Emergency SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-6203
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2021-12-09
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care

Employee hiring

Food assistance and relief

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Labor market

Natural disasters

Public contracts and procurement

State and local government operations

Temporary and part-time employment
Latest action: action_date: 2022-01-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-12-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Emergency SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill authorizes a state agency to hire contractors to administer parts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if the state experiences an increase in SNAP applications or an inability to timely process the applications because of workforce shortages, emergencies, or disasters.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6203 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 9, 2021 Mr. Bacon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow for blended workforces to carry out the supplemental nutrition assistance program under certain conditions.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2021 . 2. Temporary emergency SNAP staffing flexibility (a) In general Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, a State agency (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008) may, by contract with the State agency at a reasonable cost in accordance with the State agency’s standard contracting rules, hire a contractor to undertake supplemental nutrition assistance program certification or carry out any other function of the State agency under such program. (b) Use A State agency may use the authority provided in subsection (a) when the State experiences increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or an inability to timely process such applications from causes that include— (1) pandemics and other health emergencies, (2) seasonal workforce cycles, (3) temporary staffing shortages, and (4) weather or other natural disasters. (c) Requirements A State agency that hires a contractor under subsection (a) shall ensure such action— (1) is consistent with all principles under section 900.603 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and (2) does not supplant existing merit-based personnel in the State. (d) Notification A State agency shall notify the Secretary of Agriculture of the intent to use the authority provided in this section. (e) Duration To the maximum extent practicable, any new contract entered into, or any contract modified, under subsection (a) shall terminate not later than the date on which the cause for the increase in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or an inability to timely process such applications subsides. (f) Program design Any action taken by a State agency under subsection (a) shall not be— (1) considered to be a major change in the operations of such State agency for the purposes of section 11(a)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2020(a)(4) ), or (2) subject to any requirement specified in such section.