, and education and training; and

Whereas, Organizations exist in the state and its communities to help provide these resources; and

Whereas, Deliberate and diligent study and coordination with state and local agencies and other interested parties will maximize public and private resources and help to reach their common goal of assisting recipients who are not otherwise exempt from the requirements in contributing to their local communities and achieving self-sufficiency; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is requested to study the means and methods of implementing work and training requirements for SNAP recipients in the ABAWD group, and to consider the resources required to expand the pilot and the optimal time frames for any potential expansion; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature before the 2017 regular session its findings, conclusions and recommendations to fully implement the USDA requirements for the ABAWD population and the optimal time frames for expansion beyond the pilot counties, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Department of Health and Human Resources and its partners shall cooperate with the Legislature to provide access to information, access to personnel, and access to all records necessary to effectuate the provisions of this study; and, be it

Further Resolved,  That the expenses necessary to conduct this study and to prepare and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.