A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require consideration of the assets of a household for broad-based categorical eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Bill: 116-s-2359
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-07-31
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital

Employee benefits and pensions

Financial services and investments

Food assistance and relief
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-31
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill revises eligibility requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require certain household assets (e.g., available cash, stock, savings bonds, mutual funds) to be considered when making a categorical eligibility determination for SNAP benefits.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2359 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 31, 2019 Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require consideration of the assets of a household for broad-based categorical eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

1. Assets as income for categorical eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) In general Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(a) ) is amended— (1) in the fourth sentence, by striking Assistance and inserting the following: (4) Availability of assistance Assistance ; (2) in the third sentence, by striking Except and inserting the following: (3) General assistance programs Except ; (3) in the second sentence— (A) by striking Notwithstanding and inserting the following: (2) Categorical eligibility (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), and notwithstanding ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Consideration of assets (i) Definition of nonincome asset In this subparagraph, the term nonincome asset means available cash (including in a savings account or checking account), a stock, a savings bond, a mutual fund, a pension fund, and a real estate holding (other than a primary home). (ii) Consideration of assets A household described in subparagraph (A) shall not be eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the total nonincome assets of the household are valued at not less than— (I) $2,250; or (II) in the case of a household that includes an elderly or disabled member, $3,500. ; and (4) by striking (a) Participation and inserting the following: (a) In general (1) Eligible households Participation . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 11(i)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2020(i)(2) ) is amended by striking the second sentence of section 5(a) and inserting section 5(a)(2) . (2) Section 17(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(bb) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C 2026(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(bb)) is amended by striking the last sentence of section 5(a) and inserting section 5(a)(4) .