SB139 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

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

Summary

SB 139 tightens eligibility rules for SNAP and TANF in Alabama, adding residency and fraud monitoring, a TANF cash limit, and required cooperation with child support enforcement.

What This Bill Does

The bill changes who can get SNAP benefits by removing categorical eligibility and requiring cooperation with the Child Support Enforcement Division. It places a 36-month lifetime limit on TANF cash assistance and expands monitoring of how benefits are used, including out-of-state purchases and large or frequent even-dollar transactions. It also tightens safeguards around replacement EBT cards, allowing automatic reviews for suspected fraud, and lets the Department suspend TANF cash payments for failing to cooperate with fraud investigations, while requiring adequate fraud-investigation staff.

Who It Affects

• SNAP beneficiaries and applicants: must cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement Division to remain eligible; SNAP categorical eligibility for any non-cash benefits is not allowed, and failure to comply could lead to loss of SNAP benefits.
• TANF cash assistance recipients: face a 36-month lifetime limit, residency and spending reviews (including out-of-state purchases and large/even-dollar transactions), mandatory office visits after multiple replacement EBT card requests, potential TANF suspension for fraud-investigation non-cooperation, and increased fraud-investigation staffing.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits SNAP categorical eligibility for non-cash benefits and bans waivers of SNAP work requirements, with limited exceptions based on unemployment rules set by the department.
• Requires SNAP eligibility to include cooperation with the Child Support Enforcement Division; may disqualify SNAP recipients for failing to perform TANF-related actions.
• Imposes a 36-month lifetime limit on TANF cash payments, with federal law-based exceptions.
• The Department must identify and review out-of-state TANF/SNAP purchases and establish benchmarks to trigger residency reviews.
• The Department must monitor frequent or large even-dollar purchases on EBT cards and establish benchmarks to detect potential fraud.
• Monitors replacement EBT card requests (fourth request in 12 months triggers an office visit and notification of monitored activity; further requests trigger automatic fraud review).
• Allows suspension of TANF cash payments for failure to cooperate with fraud investigations and requires maintaining sufficient fraud-investigation staff.
• Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to implement these provisions, with the act becoming effective after the specified period following passage and governor approval.

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