SF 1764

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/25/2019 04:28pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying provisions governing the supplemental
nutrition assistance program; setting work requirement for able-bodied adults
without dependents at the federal maximum; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
section 256D.0515.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 256D.0515, is amended to read:

256D.0515 new text begin INCOME AND new text end ASSET LIMITATIONS FOR deleted text begin FOOD STAMP deleted text end new text begin
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM new text end HOUSEHOLDS.

new text begin (a) new text end All deleted text begin food stamp deleted text end new text begin supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) new text end households must
be determined eligible for the benefit discussed under section 256.029. deleted text begin Food stamp
households deleted text end new text begin When applying for benefits, an applicant SNAP household new text end must new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end demonstrate that deleted text begin their deleted text end new text begin the applicant's new text end gross income is equal to or less than 165 percent
of the federal poverty guidelines for the same family size deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) attest in writing that the applicant meets the federal financial resource requirements
under United States Code, title 7, section 2014(g), except that the household's financial
resources may not exceed $20,000, and two licensed vehicles per household must be excluded
from financial resource limits;
new text end

new text begin (3) attest to all of the applicant's liquid and nonliquid assets and their value, and all of
the applicant's debt obligations and amounts. County agencies, in consultation with the
Department of Human Services, shall refer applicants that have disclosed debt obligations
and amounts to organizations of resources to help applicants manage financial obligations;
new text end

new text begin (4) attest whether the applicant's assets including land, equipment, and supplies are
related to a farming operation; and
new text end

new text begin (5) attest whether the applicant has deferred or voluntarily delayed any form of payment
in the last six months, including payments from Social Security or distributions from
retirement accounts. An applicant who has deferred or voluntarily delayed payments from
any source in the six months preceding the applicant's application is not eligible for SNAP
benefits.
new text end

new text begin (b) Immediately upon receipt of an application, county agencies shall verify the written
asset attestation of each applicant that received SNAP benefits for a total of 120 days in the
previous calendar year. For an applicant that received SNAP benefits for fewer than 120
days in the previous calendar year, each month county agencies shall verify a random sample
of the written asset attestations of applicants continuing to receive SNAP benefits 120 days
after the date of application, according to the following schedule:
new text end

new text begin (1) one percent of applicants that have disclosed less than $5,000 in assets;
new text end

new text begin (2) two percent of applicants that have disclosed more than $5,000 but less than $10,000
in assets;
new text end

new text begin (3) five percent of applicants that have disclosed more than $10,000 but less than $15,000
in assets; and
new text end

new text begin (4) ten percent of applicants that have disclosed more than $15,000 but no more than
$20,000 in assets.
new text end

new text begin Applicants that continue to receive SNAP benefits after the 120-day verification must be
verified according to the schedule for income verification. Applicants whose verified assets
are related to agricultural business activities shall not be verified more than once every 36
months.
new text end

new text begin (c) The work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents shall be set at the
maximum allowed under federal law.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon federal approval, or January 1,
2020, whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of
statutes when the necessary federal approval has been obtained.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin To carry out the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 256D.0515, the
commissioner of human services shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) seek all federal authority, including submitting all waiver applications, necessary to
carry out the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 256D.0515;
new text end

new text begin (2) incorporate the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 256D.0515, into existing
application forms and review processes;
new text end

new text begin (3) develop technical guidance for county agencies to implement, verify, and enforce
the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 256D.0515; and
new text end

new text begin (4) develop or identify organizations, resources, or other information for counties to
refer applicants for assistance with financial or debt management.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin In Minnesota Statutes, the revisor of statutes shall change the terms "food support,"
"food stamp," and "food stamps" to "supplemental nutrition assistance program" or "SNAP"
when appropriate. The revisor of statutes shall make any necessary technical and grammatical
changes to preserve the meaning of the text.
new text end