HB 524 Mosley, Jay
HB 524 -- TANF AND SNAP BENEFITS
SPONSOR: Mosley
This bill requires a TANF recipient to become disqualified for any impermissible use of benefits in a prohibited place or for a prohibited purchase as follows:
(1) For the first occurrence of noncompliance, three months;
(2) For the second occurrence of noncompliance, six months; and
(3 ) For the third and or subsequent occurrence of noncompliance, five years.
An individual may resume participation in TANF at the end of a disqualification period upon re-application. This bill also modifies existing law by adding definitions of "prohibited establishment", "prohibited purchase", and "tobacco products".
Subject to any necessary federal approval, no TANF or SNAP recipient shall use their EBT card to obtain cash from any automated teller machine, to receive cash back on a purchase, or otherwise to access benefits as cash. This bill repeals an existing provision of law requiring the establishment of pilot projects in St. Louis and certain counties to allow public assistance recipients to obtain cash from ATMs or point-of-sale terminals is contingent upon federal approval.
This bill requires the Department of Social Services to establish a "Restaurant Meals Program" as part of SNAP. Under this program, households containing certain elderly, disabled, or homeless individuals shall have the option, in accordance with federal law, to redeem their SNAP benefits at private establishments that contract with the Department to offer meals, including hot food and meals intended for immediate consumption, for eligible persons at concessional prices.
This bill is similar to HCS SS SB 798 (2022).