HB 2481 — Prohibits the use of SNAP benefits to purchase certain foods

SECOND REGULAR SESSION [PERFECTED] HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.

2481 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 6262H.02C6262H.02P JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To repeal section 208.009, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

An individual who is not a United States citizen or a national of the United States shall not be eligible to receive medical assistance through MO HealthNet, unless such individual meets the definition of an eligible alien under 42 U.S.C.

1396b(v) and meets the definition of a qualified alien under 8 U.S.C.

1641(b).

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[2.] 3.4.

or any retirement, welfare, health, disability, housing, or food assistance benefit under which payments, assistance, credits, or reducedEXPLANATION rates— orMatter feesenclosed arein provided.bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.

The term "public benefit" shall not include postsecondary education public benefits as defined in section 173.1110, any municipal permit, or contracts or agreements between public utility providers and their customers or unemployment benefits payable under chapter 288.

The unemployment compensation program shall verify the lawful EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.

HCS HB 2481 2 presencereduced ofrates anor alienfees forare theprovided. purpose of determining eligibility for benefits in accordance with its own procedures.

[3.]The 4.term "public benefit" shall not include postsecondary education public benefits as defined in section 173.1110, any municipal permit, or contracts or agreements between public utility providers and their customers or unemployment benefits payable under chapter 288.

The unemployment compensation program shall verify the lawful presence of an alien for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefits in accordance with its own procedures.

[3.] 5.

4.] 5.6.

[5.] 6.7.

or [(2)](b)[(2) IndefinitelyIndefinitely] if(b) If the applicant provides a copy of a completed application for a birth certificate that is pending in Missouri or some other state.state, an extension of an additional thirty days shall be granted.

An extension granted under this subsection shall HCS HB 2481 3 terminate in thirty days or upon the applicant's receipt of a birth certificate or a determination that a birth certificate does not exist because the applicant is not a United States citizen.

(2) Failure to submit acceptable documentation establishing United States citizenship, United States national status, or alien status eligible for such public benefits HCS HB 2481 3 within the temporary eligibility period shall result in denial or termination of public benefits.

(3) No additional period of eligibility for temporary benefits shall be granted to any applicationapplicant who has previously been denied public benefits at any time due to a failure to verify United States citizenship, United States national status, or alien status eligible for such public benefits.

[6.] 7.8.

[After an applicant's lawful presence in the United States has been verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program, no additional verification is required within the same agency of the state or local government.] 8.9.

[7.] 9.10.

[8.]10.[8.] 11.

11.

Any agency that administers public benefits shall verify that the applicant or enrollee of that public benefit is a United States citizen, United States national, or an eligible alien for such public benefit through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and any other verification system at the time of application, at each eligibility redetermination, and whenever information is received indicating a change in circumstances affecting eligibility related to citizenship or immigration status.

(1) If verification confirms that an applicant or enrollee is not lawfully present in the United States or no longer qualifies under subsections 1, 2, 3 of this section or any successor provision of state and federal law, the agency that administers that public HCS HB 2481 4 benefit shall immediately terminate future benefits and initiate disenrollment, except as otherwise permitted for temporary benefits under subsection 5 of this section.

(2) If any agency that administers public benefits is unable to determine an applicant’s or enrollee’s lawful presence after a Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program query or other authorized verification, the agency shall immediately suspend approval or continuation of benefits and refer the case to the United States Department of Homeland Security or other appropriate federal agency for investigation and enforcement action.

No public benefits shall be paid or continued unless and until lawful presence is conclusively verified, except as otherwise permitted for temporary benefits under subsection 5 of this section.

(3) The appropriate agency for referral for an applicant or enrollee for whom any agency is unable to verify lawful presence shall include, but not be limited to, the United States Department of Agriculture.

Any agency that administers public benefits shall verify that the applicant or enrollee of that public benefit is a United States citizen, United States national, or an eligible alien for such public benefit through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and any other verification system at the time of application, at each eligibility HCS HB 2481 4 redetermination, and whenever information is received indicating a change in circumstances affecting eligibility related to citizenship or immigration status.

(1) An applicant applying for benefits with minor children shall be required to provide documentary proof of relationship to the children or proof of financial responsibility for the children.

The agency administering the benefits shall promulgate all rules necessary to enforce the provisions of this section.

If the applicant is determined to be eligible for benefits, the related children within the household shall also be eligible for such benefits.

If the children within the household are determined to be eligible for such benefits but the applicant is not eligible, the benefits shall only be administered to the children.

(2) If verification confirms that an applicant or enrollee is not lawfully present in the United States or no longer qualifies under subsections 1, 2, 3 of this section or any successor provision of state and federal law, the agency that administers that public benefit shall immediately terminate future benefits and initiate disenrollment, except as otherwise permitted for temporary benefits under subsection 5 of this section.

(3) If any agency that administers public benefits is unable to determine an applicant’s or enrollee’s lawful presence after a Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program query or other authorized verification, the agency shall immediately suspend approval or continuation of benefits and refer the case to the United States Department of Homeland Security or other appropriate federal agency for investigation and enforcement action.

No public benefits shall be paid or continued unless and until lawful presence is conclusively verified, except as otherwise permitted for temporary benefits under subsection 5 of this section.

(4) The appropriate agency for referral for an applicant or enrollee for whom any agency is unable to verify lawful presence shall include, but not be limited to, the United States Department of Agriculture.

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