WEST virginia legislature
2016 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 4021
By Delegates trecost and wagner
[Introduced January 14, 2016;
referred to Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-24, relating to limiting able-bodied adults without dependents receipt of SNAP benefits to three months in a thirty-six month period, except in months in which the recipient is working, or is participating in a work program, at least twenty hours per week; the Department of Health and Human Resources shall not request a waiver to provide SNAP benefits to able-bodied adults without dependents.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-24, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
§9-5-24. Requirements for certain adult recipients of SNAP benefits; DHHR shall not request waiver of work requirements to provide SNAP benefits.
(a) All able-bodied adults without dependents, eighteen years of age to fifty 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 thirty-six month period. Recipients are exempt from the time limit if they are employed, or are participating and complying with the requirements of a work program, for at least 20 hours per week.
(b) Beginning July 1, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Resources shall not request a waiver to provide SNAP benefits to able bodied adults without dependents who are not meeting the requirements described in subsection (a).
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.