SENATE BILL 242

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Pat Woods

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO IMPOSE WORK PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO THE FULL EXTENT AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL LAW.

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--WORK PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. The secretary shall:

                (1) seek to have any waiver of federal work participation requirements under the supplemental nutrition assistance program revoked; and

                (2) upon revocation of the waiver of federal work participation requirements, adopt and promulgate rules to establish work participation requirements for recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance to the full extent that federal law authorizes, including provisions for granting exemptions to work participation requirements in accordance with federal law.

          B. As used in this section:

                (1) "supplemental nutrition assistance program" means the program, formerly known as "food stamps", established under the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and federal regulations pursuant to that act; and

                (2) "work participation" means the following activities, performed in a manner and for a length of time specified in department rules:

                     (a) work in exchange for money;

                     (b) work in exchange for goods or services, also known as "in kind" work;

                     (c) unpaid work, which includes work without compensation that gives a recipient experience in a job or industry, tests a recipient's job skills or involves time that a recipient spends volunteering time and effort to a not-for-profit organization; or

                     (d) a combination of any of the activities listed in Subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection."