LRB-2184/1
PJK:sac&kjf:wj
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
April 23, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Tiffany, Marklein and Nass, cosponsored
by Representatives Heaton, Jacque, Hutton, R. Brooks, Kremer, Steffen,
Nygren, Gannon, Kulp, Thiesfeldt, Knodl, Kerkman, Petersen, Murphy,
Craig, Kitchens, Edming, Horlacher and Quinn. Referred to Committee on
Health and Human Services.
SB136,1,2 1An Act relating to: a waiver to limit the number of FoodShare replacement
2cards.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as
FoodShare in Wisconsin and formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides
benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is
administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS). The state and the federal
government share the cost of administration. Benefits, which are electronically
debited to a Quest card, are paid entirely with federal funds. Under federal
regulations, there is no limit on the number of replacement cards that must be issued
to a household for cards that are reported lost, stolen, or damaged. However, under
the federal regulations, a state may opt to require a household member to contact the
state agency to provide an explanation if the number of replacement cards requested
reaches a threshold that is determined to be excessive. The threshold for an
excessive number of replacement cards may not be less than four within a 12-month
period. The household must be given notice that it has reached the threshold and
that it must contact the state agency. If a household member does not contact the
state agency, no replacement card is issued and the case is referred for investigation.
This bill directs DHS to request a waiver from the secretary of the federal
Department of Agriculture, no later than six months after the bill goes into effect,
to allow DHS to limit the number of replacement cards that it must issue in a
12-month period to a FoodShare recipient who reports that his or her Quest card has
been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed to four replacement cards in a 12-month

period. If the waiver is granted and in effect, DHS may limit, to the number
authorized under the waiver, the number of replacement cards that it issues to a
FoodShare recipient in a 12-month period.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB136,1 1Section 1. Nonstatutory provisions.
SB136,2,22 (1) Waiver to limit number of FoodShare replacement cards.
SB136,2,33 (a) In this subsection:
SB136,2,4 41. "Department" means the department of health services.
SB136,2,6 52. "FoodShare recipient" means an individual or household that is receiving
6benefits under the federal food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036a.
SB136,2,147 (b) No later than 6 months after the effective date of this paragraph, the
8department shall request a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of
9agriculture to allow the department to limit the number of replacement benefit cards
10that it must issue in a 12-month period to a FoodShare recipient who reports that
11his or her electronic benefit card has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed to 4
12replacement cards. If a waiver is granted and in effect, the department may limit
13the number of replacement benefit cards that it issues in a 12-month period to a
14FoodShare recipient to the number that is authorized under the waiver.
SB136,2,1515 (End)
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