HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 14

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Ben Lujan

FOR THE WELFARE REFORM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

ENCOURAGING EFFORTS TO EXPAND NEW MEXICO'S FOOD STAMP ENROLLMENT AND RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FEDERAL FOOD STAMP PROGRAM TO NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY.

     WHEREAS, low-income New Mexicans are encouraged to apply for food stamps not only to improve nutrition for New Mexico families, but also because food stamp benefits have a positive impact on New Mexico's economy; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government funds all food stamp benefits; and

     WHEREAS, in October 2008 alone, New Mexico's one hundred four thousand three hundred twenty-six food stamp cases generated over twenty-seven million dollars ($27,000,000) in the local economy; and

      WHEREAS, many low-income New Mexicans who are eligible for food stamps are not currently enrolled; and

     WHEREAS, more New Mexicans would benefit if New Mexico joined Arizona, Texas and a growing number of other states that are implementing the expanded federal categorical eligibility options; and

     WHEREAS, community partners and organizations can assist with food stamp enrollment; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico collaboration to end hunger, the food stamp working group and the governor's poverty reduction task force have set a goal of increasing participation in the food stamp program to include eighty percent of all eligible low-income New Mexicans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department be urged to develop and implement additional outreach efforts to encourage all eligible low-income New Mexicans to apply for food stamp benefits; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department be urged to increase the use of community partners and organizations to assist with food stamp enrollment, including applying for and using available federal funding for outreach to support such outreach efforts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department be urged to implement the expanded federal categorical eligibility options; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department be urged to increase the use of telephone eligibility interviews and further simplify the enrollment process for food stamps; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department be encouraged to provide information to all low-income comprehensive tax rebate recipients about food stamp eligibility and how to apply for food stamps in English and Spanish and to target additional outreach efforts for low-income New Mexicans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department report to the legislative health and human services committee by its November 2009 meeting on the department's efforts and plans to enroll more food stamp clients and the results it has seen from such efforts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services and the chair of the legislative health and human services committee.

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