SENATE BILL 142

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; REQUIRING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN

SERVICES TO SEEK AND IMPLEMENT A FEDERAL WAIVER OF THE TIME LIMIT ON ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO TRACK AND REPORT ON THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THE TIME LIMIT FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE; DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO OBTAIN A FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM'S EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM--THREE-MONTH TIME LIMIT--EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM.--

          A. No later than March 31, 2016 and by every October 1 thereafter, the secretary shall seek a federal waiver of the supplemental nutrition assistance program's three-month time limit on participation for able-bodied adults between the ages of eighteen and forty-nine years old who are without dependents. The secretary shall implement and update any waiver of the three-month time limit to the full extent permitted by federal law.

          B. If the secretary is required by federal law to implement the supplemental nutrition assistance program's three-month time limit in portions of the state that do not qualify for a federal waiver, the secretary shall track and publicly report, on an annual basis, the following:

                (1) the cost of administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program's three-month time limit;

                (2) the number of supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients in the state who must comply with the supplemental nutrition assistance program's three-month time limit; and

                (3) the number of supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients who were disqualified from receiving food assistance for noncompliance with the supplemental nutrition assistance program's three-month time limit and the corresponding loss, in dollars, of federal food assistance to New Mexico.

          C. By July 1 of each year, the secretary shall contract with the bureau of business and economic research of the university of New Mexico to conduct a fiscal impact analysis of the supplemental nutrition assistance program's employment and training program. The analysis shall include the following information, on an annual basis:

                (1) the cost of administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program's employment and training program;                 (2) the number of supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients in the state who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program's employment and training program;

                (3) the number of supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients in the state who gained employment or increased earnings from participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program's employment and training program; and

                (4) the number of supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients who were disqualified from receiving food assistance for noncompliance with the supplemental nutrition assistance program's employment and training program or any other work requirement that is met by participation in the employment and training program and the corresponding loss, in dollars, of federal food assistance to New Mexico.

          D. By January 1 of each year, the secretary shall report to the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee the results of the supplemental nutrition assistance program's employment and training program fiscal impact analysis conducted pursuant to Subsection C of this section."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2017 to fund a fiscal impact analysis pursuant to Subsection C of Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2017 shall revert to the general fund.

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