Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.
Impact
If enacted, this bill would significantly affect the administration of food assistance programs, which are federally funded. By increasing the age range of individuals subject to these requirements, the bill is expected to facilitate a larger workforce participation, particularly among older adults who may face challenges in securing employment. This change could lead to a potential decrease in reliance on food assistance as more individuals seek to achieve economic independence through employment, supported by the required training programs.
Summary
House Bill 2140 proposes to amend the eligibility requirements for food assistance by increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents who are required to complete an employment and training program. Specifically, the bill aims to include individuals aged up to 59 years. The rationale behind this extension is to ensure that a greater number of adults can be trained and prepared for employment, thereby improving their economic self-sufficiency and potentially reducing dependence on state support.
Contention
There are several points of contention surrounding HB 2140, particularly regarding the increased requirements imposed on beneficiaries. Critics may argue that placing additional demands on individuals who already face socio-economic challenges could lead to increased hardship for those unable to fulfill these requirements for various reasons, such as health issues or lack of access to training programs. Proponents of the bill assert that these measures are necessary for fostering accountability and ensuring that public funds are used effectively to promote workforce participation.
Requiring able-bodied adults and work registrants without dependents under six years of age to participate in an employment training program as a condition of receiving food assistance.
Requiring work registrants ages 50-59 to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance, establishing periods of ineligibility for child care subsidy based on cooperation with child support services and requiring the secretary to conduct reviews of cooperation with child support.
Requiring job search instead of a 20-hour work week for child care subsidy eligibility, allowing food assistance funds for advertising food assistance programs and modifying penalties for non-cooperation for all assistance programs.
Requiring custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with child support enforcement programs for food assistance eligibility and disqualifying such parents from food assistance for being delinquent in support payments.
Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules and prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.
Eliminating certain restrictions for eligibility for public assistance, including removing the requirement to cooperate with child support services, restrictions on persons convicted of drug felonies, requirements for employment and training programs, photograph requirements for benefits cards and legislative action required for expansion of medical assistance, permitting the secretary from granting categorical eligibility standards, extending the lifetime limitation on benefits, providing for hardship extensions and exempting parents providing care for a child less than one year of age.
Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.
Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.
Requiring work registrants ages 50-59 to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance, establishing periods of ineligibility for child care subsidy based on cooperation with child support services and requiring the secretary to conduct reviews of cooperation with child support.
Requiring job search instead of a 20-hour work week for child care subsidy eligibility, allowing food assistance funds for advertising food assistance programs and modifying penalties for non-cooperation for all assistance programs.
Requiring the department of administration to report identifying information of persons who claim Kansas lottery or gambling prize winnings in excess of $5,000 to the department of health and environment.
Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.
Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules and prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.