Amendment #140 to H4708

Closing The SNAP Gap

Representatives Livingstone of Boston, Barber of Somerville, Blais of Sunderland, Carey of Easthampton, Cassidy of Brockton, Connolly of Cambridge, Decker of Cambridge, Devers of Lawrence, Domb of Amherst, Elugardo of Boston, Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, Ferguson of Holden, Fernandes of Falmouth, González of Springfield, Hecht of Watertown, Higgins of Leominster, Honan of Boston, Kane of Shrewsbury, Khan of Newton, LeBoeuf of Worcester, Lewis of Framingham, Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, Mark of Peru, Minicucci of North Andover, Miranda of Boston, Nguyen of Andover, Pignatelli of Lenox, Robinson of Framingham, Rogers of Cambridge, Rogers of Norwood, Santiago of Boston, Schmid of Westport, Tyler of Boston, Ultrino of Malden, Vargas of Haverhill, Vega of Holyoke, Vitolo of Brookline, Zlotnik of Gardner, Gouveia of Acton, Straus of Mattapoisett, Ciccolo of Lexington, Ashe of Longmeadow, Malia of Boston, Meschino of Hull, Mahoney of Worcester, Sabadosa of Northampton, Linsky of Natick, Biele of Boston and Capano of Lynn move to amend the bill in section 2, line 167, by inserting after the word “item” the words “and in order to improve access to federal nutrition assistance and reduce health care costs due to lack of adequate nutrition, the Division of Medicaid shall offer both applicants and recipients of MassHealth and Medicare Savings Program, also known as MassHealth Buy In, the option to both (a) initiate an application for federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits at the time of application or renewal for medical assistance and (b) authorize the division to submit said application to the department of transitional assistance. The option to apply for nutrition assistance shall be offered to applicants and recipients for medical assistance whose reported gross income is below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.  With the consent of said applicant or recipient, the division shall share relevant financial and other eligibility information and supporting documentation that may be required to qualify the applicant or recipient for supplemental nutrition assistance benefits. The department of transitional assistance shall promptly inform said applicant of the eligibility requirements and any additional verifications or obligations.” and amend the bill in section 2, line 26, by inserting after the words “appropriated in this item“ the words “and notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services and the executive office of communities and development shall develop a common application portal for individuals to simultaneously apply for state-administered needs-based benefits and services in coordination with the division of Medicaid, the department of transitional assistance, the department of early education and care, the executive office of education and the department of housing and community development. The common application shall allow individuals the option to apply at the same time for MassHealth coverage, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, income supports under Chapters 117A and 118 of the General Laws, veterans services benefits under Chapter 115 of the General Laws, child care subsidies, housing subsidies, fuel assistance and other needs based health care, nutrition and shelter benefits.” and amend the bill by striking in section 2, line 167, of the bill “$100,000,000.00” and inserting “$105,000,000.00”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #140 to H4708

Closing The SNAP Gap