I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4540 
To provide clarity regarding States’ ability to manage the supplemental nutri-
tion assistance program (SNAP) and to provide States with funding 
to treat drug addiction in the SNAP population. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2016 
Mr. ADERHOLT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and 
Commerce and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide clarity regarding States’ ability to manage the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and 
to provide States with funding to treat drug addiction 
in the SNAP population. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘SNAP Empowerment 
and Accountability Act of 2016’’. 
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SEC. 2. DRUG TESTING. 
(a) AMENDMENT TO THE FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT 
OF 2008.—Section 5(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(b)) is amended by striking the 
period at the end by inserting the following: 
‘‘but a State agency, in its sole discretion, may impose 
a standard of eligibility based on the results of testing for 
use of controlled substances. The Secretary shall not dis-
approve a plan of operation due solely to the fact that 
a State agency imposes a standard of eligibility based on 
the results of testing for controlled substances.’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT
TO
THE PERSONAL RESPONSI-
BILITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY RECONCILIATION ACT 
OF 1996.—Section 902 of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21 U.S.C. 
862b) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘, including supplemental nu-
trition assistance program benefit recipients,’’ after 
‘‘recipients’’ the 1st place it appears, and 
(2) by striking ‘‘welfare’’ the last place it ap-
pears. 
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SEC. 3. TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS TESTED FOR DRUG 
USE 
FOR 
ELIGIBILITY 
DETERMINATION 
UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Sub-
stance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
shall award grants to States to defray the costs of pro-
viding treatment to individuals who test positive for a con-
trolled substance under section 5(b) of the Food and Nu-
trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(b)) and who are identi-
fied by the States as needing treatment for the abuse of 
such substance. 
(b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘State’’ 
has the meaning given to that term in section 3 of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012). 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$600,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 
SEC. 4. STANDARD UTILITY ALLOWANCES BASED ON THE 
RECEIPT 
OF 
ENERGY 
ASSISTANCE 
PAY-
MENTS. 
(a) STANDARD UTILITY ALLOWANCE.—Section 5 of 
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) by striking 
‘‘$20’’ and inserting ‘‘$50’’, and 
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(2) in subsection (k) by striking paragraph (4) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) THIRD-PARTY ENERGY ASSISTANCE PAY-
MENTS.—For purposes of subsection (d)(1), a pay-
ment made under a State law (other than a law re-
ferred to in paragraph (2)(G)) to provide energy as-
sistance to a household shall be considered money 
payable directly to the household.’’. 
(b) ENERGY ASSISTANCE THRESHOLD AMOUNT.— 
Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(a)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘$20’’ and inserting ‘‘$50’’. 
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), this Act shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The amend-
ments made by this Act shall not apply with respect to 
certification periods that begin before the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
Æ 
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