SB1071

THE CONTEXT: SNAP is a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget and help a family afford nutritious food. To be eligible for SNAP benefits, an applicant must meet specific age, household, employment and income requirements ( USDA ).

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would direct DES, to determine or evaluate SNAP eligibility, to: a) enter into a data matching agreement with the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) to identify households with lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more; b) treat the data obtained as verified on receipt, to the extent permissible under federal law; and c) refer those households with lottery or gambling winnings that are equal to or greater than the resource limit for elderly or disabled households as defined under federal law to DES for further investigation if the DOR data cannot be verified on receipt, require DES to review information provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) that identifies individuals who have had a change in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility on at least a monthly basis, and require DES to review its own information to identify individuals who have had a change in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility, including an individual s change in unemployment benefits, employment status or wages on a quarterly basis.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for snap instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would direct DES, to determine or evaluate SNAP eligibility, to: a) enter into a data matching agreement with the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) to identify households with lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more; b) treat the data obtained as verified on receipt, to the extent permissible under federal law; and c) refer those households with lottery or gambling winnings that are equal to or greater than the resource limit for elderly or disabled households as defined under federal law to DES for further investigation if the DOR data cannot be verified on receipt, and would also require DES to review information provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) that identifies individuals who have had a change in circumstances that may affect SNAP eligibility on at least a monthly basis, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.