TN House Passes Bill To Reinstate SNAP Benefits Work Requirement
Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Tennessee Representatives passed a bill that would reinstate a work requirement for most individuals 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.
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Prior to the vote in the House, a Senate amendment (that made the bill) was adopted in the House to replace two prior House amendments. The amendment that was accepted reads as follows:
SUMMARY OF BILL AS AMENDED (016983): Requires 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.
Requires the report to 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.
Prohibits DHS from providing discretionary exemptions to work requirements under the SNAP program to certain individuals.
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.
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 (SNAP).
The Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 23), passed the Senate last week with 27 Ayes in favor and 6 Nays against. Only Democrats voted against the bill.
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
