Lee Signs Act To Reinstate SNAP Benefits Work Requirement Into Law
Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
On May 3rd, 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an Act that reinstates a work requirement for most individuals in the Volunteer state that are receiving temporary government assistance.
House Bill 2096 (HB2096), sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), passed the House on Monday, April 18th, with all Representatives voting in favor.
The Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 23), passed the Senate on April 13th, with 27 Ayes in favor and 6 Nays against. Only Democrats voted against the bill.
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The bill would require that all individuals ages 18-49 who are able-bodied and without dependents must work at least 20 hours per week, or participate in job training or volunteer work, in order to receive government benefits.
This requirement was previously in effect but had been waived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would simply reinstate that requirement and limit the exemptions that are allowed.
An amendment to the bill orders the Department of Human Services (DHS) to submit a report to the General Assembly by October 31, 2022, and each year thereafter, detailing the instances in which a waiver of, or exemption to, work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was sought, applied for, accepted, or renewed by the Department in the preceding federal fiscal year.
The DHS report must include information on the number of recipients receiving SNAP benefits in the state, the amount of benefits received, the number of recipients subject to the work requirements of SNAP, and the number of recipients participating in the SNAP employment and training program.
The DHS is also prohibited from providing discretionary exemptions to work requirements under the SNAP program to certain individuals.
According to the bill, the department would be required to obtain approval from the General Assembly before they could provide any exemptions to the work requirement put in place for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Governor Lee’s signature makes the bill a law and the bill text states that the reinstated requirements go into effect immediately.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
