LB 319 — Change eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

AM1176 AM1176 LB319 LB319 DLM2025 -LEGISLATURE 04/28/2025OF DLMNEBRASKA -ONE 04/28/2025HUNDRED AMENDMENTSNINTH TOLEGISLATURE LB319FIRST SESSION LEGISLATIVE BILL 319 FINAL READING   Introduced by Rountree, 3.3;

1.Conrad, 46.

StrikeRead thefirst originaltime sectionsJanuary and16, insert2025 theCommittee: following new sections:

SectionHealth 1.and Human Services A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to public assistance;

to amend section 68-1017.02, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024;

to change provisions relating to eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as prescribed;

and to repeal the original section.

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, -1- LB319 LB319 2025 Section 1.

-1- AM1176 AM1176 LB319 LB319 DLM - 04/28/2025 DLM - 04/28/2025 (c) The Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature, after receipt and evaluation of the report required in subdivision (b) of this subsection, shall issue recommendations to the department on any further action necessary by the department to meet the requirements of this section.

(2)(a) The department shall develop a state outreach plan to promote -2- LB319 LB319 2025 access by eligible persons to benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

-2- AM1176 AM1176 LB319 LB319 DLM - 04/28/2025 DLM - 04/28/2025 (d) The department shall be exempt from implementing or administering a state outreach plan under this subsection, but not from developing such a plan, if it does not receive private or federal funds sufficient to cover the department's costs associated with the implementation and administration of the plan, including any costs associated with increased caseload resulting from the implementation of -3- LB319 LB319 2025 the plan.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, such TANF- funded program or policy shall increase the gross income eligibility limit to one hundred sixty-five percent of the federal Office of Management and Budget income poverty guidelines as allowed under federal -3- AM1176 AM1176 LB319 LB319 DLM - 04/28/2025 DLM - 04/28/2025 law and under 7 C.F.R.

The department shall evaluate the TANF-funded program or policy created pursuant to this subsection and provide a report -4- LB319 LB319 2025 electronically to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature and the Legislative Fiscal Analyst on or before December 15 of each year regarding the gross income eligibility limit and whether it maximizes the number of Nebraska residents being served under the program or policy.

For purposes of this section, SNAP Next Step Program means a partnership program between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor to assist under-employed and unemployed recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in finding self- -4- AM1176 AM1176 LB319 LB319 DLM - 04/28/2025 DLM - 04/28/2025 sufficient employment.

(iv) Such TANF-funded program or policy shall eliminate all asset limits for eligibility for federal food assistance benefits, except that the total of liquid assets which includes cash on hand and funds in personal checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and share accounts shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars pursuant to the -5- LB319 LB319 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as allowed under federal law and under 7 C.F.R.

(ii) Unless a health care provider licensed under the Uniform -5- AM1176 AM1176 LB319 LB319 DLM - 04/28/2025 DLM - 04/28/2025 Credentialing Act has determined that substance abuse treatment is not required since the date of the most recent conviction, a shall be ineligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under this subsection if he or she (i) has had three or more felony convictions for the possession or use of a controlled substance or (ii) has been convicted of a felony involving the sale or distribution of a controlled -6- LB319 LB319 2025 substance or the intent to sell or distribute a controlled substance.

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