The full Senate will vote on a bill that will expand the requirements for work or employment training for adults competent without dependents for benefits through the supplementary nutrition assistance program.
The Senate Finance Committee reviewed the bill on Tuesday afternoon and upgraded it.
SB 562 expands the age limit for people affected up to 59. The age limit for current processes is from 18 to 52.
And the Bill will establish the requirements to report information about how the program is working for a legislative inspection committee. There is a three -year implementation program for changes.
A dull question about the bill is about the financial costs hidden for the state which are to implement changes.
Bob plimle
Senator Robert Plimate, D-Venne asked about the financial impacts on the bureau for family assistance, which administration of Snap. “Is it covered through the administrative side, or has additional money?” He asked.
The Senate does not provide additional funds to monitor the bill changes.
“The funding will come out of the department,” Synthia Persley said, Secretary of the Human Services Department of the state.
Kent Novisky, Deputy Director, agreed to programs and policy in the bureau for family assistance. “Usually this is something we will absorb.”
Nowviskie had earlier told members of the Senate Workforce Committee that the agency declines by about $ 622,000 in federal funding for administrative costs, and could be slightly carried forward through matches and partnerships.
He said that food banks said that the partner could be affected with the state nutrition program. “Any situation that potentially loses access to domestic income to individuals, which can only be used to buy food, can affect food banks downwards,” he said.
Ketleen Cook
After the meeting, Calin Cook of the climber Food Bank expressed concern about the results of the bill, including the efficiency of the job program and job requirements.
Cook, director of advocacy and public policy for climbers Food Bank, said, “Food banks talk to each other.” “We have companions in Ohio and Texas and Florida. Their states have chosen to implement state employment and training programs, and it is not leading to those who are finding true self -sufficiency. It leads to greater stress on charitable food networks.
“What we want to see is more investment in partnerships that we now have with voluntary work programs that actually leads to a career that people will not require snap food aid or food aid through charitable food networks.”
Mountaineer Food Bank shared the goal of helping people to become more self -sufficient, Cook said, “But we just want to ensure that the path we are taking leads to more self -sufficiency rather than more hunger waste virginian.”