A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to repeal the law prohibiting the department of health and human services from seeking certain waivers from supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits for able‑bodied adults without dependents.
Whereas, after prohibiting the State from applying for time‑limit waivers, as many as 100,000 people were put at risk of losing their nutrition benefits, resulting in twenty‑five million dollars ($25,000,000) in lost economic activity; and
Whereas, the overwhelming majority of rural North Carolina counties have more job seekers than available jobs; and
Whereas, over half of our North Carolina counties have fewer jobs today than they did before the Great Recession, with 35 counties losing jobs last year and 29 counties having lost jobs since the Recession and in the last year; and
Whereas, 19 of the 20 poorest counties in North Carolina are situated in the eastern part of the State where the majority of the devastation from Hurricane Florence was experienced; and
Whereas, more than 300,000 people in the 18 counties declared disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Florence did not have enough food to eat before the hurricane hit; and
Whereas, the ability of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a waiver to the time‑limit requirements for able‑bodied adults without dependents to access food and nutrition services under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical tool during an economic recession; and
Whereas, temporarily waiving time‑limit requirements provides targeted relief to specific groups, such as veterans, youth aging out of foster care, and underemployed workers who want, but cannot find, more hours; and
Whereas, work‑reporting requirements are not a measure of one's willingness to work and apply regardless of an individual's ability to find work or work activities; and
Whereas, reporting requirements on work activities undermine the goal of helping people find stable and adequate work and remove themselves from poverty, especially in a tough economy; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 108A‑51.1 is repealed.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.