Montana House Bill HB340

Montana 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/23
• Refer: 1/27/23

Caption

Require child support cooperation for food stamp eligibility

Impact

If enacted, HB340 would amend state statutes by introducing clear conditions under which applicants can access food assistance. It targets individuals who are delinquent in child support payments, rendering them ineligible for SNAP during any month they fail to meet their obligations. The expectation is that this will encourage more responsible behavior towards child support, ultimately benefiting children and custodial parents who rely on these funds.

Summary

House Bill 340 aims to require applicants for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cooperate with state child support enforcement services. Specifically, the bill stipulates that noncustodial obligors must comply with these services as a condition of their eligibility for food assistance, establishing a direct link between child support compliance and the receipt of SNAP benefits. This legislative change is grounded in the requirements outlined under federal regulations regarding SNAP eligibility.

Contention

There are potential points of contention regarding HB340, particularly concerning its impact on low-income families. Opponents of the bill may argue that tying SNAP eligibility to child support compliance could disproportionately affect noncustodial parents with limited resources, who may already be struggling to meet their financial obligations. Critics could view this as further penalization of vulnerable populations and may raise concerns that such policies could increase food insecurity among children, contradicting the bill's intended outcomes.