1 New Section; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Eligibility; Work Requirement. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 10 the following new section:

161:10-a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Work Requirements. The commissioner of health and human services shall not waive the federal work requirements governing eligibility for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to U.S.C. section 2015(o). Specifically, the commissioner shall require that:

I. Newly eligible adults who are unemployed shall be eligible to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the commissioner finds that the individual is engaging in at least 20 hours per week upon application of benefits, 25 hours per week after receiving 12 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant and 30 hours per week after receiving 24 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant of one or a combination of the following activities:

(a) Unsubsidized employment.

(b) Subsidized private sector employment.

(c) Subsidized public sector employment.

(d) Work experience, including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient private sector employment is not available.

(e) On-the-job training.

(f) Job search and job readiness assistance.

(g) Vocational educational training not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual.

(h) Job skills training directly related to employment.

(i) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.

(j) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.

II. If an individual in a family receiving benefits under this section refuses to engage in work required in accordance with paragraph I, the assistance shall be terminated. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, with approval of the governor and the fiscal committee of the general court, to determine good cause and other exceptions to termination.

III. This section shall only apply to those considered abled-bodied adults as defined in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i). In this section, "childless'' means an adult who does not live with a dependent child, which includes a child under 18 years of age or under 20 years of age if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school or the equivalent.

IV. This section shall not apply to:

(a) A person who is temporarily unable to participate in the requirements under paragraph I due to illness or incapacity as certified by a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), a licensed behavioral health professional, a licensed physician assistant, or a board-certified psychologist. The physician, APRN, licensed behavioral health professional, licensed physician assistant, or psychologist shall certify, on a form provided by the department, the duration and limitations of the disability.

(b) A person participating in a state-certified drug court program, as certified by the administrative office of the superior court.

(c) A parent or caretaker as identified in RSA 167:82, II(g) where the required care is considered necessary by a licensed physician, APRN, board-certified psychologist, physician assistant, or licensed behavioral health professional who shall certify the duration that such care is required.

(d) A parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years of age.

2 New Hampshire Employment Program; Work Requirements. RSA 167:85, III-VI are repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

III. Newly eligible adults who are unemployed shall be eligible to receive benefits under the New Hampshire employment program if the commissioner finds that the individual is engaging in at least 20 hours per week upon application of benefits, 25 hours per week after receiving 12 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant and 30 hours per week after receiving 24 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant of one or a combination of the following activities:

(a) Unsubsidized employment.

(b) Subsidized private sector employment.

(c) Subsidized public sector employment.

(d) Work experience, including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient private sector employment is not available.

(e) On-the-job training.

(f) Job search and job readiness assistance.

(g) Vocational educational training not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual.

(h) Job skills training directly related to employment.

(i) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.

(j) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.

IV. If an individual in a family receiving benefits under this section refuses to engage in work required in accordance with paragraph I, the assistance shall be terminated. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, with approval of the governor and the fiscal committee of the general court, to determine good cause and other exceptions to termination.

V. This section shall only apply to those considered abled-bodied adults as defined in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i). In this section, "childless'' means an adult who does not live with a dependent child, which includes a child under 18 years of age or under 20 years of age if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school or the equivalent.

VI. This section shall not apply to:

(a) A person who is temporarily unable to participate in the requirements under paragraph I due to illness or incapacity as certified by a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), a licensed behavioral health professional, a licensed physician assistant, or a board-certified psychologist. The physician, APRN, licensed behavioral health professional, licensed physician assistant, or psychologist shall certify, on a form provided by the department, the duration and limitations of the disability.

(b) A person participating in a state-certified drug court program, as certified by the administrative office of the superior court.

(c) A parent or caretaker as identified in RSA 167:82, II(g) where the required care is considered necessary by a licensed physician, APRN, board-certified psychologist, physician assistant, or licensed behavioral health professional who shall certify the duration that such care is required.

(d) A parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years of age.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.

1 New Section; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Eligibility; Work Requirement. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 10 the following new section:

161:10-a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Work Requirements. The commissioner of health and human services shall not waive the federal work requirements governing eligibility for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to U.S.C. section 2015(o). Specifically, the commissioner shall require that:

I. Newly eligible adults who are unemployed shall be eligible to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the commissioner finds that the individual is engaging in at least 20 hours per week upon application of benefits, 25 hours per week after receiving 12 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant and 30 hours per week after receiving 24 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant of one or a combination of the following activities:

(a) Unsubsidized employment.

(b) Subsidized private sector employment.

(c) Subsidized public sector employment.

(d) Work experience, including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient private sector employment is not available.

(e) On-the-job training.

(f) Job search and job readiness assistance.

(g) Vocational educational training not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual.

(h) Job skills training directly related to employment.

(i) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.

(j) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.

II. If an individual in a family receiving benefits under this section refuses to engage in work required in accordance with paragraph I, the assistance shall be terminated. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, with approval of the governor and the fiscal committee of the general court, to determine good cause and other exceptions to termination.

III. This section shall only apply to those considered abled-bodied adults as defined in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i). In this section, "childless'' means an adult who does not live with a dependent child, which includes a child under 18 years of age or under 20 years of age if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school or the equivalent.

IV. This section shall not apply to:

(a) A person who is temporarily unable to participate in the requirements under paragraph I due to illness or incapacity as certified by a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), a licensed behavioral health professional, a licensed physician assistant, or a board-certified psychologist. The physician, APRN, licensed behavioral health professional, licensed physician assistant, or psychologist shall certify, on a form provided by the department, the duration and limitations of the disability.

(b) A person participating in a state-certified drug court program, as certified by the administrative office of the superior court.

(c) A parent or caretaker as identified in RSA 167:82, II(g) where the required care is considered necessary by a licensed physician, APRN, board-certified psychologist, physician assistant, or licensed behavioral health professional who shall certify the duration that such care is required.

(d) A parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years of age.

2 New Hampshire Employment Program; Work Requirements. RSA 167:85, III-VI are repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

III. Newly eligible adults who are unemployed shall be eligible to receive benefits under the New Hampshire employment program if the commissioner finds that the individual is engaging in at least 20 hours per week upon application of benefits, 25 hours per week after receiving 12 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant and 30 hours per week after receiving 24 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant of one or a combination of the following activities:

(a) Unsubsidized employment.

(b) Subsidized private sector employment.

(c) Subsidized public sector employment.

(d) Work experience, including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient private sector employment is not available.

(e) On-the-job training.

(f) Job search and job readiness assistance.

(g) Vocational educational training not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual.

(h) Job skills training directly related to employment.

(i) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.

(j) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.

IV. If an individual in a family receiving benefits under this section refuses to engage in work required in accordance with paragraph I, the assistance shall be terminated. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, with approval of the governor and the fiscal committee of the general court, to determine good cause and other exceptions to termination.

V. This section shall only apply to those considered abled-bodied adults as defined in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i). In this section, "childless'' means an adult who does not live with a dependent child, which includes a child under 18 years of age or under 20 years of age if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school or the equivalent.

VI. This section shall not apply to:

(a) A person who is temporarily unable to participate in the requirements under paragraph I due to illness or incapacity as certified by a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), a licensed behavioral health professional, a licensed physician assistant, or a board-certified psychologist. The physician, APRN, licensed behavioral health professional, licensed physician assistant, or psychologist shall certify, on a form provided by the department, the duration and limitations of the disability.

(b) A person participating in a state-certified drug court program, as certified by the administrative office of the superior court.

(c) A parent or caretaker as identified in RSA 167:82, II(g) where the required care is considered necessary by a licensed physician, APRN, board-certified psychologist, physician assistant, or licensed behavioral health professional who shall certify the duration that such care is required.

(d) A parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years of age.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.