Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB205

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  

Caption

SNAP Theft Protection Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish criteria for state agencies to identify Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen by identity theft or typical skimming practices and provide for the reissuance of stolen SNAP benefits to households that meet such criteria. USDA must periodically review and modify its regulations to take into account evolving technology and the threat landscape to better protect against theft.

Impact

The bill aims to strengthen the safety of SNAP, recognizing the growing issue of theft within the program. It pushes for regulations to be updated periodically to adapt to evolving technologies and the methods used by criminals. In this way, the bill is not only restructuring the response to theft but also ensuring that the systems used to distribute SNAP benefits remain secure and user-friendly, potentially increasing public trust in the program.

Summary

House Bill 205, known as the SNAP Theft Protection Act of 2023, is an amendment to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. This bill mandates the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish criteria for identifying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that have been stolen due to identity theft or skimming practices. It emphasizes the need for states to reissue these benefits to affected households, thus reinforcing the protective measures against food assistance fraud.

Contention

Notably, there may be contention surrounding the implementation of the regulations and determining the criteria for the identification of stolen benefits. Questions arise regarding the resources needed by state agencies to fulfill these requirements and how they will manage the additional workload. Furthermore, debates might focus on how best to balance the need for security with ensuring that eligible households can easily access their benefits without undue barriers.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB3887

SNAP Anti-Theft and Victim Compensation Act of 2025

US HB253

Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act This bill sets out a process to enable Puerto Rico to participate as a state in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under current law, a state receives SNAP funding based on the number of participating households in the state whereas Puerto Rico receives a block grant to fund its nutrition assistance program. The bill requires Puerto Rico to submit to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a plan of operation to transition away from the consolidated block grant program to SNAP. USDA must provide appropriate training and technical assistance to enable Puerto Rico to formulate such plan.

US S4641

Requires State to adopt practices to reduce SNAP benefits theft and to replace stolen SNAP benefits under certain circumstances; upgrades criminal penalties for SNAP benefits theft; makes appropriation.

US HB309

Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that receive grants to operate work-study programs to notify a student receiving work-study assistance that the student may be eligible for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department of Education must provide guidance to states and IHEs on how to identify and communicate with students who are potentially eligible for SNAP.

US S08130

Authorizes the reissuance of SNAP benefits in instances of fraud or theft of such benefits.

US SB561

Healthy SNAP Act of 2025This bill amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to redefine the foods eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.Under the bill, SNAP benefits may not be used for soft drinks, candy, ice cream, or prepared desserts, such as cakes, pies, cookies, or similar products.Further, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must designate by regulation foods and food products to include in the SNAP definition of the term food. USDA must consider food and products that (1) based on nutrition research, contain nutrients lacking in the diets of people in the United States; and (2) promote the health of the population served by SNAP, based on relevant nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. USDA must also, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the fat, sugar, and salt content of the food and food products are appropriate. At least every five years, USDA must review and amend the list.In addition, prepared meals purchased with SNAP benefits must have nutritional values consistent with standards developed by USDA for the list of food and food products.A state agency may substitute different foods for food USDA designated under this bill, with USDA approval, so long as the foods are nutritionally equivalent; this is permitted to allow for different cultural eating patterns.

US HB734

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide a notice and comment period prior to making certain substantive changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) quality control system, with exceptions.As background, the SNAP quality control system measures how accurately SNAP state agencies determine a household’s eligibility and benefit amount and determines overpayments of benefits and underpayments. State agencies must conduct quality control reviews of their SNAP caseloads and report these findings to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.The bill requires USDA to provide a notice and public comment period of at least 60 days prior to finalizing any new or updated guidance that proposes substantive changes for conducting quality control reviews. This applies to any proposed guidance reasonably expected to require state agencies to make changes to systems, procedures, or staffing pertaining to quality control reviews or that impact verification requirements for SNAP recipients.In the case of an urgent and immediate need, USDA may issue interim final guidance simultaneously with the notice and comment requirements.

US HB4456

Overcoming Higher Education Hunger Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Act of 2023 OHH SNAP Act of 2023

US HB4909

SNAP Nutrition Security Act of 2023

US HB9370

To require State agencies to inform recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, participants in the WIC program, and recipients of assistance under the TANF program of card skimming, card cloning, and similar fraudulent methods of stealing such benefits or assistance; and for other purposes.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.