LRB-1573/1
SWB:kjf
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
May 19, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Kremer, Kapenga, August,
Brandtjen, R. Brooks, Craig, Edming, Gannon, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque,
Jagler, Jarchow, Katsma, Kerkman, Knodl, Knudson, T. Larson, Murphy, A.
Ott
, Petersen, Quinn, Sanfelippo and Tittl, cosponsored by Senators Nass,
Gudex, Marklein and Stroebel. Referred to Committee on Public Benefit
Reform.
AB222,1,2 1An Act to create 49.79 (7g) of the statutes; relating to: photo identification
2cards for FoodShare recipients.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the federal food stamp program, now known as the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and called FoodShare in this
state, assists eligible low-income individuals (recipients) to purchase food. SNAP
benefits are paid entirely with federal moneys. The cost of administration is split
between the federal and state governments; the program is administered in this
state by the Department of Health Services (DHS).
This bill requires DHS to prepare and submit a comprehensive implementation
plan (implementation plan) to the food and nutrition service (FNS) of the federal
Department of Agriculture (USDA) for approval to issue electronic benefit transfer
(EBT) identification cards containing a photo to FoodShare recipients. This bill also
requires DHS to submit a waiver request to USDA to allow DHS to require
FoodShare recipients to show an EBT card containing a photograph when making
purchases using FoodShare benefits. Finally, this bill requires that if FNS and
USDA approve the comprehensive implementation plan and the waiver,
respectively, DHS must submit the plan, the waiver, and a request for any necessary
appropriations to implement the plan, to the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) for
approval. Once the implementation plan and the waiver have federal approval and
approval from JCF, then DHS must implement the proposals in the approved
implementation plan and issue EBT cards containing photo identification of the
FoodShare recipients to whom they are issued.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB222,1 1Section 1. 49.79 (7g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB222,2,42 49.79 (7g) Food stamp photo identification cards. (a) In this subsection, "food
3and nutrition service" means the food and nutrition service of the federal department
4of agriculture.
AB222,2,135 (b) 1. The department shall submit a comprehensive implementation plan to
6the food and nutrition service as required by the food and nutrition service guidelines
7for allowing electronic benefit transfer cards containing a photograph. The
8department shall address in the implementation plan the issues required by the
9federal food and nutrition service guidelines for allowing photographs on electronic
10benefit transfer cards, including supplemental nutrition assistance program
11policies, operational issues, outreach, civil rights concerns, procedures to ensure that
12authorized representatives are able to use the card, and a description of how the
13department will ensure state compliance with federal requirements.
AB222,2,1814 2. Along with the implementation plan, the department of health services shall
15submit a request for a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of
16agriculture to allow the department of health services to require that an individual
17show an electronic benefit card containing a photograph when making a purchase
18using food stamp benefits.
AB222,3,619 (c) If the food and nutrition service grants written approval of the
20implementation plan, and the secretary of the federal department of agriculture
21approves the waiver, the department of health services shall submit the

1implementation plan, the waiver, and any necessary appropriation requests to
2implement the plan to the joint committee on finance for approval. The department
3of health services or a county, multicounty consortium, or elected governing body
4may not implement the proposals contained in the implementation plan under par.
5(b) unless the joint committee on finance grants approval of both the implementation
6plan and the waiver.
AB222,3,147 (d) If the department receives approval of both the implementation plan and
8the waiver under par. (c), then the department, or a county, multicounty consortium,
9or elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band
10acting on behalf of the department, shall issue, consistent with provisions of the
11implementation plan, food stamp identification cards to food stamp recipients that
12contain a photograph of the individual to whom the card is issued, and shall require
13an individual to show an electronic benefit card containing a photograph when
14making a purchase using food stamp benefits.
AB222,3,1515 (End)
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