SB 562 — Expanding employment and training requirements necessary for SNAP benefits

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 562 ByB SenatorsYSENATORS Roberts,R Azinger,OBERTS, Deeds,ZINGER, Hunt,EEDS, Karnes,HUNT, Martin,KARNES, Oliverio,MARTI, Swope,OLIVERI, Smith,WOPE and, MaroneyMITH,AND M ARONEY [Originating in the Committee on theFinance; Workforce;

reported February 14,21, 2024] CS for CS for SB 562 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto two new sections, designated §9-8-2a and §9-8-2b, all relating to expanding the current mandatory employment and training requirements necessary to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits;

(a) Under the authority given to a state agency to operate the general work requirement, the Department of Human Services shall assign all abled-bodied adults without dependents who are over the age of 1718 and under the age of 6059 to an employment and training program as defined in 7 U.S.C.

(1) Currently subject to, and complying with, a work registration requirement under Title IV of the Social Security Act [42 USCS §§ 601 et601 et seq.], as amended (42 U.S.C.

602) or the Federal-Federal-State State Unemployment Compensation Program, in which case, failure by such person to comply with any work requirement to which such person is subject shall be the same as failure to comply with the general work requirement;

CS for CS for SB 562 (3) A bona fide student enrolled at least part time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education (except any such person enrolled in an institution of higher education who are ineligible to participate under 7 U.S.C.

2CS for CS for SB 562 (e) If the secretary determines that there is not an appropriate and available SNAP E&T component due to a lack of funding, the secretary shall:

and (2) Continue to assign as many individuals subject to the requirement as possible, prioritizing adults without dependents who have been enrolled for more than two years.

(f) All reports generated by the Department of Human Services which measure any data related to the mandatory SNAP E&T program that are submitted to the federal government must 3CS for CS for SB 562 also be submitted to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability.

(a) Beginning on October 31, 2024, and ending on October 31, 2027, the department shall submit an annual report no later than October 31 of each year, during the time frame specified in this subsection, to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability,Accountability on the voluntary employment and training (E&T) program for participating able- bodied adults.

(7) The number and percentage of work registrants enrolled in E&T who have been co- enrolled by the regional Workforceworkforce Developmentdevelopment Boardsboards in services funded under the Workforce 4CS for CS for SB 562 Innovation and Opportunity Act and have dual participation verified through both the Department of Human Services PATH system and the Workforce WV MACC system;

5CS for CS for SB 562 (17) A description of each third-party partner contracted to serve E&T participants, including the number of individuals served and the number of individuals served by each partner having gained employment or earned a credential as a result of participation in the program;

and 6 CS for SB 562 (7) And any other information the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability may require.

(c)TheCS for CS for SB 562 (c) The Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, in accordance with the powers and duties prescribed in §16-29E-5 of this code, may recommend SNAP E&T program changes to the department as well as proposing corrective legislation notwithstanding the time frame specified in this section.

NOTE:

The purpose of this bill is to expand the mandatory employment and training requirements necessary to receive SNAP benefits.

The bill clarifies the Secretary’s duties when there is a lack of funding or inability to provide employment and training.

The bill identifies when assignments to the employment and training program may not be suspended.

Finally, the bill allows LOCHHRA to evaluate the current voluntary employment and training program requirements necessary to receive SNAP benefits, requires the department to measure and report program on outcomes, and empowers LOCHHRA to propose corrective legislation.

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