Food Stamp Integrity Act of 2017

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Food Stamp Integrity Act of 2017 2. Eligibility disqualifications (a) Permanent disqualification for misconduct Section 6(b)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(b)(1) (1) by striking program— program permanently upon— (2) by striking clauses (i) and (ii); and (3) in clause (iii)— (A) in subclause (I) by striking (I) the third (A) the first ; (B) in subclause (II) by striking (II) the second (B) the first ; (C) in subclause (III) by striking (III) the first (C) the first ; (D) in subclause (IV) by striking (IV) a conviction (D) a conviction ; and (E) by striking (iii) permanently (b) Disqualification for certain convicted felons Section 6(r)(1)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(r)(1)(A) (1) in clause (iv) by striking or (2) in clause (v) by striking and (3) by adding at the end the following: (vi) an offense under chapter 113B (vii) defrauding the Federal Government, a State, or a unit of local government; and . (c) Mandatory disqualification for child support arrears Section 6(n)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(n)(1) At the option of a State agency, no No (d) Work requirement; elimination of waiver of work requirement and of 15-Percent exemption Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(o) (1) in paragraph (2) by striking 36-month 48-month (2) by striking paragraph (4); (3) in paragraph (5) by striking 36-month 48-month (4) by striking paragraph (6); and (5) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (7) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively. (e) Permanent disqualification for obtaining cash by destroying food and collecting deposits Section 6(p) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(p) for such period of time as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation permanently (f) Permanent disqualification for sale of food purchased with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits Section 6(q) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(q) for such period of time as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation permanently 3. Excessive loss of EBT cards Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015 (t) Excessive loss of EBT cards At the option of the State agency— (1) if the household requests a third EBT card to replace the second of 2 EBT cards issued to the household in the 1-year period ending on the date of such request, the State agency may require the head of the household to appear in person for an interview before any additional EBT card is issued to the household; and (2) the participation of a household in the supplemental nutrition assistance program may be terminated for 1 year if the household requests a fifth EBT card to replace the last of 4 EBT cards issued to such households in the 1-year period ending on the date of such request. . 4. Effective date; application of amendments (a) Effective date Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Application of amendments (1) The amendments made by this Act shall not apply with respect to conduct that occurs before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) The amendments made by this Act shall not apply with respect to certification periods that begin before the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) The amendment made by section 4 shall not apply with respect to EBT cards issued before the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Food Stamp Integrity Act of 2017 This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to revise the rules for disqualifying individuals from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program). The bill permanently disqualifies individuals who have been found guilty of offenses or misconduct, including: fraud or misrepresentation with respect to SNAP; the trading of a controlled substance, firearms, ammunition, or explosives for benefits; terrorism; defrauding the federal government, a state, or a unit of local government; obtaining cash by destroying food purchased with benefits and collecting deposits for containers; or selling food purchased with benefits. An individual who is delinquent in paying child support may not receive benefits unless a court allowed a payment delay or the individual is complying with a payment plan. If a household requests a third replacement Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card in a one-year period, a state may: (1) require the head of the household to appear in person for an interview before issuing an additional card, and (2) terminate participation of the household for one year if a fifth card is requested in a one-year period. The bill modifies the work requirements and eliminates certain exemptions and waivers from the requirements. If an able-bodied adult without dependents fails to meet the work requirements for 3 months in a 48-month period (36 months under current law), they are ineligible for SNAP for the remainder of the 48-month period, or until they comply.