HB314 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Public assistance, certain eligibility requirements for TANF and SNAP revised, fraud detection measures required

Summary

HB 314 tightens SNAP and TANF rules in Alabama, sets a 36-month TANF cash limit, and enhances fraud detection and monitoring by the Department of Human Resources.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill ends SNAP categorical eligibility for regular SNAP benefits and bans most SNAP work-requirement waivers, with a limited exception for counties with high unemployment. It also imposes a 36-month lifetime limit on TANF cash assistance, strengthens monitoring of benefit use (including out-of-state purchases and large or frequent even-dollar transactions), and requires replacement EBT card procedures to trigger fraud reviews. Additionally, it authorizes suspension of TANF cash payments for non-cooperation with fraud investigations and requires the department to maintain adequate fraud-investigation staff and adopt related rules.

Who It Affects

• SNAP households and recipients, who would face the removal of categorical eligibility, restricted work-requirement waivers, and increased monitoring of purchases and residency status.
• TANF recipients and the Department of Human Resources, who would face a 36-month lifetime cash limit, potential TANF suspensions for fraud cooperation failures, enhanced fraud monitoring requirements, and new staff and rulemaking duties for program administration.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Prohibits SNAP from granting categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits or non-cash/in-kind benefits.
• Section 2: Prohibits waivers of SNAP work requirements (with limited county exception) and prohibits SNAP categorical eligibility for any non-cash benefits.
• Section 3: Allows disqualification of SNAP recipients for failure to perform required actions or continued non-compliance with TANF administrative actions.
• Section 4: Establishes a 36-month lifetime limit for TANF cash payments, with federal exceptions.
• Section 5: Requires DHR to identify out-of-state purchases with TANF/SNAP, establish a benchmark for out-of-state transactions triggering residency review, monitor large or frequent even-dollar purchases, monitor replacement EBT card requests (noting a fourth request prompts an office visit and potential fraud review), suspend TANF for non-cooperation with fraud investigations, and maintain adequate fraud-investigation staff.
• Section 6-7: Gives DHR rulemaking authority and sets an effective date of January 1, 2019.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Assistance