Bill Text: MS SB2002 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool website; direct DHS to develop and implement.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [SB2002 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SB2002-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Fillingane
Senate Bill 2002
AN ACT TO CODIFY SECTION 43-1-28.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) PRE-SCREENING ELIGIBILITY TOOL WEBSITE FOR APPLICANTS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following section shall be codified as Section 43-1-28.1, Mississippi Code of 1972:
43-1-28.1. (1) The Department of Human Services shall develop and implement a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool website for applicants to determine if they are eligible to receive SNAP benefits. This Pre-Screening Tool shall not be an application for SNAP benefits and is intended to assist Mississippi citizens and their families to determine if they are eligible to receive SNAP benefits, and to make an informed decision. The website tool shall allow persons to input the number of people in the household, the type and amounts of their earned income, the kinds of property owned by members of the household, rent or mortgage, utility bills, child support, day care expenses, medical bills, SSI, Social Security or VA payments received by household members and similar required information, and shall be organized to receive assistance for any question at any time. The program shall include basic information on how to apply for SNAP benefits in Mississippi. The pre-screening website shall include directions for using a SNAP Hotline operated by the Department of Human Services for answering any questions that are not addressed by the website.
(2) The information collected under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool website shall be used to determine if the user is eligible to receive SNAP benefits. In the event the person submits a completed application for SNAP benefits to the Department of Human Services, the local office of the department will determine that person's eligibility for benefits and the actual benefit amount, which may be higher or lower than the amount determined under the website pre-screening program.
(3) In order to facilitate the development and implementation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool website, the Department of Human Services and the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (MDITS), at their discretion, may utilize the product of any vendor who meets DHS and ITS requirements.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
