Nutrition and Cash Assistance - Legislative Review

Legislative Review

With the implementation of HB2091, Arizona is no longer the only state requiring recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Cash Assistance (CA) to use finger imaging identification as a requirement to receive these benefits.

Data Shows

 In Fiscal Year 2014, only .001% duplicate applications out of 1.1 million were detected by finger imaging.

Instead, DES will continue to utilize more than twenty measures used to prevent fraudulent enrollment, including criminal background checks, SSN verification and citizenship verification.

Licensing

HB2372 also requires agencies to waive any fees charged for an initial occupational license for individuals under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.

For clients to benefit from the fee waiver, they must provide income verification. CA and SNAP recipients can provide proof of program eligibility.

Welfare Reform

HB2372 extends an additional 12 months of economic assistance to Arizona's most vulnerable citizens.

Additionally, the law allows individuals with felony drug convictions to qualify for SNAP benefits if they meet requirements such as completing drug treatment, complying with probation requirements and agreeing to drug testing.

By Brett Bezio