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Committee advances HB 947 to tighten SNAP verifications and expand fraud powers
Summary
The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee passed a substitute to HB 947 after testimony on fraud, verification timelines and technology; the bill phases in stricter verifications, gives broader subpoena authority to the inspector general and calls for legislative oversight and a requested appropriation to support implementation.
The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on Thursday advanced a substitute to House Bill 947, a measure the sponsor said is intended to tighten verification of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and strengthen fraud-investigation authority.
Representative Montahan, the bill sponsor, told committee members the substitute (working draft LC461440S) strengthens the inspector general's role on SNAP-related subpoenas, clarifies that the measure does not create a private right of action against the state and phases in verification requirements for certain low- or zero-income cases. "It's not to cut benefits. It's to make sure that more families have more nutritious food," Montahan said.
The bill sets implementation dates to give the Department of Human Services (DHS) time to hire staff and adapt systems: expedited verification timeframes and categorical adjustments will not come into effect…
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