AB556: Bill Text

LRB-3191/1

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2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 556

February 10, 2012 - Introduced by Representatives Knudson, Litjens, Thiesfeldt, Krug, Pridemore, LeMahieu, Steineke, Endsley, Kaufert, Nygren, Petersen, A. Ott, Strachota, Spanbauer and Stroebel, cosponsored by Senator Schultz. Referred to Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs.

AB556,1,2 An Act to amend 49.79 (9) (a) 1. of the statutes; relating to: requiring participation in the food stamp employment and training program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Health Services (DHS) administers the the federal food stamp program (also known as the supplemental nutrition assistance program), including the employment and training (FSET) program for food stamp program recipients. Under current law, DHS may require a food stamp recipient who is able and 18 to 60 years of age to participate in FSET to be eligible for food stamps, with exceptions for an individual who is participating in a Wisconsin Works employment position, an individual who is the caretaker of a child under the age of 12 weeks, and an individual who is enrolled at least half time in school or in a training program or an institution of higher education. This bill provides that DHS must require all food stamp recipients who are able and 18 to 60 years of age to participate in FSET, except for those food stamp recipients for whom there is an exception under current state statutes.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB556, s. 1 Section 1. 49.79 (9) (a) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB556,2,13 49.79 (9) (a) 1. The department shall administer an employment and training program for recipients under the food stamp program and may contract with county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23, with multicounty consortia, and with tribal governing bodies to carry out the administrative functions. The department may contract, or a county department, multicounty consortium, or tribal governing body may subcontract, with a Wisconsin Works agency or another provider to administer the employment and training program under this subsection. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., the department may shall, to the extent permitted under federal law, require able individuals who are 18 to 60 years of age who are not participants in a Wisconsin Works employment position to participate in the employment and training program under this subsection.

AB556, s. 2 Section 2. Effective date.

AB556,2,16 (1) This act takes effect on January 1, 2012, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

AB556,2,17 (End)