WEST virginia legislature

2018 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 431

By Senators Takubo, Trump, Karnes, Rucker Azinger, Maroney, Cline, Ferns, and Boso

[Introduced January 31, 2018; Referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-3-7, relating to requiring the Department of Health and Human Resources to phase in a statewide program implementing work requirements for applicants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); limiting SNAP recipients to three months of benefits in any 36-month period unless the recipient is working or participating in a work, educational, or volunteer program for at least 20 hours a week; and requiring discontinuance of a federal waiver.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 3. application for and granting of assistance.

§9-3-7. Work requirements for certain adult recipients of SNAP benefits.

(a) All able-bodied adults without dependents, 18 years of age to 50 years of age, who are not disabled, pregnant, or responsible for the care of a minor child, may receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits for only three months in each 36 month period. Recipients are exempt from the time limit if they are employed or are participating and complying with the requirements of a work, education, or volunteer program for at least 20 hours per week.

(b) Beginning October 1, 2018, the department shall begin the process of discontinuing, on a county-by-county basis, to seek any Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents federal waivers granted pursuant to 7 U.S.C. § 2015(o), with all counties to be ineligible for any such waiver effective October 1, 2021. These waivers exempt able-bodied adults with no children from work requirements for receipt of SNAP benefits.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all able-bodied adults without dependents are working, or in a work program, for a minimum of 20 hours per week for continued eligibility for SNAP benefits.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.