LRB-2241/1
PJK:kjf
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
May 27, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Subeck,
Kolste, Berceau, Bowen,
Brostoff, Goyke, Johnson, Jorgensen, Ohnstad, Sargent, Sinicki,
Spreitzer, C. Taylor and Zamarripa. Referred to Committee on Public Benefit
Reform.
AB245,1,3
1An Act to create 49.79 (9) (a) 6. of the statutes;
relating to: permitting a
2nutrition class to be an appropriate activity under the FoodShare employment
3and training program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as FoodShare
in this state and formerly known as the food stamp program, provides benefits to
eligible low-income individuals and households for the purchase of food. FoodShare
is administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS). The state and the
federal government share the cost of administration and benefits are paid entirely
with federal funds. Under current law, DHS may require a FoodShare recipient who
is able and 18 to 60 years of age to participate in the FoodShare employment and
training program (FSET), unless the recipient is participating in a Wisconsin Works
employment position, is the caretaker of a child under the age of six years, or is
enrolled at least half time in school, a training program, or an institution of higher
education. Individuals participating in FSET must fulfill any work, employment
search, or training requirements set by the entity administering FSET. With some
exceptions, a FoodShare recipient who is an able-bodied individual between the ages
of 18 and 50 who does not fulfill certain work requirements is eligible for FoodShare
benefits for no more than three months during a three-year period. Participation
in FSET satisfies those work requirements.
Under this bill, DHS is required to permit a participant in FSET, including an
individual who is an able-bodied individual between the ages of 18 and 50 who is
required to fulfill certain work requirements to remain eligible for FoodShare
benefits, to attend a class on nutrition as an appropriate work or employment and
training activity. The class must be available in the participant's community and
offered for free or at a low cost. DHS must count the number of hours spent in the
class toward the fulfillment of any amount of time that the participant is required
to spend working or on employment and training activities. In addition, the bill
provides that, if DHS determines that it may not permit a participant in FSET to
attend a nutrition class as an appropriate work or employment and training activity
without a federal waiver, DHS must request a waiver from the federal department
of agriculture and may not implement the requirement under the bill unless the
waiver is granted and in effect.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB245,1
1Section
1. 49.79 (9) (a) 6. of the statutes is created to read:
AB245,2,142
49.79
(9) (a) 6. a. The department shall permit a participant in an employment
3and training program under this subsection to attend a class on nutrition as an
4appropriate employment and training activity for the participant under the program
5and shall count the number of hours the participant spends attending the class
6toward fulfillment of any amount of time that the participant must participate in
7employment and training activities. The class must be available in the participant's
8community and offered to the public for free or at a low cost. If the participant is an
9individual who is participating in the employment and training program under this
10subsection to fulfill the work requirement under sub. (10) (a), the department shall
11count attendance at the class as a qualifying activity for satisfying the work
12requirement under sub. (10) (a) and shall count the number of hours the individual
13spends attending the class toward fulfillment of the number of hours required to
14fulfill the work requirement under sub. (10) (a).
AB245,3,415
b. If the department determines that it may not implement the requirement
16under subd. 6. a. without a federal waiver or an amendment to a federal waiver, the
1department shall request the waiver or the amendment to the waiver from the
2secretary of the federal department of agriculture and may not implement the
3requirement under subd. 6. a. unless the waiver or the amendment to the waiver is
4granted and in effect.
