HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3910        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3711

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Linda Dean Campbell

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to food assistance for senior citizens.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3910        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3711

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to food assistance for senior citizens.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  The department of transitional assistance shall promulgate regulations that, to the extent allowable under federal law, simplify the recertification process for persons who are 65 or older and applying for recertification of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.  The regulations shall, to the extent allowable under federal law, limit and reduce the documentation relating to household income and expenses that is required to be submitted for persons who are 65 or older and applying for recertification of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.  The department may apply for waivers from the Federal Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to 7 C.F.R. s. 272.3(c) to carry out this section if, in the opinion of the commissioner of transitional assistance, the waiver would result in a more effective and efficient administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program for persons who are 65 or older.   

SECTION 2.  (a) The department of transitional assistance shall apply for a waiver from the Federal Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to 7 C.F.R. s. 272.3(c) allowing the commonwealth to promulgate regulations to prohibit a decrease in benefits provided to a person who is 65 or older under the supplemental nutrition assistance program upon eviction or loss of housing by that person.

Upon approval of a waiver by the Federal Food and Nutrition Service pursuant to this subsection, the department of transitional assistance shall promulgate regulations prohibiting a decrease in benefits provided to a person who is 65 or older under the supplemental nutrition assistance program upon eviction or loss of housing by that person.

(b) The department of transitional assistance shall apply for a waiver from the Federal Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to 7 C.F.R. s. 272.3(c) allowing the commonwealth to promulgate regulations to prevent a disproportionate decrease in benefits provided to a person who is 65 or older under the supplemental nutrition assistance program after an increase in income by that person or that person’s household. 

Upon approval of a waiver by the Federal Food and Nutrition Service pursuant to this subsection, the department of transitional assistance shall promulgate regulations to prevent a disproportionate decrease in benefits provided to a person who is 65 or older under the supplemental nutrition assistance program after an increase in income by that person or that person’s household.