HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3903        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 734

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Linda Dean Campbell

_________________

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.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3903        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 734

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3711 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

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.