Nebraska LB 319: Change eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Bill Text

AMENDMENTS TO LB319

Introduced by Rountree, 3.
1. Strike the original sections and insert the following new1
sections:2
Section 1. Section 68-1017.02, Revised Statutes Cumulative3
Supplement, 2024, is amended to read:4
68-1017.02 (1)(a) The Department of Health and Human Services shall5
apply for and utilize to the maximum extent possible, within limits6
established by the Legislature, any and all appropriate options available7
to the state under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program8
and regulations adopted under such program to maximize the number of9
Nebraska residents being served under such program within such limits.10
The department shall seek to maximize federal funding for such program11
and minimize the utilization of General Funds for such program and shall12
employ the personnel necessary to determine the options available to the13
state and issue the report to the Legislature required by subdivision (b)14
of this subsection.15
(b) The department shall submit electronically an annual report to16
the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature by December 117
on efforts by the department to carry out the provisions of this18
subsection. Such report shall provide the committee with all necessary19
and appropriate information to enable the committee to conduct a20
meaningful evaluation of such efforts. Such information shall include,21
but not be limited to, a clear description of various options available22
to the state under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,23
the department's evaluation of and any action taken by the department24
with respect to such options, the number of persons being served under25
such program, and any and all costs and expenditures associated with such26
program.27
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(c) The Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature,1
after receipt and evaluation of the report required in subdivision (b) of2
this subsection, shall issue recommendations to the department on any3
further action necessary by the department to meet the requirements of4
this section.5
(2)(a) The department shall develop a state outreach plan to promote6
access by eligible persons to benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition7
Assistance Program. The plan shall meet the criteria established by the8
Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture9
for approval of state outreach plans. The Department of Health and Human10
Services may apply for and accept gifts, grants, and donations to develop11
and implement the state outreach plan.12
(b) For purposes of developing and implementing the state outreach13
plan, the department shall partner with one or more counties or nonprofit14
organizations. If the department enters into a contract with a nonprofit15
organization relating to the state outreach plan, the contract may16
specify that the nonprofit organization is responsible for seeking17
sufficient gifts, grants, or donations necessary for the development and18
implementation of the state outreach plan and may additionally specify19
that any costs to the department associated with the award and management20
of the contract or the implementation or administration of the state21
outreach plan shall be paid out of private or federal funds received for22
development and implementation of the state outreach plan.23
(c) The department shall submit the state outreach plan to the Food24
and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for25
approval on or before August 1, 2011, and shall request any federal26
matching funds that may be available upon approval of the state outreach27
plan. It is the intent of the Legislature that the State of Nebraska and28
the Department of Health and Human Services use any additional public or29
private funds to offset costs associated with increased caseload30
resulting from the implementation of the state outreach plan.31
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(d) The department shall be exempt from implementing or1
administering a state outreach plan under this subsection, but not from2
developing such a plan, if it does not receive private or federal funds3
sufficient to cover the department's costs associated with the4
implementation and administration of the plan, including any costs5
associated with increased caseload resulting from the implementation of6
the plan.7
(3)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that:8
(i) Hard work be rewarded and no disincentives to work exist for9
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants;10
(ii) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants be11
enabled to advance in employment, through greater earnings or new,12
better-paying employment;13
(iii) Participants in employment and training pilot programs be able14
to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits while15
seeking employment with higher wages that allow them to re