ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
nutrition programs;
education; appropriation
Appropriates
$500,000 in state general funds for FY 2000-2001 to the Department of Economic
Security (DES) for education and outreach related to food stamps and other food
security programs.
Eligibility
requirements for food stamps are different than those for Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF), and requirements that lead to TANF sanctions do not
necessarily lead to a food stamp sanction.
Food stamp eligibility usually continues when a TANF cash assistance
case is closed due to sanction.
The
Arizona Cash Assistance Exit Study dated December 9, 1999 compiled by the DES Office
of Evaluation reported that 90 percent of clients leaving the TANF cash
assistance program were receiving food stamps.
By the third quarter following closure, only 52 percent of sanctioned
cases and 42 percent of non-sanction cases continued to receive food
stamps. Half the survey respondents
recall being informed by DES that they might continue to be eligible for food
stamps. Of those not receiving food
stamps, 58 percent believe they are not eligible and 16 percent said it was not
worth their effort.
This
follows a national trend. Due to
concern that people eligible for and in need of food stamps receive this
assistance, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services recently
announced that the next TANF bonus will be for an increased rate of closed TANF
cases with continuing food stamps benefits.
The
proposed legislation requires DES to develop a system to ensure continuation of
food stamps when a TANF case is closed but the family remains eligible for food
stamps and a campaign to inform the public of food stamps and other nutrition
programs available in Arizona. It also
requires the Community Services Administration (CSA) within DES to actively
solicit gifts, grants and other donations from private sources.
The
proposed legislation appropriates $500,000 in FY 2000-2001 in state general
funds to DES for education and outreach related to food stamps and other
nutrition resources. Food stamps are
totally federally funded.
Administrative costs, including informational activities, have a 50
percent match requirement. The proposed
appropriation will draw down an additional $500,000 in federal funds.
1.
Appropriates
$500,000 in state general funds for FY 2000-2001 to DES to provide education
and outreach regarding food stamps and other food resources.
2.
Requires
DES to develop strategies to ensure that people no longer eligible for TANF but
still eligible for food stamps continue to receive food stamps.
3.
Requires
DES to develop a campaign targeted to low income working families to inform
them of health and nutrition, available nutrition assistance programs and the
correlation between nutrition and early child development.
4.
Requires
CSA to actively solicit resources for nutrition programs from private sources.
5.
Repeals
the education and outreach requirements on January 1, 2003.
6.
Provides
for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 31, 2000