542
months after the date the individual
became ineligible.
‘‘(ii) SECOND
VIOLATION.—The sec-
ond time that an individual becomes ineli-
gible to participate in the food stamp pro-
gram under subparagraph (A), the individ-
ual shall remain ineligible until the later
of—
‘‘(I) the date the individual be-
comes eligible under subparagraph
(A);
‘‘(II) the date that is 3 months
after the date the individual became
ineligible; or
‘‘(III) a date determined by the
State agency that is not later than 6
months after the date the individual
became ineligible.
‘‘(iii) THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLA-
TION.—The third or subsequent time that
an individual becomes ineligible to partici-
pate in the food stamp program under sub-
paragraph (A), the individual shall remain
ineligible until the later of—
543
‘‘(I) the date the individual be-
comes eligible under subparagraph
(A);
‘‘(II) the date that is 6 months
after the date the individual became
ineligible;
‘‘(III) a date determined by the
State agency; or
‘‘(IV) at the option of the State
agency, permanently.
‘‘(D) ADMINISTRATION.—
‘‘(i) GOOD
CAUSE.—The Secretary
shall determine the meaning of good cause
for the purpose of this paragraph.
‘‘(ii) VOLUNTARY
QUIT.—The Sec-
retary shall determine the meaning of vol-
untarily quitting and reducing work effort
for the purpose of this paragraph.
‘‘(iii) 
DETERMINATION
BY
STATE
AGENCY.—
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to
subclause (II) and clauses (i) and (ii),
a State agency shall determine—
‘‘(aa) the meaning of any
term in subparagraph (A);
544
‘‘(bb) the procedures for de-
termining whether an individual
is in compliance with a require-
ment under subparagraph (A);
and
‘‘(cc) whether an individual
is in compliance with a require-
ment under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(II) NOT LESS RESTRICTIVE.—
A State agency may not determine a
meaning, procedure, or determination
under subclause (I) to be less restric-
tive than a comparable meaning, pro-
cedure, or determination under a
State program funded under part A of
title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
‘‘(iv) STRIKE AGAINST THE GOVERN-
MENT.—For the purpose of subparagraph
(A)(v), an employee of the Federal Govern-
ment, a State, or a political subdivision of
a State, who is dismissed for participating
in a strike against the Federal Govern-
ment, the State, or the political subdivision
545
of the State shall be considered to have
voluntarily quit without good cause.
‘‘(v) SELECTING A HEAD OF HOUSE-
HOLD.—
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—For the pur-
pose of this paragraph, the State
agency shall allow the household to se-
lect any adult parent of a child in the
household as the head of the house-
hold if all adult household members
making application under the food
stamp program agree to the selection.
‘‘(II) TIME
FOR
MAKING
DES-
IGNATION.—A household may des-
ignate the head of the household
under subclause (I) each time the
household is certified for participation
in the food stamp program, but may
not change the designation during a
certification period unless there is a
change in the composition of the
household.
‘‘(vi) CHANGE
IN
HEAD
OF
HOUSE-
HOLD.—If the head of a household leaves
the household during a period in which the
546
household is ineligible to participate in the
food stamp program under subparagraph
(B)—
‘‘(I) the household shall, if other-
wise eligible, become eligible to par-
ticipate in the food stamp program;
and
‘‘(II) if the head of the household
becomes the head of another house-
hold, the household that becomes
headed by the individual shall become
ineligible to participate in the food
stamp program for the remaining pe-
riod of ineligibility.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—
(1) The second sentence of section 17(b)(2) of
the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(2))
is amended by striking ‘‘6(d)(1)(i)’’ and inserting
‘‘6(d)(1)(A)(i)’’.
(2) Section 20(f) of the Food Stamp Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2029(f)) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(f) DISQUALIFICATION.—An individual or a house-
hold may become ineligible under section 6(d)(1) to par-
547
ticipate in the food stamp program for failing to comply
with this section.’’.
SEC. 913. CARETAKER EXEMPTION.
Section 6(d)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(B) a parent or other member of a household with re-
sponsibility for the care of (i) a dependent child under the
age of 6 or any lower age designated by the State agency
that is not under the age of 1, or (ii) an incapacitated
person;’’.
SEC. 914. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(d)(4) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (D)—
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘to which the
application’’ and all that follows through ‘‘30
days or less’’;
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘but with re-
spect’’ and all that follows through ‘‘child
care’’; and
(C) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘, on the
basis of’’ and all that follows through ‘‘clause
(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘the exemption continues to
be valid’’;
548
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the third
sentence.
(b) FUNDING.—Section 16(h) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended by striking
‘‘(h)(1)(A) The Secretary’’ and all that follows through
the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
‘‘(h) FUNDING
OF EMPLOYMENT
AND TRAINING
PROGRAMS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(A) AMOUNTS.—To carry out employ-
ment and training programs, the Secretary
shall reserve for allocation to State agencies
from funds made available for each fiscal year
under 
section 
18(a)(1) 
the 
amount 
of
$150,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1996
through 2002.
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall
allocate the amounts reserved under subpara-
graph (A) among the State agencies using a
reasonable formula (as determined by the Sec-
retary) that gives consideration to the popu-
lation in each State affected by section 6(o).
‘‘(C) REALLOCATION.—
‘‘(i) NOTIFICATION.—A State agency
shall promptly notify the Secretary if the
549
State agency determines that the State
agency will not expend all of the funds al-
located to the State agency under subpara-
graph (B).
‘‘(ii) REALLOCATION.—On notification
under clause (i), the Secretary shall reallo-
cate the funds that the State agency will
not expend as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate and equitable.
‘‘(D) MINIMUM
ALLOCATION.—Notwith-
standing subparagraphs (A) through (C), the
Secretary shall ensure that each State agency
operating an employment and training program
shall receive not less than $50,000 in each fis-
cal year.’’.
(d) REPORTS.—Section 16(h) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (5)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(5)(A) The Secretary’’
and inserting ‘‘(5) The Secretary’’; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(2) by striking paragraph (6).
550
SEC. 915. COMPARABLE TREATMENT FOR DISQUALIFICA-
TION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(i) COMPARABLE TREATMENT FOR DISQUALIFICA-
TION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a disqualification is im-
posed on a member of a household for a failure of
the member to perform an action required under a
Federal, State, or local law relating to a means-test-
ed public assistance program, the State agency may
impose the same disqualification on the member of
the household under the food stamp program.
‘‘(2) RULES AND PROCEDURES.—If a disquali-
fication is imposed under paragraph (1) for a failure
of an individual to perform an action required under
part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the State agency may use the
rules and procedures that apply under part A of title
IV of such Act to impose the same disqualification
under the food stamp program.
‘‘(3) APPLICATION
AFTER
DISQUALIFICATION
PERIOD.—A member of a household disqualified
under paragraph (1) may, after the disqualification
period has expired, apply for benefits under this Act
551
and shall be treated as a new applicant, except that
a prior disqualification under subsection (d) shall be
considered in determining eligibility.’’.
(b) STATE PLAN PROVISIONS.—Section 11(e) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (24), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(2) in paragraph (25), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(26) the guidelines the State agency uses in
carrying out section 6(i); and’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 6(d)(2)(A)
of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(2)(A))
is amended by striking ‘‘that is comparable to a require-
ment of paragraph (1)’’.
SEC. 916. DISQUALIFICATION FOR RECEIPT OF MULTIPLE
FOOD STAMP BENEFITS.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by section 915, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(j) DISQUALIFICATION FOR RECEIPT OF MULTIPLE
FOOD STAMP BENEFITS.—An individual shall be ineligible
to participate in the food stamp program as a member
of any household for a 10-year period if the individual is
552
found by a State agency to have made, or is convicted
in a Federal or State court of having made, a fraudulent
statement or representation with respect to the identity
or place of residence of the individual in order to receive
multiple benefits simultaneously under the food stamp
program.’’.
SEC. 917. DISQUALIFICATION OF FLEEING FELONS.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by sections 915 and 916, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(k) DISQUALIFICATION OF FLEEING FELONS.—No
member of a household who is otherwise eligible to partici-
pate in the food stamp program shall be eligible to partici-
pate in the program as a member of that or any other
household during any period during which the individual
is—
‘‘(1) fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or
confinement after conviction, under the law of the
place from which the individual is fleeing, for a
crime, or attempt to commit a crime, that is a felony
under the law of the place from which the individual
is fleeing or that, in the case of New Jersey, is a
high misdemeanor under the law of New Jersey; or
‘‘(2) violating a condition of probation or parole
imposed under a Federal or State law.’’.
553
SEC. 918. COOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by sections 915, 916, and 917, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(l) CUSTODIAL
PARENT’S
COOPERATION
WITH
CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the option of a State
agency, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), no natu-
ral or adoptive parent or other individual (collec-
tively referred to in this subsection as ‘the individ-
ual’) who is living with and exercising parental con-
trol over a child under the age of 18 who has an ab-
sent parent shall be eligible to participate in the food
stamp program unless the individual cooperates with
the State agency administering the program estab-
lished under part D of title IV of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)—
‘‘(A) in establishing the paternity of the
child (if the child is born out of wedlock); and
‘‘(B) in obtaining support for—
‘‘(i) the child; or
‘‘(ii) the individual and the child.
‘‘(2) GOOD
CAUSE
FOR
NONCOOPERATION.—
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the individual if
good cause is found for refusing to cooperate, as de-
termined by the State agency in accordance with
554
standards prescribed by the Secretary in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices. The standards shall take into consideration cir-
cumstances under which cooperation may be against
the best interests of the child.
‘‘(3) FEES.—Paragraph (1) shall not require
the payment of a fee or other cost for services pro-
vided under part D of title IV of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
‘‘(m) NONCUSTODIAL PARENT’S COOPERATION WITH
CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the option of a State
agency, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a puta-
tive or identified noncustodial parent of a child
under the age of 18 (referred to in this subsection
as ‘the individual’) shall not be eligible to participate
in the food stamp program if the individual refuses
to cooperate with the State agency administering the
program established under part D of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)—
‘‘(A) in establishing the paternity of the
child (if the child is born out of wedlock); and
‘‘(B) in providing support for the child.
‘‘(2) REFUSAL TO COOPERATE.—
555
‘‘(A) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, shall develop guidelines on
what constitutes a refusal to cooperate under
paragraph (1).
‘‘(B) PROCEDURES.—The State agency
shall develop procedures, using guidelines devel-
oped under subparagraph (A), for determining
whether an individual is refusing to cooperate
under paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) FEES.—Paragraph (1) shall not require
the payment of a fee or other cost for services pro-
vided under part D of title IV of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
‘‘(4) PRIVACY.—The State agency shall provide
safeguards to restrict the use of information col-
lected by a State agency administering the program
established under part D of title IV of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) to purposes for
which the information is collected.’’.
SEC. 919. DISQUALIFICATION RELATING TO CHILD SUP-
PORT ARREARS.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by sections 915, 916, 917 and 918,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
556
‘‘(o) DISQUALIFICATION FOR CHILD SUPPORT AR-
REARS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the option of a State
agency, except as provided in paragraph (2), no indi-
vidual shall be eligible to participate in the food
stamp program as a member of any household dur-
ing any month that the individual is delinquent in
any payment due under a court order for the sup-
port of a child of the individual.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not
apply if—
‘‘(A) a court is allowing the individual to
delay payment; or
‘‘(B) the individual is complying with a
payment plan approved by a court or the State
agency designated under part D of title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)
to provide support for the child of the individ-
ual.’’.
SEC. 920. WORK REQUIREMENT FOR ABLE-BODIED RECIPI-
ENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015), as amended by sections 915,
916, 917, 918, and 919, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
557
‘‘(p) WORK REQUIREMENT.—
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF WORK PROGRAM.—In this
subsection, the term ‘work program’ means—
‘‘(A) a program under the Job Training
Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.);
‘‘(B) a program under section 236 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296); or
‘‘(C) a program of employment or training
operated or supervised by a State or local gov-
ernment, as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(2) WORK
REQUIREMENT.—No individual
shall be eligible to participate in the food stamp pro-
gram as a member of any household if, during the
preceding 12 months, the individual received food
stamp benefits for not less than 6 months during
which the individual did not—
‘‘(A) work 20 hours or more per week,
averaged monthly;
‘‘(B) participate in a workfare program
under section 20 or a comparable State or local
workfare program;
‘‘(C) participate in and comply with the re-
quirements of an approved employment and
training program under subsection (d)(4); or
558
‘‘(D) participate in and comply with the
requirements of a work program for 20 hours
or more per week.
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (2) shall not
apply to an individual if the individual is—
‘‘(A) under 18 or over 50 years of age;
‘‘(B) medically certified as physically or
mentally unfit for employment;
‘‘(C) a parent or other member of a house-
hold with a dependent child under 18 years of
age; or
‘‘(D) otherwise exempt under subsection
(d)(2).
‘‘(4) WAIVER.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may
waive the applicability of paragraph (2) to any
group of individuals in the State if the Sec-
retary makes a determination that the area in
which the individuals reside—
‘‘(i) has an unemployment rate of over
8 percent; or
‘‘(ii) does not have a sufficient num-
ber of jobs to provide employment for the
individuals.